Inspiration from this Episode

“Do you take time to actually think and move your emotions and look at the consequences?”

“What do you know about you that others don’t or wouldn’t believe?”

“They relied on family when family was good for them and they learned to rely on each other.”

069 | Us & Kids: Mary, Marry, and Merry

Intro 

It’s close to Christmas day...and like most other traditions and truths there is a fabulous story to go along with this tradition of Christmas. So, today instead of teaching and guiding you into spaces about being your best self, parent or partner/spouse, I want to encourage you to relax, listen to this story, with all the applications for your life today.

For those of you who know the details to this story, I am skipping a few of them in the interest of time and the focus of this podcast. I am leaving some space for spiritual interest and intrigue.  I invite you to wonder about...

Inspiration from this Episode

“Are you investing or how can you improve your investment in gold life skills for your kids?”

“You’re trying to be gracious to them but you also want them to feel safe and secure enough to be honest with you.”

“Learning how to do things together is another really good skill, and being compassionate.”

068 | Us & Kids: Gifts for Everyone

Intro 

On today’s show, we are talking about finding ways to end the year well. When we feel that in many ways this year has been bumpy, there have been anticipations and disappointment and adjustments that just seem nonstop. Sure there has been good, but there’s also been struggle and tension.

Last week we talked about anticipation and how the biblical wise men had to make changes and pivots and they were tired too but that they ended up in a really good spot. This week we are going to continue on with those wisemen and that biblical story -...

Inspiration from this Episode

“This power of hope for something better, or bigger than us - that relieves pain or brings joy is crucial to our daily lives - no matter how old we are.”

“Kids show up with energy and desires to be near you for comfort, strength and reassurance and growth. They want to follow and model you. 

“Making an impact on your spouse that brings strength, courage and connections that build memories about this year so that it ends in joy and peace.”

067 | Us & Kids: Anticipation and Hope

Intro  

Our podcast today comes from my thinking about anticipation and the 3 wise men. The story of the wise men comes from the Christian story of the birth of Jesus. But, do not worry if you think this is going to be a come to Jesus moment. This podcast is about the anticipation, disappointment and joy that the wisemen experienced.  

In some ways, they had a year like us. You see, they started out with...

Inspiration from this Episode

“How we parent one child is different from another based on their personality and place in development.”

“We need a willingness to share and a willingness to be compassionate and helpful.”

“They need support and the only way to get what they need is to ask for help.”

066 | Us & Kids: KIDS - Defined

Intro 

On today’s show, we’re going to talk about kids. Yes, those little monkeys that climb all over your furniture. Those little things that spill and don't seem to care or wonder why you do care so much. Sometimes it feels like we need instructions on how to manage these energetic ones.

We’re going to break this up into 4 levels and talk about each one. These will apply to each kiddo no matter how old they are—these are universal truths. Join in together so we can say, what is our next best step?

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• How kindness helps...

Inspiration from this Episode

“Not just because our kiddos shift and change but also because we change.”

“What do you want to be remembered for and known for as being a dad and what do you want your kids to develop into?”

“You’re just going to speak the truth. We’re going to do it with love, without shame.”

065 | Us & Kids: DAD - Defined

Intro 

On today’s show, we are going to focus on the word and the attributes of being Dad. Now even if you’re not a dad, don’t check out because you probably know a dad somewhere. And as you listen to it you can learn ways to encourage, affirm, and be delighted with the dad attributes that are all around you. 

If you are a dad, remember that being a dad is one of the most challenging jobs around and that everyday is different. Step up and do your best and some days your best looks better than other days. You are growing and changing but also your kiddos...

Inspiration from this Episode

“You might just be exhausted and trying to see the good but it's hard.”

“Along with this grieving, When you have the energy, you might also note in writing or in your mind, why you grief these things or people.”

“These were things you haven't done in other years, so they are going to create new memories around this new mix of experience.”

064 | Us & Kids: Thanksgiving

Intro 

So, it's Thanksgiving week! A week to give thanks for all the good things that we have in our life. Perhaps, if you're lucky, you get to go Black Friday shopping, or Cyber Monday shopping!

But, for some of us, this year has been anything but thankful. It has had challenges, death, loneliness, loss of income, fear of the unknown, and a new sense of things we cannot control and the unsettling emotions that come with it.

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• What to do with Thanksgiving?
• How to acknowledge...

Inspiration from this Episode 

“Look at your shelf with them to see what you can do to clean it up and to make it so there’s room to function.”

“The walls for us are really our framework or boundaries and there are times when those boundaries are sticky.”

“The emotions and thoughts you need can get stuck on somebody else’s attitude or your own attitude.”

062 | Us & Kids: What’s in Your Refrigerator?

Intro  

On today’s show, we’re going to talk about something that all of us have - our refrigerators. Ever think that it's time to clean your refrigerator? Every now and then, we might realize that our refrigerator has gathered a whole lot of crunchy dirt. 

And so as I think about refrigerators, I also realized that they have an awful lot in common with how we live our lives as a family and as a couple. So let's take a look inside your refrigerator and see what we find.

What...

Inspiration from this Episode

“Who do you walk shoulders with that is a step ahead of you that has some qualities you are looking to develop?”

“We can blend emotional energy with wise behavior.”

“We pause on the blame and the shame, both to ourselves and other people.”

061 | Us & Kids: Wisdom

Intro 

On today’s show, we are talking about something that each one of us at some point in our life or another thinks “That wasn’t the wisest thing I could have done.” So we are going to talk about wisdom. What are the qualities in it and how do we continue to grow it?

We will break down wisdom as an adult and how to develop wisdom in your kiddo. What aspects of wisdom do you think you have? Listen in to learn how to grow more of it yourself...and how to help instill wisdom in your kiddos too by grabbing the printable too!  

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• How to find people...

Inspiration from this Episode

“What amount of emotion is appropriate for this kind of place?”

“I’m going to make it so they can ease their way back to having some calm even though they are overtired.”

“Next time I’m scared of something I want to do, I can make a plan for carrying that forward.”

060 | Us & Kids: Salty Emotions

Intro 

On today’s show, we are talking about salt and emotions, and what does one have to do with the other? So let’s just think for a minute about salt. It’s been around for ever and ever, and so have emotions. It has a variety of uses, some are wonderful and some of them are rather icky - and that’s true for emotions as well.

There are a million uses for salt and some might say there are a million and one uses for emotions. And some of us would say there are a million and one emotions too yet. Salt and emotions - the perfect pair. Sprinkle these around your heart...

Inspiration from this Episode

“As babies they need to learn to trust us humans."

“We then build on the way to build healthy attachments with other people around us.”

“Give them a little more affirmation when they try things. Give them room to try it and achieve.”

059 | Us & Kids: ID and Personality Development

Intro 

On today’s show, we are talking about how to parent healthy children - emotionally healthy children. This is not so much about the food that we feed them, although we know what we feed them impacts their moods and behaviours. And, it’s not about your marriage relationship, although we know that the healthier the marriage in general, the healthier the kiddos. 

There are emotional stages that a child goes through - well into adulthood too, that we can impact and as we do, our kiddos develop the skills that impact their character development and the way their personality plays out.

What...