This week, we’re exploring an unexpected (but so necessary!) aspect of family dynamics: trickster energy—a playful, inventive, and boundary-testing spirit that helps us stay adaptable when life feels too rigid.

The episode kicks off with a relatable parenting challenge:

Maverick dreams of riding the roller coasters at Legoland for his 4th birthday, but he’s an inch too short to meet the height requirements. Do you stick to the rules? Cross your fingers for leniency? Or come up with a creative workaround?

In this episode, we dive into:

• What trickster energy means (and how it’s different from dishonesty or sneakiness)
• Ways to help kids distinguish between safety rules and “rules of convenience”
• Why innovation and growth often require stepping outside the lines
• How trickster energy is most effective when guided by a moral compass
• The balance between cleverness and mischief—and how to help kids find it
• Why trickster energy works best as a family effort, not an individual pursuit

If you’re someone who’s always played by the rules (hello, D 👋) or you’re raising a child who loves testing limits, this episode offers research, stories, and tools to help your family channel rule-bending in a way that fosters growth, not chaos.