A young woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and earrings, smiling at the camera, wearing a black dress with yellow and white flower patterns, with a blurred plant in the background.
Person smiling holding two deck of game cards about communication skills. One card says 'Tone it down!' with playful illustrations of emotions, and the other says 'That depends...' with cartoon brains and lightbulb icons.

Hi, I'm Cathleen!

Creator of Clever and Calm and someone who knows firsthand how confusing it can feel to be misunderstood.

Growing up, I moved through life with the best of intentions. I tried my best to be polite and kind, but often missed the mark. When an adult corrected something I said, I was quick to defend myself.

"All I said was..."

"I didn't mean it like that..."

“I was just saying…”

Genuinely confused about why I was being perceived the way I was, and desperate to clear my name, I simply couldn’t let it go. This relentless pursuit of clarification was often called "talking back" and rarely well received. The more I pushed, the more I reinforced the interpretation that I was being difficult.

I didn’t understand.

I never had the chance to notice how my tone changed the words I was using. When I was in the emotion of the moment I struggled to make my points and ask questions respectfully. I didn't have much practice disagreeing with anyone without an element of emotional reactivity.

Tone It Down and That Depends are sources of social emotional support my younger self didn't have—fun ways to practice the skills the adults in my life were trying so desperately to teach me.

Clever and Calm was created from a combination of my personal and professional experience.

I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Central Florida and double majored in Family & Child Sciences and Sociology at Florida State University, where I also earned a certificate in Developmental Disabilities. Over the past decade, I've worked with children and families in a wide range of settings, including in-home counseling, community-based family services, inpatient behavioral health programs, the NICU, early childhood programs, and correctional settings.

No matter where I worked, I noticed the same patterns: miscommunication, overwhelming emotions, and good people struggling to connect. I found myself creating games, activities, and creative interventions to help children build the skills they needed to better understand themselves and others. Clever and Calm has been taking shape in my mind for nearly ten years. These games are the culmination of that work, finally brought to life.

I've come to believe that children don't just need correction when they struggle; they need opportunities to practice. Emotional intelligence, communication, empathy, and self-awareness are skills. Skills can be learned, practiced, and strengthened.

Clever and Calm helps children and the adults who love them learn together. Play becomes an opportunity for connection instead of conflict. Families can build social-emotional skills, strengthen relationships, and grow in confidence—one game at a time.

I hope you have fun!