Parenting

Parenting tips, advice, kid’s activities and how to manage a family.

Podcast Episode 269: Don’t Plan Alone: 4 Tips to Not Lose Your Cool or Get a Killer Migraine
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Podcast Episode 269: Don’t Plan Alone: 4 Tips to Not Lose Your Cool or Get a Killer Migraine

Feeling overwhelmed by the endless to-do list? Discover why Moms planning everything can lead to stress and learn effective strategies for delegating tasks, planning like a boss, and reducing stress by involving others. Find strength in letting go and enjoy a more balanced life!

Podcast Episode 268: How Decluttering Will Help You Handle Tough Situations with Katy Wells
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Podcast Episode 268: How Decluttering Will Help You Handle Tough Situations with Katy Wells

Discover effective tips on how to manage clutter at home and create a peaceful environment. Learn how decluttering can improve your parenting, reduce stress, and help you handle tough situations with ease. Embrace a clutter-free lifestyle and transform your family home today!

Podcast Episode 266: Put Perfectionism in the Past with Bianca Hughes, LPC
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Podcast Episode 266: Put Perfectionism in the Past with Bianca Hughes, LPC

Discover the keys to letting go of perfection and embracing authenticity in our latest blog post. From unpacking the roots of perfectionism to living your values and celebrating imperfection, we’ll show you how to break free from the chains of perfectionism and find true joy and fulfillment. Say goodbye to the pressure to be perfect and hello to the freedom of being yourself. Dive in and start your journey to letting go today!

Podcast Episode 265: How to Motivate Your Teen
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Podcast Episode 265: How to Motivate Your Teen

Unlock the secrets to parenting teens with our expert tips. From motivating unmotivated teens to building trust and fostering communication, we’ve got you covered. Say goodbye to frustration and hello to a stronger relationship with your teens. Dive in and discover the keys to successful parenting in the teenage years!

Podcast Episode 264: Don’t Want to Wake Up Early For a Morning Routine? Here’s What You Need to Do with Desirae Endres
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Podcast Episode 264: Don’t Want to Wake Up Early For a Morning Routine? Here’s What You Need to Do with Desirae Endres

Discover game-changing Morning Routine Tips in our latest blog post. Learn how to start your day with calm and success without sacrificing precious sleep. From finding your peaceful morning pocket to embracing a minimal-ish lifestyle, we’ve got you covered. Say goodbye to frantic mornings and hello to stress-free starts!

Podcast Episode 262: Why You Should Focus on Your BUT with Marielle Melling
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Podcast Episode 262: Why You Should Focus on Your BUT with Marielle Melling

Discover expert parenting tips for building strong relationships with your children in our latest blog post. Learn how to embrace imperfect parenting moments, regulate your emotions, and foster authentic connections with your little ones. Say goodbye to shame and hello to joy as you navigate the beautiful chaos of motherhood. Dive in and start building stronger relationships today!

Podcast Episode 261: 1 Easy Habit To Get Kids To Open Up More
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Podcast Episode 261: 1 Easy Habit To Get Kids To Open Up More

Learn 1 easy habit for getting your kids to talk. Discover parenting tips for getting kids to talk by using of active listening, navigating moments of silence, and managing your own emotions to create a safe space for open dialogue. Strengthen your parent-child bond and foster trust through the art of listening. Dive in and start meaningful conversations today!

Natural Consequences For Hitting
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Natural Consequences For Hitting

Not more than 2 seconds after they hop in the car, the screaming begins.

“No, that’s not what happened Erik. My lunch is at 11:35am, not 11:30.”

I brace myself.

“NO SISSY! YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT”

And then, WHAP!

He reaches his little arm across the space in the bucket seats between them and hits her.

“Erik, DON’T HIT ME!!!”

That’s when I intervene.

I don’t know how school bus drivers do it. How do you discipline 30 kids when you’re trying to keep safe and focus on not veering your large yellow, monstrosity off the road

I’m in a Toyota Highlander with only two children and I’m ready to lose my mind.

Yelling At Child Doing Homework
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Yelling At Child Doing Homework

“Noooo… I can’t do it. I don’t have the time!!”

Have you heard this from your child when she sits down to do homework? My gosh, it wrecks me.

I can feel her overwhelm and so relate to it.

I know what it feels like to have so much to do and what seems like no time to do it.

So, I jump in and try to help.

“It’s ok sweetie, let’s write down all the things you have to do to get it out of your head.”

“NO!” she pouts back, “That won’t help. I don’t know any of this and I have to get started now.”

What do you do with that? You see the problem, you know the steps to take to fix it and yet your child pushes you away like you couldn’t possibly know what she’s talking about or what she’s dealing with.

Kids Pick Up
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Kids Pick Up

Ever walk in your house and become immediately overwhelmed with the stuff lying around?

Its bad enough when you have a kitchen junk counter stacked with 3 layers deep with kid’s artwork, random books and those gadgets for your door that you don’t want to throw away but you don’t really know how to install.

But then is all the stuff your kids leave laying in the living room or crammed onto the top of the family room game shelf.

How Do I Help My Child With Mean Friends
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How Do I Help My Child With Mean Friends

Mean kids. They’re everywhere.

Let’s face it. These kids who tease aren’t horrible human beings (although our mama bear senses want to say they are), they just lack social skills.

So if we want our kids to avoid these mean kids and seek out positive relationships, we as parents, need to teach them social skills.

Podcast Episode 053: How to Calm Down When You’re Stressed
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Podcast Episode 053: How to Calm Down When You’re Stressed

We all get into arguments with our kids that make us feel stressed and anxious. But how do we get out of that and move on to a solution with our kids? We give easy calm down strategies for your and your kids. You both will be able to cool down in no time flat!
These tips are perfect for parents and kids!

3 Simple Ways to Make Homework Fun

3 Simple Ways to Make Homework Fun

I’m going to be blunt.

Right now, your child’s homework time just plain sucks.

It does.

You dread it every night. “Hey, have you done your math homework yet?

“NO! I can’t do my homework. I don’t want to do it yet. Can’t I watch TV? I’ll do it after dinner.”

So much back and forth and back and forth. It’s become too much.

The question is, how do you make your child want to do homework?

How do you make homework less boring?

Podcast Episode 119: Finding your Authentic Self with Ryan Haddon
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Podcast Episode 119: Finding your Authentic Self with Ryan Haddon

It can be hard finding your authentic self when we put so much energy into our family every day. It becomes so difficult to untangle where your identity ends and your identity as a parent begins (news flash- they are different)! We’re going to share 3 things you can do to have healthy boundaries with our kids and family and help you find your authentic self.

Podcast Episode 028: Why Don’t Our Kids Listen Anymore?
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Podcast Episode 028: Why Don’t Our Kids Listen Anymore?

Every day feels like a fight. Whether you ask your kids to pick up their shoes off the floor, to go get dressed for school, or simply to come join the family for dinner. It often feels like our kids simply don’t listen to us! But if we did just 3 simple things, we would see much different results.

Tween Mood Swings
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Tween Mood Swings

You walk in the door from school. Your nine-year-old comes in after you.

Everything seems fine. She’s happy. All is well and good.

Then, you remind her that the dishwasher needs unloading.

Boom. It’s like something inside her detonates.

“Noooo… I don’t have time to do that. That’s so unfair. I can’t believe you’re making me do this!:

She glares at you, stomps over to the kitchen sink and starts crying.

WHA-ATT just happened? She was happy. I didn’t blame her. I just had a simple request.

Podcast Episode 61: How Logical Consequences are More Effective Than Punishments at Home
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Podcast Episode 61: How Logical Consequences are More Effective Than Punishments at Home

Too often, we fall into the trap of punishing our kids in the heat of the moment after something’s happened. But that hardly ever works. Here, we’ll discuss the difference between logical consequences and punishments, as well as how to make effective logical consequences that will have a positive impact on your discipline at home.

Podcast Episode #146: How to Parent Like a Spy with Christina Hillsberg
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Podcast Episode #146: How to Parent Like a Spy with Christina Hillsberg

Have you ever thought that being a parent should carry some training? How about spy training? I mean, who doesn’t want to learn how to parent like a spy? Meet Christina Hillsberg, former CIA agent and author who shares how her training as a spy has influenced her parenting with her 5 kids.

Middle School Organization Checklist
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Middle School Organization Checklist

It’s 6pm on a Thursday and I get a frantic text from a friend. Her daughter goes to the same school as mine.

“Hey, does your daughter have the math test from 2 months ago? The teacher is letting Celina retake it but she can’t find it.”

“Yeah, hold on, let me ask her.”

My daughter does have the test – which she doesn’t hand over right away because she wants to know exactly why she needs it, what it will be used for… third degree basically.
Satisfied with all my answers,she opens her binder to the math section, pulls out the test and hands it to me.
“Thanks,” my friend texts back, “I don’t know what Celina did with it.”

Podcast Episode 116: Six Coping Skills That Will Change Your Kids Lives
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Podcast Episode 116: Six Coping Skills That Will Change Your Kids Lives

Do you wonder how to teach good coping skills to your kids? We talk with Janine Halloran, LMHC, about everything parents should and shouldn’t do when learning and teaching good coping skills to kids.

Could this be why you’re so frustrated as a mom?
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Could this be why you’re so frustrated as a mom?

Do you feel like you’re too nice?

One of my students called me out for that my first year of teaching.

In her very astute, wise little fifth grade voice she told me, “Mrs. Crohn, you are too nice”

But wait… don’t you want to be nice? Isn’t that something to aim for?

Kind yes. But nice…nice is taking on the full responsibility of other people’s feelings and adapting your behavior to make others happy.

That’s what I was doing when an 11-year-old called me out.

Creating A Bare Bones Budget When You’re Not Making Much Money
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Creating A Bare Bones Budget When You’re Not Making Much Money

In the midst of this strange season of social distancing and change, money may well be a scary topic for you. Maybe you’re like my family and you’re working through a big loss of income due to the pandemic? Maybe overwhelm and anxiety define your money situation in this season of uncertainty? Maybe you’ve decided to keep your head down and eyes closed, playing the “if I don’t look at it, then it can’t be real game” that our kids played when they were little?

Homework Helper Middle School
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Homework Helper Middle School

Dread your middle schooler’s homework every night? These tips for middle school parents will guide you in effective homework strategies.

There I was, sitting in my son’s 7th grade Parent-Teacher conferences, listening to the Literature teacher tell me the same thing I have heard for the past few years at every single conference…

“Your son is very bright, well-behaved, an absolutely pleasure in class. However, he doesn’t seem to get his homework done. And our first test of the year didn’t go very well for him.”