Parenting

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

Podcast Episode 353: Your House is Not a Democracy: Finding the Sweet Spot Between Collaboration and Boundaries (Part 1)
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Podcast Episode 353: Your House is Not a Democracy: Finding the Sweet Spot Between Collaboration and Boundaries (Part 1)

Struggling with how to set boundaries with kids without constant battles? Learn how to set boundaries with kids in a way that actually works—without yelling, endless negotiations, or feeling like the bad guy. Discover the secret to how to set boundaries with kids so they listen, respect the rules, and push back less. Don’t miss these game-changing strategies! #parentingtips

Podcast Episode 352: 5 Parenting Hacks to End Power Struggles with Strong-Willed Kids with Kirk Martin
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Podcast Episode 352: 5 Parenting Hacks to End Power Struggles with Strong-Willed Kids with Kirk Martin

Struggling with a strong-willed child? This episode is your guide to parenting without power struggles! Learn 5 expert-backed hacks from Kirk Martin to stop daily battles, stay calm, and connect with your child. Discover why traditional discipline backfires and how to create a home filled with cooperation. Parenting without power struggles is possible—tune in now to find out how! Don’t miss these game-changing strategies for parenting without power struggles.

Podcast Episode 349: (256) The Secret to Understanding Our Teenage Girls with Chelsey Goodan
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Podcast Episode 349: (256) The Secret to Understanding Our Teenage Girls with Chelsey Goodan

Discover effective parenting tips for teenage daughters in this insightful post. Learn how to communicate effectively, empower your daughter with choices, address common issues, and recognize her wisdom.

Podcast Episode 348: Raising Changemakers: How to Teach Kids About Social Change with Deepa Iyer
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Podcast Episode 348: Raising Changemakers: How to Teach Kids About Social Change with Deepa Iyer

Want to raise a child who cares about making a difference? This episode dives into teaching kids social change and community involvement, with expert insights from Deepa Iyer. Learn simple, age-appropriate ways for teaching kids social change and community involvement without overwhelming them, plus discover the 10 roles kids (and adults!) can play in creating a better world. Don’t miss this powerful conversation on teaching kids social change and community involvement in a way that’s fun, engaging, and empowering

Podcast Episode 347: Your Chic Wardrobe is Actually Hiding in Your Closet with Erika Cartledge
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Podcast Episode 347: Your Chic Wardrobe is Actually Hiding in Your Closet with Erika Cartledge

Struggling to find something to wear? These fashion tips for moms will help you break out of your style rut and boost your confidence—without breaking the bank! Tune in as expert stylist Erika Cartledge shares fashion tips for moms on budget-friendly wardrobe staples, common shopping mistakes, and how to make fashion fun again. Don’t miss these must-know fashion tips for moms to help you look and feel amazing every day!

Podcast Episode 346: What Your Step Mom Friends Want You to Know with Cameron Normand
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Podcast Episode 346: What Your Step Mom Friends Want You to Know with Cameron Normand

Struggling with the challenges of being a stepmom? You’re not alone! In this episode, Cameron Normand shares the biggest challenges of being a stepmom, from navigating tricky family dynamics to dealing with unfair double standards. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated, or just plain exhausted, this conversation will give you the support and strategies you need to handle the challenges of being a stepmom with confidence.

Podcast Episode 345: How to Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk When It Comes to Body Image with Dr. Whitney Casares
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Podcast Episode 345: How to Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk When It Comes to Body Image with Dr. Whitney Casares

Struggling with body image talk at home? Dr. Whitney Casares shares expert tips on how to help your child develop a healthy body image—and maybe even improve your own in the process. Learn how small language shifts can make a big impact, why extreme body positivity isn’t always the answer, and practical ways to foster confidence without toxic extremes. If you’ve ever worried about passing down body insecurities, this is the conversation you need.

344: 3 Decluttering and Organization Mistakes Keeping Your Home in Chaos with Lisa Woodruff
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344: 3 Decluttering and Organization Mistakes Keeping Your Home in Chaos with Lisa Woodruff

Discover how to tackle decluttering and organization mistakes that are keeping your home in chaos! With Lisa Woodruff, we share 3 game-changing tips to avoid common decluttering and organization problems and create systems that actually work for your family. Stop wasting time and start organizing smarter by avoiding these decluttering and organization issues.

Podcast Episode 342: The Truth About College Admissions No One Tells You with Dr. Pamela Ellis
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Podcast Episode 342: The Truth About College Admissions No One Tells You with Dr. Pamela Ellis

Feeling overwhelmed by college admissions and college applications? Learn how to support your teen without stress! Get tips on navigating college admissions, avoiding common pitfalls in college applications, and creating a plan that works for your family. Take the guesswork out of college admissions and help your child succeed with confidence.

Older Sibling Hurting Younger Sibling
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Older Sibling Hurting Younger Sibling

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.

Kid Crying Doing Homework
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Kid Crying 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.

How To Teach Your Child To Clean Up After Themselves
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How To Teach Your Child To Clean Up After Themselves

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 To Deal With Mean Kids
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How To Deal With Mean Kids

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.

11 Year Old Mood Swings
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11 Year Old 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.

Organization Checklist For Students
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Organization Checklist For Students

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.”