The MomForce Podcast Hosted by Chatbooks

Traditions show children that their family circle is a living link to a chain of generations. Research shows that much like displaying printed photos, practicing family traditions helps build children's identity and family connection. But holiday traditions can be overwhelming! You don't have to do ALL of the things in order to make your season magical.  Rituals and traditions can be as elaborate...

The first of a new series! Vanessa and her sisters are going to take turns giving their own "unpopular" opinion on a trending topic/debate/question. We love the diversity of our Facebook group, The MomForce , and would love for you to join the group and chime in on the conversations happening here.   We are so happy you are here! Make a Chatbook and use code POD20 . Happy Chatbooking! 

Are you frazzled at the mere thought of traveling with your children? Jessica Gee, mother of 3 from The Bucket List Family, has chosen to embrace it and has traveled to more than 80 countries with her family! Vanessa chats with Jessica about her tips and tricks for traveling with kids. Everything from how to acclimate to time changes and introduce new cultures and foods, to what her favorite kid-f...

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a great relationship with their Mother-in-Law, but Vanessa says she hit the jackpot! In today's episode of The MomForce Podcast, Vanessa (a new MIL herself!) chats with her Mother-in-Law, Bonnie Quigley, about their success in fostering their in-law relationship. It's all about space, support, and respect. As a special bonus, Bebe shares the gifts that she,...

Moms everywhere are overwhelmed: driven to tears, hyperventilating, rage cleaning, or perhaps hopping in the car and driving away. Caring for an entire family is challenging. Often we ask ourselves, are we doing enough? Are we fun enough, compassionate enough, patient enough?  Good moms have bad days. The newborn stage is hard. The toddler stage is hard. Teenagers are hard. Heck! Even our adult ch...

The oldest child in the family is often the guinea pig, but by the time it comes to establishing a curfew for the younger kids, parents are worn down and the rules become a bit more relaxed. Whether it's your first time dabbling into the world of curfews, or you've been there done that, determining the appropriate level of freedoms to give your kids is hard!  Whether you're going to follow the let...

There are varying degrees of grief, but it is always complicated. Time heals, but grief never fully goes away. Rather it evolves and manifests itself differently over time. It is human nature to want to help those we love through difficult times. Sometimes our actions are helpful, sometimes our words are meaningful. But other times even the best intentions leave us with our foot stuck in our mouth...

It's recommended that 4th graders get 10-12 hours of sleep per night. But kid's activities are often built around adult schedules! A nighttime routine is imperative for happy, healthy kids...but it's hard!  Kara and Vanessa discuss their evening routines to help their big and little kids get the sleep they so desperately need. They agree: you have to set a time to officially wind down for the even...

Screentime. Devices. Social Media. Oh my! Our MomForce Facebook group is full of questions about raising children in a digital age. How old should your kid be before you allow them to play on an iPad? When is it appropriate to have a smartphone? What about a social media account? Teaching online safety is just as important as teaching fire safety these days. Anna MacFarlane of "Kids are the Worst"...

Motherhood and childhood go quickly. Looking at a photo and taking a moment to reminisce with loved ones is an antidote to the daily pushes and pulls of life. Not only is that magic... it's science! Vanessa is joined by developmental psychologist and University of Utah professor, Dr. Trisha Weeks, to discuss research that proves that printed photos strengthen families. Vanessa knew there was power...

"There are no hacks. These kids don't listen. This is your life now. God Speed…"   Ok… it isn't that bad, but it sure does feel that way some days with kids are running around looking for the cleanest dirty shirt and scrambling for school lunches. And with little ones are waking up way too early and big kids that won't get out of bed! It's enough to turn the sweetest and most patient moms into a d...

Kids grow up. It's a fact of life. One day we're all gonna have teenagers and with that comes with certain rites of passage like make up, shaving, and pimples. Vanessa and her sister, Erika, survived their own teenage years as well as those of their children. They understand the unique challenges that come with that age group. On today's episode of The MomForce Podcast, they tackle everything from...

On this episode of the MomForce Podcast, Vanessa and her sister, Shelly, talk about creating a schedule that will work for any family. Limiting the number and type of activity each season and remembering to schedule days off (or even family dinner!) will keep everyone - not just the kids - from burning out. Finding a way to sync the family calendar lets everyone know what's on the horizon. While s...

Vanessa sits down with her dear friend, and very down-to-earth real mom, Jenna Rammell. Together they discuss back-to-school time, vulnerability, and maintaining your sanity as a parent. They dive deeper into learning your children's individual personalities and parenting each child accordingly (and the many challenges that come with doing so).   There is no one size fits all parenting. Today, we...

Every now a special moment reminds us why our photos are so important (a preschooler shedding tears over treasured pictures of his class, for instance), but often times we don't realize how much they mean to us until we don't have them anymore. In this second part of our podcast dedicated to photos, Vanessa and Erika discuss organizing, sharing, safeguarding, and printing your photos… and why it's...

Long gone are the days of being bound by 24 exposure rolls of film (36 if you splurged). We aren't lugging around giant SLRs as often anymore, and there simple alternatives if you just can't find the time to catch up on your scrapbooks. But despite technology improving so drastically (and making things SO much more convenient) we still aren't always capturing the moments we'll treasure when we loo...

Parties are a fun chance to explore your creative, crafty side. But they can also bring the pressure to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience that doesn't always go as planned.  Vanessa and Leah sit down to talk about birthday parties. Maybe you're prepared to make throwing a Pinterest-worthy party a part time job. Or perhaps you don't possess the time, money, or mental capacity to host 20 kids a...

For a lot of us, summer is already wrapping up and the days of counting the pool as a bath are coming to an end. Getting kids to practice good hygiene can be a battle. Vanessa chats with her sister, Shelly, about what's worked, what hasn't, and the experiments that have gone awry. There are a LOT of confessionals in this episode. The truth comes out about personal hygiene shortcomings growing up (...

It never fails. You prepare a home-cooked meal and your "starving" child is suddenly too full to eat. Every parent has faced obstacles when it comes to feeding their families, but we can't be expected to be short-order cooks.  Vanessa and Kara tackle picky eaters.  It's not all about eating, though. While it can be so satisfying for a mother to see her child eat all their dinner, we're not talking...

Growing up with sisters meant a lot of fights. But it also meant you had a tight knit group of built in best friends. While not everyone grows up in such a big family, friendships of any sort are important. Moving away from family and transitioning into different phases of life has reinforced the importance of creating and maintaining meaningful relationships as adults. Vanessa and all of her sist...

As moms, wives, and working women there is a certain expectation that we're always reachable. Having a phone is not only important, it's almost required! But that doesn't mean we have to be addicted to our phones. The trick is getting them to work for us in a way that allows us to be more productive, less stressed, and happier!  Vanessa visits with her sister Leah, who shares all the brilliant way...

With 11 siblings and 7 children of her own, it's safe to say Vanessa has experimented with a range of possibilities when it comes to allowance. Whether it's getting paid for simple household chores, getting a job, or being paid for good grades, teaching kids the value of a dollar is hard!  Vanessa chats with her sister Erika about the different allowances (and reasons for them) they received as ki...

Let's face it, your house isn't going to clean itself. As families grow, so do their messes. If you want to keep your home from looking like a tornado struck, you're going to need everyone to do their part. But that is easier said than done.  When it comes to kids and chores, we all get "the WHY," but "the HOW" is another story. In today's episode, Vanessa sits down with her sister Erika to discus...

There's something about summer that seems to make kids hungrier. And with kids home all day, there's an added challenge when it comes to meal planning.  Vanessa, and her sister Shelly, discuss little steps you can take to make summer meal planning easier.  You don't always have to prepare a big, fancy dinner. You know what your people like! Use these tips to be ready on the go, learn to cut corner...

Our MomForce has spoken and one thing on many summer bucket lists is camping! Whether your idea of camping involves a tent or a hotel room full of kids, family camp-outs are a great way to foster memories. Vanessa Quigley is joined by her sister, Kara, co-founder of Raising Wild Swimwear and mother of 4, to discuss the highs and lows of braving the great outdoors. While they agree that camping may...