The Parenting Horizons Podcast

“Siblings are our partners and rivals, our first friends and our first enemies.” In this episode we discuss Sibling Rivalry, the destroyer of many otherwise calm and peaceful family gatherings. When your kids start to argue with each other it can be very tempting to jump in and “fix” it. However, becoming judge, jury and executioner is a trap when it comes to resolving conflicts between your kids....

Neurological variations are a vital part of humanity, as much as variations in size, shape, skin color and personality. None of us has the right (or the wisdom) to try and improve upon our species by deciding which characteristics to keep and which to discard. Every person is valuable. In today’s episode we welcome Emilie Vogas, M.Ed and Board Certified Behavioral Analyst, to discuss parenting neu...

Alright, now that we have your attention…  In this episode we’re going to cut through all the mixed messages our culture sends out about sex and focus on giving parents practical advice on how to have an open dialogue with your kids about sex and gender. We'll focus on the three fundamentals:  1) Tell the facts.  2) Reassure your kids (and maybe yourself) that sexual desire is norma...

Money. You can save it, spend it, invest it, lose it, hate it, love it, give it away and horde it. And it’s our responsibility as parents to teach our kids about it in a healthy way.  Allowances are probably the most popular way to introduce your kids to the surprisingly complicated concept of money. But just throwing money at your kids without talking about the power and responsibility behin...

I get more calls about sleep and bedtime challenges than practically any other topic. Whether you have a two year old who just won’t go to sleep at night, a five year old that want's "just one more glass of water," or a teen that sleeps until 2 in the afternoon, we’ve got practical advice on how to handle it.

Imagine you’re in a heated argument with your partner (or child). If your goal is to “win at all costs”, you may win the battle, but at what cost to your relationship? In this episode, we talk more about “the box step of communication”, a proven way to handle thorny disputes and de-escalate conflict. We also look at one of the most toxic ingredients capable of undermining and destroying your famil...

If you are raising a child with a partner (together or divorced) you will never be able to entirely avoid conflicts. Flying by the seat of your pants is going to happen from time to time. But there are ways to approach conflict that is constructive as opposed to being combative. And  it’s important to remember;  your kids will eventually model some of your conflict resolution behavior wh...

Family Meetings. They’re not just for emergencies anymore. If you roll your eyes at the thought of holding a “family meeting”,  this episode is for you. Family meetings are a simple but powerful way  to counter the outsized influence of social media and peers on your  kids. If you set them up right, family meetings can truly transform a  family, but there are definitely some tr...

Family Meetings. They’re not just for emergencies anymore. If you roll your eyes at the thought of holding a “family meeting”, this episode is for you. Family meetings are a simple but powerful way to counter the outsized influence of social media and peers on your kids. If you set them up right, family meetings can truly transform a family, but there are definitely some traps and pitfalls to avoi...

In our previous episode we opened up a can of worms, talking about the ways parents (and people in general) inadvertently shut down communication. In this episode we continue our countdown of the top 10 communication blocks, what they sound like and why they should be avoided. We’ll even reveal our personal “favorites” and how we still struggle to weed them out.

If you feel like your kids just aren’t listening to you anymore, there’s a good chance you’ve fallen into one or more classic communication blocks, practically guaranteeing that they shut you out. While parents often mean well, these blocks, over time, become a wall separating you from your child. The good news is that you can learn to recognize the ways you may be inadvertently shutting your kid...

Courage and positive self esteem are essential to living authentic lives. They are the greatest gifts we can give our children. We’ll uncover the ways you may be unintentionally robbing your child of self-esteem (yes, praise might actually be backfiring!) and the small but powerful changes you can make to instill courage instead.

Frustration. Despair. Jealousy. Grief. Powerlessness.  Uncomfortable, unpleasant feelings are a fact of life. Everybody has them, including your kids. But some parents make the mistake of pretending they don’t exist, telling our kids to “suck it up” or “find their happy place.” And if you deny or suppress feelings, they just squirt out sideways, often in unpredictable and destructive ways. To...

Risky Business Have you ever watched a baby take their first steps, fall down, get back up again? No one taught them to keep trying, it’s baked into our very DNA.  The fact is, humans are natural risk takers.  But there’s also no denying that some risks are dangerous. So how do you channel that drive into something positive? We discuss how parents can use the power of consequences to enc...

The “Nag Then Yell" Technique Spoiler alert: This extremely common parenting technique DOES NOT WORK! We’ll explain what it is, why it falls flat, and how to replace it with something that is way more effective! The “I” message A classic communication technique with a twist holds the key to getting your kids to listen.  The Myth of Instinctive Parenting Why does parenting feel so hard sometim...

In this episode we answer some parent questions and reflect on some common threads of concern with our listeners. In case it’s not obvious, shame is NOT a motivator. Kids are struggling with motivation. It’s okay for parents to have goals for their children, but how we communicate our expectations can mean the difference between success and failure. Is my kid depressed? Am I? What’s the difference...

Invisible Labor and Mental Load It’s the work that goes unnoticed and rarely gets tallied in the family housework scorecard. But once you become aware of it, you’ll never be able to unsee it. “Never mind the kids! Now it’s my partner that’s driving me NUTS!!!” Even small disagreements between spouses or partners can escalate quickly. We reveal effective techniques to defuse tense conversations and...

If you find yourself knocking your parenting skills during COVID, we provide ways to grade on a curve and cut yourself some slack.  We’ll talk about how to reevaluate the pros and cons of screen time and social media. Electronics and devices may not be the end of civilization as we know it, after all.  Thinking of visiting family? We’ll discuss how to effectively communicate concerns and...

In their first episode, Julie and Greg discuss the importance of creating joy, even when the floor seems to have dropped out from under you.  They also offer insights into dealing with grief, both yours and your child's, and the often overlooked value of denial. Finally, Julie shares her fundamental strategy for strengthening your family during these uncertain times: Listening With Heart.&nbs...