Zen Pop

Todd and Cathy discuss FOOD, our conflicting emotions about food, why it can be difficult to feed our kids.  As parents we need to understand how we feel about food so we can pass on a positive message to our children.  It’s time to get smart about eating and let go of the guilt!  Food is our first line of defense when it comes to health, but it should also be a pleasurable experience.  How do we...

What are the top 5 deathbed regrets?  Listen to this show and learn…..just a hint, most of them are about enjoying the moment, “being” instead of “doing” and choosing happiness over stress.  Simple, right?  Then why doesn’t everybody live this way?  Listen as  Cathy and Todd discuss the way to really integrate this wisdom and change your life for the better. Check out our parenting resource of the...

Cathy and Todd discuss the breastfeeding-in-public controversy and talk about the laws and issues surrounding nursing.  There are varying opinions about breastfeeding based on personal history, experiences, and access to current information….Cathy and Todd challenge you to have respectful discussions about this issue – listening and learning is the key to normalizing this often contentious subject...

What do YOU want?  Cathy and Todd discuss why it’s important to let go of the way your family did things.  Be open to what your partner brings to the table and create a family based on what works best for both of you.  Getting married and having children is another stage of development….your relationships with your family of origin (and inlaws) will change, but you can still remain loving, g...

Cathy and Todd discuss the importance of allowing for pain, sadness, and grief, and how to be the best possible listener for your kids and other loved ones.  If you or your family is dealing with crisis, divorce, death, or just overall challenges, this show is for you.  

Listen as Todd and Cathy share their pet peeves and then discover new and more positive ways to view these annoyances.  Cathy finds some strengths, but Todd is challenged to understand the concept.  They continue to discuss that everything can viewed differently and that sometimes the most difficult issues (your daughter is bossy and stubborn) can have a different viewpoint (she is a natural leade...

Are you stuck in old patterns and fearful of what’s ahead?  Cathy and Todd encourage you to be present in the moment and go with the flow….life is exciting and constantly flowing, so learn to flow with it.  This is especially important as your children grow and change…will you stay stuck, or will you allow them to evolve?

Fear is normal.  It’s normal for children to be afraid.  Instead of telling them to not be afraid, let’s help them find tools to deal with their fear.  Speaking of fear, Todd scared his daughter when he dressed up as Cookie Monster….his intentions were good, but it didn’t quite work out the way he planned…… Here’s the link to Cathy’s blog that we mention on the show – http://www.chicagoparen...

Have you really thought about what you want for your children, or are you letting society tell you what’s important? Cathy and Todd encourage listeners to focus on children’s emotional intelligence as well as their book skills, and they reference the movie Race to Nowhere.  Creativity, play, and downtime are just as important as study time. They also suggest why reading to your child may not alway...

Remember in the movie Field of Dreams when Kevin Costner’s character said to his father “Dad, You Want To Have A Catch?” What a beautiful moment. But might we make a small suggestion? Don’t be that Dad! Don’t force your son to kidnap a famous writer, nearly watch you daughter choke to death on a hot dog and cut down a corn crop to make a baseball field all after you a...

“Money isn’t real,” said Ray Liotta in the movie Blow. But if it’s not real, then what is it? Cathy and Todd think it’s another opportunity for awareness and communication within the relationship – with your partner and with your children. Are you modeling a healthy relationship with money for your children?  Do your children experience boundaries when it comes to stuff, or do th...

Cathy and Todd discuss the importance of parenting from the heart instead of staying stuck in the head.  They talk about “monkey mind” and how our brain continuously processes information and messages without our consent.  The question is, are these messages helping or hurting you and your family?  Can you bring heart and head together and parent from a highly conscious and grounded pl...

Todd shares some piano music (only 2 lessons!), Cathy and Todd share the deeper lessons behind their physical limitations, and they decide that if they had to be a Seinfeld character, they would be Putty.

Cathy and Todd remind you to take care of yourself, let go of the nagging, and practice what you preach.  Stop trying to change the people in your life and focus on yourself….live consciously and be a role model for the people you love.  

Cathy and Todd challenge you to discover your dreams and do live your life to the fullest.  It will make you happier, and it’s great role modeling for your children.  

Cathy and Todd share how they deal with challenges – from everyday issues to the grief of their own miscarriage.  They remind us that we can’t escape difficulty, but we can find new ways to cope.

Do you think this is bad parenting or smart parenting?  Are you a helicopter parent?  Do you hover around your child and buffer all of their challenges?  Cathy and Todd recommend occasionally stepping aside to allow your children to struggle, but they also suggest being fully available and supportive through the recovery.

Before talking to your kids about sex, you better know how you feel about it.  Cathy and Todd share their views, but they challenge you to figure out what is best for your family. PS – If you don’t talk to your kids about sex, you may need to listen to the show that precedes us- Parenting Unplugged Radio on Pagatim.fm .  They talk to the author of   “ Get Me Out: a history of chi...

Or how about, “I don’t want to talk about it”.  Why do our kids say mean things and why don’t they want to talk to us?  Listen as Cathy and Todd discuss the way our children communicate and how we can respond with more love and understanding.  Actually, just listen to hear Todd’s impersonation of Yoda…..this wise old Jedi is an Adams’ family favorite.

…and Cathy’s idea of a big night out is going to Chipolte and talking about emotions – does this sound romantic to you?  You might be surprised…listen as Todd and Cathy share their feelings about Valentine’s Day, being spontaneous, and making your relationship a priority.

Maybe Todd doth protest too much or maybe it’s that’s he’s got a great wife in Cathy. But in this episode you will hear why she should be kicking him into the doghouse and why it should have cost more than just a foot massage  to get him back inside.  On the flip side, Todd and Cathy do discuss why women should stop doing that. You know what I mean. That. They always do it and wo...

On Tuesday’s show Cathy and Todd talked about their favorite tv/movie dad.  What do you think?  Who are your favorites? Feel free to share…… Mac MacGuff – Juno Steven Keaton – Family Ties Jackie Elliot – Billy Elliot Jack Arnold – Wonder Years Atticus Finch – To Kill a Mocking Bird Reply below

Who couldn’t use a good tantrum?  Today, Cathy and Todd talked about the importance of allowing for feelings and talking about feelings with your kids – especially uncomfortable feelings like anger and sadness.  And tantrums are not just for kids…..Cathy said that when she feels strong emotion she yells at the ocean – or an expressway if an ocean isn’t available&#8230...

How do we communicate if we don’t speak the same language?  On the second installment of Zen Parenting Radio, Todd and Cathy discuss the differences between how men and women communicate and how understanding this leads to healthier relationships and a healthier family. Todd also tries to convince Cathy that watching the commercial-free Red Zone channel is good for their marriage, while Cathy trie...

Ok, so it isn’t exactly 4 letters, but the way some of our elders react, it might be considered one: Selfish. Todd and Cathy Adams hosted their inaugural show and focused on why it’s important for parents to take care of themselves so they can take care of others. But how to do that in our busy worlds? They have answers and resources that will help you become Zen Parents.