Just Ask Your Mom

Nothing quite prepares you for the stark reality of bringing home a real live baby, no matter how much babysitting you've done or how many younger siblings you may have had. We take a look at some of the transitions, weird stuff, and learning curves of the 0-12 month phase with a new baby at home.

It's back to school time again, and we thought it would be worthwhile to give teachers the floor. How can parents help our kids to be successful in school? How can we best work with our child's teacher, and what do teachers themselves wish parents knew?

Some kids are happy and easy-going by nature, but sometimes, your "easy kid," the one you subconsciously call the "good one," can be compliant and quick to save the day for other reasons. On this episode, we talk about why it's good to check in with that child who's under the radar and who makes your life easier.

Peanuts, gluten, dairy: food allergies & sensitivities are more common than ever. Join us as we talk to veteran pediatrician Dr. Castleberry about the uptick of these issues over the years and what parents can do to detect, treat, and live with food allergies/sensitivities in their families.

Face it: babies suck. It's a survival instinct and strong reflex that parents have to fulfill in some form. Some babies naturally find their fingers or thumb, and others are soothed by a pacifier or lovey (stuffed toy, blanket, or other adopted object). Is one form of soothing better than another? What are the pros and cons? What are some ways to ditch the paci once it's time?

On this episode, we talk with firearms instructor and incident responder, David Sproles, about best practices for keeping your family safe. How do we teach our kids about situational awareness, fire safety, weather preparedness? Some great tips for all the "just in case" situations that could come up! "Be prepared" isn't just a Scout motto: it's a great principle for...

Fun! Spontanaeity! Competition! Action! These are some of the things people with the "orange" temperament value and exhibit. What does parenting an orange child look like? How can you best motivate, correct, and teach an orange child and what are some things to keep an eye on? This episode explores the temperament that keeps us on our toes and brings color to our lives!

One of the earliest temperaments to discern, the child with the gold temperament can be the most challenging to raise. Leaders, organized, and doing best on a routine or schedule, golds keep things running smoothly, but they need to learn flexibility and loosening control. Self-confessed golds, Renee & Bonnie talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of this temperament!

On those hot days of summer, many of us head to the lake or the pool to beat the heat. What do parents need to know about kids & water? How can we keep our kids safe and still have fun? When should you start swim lessons? Top ten safety rules for kids and water every family should know!

Knowing your child's temperament is a giant tool in understanding how best to motivate, correct, and teach them in the ways they can best receive instruction. This episode looks at the green temperament: the analyzer, procrastinator, deep-thinker, and loyal friend. Is this your child? Is this you? What does it look like to raise a child with this temperament?

How do you know your child's temperament and why does it matter? The better we know our kids, the better we can relate to them, motivate them, correct them, and train them. The more we can love them the way they most need to be loved. It makes all the difference, AND bonus: it teaches US to be more empathetic and appreciative of others, too.

More and more families are opting for summer camps for their kids, and there are so many types to choose from! How do you know when it's time to send your kids? What if they're hesitant? How do you pick and what are the pros and cons?

Pets can teach kids empathy, responsibility, and life lessons about loss and caring for others. How do you know when (or if) your family is ready to adopt a pet? Should it be a goldfish or a puppy? We talk with long-time veterinarian (& Bonnie's husband), Robert Blaylock, recount our own experiences with family pets, and look what getting a family pet could mean for a family.

Almost everything we do as parents teaches our kids something. There's so much they need to learn! Is there a difference in how to teach life skills versus moral behaviors? How do we motivate our kids to reach a goal?

At 18, Matthew Houser wrote a blog from a teen perspective that offered insight into a teen's point of view. In our candid conversation with Matthew, he reveals some of the struggles he faced as a teen, and gives parents a glimpse of what helped and what didn't, how he processed things and how he made decisions. A helpful (& hopeful!) episode!

Today, teens report spending an average of over 8 hours/day with screens. Girls, in particular, are experiencing record-high rates of mental anguish, due in part to this shift. How can parents compete with that much input and influence? Our final episode in this 3-part series examines what we can do to "get in their way."

We hear it more and more: how we feel mentally scattered and easily lose our focus, our memory seems fuzzy and we can't concentrate for long. The rates of diagnosed ADHD in the US have catapulted over the past decade. What's going on with our focus?

The dreaded "screen time" issue. How much is too much? What effect does it really have? Join us for this important 3-part series on video games, phones, & screens in the lives of ourselves & our kids. We dive into 3 well-researched books & see what the latest science has to say.

It's one of the universal trials of parenthood--getting your kid to go potty. We take a look at what works & what doesn't, how you know it's time to start, and the cost & need for diapers. Take heart: hardly anyone leaves the nest still hiding behind the living room chair to poop!

One of the first sounds a baby makes is a cry. And there's a lot more where that came from! Childhood comes with a lot of tears, which can be distressing for a parent. What do we do with our kids' feelings of sadness? How can we comfort them without dismissing or hurrying them through their tears?

How is parenting a teenager like watching a trapeze act? We talk with veteran youth minister, David Skidmore, to find out the top things parents need to know about raising a young adult. A dad of three young adult daughters, he weighs in on how parents can foster trust with their kids. An encouraging conversation with so many gold nuggets of wisdom!

One thing is for sure: life brings the unexpected. If you're left flying solo, would you know what to do first or would you flounder in panic? Turns out, there are practical (and not that hard!) things EVERY family needs to do TODAY that can make the unexpected, tragic things in life a little easier.

In our increasingly isolated, individualistic society, how can we better connect with others? The friendships, support, and connection we all crave can be found in the practice of hospitality. What is it and how does it work? How have WE practiced it or been welcomed? And should we care if the floor is swept or there's a pile of laundry on the bed?

While we may have a handle on sports, school, and encouraging our kids' talents, lots of moms and dads figure the spiritual/moral development of their kids will happen naturally. This may be because of our own upbringing or feeling unequipped to take charge in this arena. Our guest is a children's minister with 15+ years' experience in guiding children preschool through grade 6. She...

Monsters under the bed, a dark room, separation: all common childhood fears that are developmentally appropriate for certain ages. We break down fears by age, how to combat them, how to address childhood fears, and what we can do as parents to help our kids through an emotion that can seem overwhelming.