Inspiration from this Episode

“It really helped us stay steady in the traumatic year we had.”

“We had learned to value each others input and perspective.”

“Maybe it’s ending a habit, maybe it’s starting a new one.”

017 | Us & Kids: How to Have Remarkable Courage in Difficult Years

Intro 

On today’s show, we are celebrating the last day of the year as we bring in the New Year. It’s often hard not to get up in the “year in review” mode when we get to the end of the year. It can be important to look back and see where we have been and how far we’ve come. Sometimes though, we might have difficult or painful that happened to us this past year that are hard to relive. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• Reviewing the good and the bad.
• Finding calmness through our partner.
• What we can achieve if we don’t quit.
• How to build that solid foundation.

Resources...

Inspiration from this Episode

“I want to teach my kiddos what’s the best response they can do when they receive a gift.”

“As adults we are supposed to be able to hold our own emotions together.”
“It could be wise for you to have that exit plan.”

016 | Us & Kids: Presents and Presence

Intro 

On today’s show, Christmas is right around the corner, so for many of us presents are on our minds. Are you ready? Are the presents wrapped? Or has frazzled and weary got your heart and mind?  Does staying home to sleep sound so much better than playing - even if it is with your favorite people?

Taking care of gifts and having any energy left to enjoy the occasion can be a tough and tiring balance. Have a listen to today’s podcast for some ideas on how to help you and your kiddos with the present giving and receiving skill. I also share some ideas on how to help yourself and your marriage with the being present with...

 Inspiration from this Episode

“These are the same skills we want when we're parenting our little ones.”

“Be creative. Ask for help.”

“Teach, model, show, practice, encourage. Be patient and persistent, with deep kindness and joy.”

015 | Us & Kids: Raising our Kids is Messy, Like Building Gingerbread Houses

Intro 

On today’s show, we're talking about how raising our kids is like building gingerbread houses. There are so many fun, messy and challenging parts of building a gingerbread house around the holidays. A lot can also be said about the fun, messy and challenging times that we go through when we raise our little ones.

As our kids grow and go through different phases, there are little tidbits we can take away from how to handle situations. Sometimes we might need to be still, quiet and just support, while other times we may need to overlook the messy bits and just appreciate the fun we’ve had along the...

Inspiration from this Episode

“What if we wanted to evaluate our relationship DNA?”

“It takes a lot of work to even keep their own selves together.”

“We have to learn how to be still and hold our own needs.”

014 | Us & Kids: DNA for Fun

Intro 

On today’s show, we are talking about how relationships can be tricky and just when we think we’ve figured them out they grow and change. So many of us want to feel that our relationships are steady, dependable and predictable. We often think of DNA as who we are genetically but what if we thought about who we are as individuals and partners in our relationships.

Is it possible to take two very unique human beings and put them together in a forever marriage? What types of things we would need to look at in yourself or your partner? So many things affect who we are as people from our childhood, traumas, spirituality, personality and so much more. Today we will look at our...

Inspiration from this Episode

“We don’t have control over other people.”

“You’ve decided how you’re going to act—with grace and maturity.”

“How should we help our children grieve?”

013 | Us & Kids: Lost and Found

Intro 

On today’s show, we're talking about all the things we lose in our day to day lives.

When we lose things, no matter how small or insignificant, how do you react? Do you think you’re losing your mind and get mad? Do we have tendencies to sometimes blame other people when things get lost?

Many times when we lose things, it isn’t just the thought of them being lost that really bothers us. It can be what that specific item represents to us and it no longer being around that upsets or bothers us. The loss of a family member or loved one in our lives can also be a time where we lose sense of ourselves and we must learn how to reconnect. 

What You’ll...

Inspiration from this Episode

“You can make it the best it can be under whatever circumstances you’re in.”

“Sometimes it takes a lot of energy to be around groups of people.”

“Keep your boundaries in a good place.”

012 | Us & Kids: Thanksgiving 

Intro 

On today’s show, we're in the season of celebrating Thanksgiving this week. The holidays can put an emotional and relational impact on your relationship and raising your kids. This holiday season when there is so much to be thankful for, there are still some things you should focus on for yourself. 

During this season, I want you to work on putting pride aside and really focusing on happiness. Learn when to ask and accept help from others. Remember to take time for yourself if constant crowds and large groups become draining for you. It’s never a bad thing to ensure you are in the right mind space to truly enjoy the season with our loved...

Inspiration from this Episode

“They would have missed out on this beautiful bonding space.”

“Being organized often helps us be more calm.”

“Write those words of encouragement because it builds trust.”

011 | Us & Kids: Write It to Right It

Intro 

On today’s show, we are talking about why writing is so important for good mental health, family health and marriage health. Many of us get caught up in the thought of sitting down and having to write things down. Our school-aged kids also have responsibilities for writing in their day, from book reports, their agendas and other homework. 

Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, that is a time that we like to quietly reflect on all the things we are thankful for. We often feel scared of the idea of journaling or other consistent writing because we think there is only one right way to do things. What we usually don’t realize is that journaling is just a...

Inspiration from this Episode

“What do we want the end of the conversation to look like?”

“We didn’t rush into things often.”

“I'm going to continue to help my children to be calm.”

010 | Us & Kids: Apologize

Intro 

On today’s show, we're discussing something that's important in any relationship—how to apologize. Sometimes things can get messy and we need to learn the right way and time to apologize to one another. When we run into difficult situations in our marriage and while parenting, there are a few things we can do to help get to a resolution. 

A lot of the time we need to evaluate what we want to get out of a conversation before we know how to approach it. When kids are brought into the mix, it can be hard to understand how to properly handle a situation while using it as a learning experience. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• Defining the desire for our...

Inspiration from this Episode

“I am going to have one space that is neat.”

“Making your bed is a reminder to create order out of the chaotic.”

“A good goal is to make it good but not perfect.”

009 | Us & Kids: Make Your Bed

Intro 

On today’s show, we are talking about how one simple and small action we can take each day can make a huge difference. That one little step many of us may love or avoid doing is making our bed. We often don’t realize the impact that making our bed first thing in the morning has on our day.

Us as parents need a space that provides us with peace and calmness among the chaos of each day. Things are never going to be perfect, especially with kids, but when we take the opportunity to create order in our lives it can positively impact our children. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• The theory behind making our bed and our mood.
• Creating that space of calmness and...

 Inspiration from this Episode

“Remember, those who knew you before still know you.”

“Your needs and desires can shift.”

008 | Us & Kids: Breast Cancer Awareness

Intro 

On today’s show, we are talking about something that can be hard to talk about but something that is necessary to bring awareness to—breast cancer. When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, there is a lot of uncertainty in their lives. They become unsure of who they are as a woman, as a wife and as a mother. 

There are so many ways we can deal with this diagnosis in our own lives as well as for those around us. We want to ensure we can embrace the new things to come while also keeping the normal things in our lives. This month let’s take the time to bring awareness around breast cancer and how it can affect everyone. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• Breast cancer as a woman & a wife.
• How to bring normalcy back into your...