New classrooms and changing routines can shake even the most prepared families. In this episode of Parenting Unfiltered, host Sara Kapp sits down with Missi Baranko, mom of four and Executive Director of USpire, who has supported countless North Dakota families through the early years. Drawing from lived experience and years of family coaching, Missi offers a simple message: build small routines, trust your gut, and ask for help early.
There’s no handbook for your family, Missi says, Give yourself grace, keep getting up, and try the next small step.
Focus on What’s Doable (Not Perfect)
Missi encourages parents to design routines within routines, tiny, repeatable steps that make mornings and evenings predictable.
Think: a consistent order (toothbrush → clothes → shoes) and small jobs for every child. The goal isn’t a perfectly quiet household; it’s a predictable rhythm kids can count on.
We became a family of routines and we let ourselves order pizza on the messy days.
Try this: Use real choices (both acceptable to you): “Blue pants or red pants?” “Hop or walk up the stairs?” Choices give kids ownership and reduce fights without becoming a power struggle.
When In-Home Support Makes the Difference
Missi describes having home visitors sit next to her in the hard moments, like a 7 a.m. dressing battle, and coach her through one plan with accountability and empathy. That support helped her stay consistent and calm.
Where to start in ND: Programs mentioned in the episode include Right Track (birth–3 screenings), Parents as Teachers, Healthy Families, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Head Start/Early Head Start. These services are designed to support everyday parenting, whether you have a concern or just want to check in.
Teaching Resilience Through Tough Days
Kids don’t learn new skills while their “lid is flipped.” Help them calm first, then reflect together.
A simple after-the-storm script:
- “I hear you. That was really hard.”
- “Can we name what you felt: frustrated, disappointed, or worried?”
- “Next time, what could we try: ask for a break, use our calm corner, take three breaths?”
Missi also models accountability at home: apologize without excuses and invite ideas; “How could I have handled that better?”
Make Success Visible
Instead of “good job,” name the behavior:
“I love how you put shoes in the basket. That keeps our hallway safe.”
Specific praise helps kids understand what worked and why it matters to the family community.
Three Routine Tweaks That Pay Off
- Prep with partners: Text the teacher if a sub is planned; preview changes (“First we’ll… then we’ll…”).
- Post visual steps: Pictures for brush teeth, hair, shoes help kids move independently.
- Assign real jobs: Table helper, plant waterer, or “paper-towel captain,” roles that feel important, not just busywork.
If you’re feeling behind, you’re not alone. Missi’s reminder lands like a deep breath: Kids are remarkably resilient—and so are you. Start with one small step tonight, notice what goes well, and build from there.
Explore more episodes of Parenting Unfiltered for practical, judgment-free tips you can use today. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and find recaps, handouts, and pocketbooks on the Parents Lead website. New episodes drop throughout the season. Follow and share to support North Dakota families.