Hi, Fam!

Have you ever been shamed or humiliated in front of people? Whether it was during school, a social event, or even online, most of us have been publicly shamed at some point. How did it make you feel? Did it make you want to change? Did it feel good? Did it feel like they had your best interest at heart? Odds are good your answer is no.  So why do some think that it's ok to continue this into adult...

Do you ever feel like you're struggling under the weight of being an adult? Managing your time, finances, relationships, emotions, children, etc...sometimes life can feel so out of control.  Then you add in anxiety, fear, and worry about things going on around you and in the world at large...it's no wonder so many people are suffering and feel stuck.  In this episode I'll discuss these challenges...

Do you ever struggle with fear, frustration, worry, anxiety, or negative thoughts? There can be this running voice in our heads that constantly makes us feel like we're not enough, like we're messing up, like we're a failure. It can be so easy to feel offended, feel like a victim, feel upset, worried, anxious, scared, fearful, doubtful, etc.  In this episode I'm going to talk about how our mindset...

There seems to be some confusion in our culture between criticism and critique. While criticism can be unhelpful and hurtful, critique is necessary to help us grow, develop, and make wise choices. It's how things improve!  You've probably heard the saying "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." I sometimes get feedback like this when I talk about school or issues in parenting...

How do you express your love? Is it the same way you receive love? How do your kids experience your love? In this episode I'll discuss the five love languages coined by Gary Chapman and add my take on them. PLUS I'm adding a 6th one to the list.  [02:13] Gary Chapman's "The Five Love Languages" [03:19] This can help us understand each other and improve our relationships. [06:06] These can change a...

Marriage should not be a cause of pain and suffering. OR AT LEAST, should not ONLY be a cause of pain and suffering. It should also be a source of great energy and joy, and should be enhancing and boosting our life. It should make life easier and more enjoyable, having this companion and life partner by our side. But so often I'm seeing the opposite. Instead of being mostly good with some challeng...

Has your relationship suffered after children were thrown into the mix? Chances are good that it has. I've certainly gone through ups and downs, and my friends and clients have too. While challenges certainly are inevitable, life-long suffering in your relationship doesn't have to be.  In this episode I'm going to ask some questions and even give you a little tough love to inspire and encourage yo...

Do you feel like you carry the bulk of the load in your relationship? Like all the responsibility falls on you? Like the division of labor and the mental and emotional burden isn't fair?  It's understandable...and it's also ruining our relationships. In this episode I'm going to walk you through a series of questions to help you shift your mindset and improve your relationship with your partner. ...

I know there can be a lot of anxiety and indecision when it comes to the topic of school vs. homeschool. How do you know which way to go? What if I try it and it doesn't work? What if I ruin my kids?? In this episode I'm going to walk you through the decision making process and take you from indecision to clarity.  [10:42] "The best use of imagination is creativity. The worst use of imagination is...

So many of us have been pushing through, waiting and hoping for things to return to some sort of "normal". But with a second wave sweeping through the world it seems like it may never get back to normal. And now with the school year approaching and continued restrictions wherever we go, there's no end to the opportunities to feel anxious, fearful, and overwhelmed.  In this episode I want to help y...

Does social media stress you out? Research indicates that it can cause anxiety and even depression. I've heard countless people say they felt great after taking a break from it. Why is that?  In this episode I want to offer a breakdown of the recent social media landscape; how it may be harming us, what we can do to keep our sanity. [04:56] Links between social media and anxiety and depression. [1...

Join me in a conversation with my friend Kate Northrup, "Do Less" author, as we talk about time-management, work-life balance, and vulnerability.  Sometimes we feel we have to hide some part of our parenting because we're afraid of people's judgments. We fear sharing our whole, vulnerable self because disagreement is often met with hostile, dogmatic, judgmental comments.  One of the things I've wo...

Do you feel tired or burned out in your parenting? Do you feel like you're "on" all the time and never get a break? Do you think your child's happiness and entertainment falls squarely on your shoulders? In this episode I want to address an issue I see a lot; overparenting.  [03:01] What is overparenting? [07:24] A big indicator of overparenting: Burnout [08:08] Overparenting is not good for the p...

There's a mindset that has permeated our culture and it's causing a lot of damage. It ruins our homes and families, our relationships, and even entire communities. Which mindset? Blaming . Let's discuss. [03:32] The blaming mindset is rampant in our culture. [08:41] How does blaming help?  [09:49] How a blaming mindset affects our homes. [10:29] Blame triggers defensiveness. [11:53] Blaming over-s...

Many people have been struggling with feelings of powerlessness and negativity. But what if I told you that you possess the ability to empower yourself and create positivity in your life? That's exactly what I'll be discussing in this episode.  [03:50] Our thoughts and words are powerful. [06:48] Culture has "watered down" certain words and concepts. [10:54] When we use exaggerated words, it sets...

We all want to be better communicators, right? I know I do. Like most things in life, improving our communication is a process and it takes intentional work to help us break old habits and create new ones. Join me as I discuss some specific toxic patterns that we all need to break and what we can do instead.  [04:13] Communication skills are so important to be a healthy adult. [06:14] We often fal...

There's a mindset that keeps parents stuck and suffering, and really holds us back. We have a lot more control in our lives than we sometimes believe, and it can take some gentle nudging (or tough love, for some of us) to help us see things for what they are. Changing our mindset in this one area can make a big difference in our lives and empower us as parents and leaders of our family.  [04:20] W...

Because sending kids to school is often the "default option", I'm often asked "Why do you homeschool?"  I think it's time to start reversing that question and ask "why are you sending your kids to school?" When you really think about what your school provides (or doesn't provide), homeschooling may begin to look much more appealing and not as out-of-reach as you once thought.  Let's discuss. [05:1...

Even without a global pandemic, life can be hard. Bad things happen and we all experience difficulties and challenges. It's easy to feel sorry for ourselves and go through life as a victim. But I'm here to tell you that there's so much more waiting for you on the other side of victimhood, and you can decide to leave it behind. Let's discuss how.  [04:07] Society pressures us to sacrifice everythin...

I get messages from parents all over the world (hundreds a day) asking how they can get their kids to play independently.  I hear things like: My kids won't play My kids are clingy We live in a small apartment My kids have very different play styles My kids fight with each other I'm a working parent, so it can't work for me I'm here to tell you that those are just excuses! And to help you see that...

I know that these times have been tough for many, leaving some in a "survival mode." But others have found, in spite of the challenges and frustrations, that they're enjoying certain aspects of their time at home with their family. And it may leave us wondering...do we really want life to go back to the way it was before? Or is it time to make some changes to the way we live our lives? Let's discu...

At times in life (and for many, the present time), we'll face challenges and changes in our resources. To stay sane (or sometimes just survive), it's necessary to adjust your expectations to what's realistic given your circumstances.  [08:53] We can choose whether or not to be a victim. [10:29] We have to match our level of expectations to the level of our resources. [11:17] When you lose resource...

Renee Jain is back for another episode! With so many parents finding themselves homeschooling, we thought we should offer some practical tips to help parents through this challenging transition and help you (and your kids) stay sane!  [02:50] Cut yourself some slack. It's not realistic to think you'll be a homeschooling pro in a couple of weeks.  [03:05] Kids go through a "de-schooling" process; e...

As we face the COVID-19 Pandemic, there's a lot we can't control. It can cause major fear, anxiety, and worry...but it doesn't have to. This episode is from a live video I did where I shared 3 questions you can ask when you're facing a crisis, and I wanted to share it with you in hopes it will help you through these uncertain times.  [02:49] Question 1: Who do I want to be? [06:53] It may not come...

Hi friend! Do your kids ever get angry or throw tantrums? Do YOU ever get triggered by their tantrums and lose it?  🙋🏻‍♀️I do. We all do. In this episode you'll get to hear from the amazing Renee Jain of GoZen as we discuss how to "handle" emotions in both our children AND in ourselves.  [05:37] What is GoZen in a nutshell? [09:20] We have to make peace with the idea that stress and difficulties...