Wellbeing, Wisdom, & Win/Win Parenting - with Dr. Rosina McAlpine
- Andrew Lord
- Dec 4
- 3 min read
4th December, 2025
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Rosina McAlpine, an expert in child development and family dynamics, to discuss the complexities of modern parenting and how we bring the best of ourselves to the inextricably linked worlds of both work and home life.
Dr. McAlpine’s PhD is in education and how presentation can change perceptions — a skill she began honing in her own heart and mind as she healed her relationship with her father before he passed over. She has successfully taken this educational and psychological expertise, refined it, and now focussed on the world of parents. She educates and serves working parents as they strive to bring the best of themselves to both family life AND the world of work.
Rosina was so generous with her wisdom and experience as our conversation traversed generational trauma, practical frameworks for discipline, and the critical role organisations play in supporting working parents.
If you are an emerging leader, budding entrepreneur, or even a professional + parent juggling the world of work and home life, then I know you're going to get a lot out of this episode.
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The Generational Shift
One of the most profound moments of our conversation was when Rosina shared her own origin story. She grew up with a father she described as tough and unpraising, leading her to believe for years that he didn't love her. Despite her high academic achievements, the validation never came.
It wasn't until a pivotal conversation with her father on his deathbed that she understood his perspective. When she confronted him about his emotional distance, he revealed he believed that praise would only lead to complacency. His final words to her were a jarring mix of affection and criticism: "Don't you know I love you? You stupid!".
This struck a chord with me. It highlights how many of us operate on "inherited" scripts. Rosina noted that her father’s strictness was a product of his own upbringing, where physical punishment was common. However, she views this as a generational progression; each generation strives to do a little better than the last.
The Win-Win Approach: Stop, Empathize, Educate
Driven by a desire to be a positive role model and break the cycle of low self-esteem that drove her own perfectionism, Rosina developed the "Win-Win Parenting Approach".
This framework isn't just for parents; it’s a masterclass in emotional intelligence that applies equally well to leadership:
Stop: The first step is to pause. We must manage our own emotions to ensure we respond calmly rather than reacting impulsively.
Empathise: We need to understand the other person's perspective. In the case of children, this means acknowledging their need for closeness.
Educate: Finally, we teach. This combines behavioral and relational approaches, focusing on instruction and opportunity rather than just discipline or punishment.
Rosina shared a great example of applying this when her son was unresponsive to teacher feedback. By advising the teachers to approach him with empathy—acknowledging that everyone makes mistakes—her son became immediately more receptive.
The "Treadmill" of the Working Parent
We also discussed the broader context of family well-being, specifically regarding screen time and work-life balance. Rosina emphasised that screen time should be approached educationally, rather than used as a tool for reward or punishment.
More pressing, however, is the state of the working parent. Rosina described working parents as being on a "treadmill," often operating without space for reflection until a crisis—like illness or relationship strain—forces them to stop.
She argues that we need a societal shift. Supporting working parents isn't just a "nice to have"; it is a necessity for economic and social outcomes. She advocates for a "win-win" in the workplace, where organizations create supportive policies that reduce burnout and turnover.
Moving Forward
Whether you are leading a team or raising a family, the core message from Dr. McAlpine is the same: success comes from empathy, emotional regulation, and a willingness to educate rather than just dictate.
For those interested in digging deeper, Dr. McAlpine offers resources on her personal site, drrosina.com, and specific tools for organisations at winwinparenting.com.
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