Helen Zimprich: Presence Over Perfection
When it comes to parenting, few voices resonate as clearly and powerfully as Helen Zimprich. Named Coach of the Year by Global Woman Magazine, Helen has transformed the way mothers approach raising confident, resilient children. Drawing from her own experiences—growing up without guidance, raising kids abroad, and overcoming everyday parenting challenges—she empowers parents to trust their instincts, set healthy boundaries, and invest deeply in their children’s emotional well-being. In this interview, Helen shares her journey, her philosophy, and the secrets behind building strong, lasting bonds with your children.
“Presence matters more than perfection.”
How did you feel when you learned you won Coach of the Year from Global Woman Magazine?
It was New Year’s Eve. My family was in Germany, I was with my bestie celebrating this special evening. Suddenly, I read a notification on my phone—I got an email from Global Woman. I won the title! Om goddess, I was really so happy and relieved. The moment I received the nomination, I was nervous and under pressure. But when I read “YOU WON”, all the tension was released. It was a moment I will never forget! Winning such an incredible recognition is really special. But this award is so much more. It represents every mother doing the hard inner work. Every woman who chooses growth instead of blame. Every parent who says, “It stops with me.”
What inspired you to become a parenting coach?
Looking back at my own childhood, I was truly missing guidance. I missed a mother who said no to TV, no to lack of focus in life. When I came home from school, I watched TV for hours and my mother said nothing. When I raised my own kids, I realized how much this had shaped my parenting style. I became very strict about screen time, healthy food, and movement. But the real turning point came when my eldest son started to struggle in math. We studied hard together, filled his gaps, but the grades stayed the same. I felt it was inside him—he didn’t believe in himself, he didn’t believe he could do it! That’s when I discovered the book Mindset by Carol Dweck. Honestly, it gave me so many amazing ideas on how to overcome limiting beliefs. Around the same time, I read about the profession of parenting coach. I felt a strong inner call: Wow, helping mothers to raise strong and confident children! I did my research, found JAI—the Institute for Parenting—started their program, and 7 months later, I became a certified parenting coach.
How did raising your kids abroad shape your parenting style?
My husband and I parent our kids without external influence. I know how amazing it is to have family nearby to support you, but I also see the challenges. Grandparents have a different perspective. In my parenting, no one is involved but me and my husband. I feel that in many ways it is special, because we really have to take care of everything and are deeply involved in all aspects of raising our kids.
This taught me two important things: First, I learned to listen to my instincts and my kids’ needs really well. For example, with breastfeeding, everyone has a strong opinion—but I had no voices around me, so I followed my child’s cues. I breastfed every child longer—it’s what the child needed, not what many people told me. Second, I raise my kids with my husband’s support. Raising children is something you do together, when possible. From the very beginning, he was very involved in everything.
You talk about listening to children’s needs — why is that so important?
Because behavior is communication. When a little baby cries, it wants to tell us something—it is hungry, sleepy, cold, or warm, or feels something that makes it cry. Babies can’t yet say: I am hungry, please feed me.
Often, parents only react to what they see on the surface—the tantrum, the resistance, the backtalk—but we need to see the real message underneath. That is our job! A child trusts that we know what to do. That’s why it’s so important to read the hints our kids give us.
When a child grows, your bond will be so much stronger through the work you put into understanding your kid’s needs. Dr. Daniel Siegel calls this “paying into a trust fund,” and I really love this perspective. With our attention and love, we deposit into this trust fund, resulting in a healthy, deep relationship. We will face so much fewer problems with our kids in their teenage years if we listened when they were little.
What’s one common parenting myth you wish more parents would ignore?
We are not here to be our kids’ best friends. We are the parent. Being a parent is not always fun. We have to say no with confidence, we have to forbid things our kids want, and our kids have to do things they don’t like. Yes, I have a very deep connection with my kids, but I never aim to be their bestie. I am firm, strict, and I set rules at home. In gentle parenting, we are not authoritarian. We don’t say do what I tell you without questioning. We talk on the same eye level, but when I say no, I mean it.
“Behavior is communication—listen closely.”
How do you handle tough parenting days when you feel tired or overwhelmed?
I developed a very powerful morning routine. I wake up an hour before my kids, read the Bible, pray, do stretching and breathwork. I set a clear intention for the day: whatever happens, I will be calm and choose peace over yelling.
This doesn’t mean I never lose my temper. I am transparent that even the best parenting tools can’t prevent losing your temper forever. But they reduce it a lot! I wish I had this knowledge when I had my firstborn. That is how I prevent it first. On really tough days, I show self-compassion first. We are all human, and a mother handles a lot every day. Sometimes, after 10 silent tries, the 11th time you explode—that happens. The good thing is that now, since I am a parenting coach, I have amazing tools to survive these days better.
First: I lower my expectations. On hard days, I focus on connection over perfection. I remind myself that leadership is calm, not loud. And I allow myself to be human. Repair is more powerful than perfection.
What advice would you give moms who doubt themselves?
Stop it! You got this. You only need to read your kids’ needs—they show you everything! When you sleep next to your baby, the baby comes to you when hungry. It’s the cutest thing in the world. Nature gives us these superpowers—we just need to see them. Be confident, you are the mother, deep inside you have all the superpowers. Activate them.
How has your own parenting journey influenced your coaching work?
Everything I teach, I have lived.
I am just about to launch my first online course, the Healthy Boundaries Course! This course is a direct answer to my last year of coaching. I reached over 100 women with my specially designed workshop at my live talk and asked them about their biggest challenges. Most said: “My kids don’t listen,” “My parenting is not in my hands anymore,” or “My kid is glued to a device.” Based on this, and my own story—growing up without the word no from my mother—I developed this program. I teach only what I really believe. I believe in rules and routines. Structure creates safety, and when a child knows what is allowed and what is not, they feel safe. For busy mothers, I recorded easy bite-sized videos. I am very excited about this course. Mothers really need it—it will bring so much peace into your
What changes do you usually see in parents after working with you?
What I love most is confidence. Every mother leaves with so much confidence. She suddenly realizes how amazing she already is and how many extra superpowers she gained. Every single mother told me that her home became so peaceful and the bond stronger.
What message do you hope parents remember after hearing your story?
Your presence matters! It matters so much when you are fully present for your child. Today, often both parents work late. But the time you spend with your child—spend it wisely. Don’t look at your phone, look into your child’s eyes! Our phones are the reason for many problems in families. Boundaries go in all directions. While you say no to your child’s screen time, say no to yourself too! Invest today in your child’s bond—that is the best investment you can make.
