Art Creativity & Wellbeing

"I am still just so scared these challenges are going to last forever, and school and daily life will always be a struggle. It's so hard to see the stuff other kids can do that [my three-year-old] just can't." If this lament – if these fears – sound familiar, I hope today's episode will help. Raising children is a hard job, especially when you're worried about a child's behavior, and if it's norma...

This episode almost didn't make it. Not because I don't think it is wicked important. I do think that. But because I worried about hurting your feelings. Ultimately (as you'll hear in the first five minutes or so) I decided to bring it to you, because from everything I'm seeing, school is broken. Systemically. In the long-term, I hope we can work together to fix it. But in the short-term, we need...

Reminder: join my Ninja Parenting Community for $1 for your first 30 days! But only by joining before October 1! “Thank you for all of your help! You have truly changed our lives and helped navigate some massive life changes and I am so grateful!” – Mama Llama, Mom of a three-year-old boy and NPC member "Karen helps me feel like I actually know what I am doing.” – Steve, Dad of 3-and-5-year-old bo...

I am super excited to bring you a conversation with two of the most beloved people in podcasting, Biz Ellis and Theresa Thorn of One Bad Mother ! Take note: there WILL be swears, so listen away from your kiddos… Also I totally mess up in describing a genius moment of my own! (I guess that's a fail at a genius moment : ) So in the preshow I try to rectify that. Biz and Theresa are such generous peo...

So, today's Parenting News segment makes me cry, those mushy, parenty, happy/sad tears. You know the ones. That's coming up in today's break. Also! Join my private coaching community for just $1 for your whole first 30 days! Get the support you need to help your child – or yourself – through the huge challenges that parenting can bring. This is for a limited time, only through September 30, becaus...

If the anxiety is hyped up in your home right now, for kids and/or for you, hopefully you'll find this episode helpful! It even includes a discussion, during the break, about how to deal with our own parental anxieties. I read listener Cathy's letter, sharing about her own anxiety, which starts off the thinking about what we can do to feel less anxious ourselves. Plus in Parenting News: I complete...

Are you, as a parent, coming to view American healthcare as a soul-sucking showstopper of happiness? Don't despair. Today's guest, Dan Weissmann, has some great ideas and advice! Dan sparked a movement when he began a podcast about the many ways average Americans - confronting a healthcare system that can be ruinous both financially, and healthwise - think of and approach family health and happine...

Whether public school, charter school, private school, or homeschool, this time of year brings massive changes to lots of families' lives. It's exciting, but it can also be stressful. Today I want to help you stay more on the positive side of the exciting/stressful balance! How are you feeling about the start of the new school year? Today we discuss 4 ways to start the year off right. Important Pr...

"Learning" can mean different things to different people: – Getting good grades – Passing a test – Reading, writing, coding, mathematics, etc. But how do we get to the point where we know, and can demonstrate, our knowledge? It all starts in early childhood. Today we dive into how young children learn best. Plus in Parenting News: As parents, we can't be all serious and big-business. Without some...

Today's guest, Anna Seewald of the Authentic Parenting Podcast , experienced a truly traumatic event in her childhood, an earthquake in which she lost her mother. In part because of this experience, she went on to become a therapist, a woman who has dedicated her life to helping others through their toughest moments. "My true passion is to help children to thrive," she writes. Today we discuss man...

We have all been hit hard by the news recently. And if we, as adults, are feeling the strain and stress, it's a safe bet that our children feel it too. How can you help? In this bonus episode I offer five ways. Helpful links: Click here for episode 261 of We Turned Out Okay , my conversation with Maureen Healy (whose Bubble Breathing exercise I suggest in this episode.) Click here for the link to...

(Possibly due to Mommy Brain, I don't mention the survey link in today's episode until I've practically already said goodbye. So, here it is: weturnedoutokay.com/wreck Click there to help me wreck this podcast : ) Also included in the survey: the chance for you to have a quick 1-to-1 call with me in September! Completely free, and without obligation. September is really hard for a lot of you, and...

In this week's episode of We Turned Out Okay, we examine a parent's role in a child's education! Lots of parents have no idea how to help their kiddos in learning how to read, write, do math, or code. But these are the essential skills of the future. How do we help our kids, when they're young, get ready for all that learning? Find out by listening to this episode of We Turned Out Okay ! Plus in P...

Do you ever feel like your family life is sliding in a direction you don't want? In today's episode you will hear how one mom, a coaching client of mine, worked with me to take control. [caption id="attachment_2614" align="alignleft" width="300"] NPC member Jen, with her two daughters.[/caption] Getting control over the direction her family is going has brought has meant many good things, includin...

How does one mom handle it, when she finds her daughters throwing dirt at each other? (FYI: I'm taking your questions for an upcoming episode! What's on your mind about your kiddos right now? I'm a child development expert and parent coach, I'd love to help! Ask, and I'll address your question in our August 6 episode... I'm taking questions until Thursday, August 1 (which is when I'll record the e...

In today's bonus podcast episode I answer WTOO Facebook group member Jennifer's question about how to get kids to take responsibility without continually hovering around them and "politely interrupting" in order to get kids to clean up their messes. I put this in the context of a roadmap, which includes three crucial steps to independence, responsibility, and guilt-free parenting. (BTW: I share ab...

What are the factors that matter – like, REALLY matter, over the long haul – versus those that don't, in your child's education? (Quick heads-up: starting this coming Monday, July 15 I'm offering a program to help you do less for your child, and feel good about it! It's called "21 Days to Independence for your child… and for you." In these 3 weeks we will cover: how to not be your child's personal...

Hey my friend! Next week I'm teaching a FREE workshop on independence, for your child and you, in the We Turned Out Okay Facebook group: click this link to take part or scroll down right here in your podcatcher to find out more!   When I first saw How to Raise a Boy , the book today's guest, Michael Reichert, PhD, wrote, I knew I was in for a treat. Dr. Reichert 's writing is a skillful blend of p...

Heads up on 2 counts: First, I'm teaching a FREE Online Parenting Class I'm teaching this Thursday, "How to Help Your Kids Get Along with Other Kids!" Scroll down to read more and sign up! Second, soon I am teaching a FREE, week long workshop on how to get your child to be more independent so they don't have to rely on you! I'm teaching this workshop in the We Turned Out Okay Facebook group. Click...

Here's something that you may not have thought of: developmental stages aren't just for kids. Each of us grown-ups is still working on stuff developmentally. Today we talk about the adult stages of development – a concept that really matters! It matters in relation to our young children. But most of all it matters to us, inside ourselves. Plus in Parenting News: Friend-of-the-podcast Devorah Heitn...

Heads up: keep listening after the interview, because I read out Emily Orton's responses to questions that were asked in the We Turned Out Okay Facebook group. Her responses are awesome and I don't want you to miss them! Sometimes we have down moments in our lives. Times where we second-guess ourselves and our choices; times where we're not sure what direction to go. That was the case for Erik Ort...

I know you're wondering: what is this untapped force? It's… Wait for it… BOREDOM. Several factors have combined to illustrate for me the amazing power of being bored. I share about these factors in this episode, and I also share about how they are helping me understand that us humans need boredom in our lives. We need to "get comfortable with being uncomfortable," as next week's guests on our show...

Welcome to another installment of Educating Little Kids! (When it's a book, it will have a better title, promise.) We dive into development today, and if you're wondering "why should I care about child development," I hope this episode makes that clear. Really and truly, it's a good thing to know. Today we dive into the stages of development – stages all of us humans are going through – to give yo...

Today's guest, Jacky Lamenzo, ate "only off the kids menu" well into her adulthood. Then, she had the opportunity to go to China for a year, and knew something was going to have to change. Could she make the change? You bet. In our conversation Jacky shares what she did to stop being a picky eater, and also about her delightful children's book that helps parents and kids with picky eating now. And...

"She will not eat with us at the dinner table. No matter what we have for dinner she won't eat it. She just says "yucky" and won't eat anything. Help!!!" So writes Megan, mom of a two-year-old girl who is a seriously picky eater. I bet, if you've got kids, you know Megan's struggle. I certainly do! There is help. Today I share 4 things to consider when you've got a child who refuses to eat. Also!...