The Parenting Masterclass: Identity, Purpose & Core Values (Part 2)

Welcome back to Part 2 of The Impossible Life Podcast Parenting Series! In Part 1, we laid out the foundation of godly parenting—the roles, responsibilities, and mindset that shape everything you do as a parent.

Now, in Part 2, we take things to a deeper level with special guest Dr. Robi Sonderegger, clinical psychologist, author, and international speaker. In this episode, Dr. Robi unpacks the powerful principles of parenting through identity, purpose, and core values. If you want to raise confident, resilient, and purposeful kids, this masterclass is a must-read.

Let’s dive in.

The #1 Role of a Parent: Identity Giver

As parents, one of the most critical roles we play is shaping our children’s identity. Dr. Robi makes it clear:

“If you don’t tell your child who they are, someone else will.”

In today’s world of competing voices and conflicting messages, children are desperate to understand who they are and where they belong. It’s the parent’s role to speak identity consistently and anchor them in truth.

Practical Insight:

• Speak life over your children daily.
  Remind them who they are: “You are courageous, you are kind, you are strong, you are loved by God.”

• Establish identity through repetition.
  Dr. Robi points out that repetition builds belief. What you say often enough becomes what your child believes about themselves.

Purpose: Giving Your Children a “Why”

Once identity is secure, children need purpose. Purpose answers the big question: Why am I here?

“Kids who know their ‘why’ are more resilient, more confident, and more capable of overcoming challenges.”
—Dr. Robi

When kids understand they were created by God, for God, and with a unique purpose, they develop resilience. Challenges become opportunities, not obstacles.

Practical Insight:

• Help your child discover their purpose early.
  Show them how their gifts, interests, and personality are designed for impact.

• Tie responsibility to purpose.
  Explain how chores and family roles develop their character and prepare them for greater purpose.

Core Values: The Anchors in Life’s Storms

Dr. Robi teaches that core values act as anchors for kids, especially when they face peer pressure or cultural confusion.

“When a child knows their core values, they don’t need external rules—they have internal motivation.”
—Dr. Robi

How to Instill Core Values:

1. Clarify Your Family’s Core Values.
   Examples: Faith, Integrity, Hard Work, Generosity.

2. Model Them Consistently.
   Kids watch more than they listen. Live your values daily.

3. Talk About Them Regularly.
   Reinforce values in everyday conversations: “In this family, we… because we value…”

When kids internalize core values, they develop an internal compass that guides them long after they leave home.

Emotional Regulation: Teaching Kids How to Process Feelings

One of the standout insights from Dr. Robi’s masterclass is the importance of emotional regulation. Many parents struggle to teach their kids how to manage emotions because they haven’t mastered it themselves.

“You can’t teach what you haven’t learned.”
—Garrett Unclebach

Practical Tools for Emotional Regulation:

• Name the Emotion: Teach your child to recognize and label what they’re feeling.

• Validate, Then Guide: Acknowledge their feelings without judgment, then guide them toward a healthy response.

• Model Calmness: Stay calm yourself—kids mirror your emotional state.

The Power of Positive Reinforcement

Dr. Robi emphasizes the importance of positive reinforcement over constant correction. While discipline is necessary, affirming positive behavior creates momentum for more of it.

“Catch your child doing something right, and celebrate it.”
—Dr. Robi

Action Step:

• Praise effort and character, not just outcomes.
  “I’m proud of how hard you worked.”
  “You showed great patience with your sister.”

Practical Action Steps from Dr. Robi’s Parenting Masterclass

Want to implement these tools today? Here’s your action plan:

✅ Identity: Speak three affirmations over your child daily. Reinforce who they are in God’s eyes.
✅ Purpose: Help your child connect their daily responsibilities to their God-given purpose.
✅ Core Values: Define your family’s top 3-5 values and discuss them regularly.
✅ Emotional Regulation: Practice identifying emotions during calm moments, so your child learns to recognize them under pressure.
✅ Positive Reinforcement: Each day, intentionally affirm one positive behavior you notice in your child.

Parenting with Intentionality Builds a Legacy

When you parent with intentionality—speaking identity, reinforcing purpose, and instilling core values—you’re not just raising kids. You’re raising future leaders, difference-makers, and godly men and women.

As Dr. Robi powerfully shared:

“Parenting is the most important leadership role you’ll ever have.”

What’s Next: Part 3—Ep. 169. Parenting Blueprint With Scott & Darlene Unclebach - Proven Wisdom For Parents

In Part 3 of our Parenting Series, we’ll tackle the common challenges every parent faces and how to navigate them successfully—from discipline to peer influence, to screen time and beyond.

Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!

✅ Subscribe to our free Mission Ready Mindset email for more parenting insights and mindset strategies.
✅ Follow us on Instagram: @theimpossiblelife
✅ Listen and subscribe to The Impossible Life Podcast.

Final Thought: You Are the Difference Maker

Parenting is leadership. You are shaping your child’s identity, their future, and their legacy—one intentional decision at a time.

See you in Part 3!