Today we’d like to introduce you to Fran Rubio-Katz.
Fran, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was an educator, and I always had a knack for working with challenging children. When I was pregnant with my first child, I thought I would be the world’s greatest mother! Boy, was I wrong! I gave birth to my own challenging child! I didn’t know how to handle him when he was younger and found myself sinking into a hole of despair when he needed me to rise above and be my best self and help him. I became so reactive. I felt like a failure. I felt VERY alone. I knew my son’s strengths, and I was determined to find ways for other people to see his positive qualities while helping him gain the skills to manage his struggles, even overcoming many. This mostly meant I had to work on myself.
I hired a parenting coach who utilized Conscious Discipline®. I fell in love with the practice and the subsequent results in my home. When I returned to work, I used the powers and skills of Conscious Discipline® in my classroom. I was even more effective in supporting students with challenging behaviors! I was determined to help other parents and teachers find a different way to perceive and handle “mis” behavior. A few years later, I started my first business, Franny911.
Today, my business is called Coach Franny, and I have created my own body of work called Mindful-Ish ™ Parenting. Applying mindfulness techniques to parenting can help you stay present with your child and not get hijacked by emotions. Since being mindful all the time would be really hard, and the idea of it scares some people away, Mindful-IshTM Parenting is about being mindful to some extent (ish). Permitting ourselves to be mindful-ishTM alleviates a lot of unnecessary pressure from the many demands of parenting!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The road has not been smooth because I’m constantly creating it. I’m willing to go into uncharted territory to help caregivers change the lenses through which they view behavior, discipline, the role of parents, and the role of educators. Most adults do not understand what they are bringing to the table that impacts behavior, discipline, and, most importantly the adult-child relationship. This leads to my biggest struggle – helping caregivers realize they must see the child differently to support the child and work with them. Children cannot make any positive changes without an adult who is willing to see from their perspective. We must acknowledge a child’s experience even if we do not like it or agree with it. Until caregivers can get to that place, nothing really changes.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Coach Franny LLC?
I specialize in parent coaching, behavior, and family dynamics. There are three main magic ingredients I bring to the table that make me unique as a parenting coach: 1. I have been on the receiving end of parent coaching. I know how it feels to need help parenting my own child, and I experienced the shame and blame that goes with it. I understand what it takes to implement new skills that feel foreign and be coached through the process. My clients can rest assured that I have been in their shoes. 2. I’ve worn multiple hats in the child behavior and education arena. I have the perspective of a parent, co-parent, step-parent, teacher, behavior specialist, learning center director, and I.E.P. advocate. Most importantly, I was once a misunderstood child. Each of these hats comes into play when I work with parents. 3. I am an Earthmother. Since I was a little girl, I felt an undeniable calling to help others who are misunderstood. I have always had the ability to see people’s positive intent. That gift has helped me build relationships with children and parents who may otherwise have been defensive and unapproachable. Brand wise I most proud that I practice what I preach. I will not ask a parent to try something that I have not done myself. I offer group coaching, one-on-one coaching, and parent education classes.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Going into the Covid-19 Crisis, I learned that parents could no longer ignore, deny or dismiss their children’s challenging behaviors. Families had to learn to accept one another, and they had to face big behaviors and unhealthy dynamics that may have been swept under the rug when we had busier schedules. Now, I am noticing something different – a new level of anxiety resulting in some children not being able to shift back to being in physical school and some children needing to relearn how to be their best selves in a group setting. Personally, I have learned that I can make genuine connections with parents and children online. I was opposed to virtual coaching pre-pandemic, and now I see it is a resource so many families cannot do without.
Contact Info:
- Email: frk@coachfranny.com
- Website: coachfranny.com
- Instagram: @coach_franny
- Facebook: @coachfranny
- Twitter: @coach_franny
Image Credits
Adorned Photography
