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...

Inspiration from this Episode

“Feelings from miscarriage looks different for everyone.”

006 | Us & Kids: Miscarriage & Loss

Intro 

On today’s show, we talk about the hard topic of miscarriage and losing a child. Miscarriage is never an easy thing to go through no matter when it happens. We often feel as though we are alone because no one talks about what they might also be going through. 

As a friend, we often don’t know what to say or how to support our friends through this time. We don’t want to risk saying the wrong thing or potentially upset them more. We are going to discuss some of the many ways you can support a friend or loved one during a miscarriage. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• When we think no one else is going through it.
• How to support a friend through miscarriage.
• Not forgetting the grieving spouse.
• Dealing with the different emotions.

Resources in Today’s...

Inspiration from this Episode

“We need to practice being close to each other.”

“You just had to make a decision and go.”

“It’s not easy to make a win, especially when you’re busy.”

005 | Us & Kids: Happy Anniversary

Intro 

On today’s show, we are talking about ANNIVERSARIES and all the ways we celebrate them. I’ve been a marriage and family therapist for many many years. Anniversaries matter to so many people around us, our family, our friends, our kids. 

As the years go by and we celebrate bigger and greater accomplishments, we also need to take the time to look back and see where we’ve been. Go over all of those wins you’ve had with your spouse, and remember those times that might have been a little bit more trying. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• How to celebrate the wins no matter how small.
• Taking responsibility for your part when...

Inspiration from this Episode

“Being married is a challenge all in itself, learning how to become husband and wife.”

“Put something in that schedule that says this is for us.”

003 | Us & Kids: Alive After Five—Us

Intro 

Today on our show, we’re getting into part 2 of our series Alive After Five. On the last episode, we discussed what happens in the first 5 years of raising our kids. Today, the discussion is all about our marriage and those first few stages most couples go through. We talk about how to be open to all of the changing phases as well as how to take intentional actions that help direct your marriage. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode

• The first few stages of being married.
•  Dealing with the changes and being open to them.
• How to get yourself back to that passion.
• Regular actions to take to live with purpose.

Resources in Today’s Episode

•   Join the Us &...

Inspiration from this Episode:

“Children grow about one million neuro connections every second during their first few years of life.”

“Confidence builds that curiosity of wanting to try new things.”

002 | Us & Kids: Alive After Five—Kids

Intro 

 On today’s show, we’re focusing on the number ‘5’ and why it’s important in the connections in your marriage and with your kids. We’re going to be talking about the first 5 years of raising a child. Obviously, there is an infinite amount of things we could discuss about the first 5 years of their lives, so let’s take a broad look at everything as a whole. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode: 

•  Where the number 5 shows up in our lives.
• How we can influence their development even after 5.
• How to understand the basic architecture of their brains.
• The importance of consistency from you, for your kids.

Inspiration from this Episode:

“You can indeed be married forever while parenting together.”

“Repairing is doable at any point.”

001 | Us & Kids: Marriage Forever While Parenting Together 

Intro 

Welcome to our podcast. My name is Jan Talen and I’m a marriage and family therapist (for 35 years!). On the Us & Kids podcast, I'll be sharing my professional knowledge and expertise along with life stories to help you become the best married, parenting team.

On today’s episode, we’re going to be talking about how to have a great marriage even while parenting together. 

When we first have kids, everything changes. The first few years of becoming a mom and dad is filled with craziness. Schedules become unpredictable, our sleep patterns change, and we are tired and anxious. Our social life changes, getting a sitter becomes hard and leaving the house seems unmanageable. Finances typically change for many...