Parenting with Peace | Interview with Parenting Expert Karen Gibson
From the ruins of a failed suicide attempt emerged a stronger, more motivated Karen Gibson, who was determined to make the world a better place in any way that she could. Hawaii-born and raised, Karen Gibson is now an author, certified life coach, neuro-linguistic practitioner, and the founder of Brain Builders and Letting Go with Aloha. Her mission to support moms and dads who are navigating the rollercoaster journey of parenting- and guiding them on how to parent with peace.
In the midst of working as a marketing director for the Hawaii State Bar Association, Karen realized that she wanted to give back and make a difference in other people's lives. This thought quickly evolved into so much more. Her journey took a shift and before she knew it, she was in the classroom working as a special education teacher.
“I had everyone from autism, different spectrums, kids in wheelchairs, kids who had to have their diapers changed. I had an assistant but I had no idea that you don’t just focus on academics because there’s a lot of behavioral problems. If we do not understand how to handle our emotions, a lot of destruction can happen,” recalled Karen. Though she has since stepped out of the classroom, she is still giving back and doing special education tutoring - in the form of one on one sessions. In 1999, she founded Brain Builders, a private tutoring business, whose mission is to prepare students to succeed in and out of the classroom.
Prior to the pandemic, she took yet another leap into pursuing her passions. This time, she was on a mission to earn her certification in Neuro-linguistic Programming and become a life coach specializing in parenting. Upon discovering that she could be certified in learning how to rewire and reprogram the limiting beliefs that hold so many of us back, Karen took her fascination with the brain to the next level.
“It’s one thing to intellectualize and think positively, but it's not all about that. It’s the inner rewiring of what came from our childhood or came from different authority figures that make us believe that we might not be good enough, or that we have limited beliefs about money or even academics,” she shared.
During the pandemic, Karen continued on as a parent coach and started filming quick Instagram and Tiktok videos. These videos were created to aid parents as they transitioned into a whole new chapter of life and education with their children as they were stuck in their homes and forced into distance learning. She filmed various videos on a range of topics like how to leave a legacy, how to have patience, how to use financial tools, the importance of public speaking and how to handle temper tantrums. After compiling and posting a significant amount of tips, Karen decided to take all that she shared and turn it into a book. In 2021, she wrote "One Hundred Parenting Tips Inspired by the Pandemic”.
In addition to this, she channeled in her own personal experiences and learnings to write "Mama's Gotta Let Go: How to Let Go without Losing Your Sanity," which rated #2 in different categories on Amazon Kindle.
“It was a tough one. It was actually based on a journal that I wrote when I really went into a deep depression when my oldest one left for college. I didn’t realize how lost I would feel. When you have a child leave the nest, you really feel scared. You feel like, “Can I prevent mistakes?” No. “Can I check on them all the time?” No. And so letting go became my motto and also, “This too shall pass”. With my dad’s passing and my moms alzheimer's journey, I really had to let go. I say “without losing your sanity” but we all know that some journeys require just embracing that insanity and knowing that we will get through it,” shared Karen.
Karen recently co-authored “The Power to Rise Above” alongside 29 empowered women from across the globe, which also features a foreword by Oprah's all-time favorite guest, Tererai Trent. The book is filled with stories of heartbreak and challenges, but also provides practical ways to overcome obstacles that may stand in your way.
“It was challenging to revisit that part of my life. I share my chapter on "The Gift of a Failed Suicide Attempt". It happened during my 30s. I learned that we must go through the storm, we can’t avoid it. We can’t go around it. But once we go through it there is a whole different world, a rainbow of things that exceed our expectations. So my whole chapter does get into how I planned it, and how I was disappointed that I survived but now, looking back after writing that chapter, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today, trying to make a difference and saving one life. That suicidal thought, “I need to end it because there’s no hope” is on the rise and if we teach kids that it is normal to feel hopeless, but not to give up hope, that lesson alone can help someone just really master this adversity journey that we all ride on sometimes.”
As an author of multiple books and a parent coach to many, she channeled her expertise into something that she can share with parents in need to empower them into becoming the best that they can be. She created her first online course: Breaking the Cycle of Anxious Parenting - which dives into how to let go, transform fears, and overcome limiting beliefs.
“As the mother of 2 adult daughters, I have been through it all. I realized that letting go of control was needed. As a parent, I had such a difficult time letting go. So I added “with Aloha” because I think we all need that empathy and need to have that unconditional love. A lot of parenting is conditional because you want A, B, and C rules to be followed before incentives are given. My new mission is to revolutionize parenting and really help parents understand that we can’t parent the way that we were parented. I don’t think we even realize that we’re doing it. We have to meet ourselves where we’re at,” she shared.
Despite the long list of achievements and accolades that Karen has racked up throughout her career, she keeps in mind her Filipino roots.
“My dad's parents migrated from the Philippines to Maui and barely spoke English. However, my dad passed on the values his parents instilled in their six children by sharing stories of his childhood. He taught me the importance of discipline, perseverance, putting family as a top priority, and never allowing obstacles to stop me from pursuing my goals. Being a Filipino means being proud of my culture and sharing the values I learned with my daughters. Eating Filipino foods and appreciating being Visayan, which some of my aunts and uncles shared, means being passionate, courageous, and connecting with family.”
When asked what advice she would give to those who wish to follow in her footsteps, she shared, “I would advise anyone wishing to follow in my footsteps as a parent coach to learn about parenting trends, communication strategies to help parents connect with their children, and problem-solving skills to guide parents in navigating the rollercoaster parenting journey. Choosing to be an entrepreneur requires taking risks, getting out of your comfort zone, and connecting with other professionals who are aligned with your passion and purpose. I've learned not to take failures personally and trust in my journey.”
Written By Nico Belasco
Photographer, Writer, Speaker, Podcast Host, Creative
Trade talk just got real. The U.S. is setting the stage for a new kind of economic clapback and the Philippines might get caught in the middle with a 17% import tariff coming this July. It sounds like something buried deep in a government PDF, but here’s the thing: this could mess with jobs, prices, military deals, and even how we as Filipino Americans move through the world.
So let’s decode what’s going on, why it matters, and what the ripple effects could look like for all of us navigating life between cultures.