Episode 89: The Perfect Parent Trap: From Control to Connection in Parenting with Lisa Taylor

Have you ever found yourself trying so hard to be a “perfect parent”… only to feel like it’s not quite working the way you expected?

In this episode of It’s a Mindset, I’m joined by Lisa Taylor - family therapist, relationships consultant, speaker and founder of Strengthening Families Australia. With over 25 years of experience supporting families, schools and organisations, Lisa brings a deeply heart-centred approach to helping us understand the patterns that shape how we connect.

Together, we explore what Lisa calls the “Perfect Parent Trap” - the pressure to get it right, to say the right thing, to respond perfectly - and how that can actually move us further away from the connection we’re really seeking. Instead, Lisa invites us to shift from control to connection, and to become more aware of the emotional imprints from our own upbringing - what she calls our heartprints - and how they influence the way we show up as parents today.

This conversation really resonated with me on a personal level. Lisa and I are at a similar stage of parenting, and as fellow authors in the Expert Author Community, there was such a natural connection and shared understanding between us. I absolutely love the work she’s doing to support families, and the insights she shared - particularly around our own heartprints - were incredibly powerful.

This is one of those episodes that gently invites you to pause, reflect and consider how you’re showing up in your closest relationships - not from a place of judgment, but from a place of curiosity and growth.

Key Episode Takeaways:

• What the “Perfect Parent Trap” is and why trying to get it right can backfire
• How your own childhood “heartprints” shape the way you parent
• Why shifting from control to connection can transform your relationships
• The importance of presence - being where your body is - in creating deeper connection 

About the Guest:

Lisa Taylor is a family therapist, relationships consultant, speaker and founder of Strengthening Families Australia with over twenty-five years of experience walking alongside thousands of families, schools and organisations across Australia.

Her heart-centred approach helps parents, educators and leaders strengthen relationships, heal generational patterns and transform how they connect with one another. She lives on the Bellarine Peninsula with her husband Chris, their three children and Faith, their golden retriever.

Show Resources:

Follow Lisa on Instagram - HERE

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn - HERE

Check Out Lisa's Website - HERE

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE

Join the Waitlist for The Next Chapter Collective - HERE

If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @lisataylor.au.

Your in Conscious Parenting, Emma. X.