Keep your cool and cultivate warm connection with your intense child.
Eight transformative weeks of video lessons, LIVE coaching calls and a private online community.
Registration ends April 20
Is this you?
>> You feel ill-equipped to parent your Spicy One™ gently because most parenting tips don't apply to your high energy, independent child.
>> You are emotionally drained from walking on eggshells because of their extreme emotions and unpredictable outbursts.
>> You are discouraged because your child’s explosiveness feels like it’s ruining the family peace, as well as their siblings’ childhood.
>> You feel stuck between worrying that you are dimming their light with harsh discipline, and yet not providing enough structure.
>> You worry about their future as an adult. Will they be able to keep friends, a job, or a relationship?
You are NOT the only one!
You can learn how to be a safe, loving space, no matter how your child behaves.
You know the kind of parent you want to be.
A mom who responds thoughtfully rather than reacts randomly.
A mom who is peaceful and able to stay present for the big emotions.
A mom who builds a lasting relationship based on respect and love.
A mom whose kids will choose to spend time with her as grown adults.
A mom whose child feels seen and loved for who they are, rather than for who you want them to be.
But how do you get there?
Hi, I’m Mary Van Geffen, and I’m a mom of a Spicy One™.
Let’s be clear that parenting my iron-willed Spicy One™ did not come naturally to me. I had no idea what it looked like to stay tender in the midst of defiance and unexplainable explosive emotions. In the early years, there was a lot of yelling, disrespect and anger… from both of us.
Then, when my Spicy One™ turned 5, I started a life-changing spiritual journey to see the goodness of my child. I was determined to stay calm, kind and firm no matter what they were doing! This deep work into my own childhood and non-violent communication techniques allowed me to make space for the exceptional young adult my Spicy One™ has become.
My great joy is to now serve families struggling like mine did and support them in their own healing journeys. I’ve coached hundreds of moms across the globe to transform the relationship they have with their larger-than-life kids.
No one should have to do this alone and lonely like I did.
I want to normalize the intense spiritual work of staying gentle on this spicy journey. I want to help you tend to the angry child in front of you as well as the scared child within you.
Together, let’s quiet the noise of the judgmental world that would make you feel unprepared for this big job or would blame your child for their struggle.
My mission is to protect kids from being called brats or being written off because the adults around them don’t yet know how to tolerate the tension and stay in their most loving self.
I am called to lighten the load of moms with the hardest assignments. I want to normalize the intense spiritual work of staying gentle on this Spicy journey.
Because private one-on-one coaching isn’t accessible to most moms, Moms of Spicy Ones™ is designed to bring you the learnings from hundreds of my clients’ journeys without the custom price tag.
How would it feel to…
>> Set boundaries without crushing your child’s spirit?
>> Let go of the weight of your mom guilt?
>> Validate your child’s feelings instead of ignoring or mocking them?
>> Let your child know they are seen and heard?
>> Stay consistently composed and compassionate in the chaos?
>> Bring playfulness and laughter to the outbursts and fights?
“I'm so thankful I took a chance and made this INVESTMENT in myself, my Spicy One™, my mild one and my spouse. Really this course has helped make EVERYONE'S life more enjoyable and I'm proud of myself for doing this work!”
— Katie G., MOSO™ participant
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In this 8-week course, you will...
Gain confidence in your own parenting intuition.
Create a safe space for your child, no matter how they behave.
Set firm limits without tearing your child down.
Find creative ways to connect with your unique child.
Know when to hold a boundary and when to ease up.
Increase your compassion for yourself and your Spicy One™.
Learn to love exactly who your child is and be proud of the parent you are becoming.
Registration for the next round of MOSO™ ends April 20th!
“This has been the best source of parenting support I have found in my nearly 10 years as a parent. I felt like I wasn't alone, that I have tools to help myself and my whole family. Honestly lots of it felt like things I'd worked through in counseling, I enjoyed seeing how that ties into parenting.”
— Jermaine D., MOSO™ participant
“DO IT!! This course will be like nothing you have tried before. Other courses may touch on what it is to parent a spicy one, but no other course, book or webinar really, truly gets what you're going through. Mary sees you, she lives it, has parented the spicy child. She brings in so many perspectives and tools together in one place. This course gets to the foundation which is you, the mom. It helps you to move towards becoming whole and certain in how you show up as a parent so you can lead, guide and disciple/teach this spicy young one. It also gives you practical, usable strategies for how to parent your spicy one in a way that works for the spicy kid.”
-Jenifer, MOSO™ participant
There are four components of MOSO™
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Video Lessons
Weekly pre-recorded video lessons are available each Wednesday to watch at your leisure. These lessons are the bulk of the class material, and take about 30-60 minutes to watch each week.
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MOSO™ Journal
Worksheets that accompany the video lessons provide space for reflection and further processing of the course material. Each week includes action steps to solidify your learning.
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Group Calls
These optional Zoom calls have three parts - additional teaching, breakout rooms for discussion, and Q&A time. All calls are recorded for those unable to attend live.
Tuesdays at 10am & 6pm PT May 2 – June 20
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Community
Bring the gift of intimate community to your parenting! With our private, non-Facebook online community and optional accountability partners, you’ll have plenty of support throughout the course.
Plus, you get lifetime access to the MOSO™ curriculum!
“It was all around a wonderful self-discovering journey. I was given permission to let go of control and to get playful. That is so much of a better fit for me as a person.”
—Shannon R., MOSO™ participant
Take it from these past students of MOSO™:
Here’s the week-by-week breakdown.
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You Are Not Alone
Being a mom to a Spicy One™ can feel so isolating. This week we identify and validate the overwhelming responsibility and opportunity of raising a spicy child.
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Are You Spicy Too?
As moms, we sometimes make conflict even more combustible. This week we identify and take responsibility for where we make things more difficult by adding fuel to the fire.
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Your Childhood Needs
We all have an Inner Child who needs attention, just like our Spicy One™. This week, we articulate our unique childhood experiences so unwanted patterns are not repeated.
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Listen to a New Voice
Self-sabotage is a normal, yet destructive, part of the parenting journey. This week we name default negative patterns in our mind, set them aside, and then identify our wisest, most compassionate inner voice to be our new guide.
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Big-Picture Postures
Effective leadership begins with a well- thought-out plan. This week, we define what successful parenting looks like and learn how to add the magic of rhythm to calm our chaotic child.
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Setting Intentional Energies
It’s natural to want to control your child’s behavior, but it’s not effective or connecting. This week we shift the focus to the higher purpose of being in charge of yourself, staying curious and cultivating delight.
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Spicy Parenting Principles
Your child is highly sensitive to your approach. This week, we level up our communication skills and emotional literacy, as well as access the wisdom of the body.
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Boundaries School
Sometimes despite your best efforts, it all goes horribly wrong. This week is learning how to repair, grow and feel even more connected after conflict. We’ll also look at how to set limits with those who don’t approve of your parenting approach.
Moms of Spicy Ones™ also includes 2 months of bonus access to my two most popular classes!
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Kind: Gentle Parenting 101
Effective gentle parenting techniques to replace yelling, shaming, and punishing with respect and warmth.
Learn four E.P.I.C. communication skills to help your child cooperate and feel connected.
Allow me to model the tone and posture you want as a friendly and effective leader in your home.
Praise for this class:
”I'm like a kid sometimes in that I don't need a list of don'ts, I need to have the right ways modeled for me. This gave me some great examples on actions I can take, and the mental visuals I need to remember them.”-Amanda G.
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Calm in the Chaos
Use your body to ground yourself in the midst of chaos, defiance and uncontrollable emotions.
Note: KIND parenting techniques only work when you know how to be the calmest person in the room. Learn to build your custom calm down recipe based on your unique nervous system.
Praise for this class:
"I love how this course covers basically all learning styles, and has us to use our strongest learning style as the "meat and potatoes" of our Calm Down Recipe. I thought I'd be able to predict the bulk of the course (being a frequent IG follower), but I learned many new things!”-Chrissy H.
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Here’s everything that’s included:
Moms of Spicy Ones™ (Lifetime access)
40+ recorded videos $400
MOSO Journal $100
Live coaching calls $800 (see list of dates below in FAQ section)
Online community access $400Kind: Gentle Parenting 101 (8 weeks of access) $50
Pre-recorded class
WorksheetsCalm in Chaos (8 weeks of access) $50
Pre-recorded class
WorksheetsFull value: $1800
JOIN TODAY FOR
1 payment of $499 / 3 payments of $170
Registration for the next round of MOSO™ ends April 20th!
I was surprised at how robust the coursework was, and how in depth it is. Often with these courses (I’ve purchased various parenting courses), there is not a lot of groundbreaking material. MOSO felt super informative and easy to digest.
— Samantha, MOSO™ Participant
Moms of Spicy Ones™ works for all kinds of Spicy. Here’s why…
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Shame-Free.
When you are trying to find your footing with a counter-cultural child who will NOT comply, you are bound to make some big mistakes.
I’ll share my parenting lows right alongside you, and give you lots of space to grow, without judgment or condemnation. This is a safe space to be a real human parent who has real human challenges.
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Fully Inclusive.
This class is for anyone whose child is difficult to parent regardless of whether they are neurotypical or neurodivergent
(I am!)You don’t need a diagnosis or an IEP to make life-changing adjustments in your home. You can shift how you show up as a parent whether or not you are medicating your child, in family therapy or surrounded by child development professionals.
There are so many ways to move toward health and healing, and this space is welcoming of them all.
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Spiritual, Not Religious.
While I identify as a deconstructing, radically affirming Christian, in this course, all expressions of faith are welcome. We will need the benefits that come with opening up to a higher power.
Lisa Miller says it well; “Spirituality is a necessary human capacity that exists in every person through which we experience love and connection, unity and sense of guidance from and dialogue with life.”
Worried it’s not actually going to change anything?
Parenting a strong-willed child could bring anyone to their knees. There is so much opportunity to turn this struggle into the most significant growth of your life, even if your child doesn't change at all. Time and time again, I witness that when a parent does the work to become more grounded and confident, her child will pick up on that energy and shift as well.
Worried your partner won’t be on board?
It’s understandable if your partner is suspicious of the effectiveness of gentle parenting, especially if they themselves weren't raised with respect and tenderness. Thankfully, it only takes one person in a family to change their behavior for the impact to be felt on the entire group. This course will be your oxygen mask that helps everyone breathe better.
Worried your child is legitimately too challenging to fix?
This course is not designed to replace medical assistance or an official diagnosis. This is the first step for a family struggling with a difficult to parent child or additional support for those also pursuing clinical help. This class primarily serves you as the parent, regardless of your child’s unique challenges.
What if it was possible… to feel proud of how you parent rather than constantly worried you are getting it wrong?
Imagine the future…
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You stay calm & cool.
Your Spicy One just had a 5-alarm tantrum but you stayed calm and cool. In fact, you snuggled together using breathing and your warm presence. You are proud of how you didn't let their upset become your upset. Your child puts their hand in yours, looks in your eyes and says “you always make everything better.”
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You model healthy conflict.
Your young adult child sparkles out in the world, getting the first job of their dreams, winning over other adults and pursuing their passions. Their friendships are robust and healthy, and they even take a selfie with you once in a while. They know how to engage in healthy conflict because you’ve modeled it over and over again.
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You are their safe place.
Your adult child comes home often just to be with you. They seek you out for advice because you are their safe person. They are eager to offer you an intimate peek into their wild and wonderful life, because they know you love them for exactly who they are.
If you're ready to do some soul stretching work on yourself & take the time to look at the big picture of your family, THIS IS YOUR COURSE! Mary has a gift of bringing out the best parts of who you are as a mother & helping you shine!
— Alicia P., MOSO™ participant
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Moms of Spicy Ones™ is about to begin...
Will you join us?
Alison B. says: “I'm so grateful to feel able to enjoy and celebrate my child, who is so different than I am, instead of merely surviving our differences.”
Registration for the next round of MOSO™ ends April 20th.
Frequently asked questions:
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This course requires about one to two hours each week to watch videos, do the homework and attend the coaching calls.
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Optional coaching calls are weekly on Tuesdays at 10am and 6pm PST. The course also kicks off with an orientation call on Saturday, April 22nd at 10 am PST. All calls are recorded for those who are unable to attend.
Coaching calls for this round will be offered at 10am and 6pm PST on the below dates:
5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13, and 6/20.
Note: you may attend only one group call per week.
Additionally, the weekly course videos are released on Wednesdays. It’s recommended to watch them before the following Tuesday coaching call.
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While all parents can benefit from learning about parenting their Spicy One well, this course is primarily intended for parents of children aged 2-12.
However, as CS Lewis wrote, “You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."
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Yes. Bring them along for the ride! No extra purchase is required. However, only one mom per family will have access to an accountability partner and attend the live coaching calls.
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Nope. While I personally identify as a deconstructing, radically affirming Christian, no religious affiliation is explored or communicated in this course. I believe Moms of Spicy Ones need the benefits that come with opening up to a higher power, but how you define that is up to you.
Lisa Miller wisely says, “Spirituality is a necessary human capacity that exists in every person through which we experience love and connection, unity and sense of guidance from and dialogue with life.”
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The 8 weeks of pre-recorded weekly curriculum and self-reflection journals are yours forever.
The recordings of the LIVE coaching session (from Tuesdays) are kept on-line for 1 month after class ends. After that, they are moved behind a membership wall to protect these constantly shifting mammas! No one needs to have their BEFORE moments memorialized forever.
The optional accountability partner might become a friend for life. The online community ends after 8 weeks (unless you decide to join the graduates membership called Spicy One Society).
Please note: Bonus access to Gentle Parenting 101 and Calm In The Chaos is yours for 2 months (through the duration of the live course).
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Because the course is a digital product that is immediately accessible, you must have not accessed any of the course modules to be eligible for a refund.
Additionally, refund requests must be received within fourteen (14) days of purchasing the course to be considered.
Vulnerability and authenticity are core values of the MOSO community. Therefore, I put a lot of effort into an accurate representation of the course experience. I am happy to answer any questions in advance of purchase.
Thank you for understanding.
Have further questions? Send the team an email at mary@maryvangeffen.com
Here’s what past students of MOSO™ have to say:
I'm so grateful for the teaching to watch at my own pace, and for the in-real-time connections. I had a fabulous accountability partner and really appreciated the live coaching calls. Thank you so much for this work! MOSO™ has been a huge gift to me and my family.
—Alison B.., MOSO™ participant