I'm excited to welcome my minimalist friend Zoe Kim back to the podcast to chat about what minimalism looks like with older kids. Zoe, an author and mother of four, is sharing some of her favorite tips, along with some of the wisdom that she used to build her simple home a few years ago. LINKS: Zoe's Custom Ikea Closet Zoe's Book, The Minimalist Family Zoe's Website, Raising Simple Zoe on Instagram Zoe and Matt's Weekend Workshop: Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff SPONSOR: Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code FAMILIES and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value.

"Resilience is being able to handle the bad stuff over time and to know you are not doing it alone." - Tovah Klein Ph.D., author of Raising Resilience In today's world of uncertainty, resilience is an indispensable trait that our children will need as they grow. In this episode, I'm chatting with Dr. Tovah Klein, the bestselling author of the brand new book Raising Resilience. Tovah talks me through my own recent resilience-building experiences and together we reflect on what it looks like to help our children thrive. Get in touch with Tovah: Book: Raising Resilience: How to Help Our Children Thrive in Times of Uncertainty Website: https://howtoddlersthrive.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howtoddlersthrive SPONSORS: Prep Dish: Get two weeks free prepdish.com/families Jenni Kayne Get 15% off with code FAMILIES15 at jennykayne.com Airdoctor: Save up to $300 on air purifiers at airdoctorpro.com with promo code FAMILIES

In this episode, I'm discussing two valuable principles in parenting: co-regulation and declarative language. I recently read two short books by the same author (Linda K. Murphy) with tools that have proven useful in both my own parenting and in my therapy practice. I'm giving you a quick overview of these tools and tips for integrating them into your own life (with both kids and adults!). Links Linda K. Murphy's Website + Books SPONSOR: Airdoctor - Go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code FAMILIES and you’ll receive UP TO $300 off airpurifiers. You will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value.

We are currently packing the whole house into boxes to move out for renovations. Therefore, I've been reflecting a lot on our journey towards minimalism. In today's episode, I'm talking about minimizing the "stuff" in all parts of the home--kitchen, bath, closets, wardrobe, drop zone, etc. SPONSOR Try two weeks of PrepDish for free: prepdish.com/families

Safe and healthy screen use is a topic on my mind...all.the.time. In today's episode, I'm sharing some rambling thoughts about how I'm making decisions for my kids (ages 8 and 10) around things like smart watches, YouTube, phones, content restrictions, and much more. In this episode I'm sharing many of my own thoughts and opinions, so please take what works for you and leave what doesn't. How are you managing screens at home? What's working and what isn't working? Link from today's episode: Gryphon Parental Monitoring Router Sponsor: PrepDish - prepdish.com/families for two weeks free

There are widely held assumptions about the adolescent years--many of which are negative. My guest today, Ellen Galinsky, challenges many of the stereotypes that we've come to believe about teens. In this chat she shares the basic needs of adolescents to help us better understand what they need (and want) from us. Her research supports collaborating with children during these years of growth, rather than trying to hold tight in controlling them. Book: The Breakthrough Years: A New Scientific Framework for Raising Thriving Teens  Website: Ellen Galinsky SPONSOR PrepDish -prepdish.com/families for two weeks free.

Most of us have a conflicted relationship with social media and online life. For today's episode I'm chatting with author Kara Alaimo. Kara's new book, Over the Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls - And How We Can Take it Back, debuts this month. In our conversation we are sifting through a variety of topics related to how we are influenced as parents and how we can be thoughtful when leading our children into a more mindful online space. Due to some sensitive content, this episode should be first previewed without young children present. Sponsor: Prepdish - Get two weeks free at prepdish.com/families

The chances are good that you are familiar with perfectionism. Either you have experienced it yourself, you have a partner or parent with these tendencies, or perhaps you have a child touched by perfectionism. In today's episode, I'm chatting with Clarissa Ong Ph.D. She's a professor and the co-author of the book The Anxious Perfectionist: How to Manage Perfectionism-Driven Anxiety. SPONSORS: Masterclass: Get 15% off an annual subscription at masterclass.com/families PrepDish: Try 2 weeks free at prepdish.com/families Paired: Paired.com/simple to get a 7-day free trial and 25% off if you sign up for a subscription

There are many misconceptions about what it means to be 'gifted'. Today's guest, Julie Skolnick, explains to us that giftedness usually comes with considerable challenges. She also shares ideas and insight on how to support and educate children who are gifted, but also have challenges (sometimes called twice-exceptional).  LINKS Julie's Book, Gifted and Distractible Julie's Website, With Understanding Comes Calm Episode with Ross Greene, founder of CPS and author of The Explosive Child GHF Empowering Gifted Families SPONSORS PrepDish - use prepdish.com/families to get two weeks free + bonus Protein Boost menus in January Paired - 7 day free trial (25% off if you sign up) at paired.com/simple

Many of the guests on this show are authors—especially of non-fiction books. Although we often rely on non-fiction to teach us, sometimes the greatest lessons actually come through diving deeper into the life experiences of characters in a novel. Today, I’m speaking with authors Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene. Christine and Catherine have co-authored a brand new book that tells the story of an entertaining and thought-provoking interracial friendship between two mothers, De'Andrea and Rebecca. You can find Rebecca, Not Becky anywhere books are sold.  SPONSORS: Prepdish: Get two weeks free, prepdish.com/families Masterclass: Give One Annual Membership and Get One Free at masterclass.com/families

Once upon a time, building a village to raise a family probably felt simpler. The village was likely the (literal) neighbors and family members who lived right around the corner. But in today's world, our communities are more complex and diverse. The people we lean on may live nearby, but they also may live on the other side of the globe. I'm joined by Michelle Kennedy, the founder of the app Peanut, to talk about building community in motherhood. Peanut's Invisible Mother Campaign SPONSERS: PrepDish: Get TWO weeks free at prepdish.com/families Masterclass: Get 15% off an annual membership at masterclass.com/families

In today's episode, author Michael Easter, shares his work and theories on the topic of comfort. He posits that the growing rates of mental and physical health challenges may be rooted in the fact that we are living more comfortable lives than ever before. As parents, we strive to keep our kids as comfortable as possible when they are infants. But, perhaps we should ask ourselves if continuing on that path will negatively impact their future resilience. Connect with Michael + his books: The Comfort Crisis The Scarcity Brain Website Instagram Sponsors Kiwico: Visit kiwico.com and use the promo code SIMPLE to receive 50% off your first box of fun! Masterclass: Get 15% off an annual membership at masterclass.com/families Prep Dish: Get 2 weeks of meal planning for free when you visit prepdish.com/families.

As adults, we often avoid uncomfortable situations and even frequently rescue our children from uncomfortable experiences. We know, however, that experiencing discomfort can result in growth and resilience. Have you gotten uncomfortable recently? Maybe you should. Links from the episode Simple Families Podcast Episode 298: Accommodating your kid's anxiety Simple Families Podcast Episode 318: Child Anxiety Simple Families Podcast Episode 302 & 303: Analog Curious I & II Sponsors Kiwico: Visit kiwico.com and use the promo code SIMPLE to receive 50% off your first box of fun! Prep Dish: Get 2 weeks of meal planning for free when you visit prepdish.com/families.

It's Back-to-School season and today we are talking about about contentment--as it relates to our children's educational experience. I'm joined by Niro Feliciano (Author, Psychotherapist, National Media Commentator and Mom of 4). In this episode Niro and I discuss monitoring our own expectations and reactivity, in addition to that of our children. Links from this Episode Niro’s Website This Book Won’t Make You Happy: Eight Keys to Finding True Contentment All Things Life with Niro Podcast SPONSORS KiwiCo: To build curiosity and fun, go to kiwico.com/simple to get 50% off your first month, plus free shipping. PrepDish: Meal planning made easy, go to prepdish.com/families for your first two weeks free.

Let go of the pressure to be the perfect parent and start to embrace the teachable moments that you are (accidentally) creating. In this episode we are flipping around some common summer #momfails. As parents, we are far from perfect. On the bright side, our mistakes often create opportunities for our kids to grow.

At the heart of being an intentional parent is striving to calm our own reactivity. Reactivity...we all experience it. Hunter Clarke-Fields, author and podcaster, joins me today to discuss this topic. Links from this Episode: Hunter's Podcast - Mindful Mama Mentor Hunter's Books - Raising Good Humans // Raising Good Humans Everyday First episode with Hunter on Simple Families Podcast SPONSOR: Go to EARTHBREEZE.com/simple to get started with 40% off

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Matthew Lederman, a physician and wellness expert that you might know from Forks Over Knives. His most recent book, Wellness to Wonderful (together with partner, Alona Pulde) goes into greater depth to explain how connection is has a profound impact on mental and physical wellness. That's our topic today: the intersection of connection + wellness.

Time management can feel challenging for both children and adults alike. Today, I'm discussing some tools and strategies to start intentionally handing over this responsibility to our children. My favorite kid-friendly analog clock Photo of our working clock depicting the morning routine Sarah Ward talks about her 'Working Clock' Concept

Today we're talking all about exposure: exposing our kids, and ourselves, to current events, different cultures and different parenting styles. With unlimited access in today's world, children and adults have more exposure than ever, which has its benefits and of course...risks. Links from the episode Leslie Cohen-Rubury's website: Home Is My Child a Monster? Podcast Sponsors Fast Growing Trees: Receive 15% off your entire order on fastgrowingtrees.com/simple. Storyworth: Perfect Father's Day or any day gift at storyworth.com/simple. Get $10 off your first purchase for a limited time. Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code 'Simple' to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics or Just Calm.

Today I’m sharing my best relationship tool. It’s called expansion and contraction. Expansion and contraction is a simple way to find the rhythm in your family. In fact, it’s probably something you do all the time without even noticing. However, once you bring it to your awareness you will be able to use it with more intention. You’ll find your days flow more smoothly and you view your relationships more positively. In this episode, I’m going to tell you how to use it as a mindset switch and as a tool to manage behavior.  Sponsors Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code 'Simple' to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics or Just Calm

Creating a more engaging home environment for our children can be difficult given the mounting sources competing for their attention. It take intentionality and hard work. Our guest Erin Loechner discusses how we can make some changes in our own lives, and our own screen-time use to foster a positive change in the lives of our kids. Links from the episode Erin Loechner's Website: Designed for Mankind Simple Families Podcast Episode 302: Analog Curious I Simple Families Podcast Episode 303: Analog Curious II Sponsors Storyworth: Perfect Father's Day or any day gift at storyworth.com/simple. Get $10 off your first purchase. Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code 'Simple' to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics or Just Calm. KiwiCo: To build curiosity and fun, go to kiwico.com/simple to get 50% off your first month, plus free shipping.

"It's not fair!" is a statement uttered by most children pretty early and often. Let's delve into defining the difference between 'fair' and 'equal' and try to understand why children's brain can not yet distinguish between the two. Links from the episode Simple Families Podcast Episode 219: Absolute Thinking Sponsors Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code SIMPLE to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics and Just Calm.

In continuing my quest to find a balance in my own use of digital technology, I found the book Rewired: Protecting your brain in the digital age. The author, Dr. Carl Marci, reviews mounting evidence that overuse of smart phones and social media is rewiring our brains. Links from the episode Dr. Marci's book: Rewired: Protecting your brain in the digital age Simple Families Podcast Episode 344: Addictive Technology ft. Gaia Bernstein Simple Families Podcast Episode 302: Analog Curious I Simple Families Podcast Episode 303: Analog Curious II Sponsors Fast Growing Trees: Receive 15% off your entire order on fastgrowingtrees.com/simple. Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code 'Simple' to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics or Just Calm.

There's a lot of buzz about gut health and probiotics--but it can feel overwhelming to digest it all (no pun intended). In fact, years ago, I remember standing in the supplemental aisle at the grocery store wondering which probiotic I should buy. Do I get the refrigerated ones, the chewable...or maybe the gummies for the kids? Today, we are exploring all things gut health with Tina Anderson, the Co-Founder of Just Thrive Probiotics. Get 20% off the 90-day supply of Just Thrive probiotics. Go to Justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code "Simple."

I favor a positive parenting approach, so I don't use a lot of rewards and punishments in our house. However, there are times when these methods can be useful and I want to share some examples with you today. When it comes to behavior modification, it's most effective to use reinforcement/rewards when you want to increase a desirable behavior and punishment when you need to decrease undesirable behavior. I'll talk more about this today. Other episodes referenced: Reward charts - https://simplefamilies.com/episode211/ Time outs - https://simplefamilies.com/episode113/ Expansion and contraction - https://simplefamilies.com/episode233/  Consequences - https://simplefamilies.com/episode266/ Hitting - https://simplefamilies.com/episode250 SPONSORS: Get 22% off @iherb with promo code SIMPLE at iherb.com Go to EARTHBREEZE.com/simple to get started for 40% off

Let’s talk about kids who hit. Let’s also talk about adults who hit. This kind of behavior is taboo, especially as kids get older. I'll explore some basic reasons behind hitting and offer solutions. In next week's episode, I'll delve deeper into understanding this behavior in older kids and adults. This is a rebroadcast of Simple Families Podcast's most downloaded episodes. Take a listen again - you can really get new insights from with each phase of parenting. Links from the episode Simple Families Episode 113: Troubleshooting "Time-out" Sponsors Prep Dish -- Get 2 weeks free meal planning, prepdish.com/families KiwiCo - Get 50% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/SIMPLE.

When Majka Burhardt, social entrepreneur and world-class female rock/ice climber, found out she was pregnant with twins, she started writing her children letters. These raw, emotional and vulnerable written pieces later became the book More: Life on the edge of adventure and motherhood. I loved talking to Majka about risk, parenthood, marriage and more! Links from the episode Majka Burhardt's website: Passion.Purpose.Pursuit Book: More: Life on the edge of adventure and motherhood Sponsors Storyworth - Share your stories with future generations. Save $10 on your first purchase at www.storyworth.com/simple Fast Growing Trees - Sweeten up your garden this spring with 15% off your entire order of trees at www.fastgrowingtrees.com/simple

Many of us have made great efforts to control our technology use, but is it working? I've invited Gaia Bernstein, author of Unwired: Gaining Control over Addictive Technologies to the podcast today to discuss how this is more than an individual issue. We explore digital connection along with how community efforts and national policies can help us gain control of our technology use. Links from the episode Gaia Bernstein's website: Unwired Book: Unwired - Gaining control over addictive technologies Simple Families Podcast Episode 302: Analog Curious I Simple Families Podcast Episode 303: Analog Curious II Sponsors Indeed - If you need to hire, you need Indeed! Visit www.indeed.com/families.

You should know this by now. I’ve asked you a hundred times. How could you forget?  Today we are going to talk about consequences, punishment, and discipline. How do we raise kids to take ownership and care for themselves and their belongings? Today I’m going to give you some things to think about and some things to do.  This is a rebroadcast of Simple Families Podcast's most downloaded episodes. Take a listen again - you can really get new insights from with each phase of parenting. Sponsors KiwiCo - Get 50% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/SIMPLE. PrepDish - Try two weeks free prepdish.com/families

Today, I'm bringing you a much-requested life update episode. In the past year I've moved off social media and have limited how much I share publicly on a day-to-day basis. As my kids grow and establish their own identities, this has been a change that feels right for our family. But today, I will update you on home, work, family, and also tell you about my new health routine. Links from the episode Simple Families Podcast Episode 302: Analog Curious Part I Simple Families Podcast Episode 303: Analog Curious Part II Simple Families Podcast Episode 304: Analog Curious Part III Simple Families Podcast Episode 150: Au Pair Insights Simple Families Podcast Episode 184: Year Without Alcohol Simple Families Podcast Episode 251: Downsizing Bandolier Rent the Runway Sponsors Growing Trees - 15% off at FastGrowingTrees.com/SIMPLE. Earth Breeze – Subscribe and save 40% on Earth Breeze laundry detergent Eco Sheets. Visit www.earthbreeze.com/simple.

Today, I am speaking with the Founder of MomWell (formerly Happy as a Mother) Erica Djossa, who you may recognize from viral her maternal mental health memes on Instagram. Erica is a psychotherapist whose work on social media focuses on strategies to cope with the emotional load of motherhood. Links from the episode Erica Djossa's website: MomWell MomWell Podcast: Spotify MomWell Podcast episode with Denaye: Minimizing Mental Clutter Sponsors Earth Breeze – Subscribe and save 40% on Earth Breeze laundry detergent Eco Sheets. Visit www.earthbreeze.com/simple. Indeed - If you need to hire, you need Indeed! Visit www.indeed.com/families.

I don't know about you, but parent anxiety seems to surround me at every turn. In today's episode, I'm chatting with Dr. Dana Dorfman, author of the new book, When Worry Works. Dana explains that even though anxiety is an unavoidable part of parenting today, we can turn our unique parenting anxiety patterns into an advantage, instead of a liability. Links from the episode Dr. Dorfman's Website When Worry Works Quiz: Identify your anxiety type Simple Families Episode 340: How to Raise an Adult ft. Julie Lythcott-Haims Sponsors KiwiCo - Get 50% off your first month with ANY crate line at kiwico.com/simple. Indeed - If you need to hire, you need Indeed! Visit www.indeed.com/families. Thrive Market - Get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! ThriveMarket.com/simplefamilies

Overparenting is a pervasive practice in our society today. My guest Julie Lythcott-Haims identified over-parented students in her former role as the Dean of Freshman and Undergraduate Advising at Stanford University and wrote the NYT best-selling book How to Raise an Adult, and later Your Turn: How to be an Adult. Links from the episode Julie Lythcott-Haims: Website Julie Lythcott-Haims: Instagram How to Raise an Adult Your Turn: How to be an Adult Sponsors Prep Dish -- Get 2 weeks free meal planning, prepdish.com/families Indeed - If you need to hire, you need Indeed! Visit www.indeed.com/families.

Music is one of life's simple pleasures that unites cultures and ages. Through my kid's Suzuki classes, I've found, music can teach big life lessons too. In this episode, I am speaking to Heather Watson Hardie about her musical journey as a child, a music teacher, and now a parent. Links from the episode Heather's Music School: Greenwhich Suzuki Academy What is the Suzuki Method? Sponsors Earth Breeze – Subscribe and save 40% on Earth Breeze laundry detergent Eco Sheets. Visit www.earthbreeze.com/simple. Indeed - Over 3 million businesses have used Indeed to hire the best Talent! Visit www.indeed.com/families.

Many of us idealize 'The Family Dinner'. You know the scene - whole family at the table, eating homemade food, with each member telling everyone how their day went. This is rarely a reality in the modern home. Today, I share tips for a more peaceful (and realistic) mealtime. Sponsors Prep Dish -- Get 2 weeks free meal planning, prepdish.com/families

While many parenting books detail the source of difficult childhood behavior or cover diagnoses, Dr. Ross Greene provides parents with a universal guide for dealing with challenging behaviors. In his bestselling book, The Explosive Child, Dr. Greene says children don't meet our expectations due to a lack of skills. Links from the episode Dr. Ross Greene's Website Sponsors KiwiCo - Get 50% off your first month with ANY crate line at kiwico.com/simple.

Sharing life stories will not only preserve family history but also simplify learning important life lessons. It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Devan Sandiford, distinguished writer and story-teller, who eloquently shares his life through stories of tragedy, race, parenting and what it means to be connected through stories of the human experience. Links from the episode Devan Saniford's website Live Stories Sponsors Nessle – Receive a $10 credit for one-on-one coaching, group sessions or any other services for parents by visiting www.nessle.com and using the referral code "SIMPLE." Thrive Market - Go to thrivemarket.com/simplefamilies for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift.

As humans, we experience a vast array of emotions. We are sometimes confused about our own emotional experiences and often confused by the emotions of others (especially our kids!). Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, psychologist, neuroscientist and distinguished professor joins us to talk about her revolutionary work on understanding emotions. Links from the episode Dr. Barrett's Website How emotions are made Dr. Barrett's Ted Talk Sponsors Earth Breeze – Subscribe and save 40% on Earth Breeze laundry detergent Eco Sheets. Visit www.earthbreeze.com/simple.

When I asked listeners to send me questions for a holiday episode of Q&A, I received so many inquiries. Interestingly, so many of them contained the word 'Scrooge!' I am answering your questions regarding gifts, extended family, compromise, and finding your why during the holidays. Links from the episode Simple Families episode 332: Appropriate Toys Simple Families episode 234: Comparison, Envy & FOMO Sponsors Native – Get 20% off your first order of personal care products at nativedeo.com/families or use the code 'families' at checkout. SEED – Visit seed.com/simple and use the code SIMPLE to redeem 20% off your first month of Seed's DS-01 ™️ Daily Synbiotic.

I went into this episode not a huge fan of Disney, but my mindset has been shifted. I learned a lot from Jen Hoffman & Lauren Gaggioli, who dissect the life lessons of Disney movies on their podcast Magical Mindset Moments. I really enjoyed this conversation and hope you do too. Links from the episode Magical Mindset Moments Podcast Sponsors Faherty – Get 20% off when you checkout at fahertybrand.com/simple, using the code 'simple.' SEED – Visit seed.com/simple and use the code SIMPLE to redeem 20% off your first month of Seed's DS-01 ™️ Daily Synbiotic.

Today I'm answering a listener's question on gift-giving. What do we do when a child asks for a holiday gift we don't want them to have? Links from the episode Simple Families Episode 247: Over-gifter Sponsors Kiwico – Get your first month of ANY crate line for 50% off at kiwico.com/simple. SEED – Visit seed.com/simple and use the code SIMPLE to redeem 20% off your first month of Seed's DS-01 ™️ Daily Synbiotics.

This week, we’re featuring an episode from a podcast you should check out. The Whole View, hosted by Stacy Toth, is an alternative health podcast that helps guide you on new ways to be your best self! Each week Stacy and her expert guests myth bust some of the most popular health and wellness fads and help you focus on the importance of being your best self. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

As a neuropsychologist with over 40 years of practice, Dr. William Stixrud has seen many parenting trends come and go. His best-selling book The The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives with co-author Ned Johnson is on my must-read list for parents. It was a pleasure to speak to one of my all-time favorite scientists, authors and practitioners about motivating our children, screen time, and the root causes of stress. Links from the episode Dr. William Stixrud Website The Self-Driven Child: The Science & Sense of Giving your kids More Control over their Lives Dr. Stixrud's Band: Larry and the Flames Simple Families Episode 302 - Analog Curious: Part I Simple Families Episode 303 - Analog Curious: Part II Sponsors Native – Get 20% off your first order on your favorite deodorant at nativedeo.com/families and use promo code "Families." Indeed – Visit indeed.com/families for an all-inclusive hiring platform. Seed – A different probiotic that works! Try Seed's DS-01TM Daily Synbiotic, learn more at seed.com/simple and use the code SIMPLE to get a 20% discount on your first month.

FRILUFTSLIV is the Norwegian word describing a popular Nordic way of life: Passion for nature and getting outdoors. I loved learning more about this concept (and cultural differences) from Linda Åkeson McGurk, and author and mother who has raised children in the US and Scandinavia in her new book The Open-Air Life. Links from the episode Linda's Website The Open-Air Life Simple Families Episode 90: There's no Such a Thing as Bad Weather Sponsors Faherty – Get 20% off your first order of quality & comfort on fahertybrand.com/simple and use code "Simple." Indeed – Visit indeed.com/families to start hiring. Organifi – Visit organifi.com/simple and use the code SIMPLE to get a 20% discount on your entire order.

I'm answering several listener questions today on a wide variety of parenting topics, including: extracurricular activities, handling challenging behavior at dinnertime, volunteering at your child's school, and an update on my wardrobe. Links from the episode Manageable (Imperfect) Mornings Sponsors Kiwi Co - Give Awesome this holiday season with Kiwico. Get your first month of any crate line free at kiwico.com/simple. Organifi – Visit organifi.com/simple and use the code SIMPLE to get a 20% discount on your entire order. Prep Dish -- Get 2 weeks free meal planning, prepdish.com/families

Parents are faced with all sorts of complicated questions from their children. Today, Mary-Robb Wilson is here to give us her wisdom to answer some big questions in her new book Soulshine. Links from the episode Soulshine Book Website: www.soulshinebook.com Instagram @soulshinebook Simple Families Episode 322: Parenting & Poetry Sponsors Indeed – Visit indeed.com/families to start hiring now. SEED – Visit seed.com/simple and use the code SIMPLE to redeem 20% off your first month of Seed's DS-01 ™️ Daily Symbiotics. Organifi – Visit organifi.com/simple and use the code SIMPLE to get a 20% discount on your entire order.

The addition of children is one of the most pivotal changes experienced in a partnership or marriage. Reconnecting and strengthening partnerships in the parenthood stage is what we are chatting about today with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Abby Nordquist. Links from the episode LoveWell by Abby Nordquist Take the LoveWell Quiz HERE Simple Families Episode 312: I Can't Believe I Just Did That ft. Eve Rodsky Simple Families Episode 323: Boundaries Sponsors Cozy Earth – Get 35% off site wide using the code SIMPLE at CozyEarth.com. LUS Brands – Get 15% off your first haircare order of $50 at LUSBrands.com using the code SIMPLE. SEED – Visit seed.com/simple and use the code SIMPLE to redeem 20% off your first month of Seed's DS-01 ™️ Daily Symbiotics.

I would love to introduce you to one of my favorite podcasts. 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is hosted by Rachel Nielson, who is a lover of practical ideas, conversations with kindred spirits, and her two wild miracle children who keep life interesting. She combined all of these passions when creating her podcast. After a long fight to become a mother through adoption and IVF, Rachel truly believed that she would thrive as a mom from day one. Her transition into motherhood was a little bumpier than she had imagined, and she sought the help of professionals for actionable advice. 3 in 30 is a podcast for women who want to love motherhood as much as they love their children. Since moms are short on time and brain space, each 30-minute episode offers 3 actionable takeaways to help you make your family life a little better each week. If this sounds up your alley, listen to 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms on your favorite podcast listening app.  In this excerpt, Rachel interviews Dr. Jen Riday about how to be a more emotionally-resilient mom. The takeaway you hear them discuss is the importance of boundaries. I hope you will listen and subscribe!

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. While many of us know someone or have been a victim of bullying ourselves, it remains a source of great pain for some of our youth with long-lasting effects. Kayla Taylor is a mom who lived through the pain with her child and shares her experience in her new the book, Canaries among us: A mother's quest to honor her child's individuality in a culture determined to negate it. Links from this Episode Canaries among us: A mother's quest to honor her child's individuality in a culture determined to negate it. SPONSORS Cozy Earth – Get 35% off site-wide using the code SIMPLE at CozyEarth.com. Indeed – Visit indeed.com/families to start hiring now. Prep Dish -- Get 2 weeks free, prepdish.com/families

It's more than a month into the new school year, and many parents are feeling stress getting out the door in the morning for school and/or work. Although a consistent, smooth morning routine is never guaranteed, I am sharing some simple things you can do to increase your chances of success during before school hours. Links from this Episode Simple Families Episode 211: Reward Charts Telling Time Teaching Clock SPONSORS Faherty Brand – Get 15% off every order with code SIMPLE at Faherty.com/simple LUS Brands – Get 15% off your haircare order with promo code SIMPLE at LUSBrands.com Little Spoons – Enter SIMPLE50 at checkout to get 50% off our first order of delicious and healthy meals and snacks for kids at Littlespoon.com

I'll be honest, cooking and meal planning has never come easy to me. If you've listened to Simple Families for long, you've heard me sing the praises of a meal-planning company called PrepDish and its founder Allison Schaaf. Although this episode of my chat with Allison is not sponsored, I couldn't wait to share more about how the simple tool PrepDish provides, in the form of a weekly PDF, has simplified my life around around family meals. Links from this Episode PrepDish Website (for two weeks free) Simple Families Episode 304: Procrastination. SPONSORS Cozy Earth – Get 35% off on Oprah's Favorite sheets and new lounge wear (site wide) using the code SIMPLE at CozyEarth.com. KiwiCo - Get 50% off your 1st month's order & Free Shipping with Code SIMPLE at KiwiCo.com.

When it comes to setting boundaries, clarity saves relationships. Implementing boundaries is a vital component to building a healthy relationship, whether with a partner, relative or friends. After reading Nedra Glover Tawwab's book Set Boundaries, Find Peace, it's become clear just how important boundaries are for every relationship. If you've ever struggled to communicate your needs and limits, then this episode is for you. Links from this Episode Nedra's Website Set Boundaries, Find Peace Nedra on Instagram SPONSORS LUS Brands – Get 15% off your haircare order through September 30, 2022 at LUSBrands.com. Indeed – Visit indeed.com/families to start hiring now.

I've always been intimidated by poetry. However, Maggie Smith has changed that. Not only have I found myself enjoying poetry, but I've also found it to be a way to get off auto-pilot and center myself on the hard days. Maggie is on the show today to share some of her poems on parenting, loss and life. Not only does Maggie write beautifully, but her work is so relatable and thought-provoking I find that each poem brings me a mini-mindfulness break. Links from this Episode Maggie's Website Maggie's Books and Poetry Maggie on Instagram Poem: Small Shoes - Moving Poems SPONSORS Cozy Earth – Get 35% off on Oprah's Favorite sheets and site wide using the code SIMPLE at CozyEarth.com. Indeed – Visit indeed.com/families to start hiring now.

This generation is increasingly looking to peer groups and the internet for child-rearing advice--a change from the past. Today, I'm joined by coach Deborah Porter who shares the benefits of understanding the seasons of parenthood and the value of mentorship. Deborah is a former Probation/Parole Officer and Criminal Investigator. She's now a sought-after life coach and media contributor who helps moms thrive. Links from this Episode Deborah's Website Deborah on IG SPONSORS LUS Brands – Get 15% off your haircare order of $50 or more, using the code SIMPLE at LUSBrands.com. Little Spoons – Your first order of delicious and healthy meals and snacks for kids are 50% off with the code SIMPLE50 at Littlespoon.com Prep Dish – Get two weeks free at prepdish.com/families

We have many academic and expert guests on the podcast, but today we have a meaningful story of lived experience. In this episode, Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist for ABC News and New York Times Best-Selling author, shares the story of her mental health journey, the pursuit of healing, and building a successful family life & career. Links from this Episode Ginger’s Website Natural Disaster (I Cover Them, I Am One) A Little Closer to Home: How I Found the Calm After the Storm SPONSORS Faherty: Use code 'SIMPLE' at checkout for 20% for all your Fall wardrobe needs. KiwiCo: Make learning and adventure using code 'SIMPLE' to get 50% off your first month order and Free Shipping. Indeed: Visit Indeed to start hiring today. Indeed.com/families

I would love to introduce you to a new podcast called "American Girl Fan Club" the newest show to be released on the American Girl Podcast Network.  This podcast is hosted by two superfans, who interview experts, creators, authors, designers and more-- to give YOU and your family the inside scoop behind your favorite characters and stories at American Girl… and sneak peeks on some exciting things to come.  I hope your family will listen and subscribe! apple.co/agfanclub

Child anxiety rates are on the rise, therefore, it's a topic that feels familiar to many parents. Last week I discussed child anxiety with expert Dr. Eli Lebowitz. In today's episode, I'm joined by fellow mom and mental health professional Niro Feliciano. We are answering questions submitted by listeners on the interaction of parenting styles and child anxiety. Links from this Episode Child Anxiety, Part I ft. Dr. Eli Lebowitz Niro’s Website This Book Won’t Make You Happy: Eight Keys to Finding True Contentment All Things Life with Niro Podcast Simple Families Podcast Episode 298 - Accommodating Simple Families Podcast Episode 306 - Contentment SPONSORS Kiwi –Get 50% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line with code SIMPLE at kiwico.com. PrepDish – Get two weeks free prepdish.com/families Indeed -Visit Indeed.com/FAMILIES to start hiring now.

Child anxiety is a topic on the mind of millions across the world. I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Eli Lebowitz about his innovative Space Treatment method, which he outlines in his new book Breaking Free of Child Anxiety & OCD. This method of treating anxiety in children is unique in that it works solely with the child's parents, and is shown to be as effective as working with the child. Professor Lebowitz studies and treats childhood and adolescent anxiety at the Yale Child Study Center. His research focuses on the development, neurobiology, and treatment of anxiety and related disorders, with special emphasis on family dynamics and the role of parents in these problems. Links for this Episode Eli Lebowitz: Space Treatment Book: Breaking Free of Child Anxiety & OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spacetreatments Simple Families Podcast Episode 298: Accommodating SPONSORS Faherty: Head to Faherty and use code SIMPLE at checkout for 20% for all your wardrobe needs. Mint Mobile: Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at MINTMOBILE.com/simple.

Many of us are hitting the road or taking to the sky this summer for travel. If you've traveled with kids, you know that it's not easy. And if you are traveling with anxious or inflexible children, it can feel even more daunting. This is a two-part episode. First, I'm joined by award-winning Dawn Barclay, who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry. Dawn is the author of the brand new book, Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse. Following my chat with Dawn, I'm hosting a Q&A section with my own travel tips for families--something I'm passionate about. Links for this Episode Dawn Barclay: Traveling Different Facebook: www.facebook.com/travelingdifferent Instagram: www.instagram.com/traveling_different SPONSORS Indeed | Sign up for Indeed for all your hiring needs. Visit Indeed.com/FAMILIES to learn more.

Social media gives us all an opportunity to create a false narrative of our lives. And too often, that narrative is of a life we wish we had or what we want to be. The result is a distorted sense of reality. For many of us, social media came into our lives and quickly became a slippery slope. Lena Derhally encourages us to take a step back and consider how we can be more intentional in the way social media plays a role in our lives. Lena is a licensed psychotherapist and expert in narcissism in the Washington, DC area. She's the author of the book The Facebook Narcissist. Links for this Episode Lena Derhally The Facebook Narcissist (Lena's newest book) Simple Families Podcast Episode 309: Mental Chatter Simple Families Community is now free. SPONSORS KiwiCo - Get 50% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line with code SIMPLE at kiwico.com. PrepDish - Get 2 weeks free, prepdish.com/families

I would love to introduce you to "Let's Change Beauty" - a podcast powered by the Dove Self-Esteem Project. Let’s Change Beauty features intimate conversations with esteemed experts and celebrated guests from the worlds of beauty, gaming, sports, technology and entertainment. What if we could work together to create a world where we define beauty on our own terms? This is the world that cultural expert and host of Let's Change Beauty, Jess Weiner, invites you to help make a reality. I hope you listen and subscribe! apple.co/letschangebeauty

When we speak to our kids, words do matter. We don’t have to get it right all.the.time, but I like to use the same phrases repeatedly to help drive home important lessons. Therefore, I’m sharing the 10 exact expressions my kids hear on a regular basis. Sometimes the simplest things can be the most impactful. You can either listen along or read–in today’s episode, I’m sharing how I use these and why they are important. Links for this Episode Simple Families Podcast Episode 219: Absolute Thinking Sponsors Shopify - E-Commerce for your business. shopify.com/simple

It can feel impossible to carve out an identity and personal space in motherhood. In today's conversation, Eve Rodsky shares her own experiences and encouraging words to set us on the path to finding ourselves again. Eve transformed a “blueberries breakdown” into a catalyst for social change when she applied her Harvard-trained background in organizational management to ask the simple yet profound question: What would happen if we treated our homes as our most important organizations? Eve Rodsky is the New York Times best-selling author of Fair Play and National Bestseller, Find Your Unicorn Space. Links for this Episode Eve Rodsky: Fair Play Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everodsky Fair Play: https://www.instagram.com/fairplaylife SPONSORS Indeed | Sign up for Indeed now and get a $75 credit toward your first sponsored job. Plus earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews. Visit Indeed.com/FAMILIES to learn more. Faherty | Head to FAHERTYBRAND.com/SIMPLE and use code SIMPLE at checkout to snag 20% Mint Mobile | MINTMOBILE.com/simple to cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month Join the Simple Families Community!

In today's society, we could all use a little more practice in critical thinking. Julie Bogart is known for her common sense parenting and education advice. She’s the author of the beloved book, The Brave Learner, which has brought joy and freedom to countless home educators. Her new book, Raising Critical Thinkers, offers parents a lifeline in navigating the complex digital world our kids are confronting. You may know Julie Bogart from her award-winning, innovative online writing program Brave Writer, now 22 year old, serving 191 countries. Today, I chat with her about her new book and how creating an intimate bond with our children helps in raising critical thinkers. Links for this Episode Julie Bogart & Brave Writer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliebravewriter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bravewriter Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bravewriter Simple Families Podcast Episode 302 & 303: Analog Curious I & Analog Curious II Simple Families Podcast Episode 309: Mental Chatter SPONSORS Faherty | Head to FAHERTYBRAND.com/SIMPLE and use code SIMPLE at checkout to snag 20% Pair Eyewear | Go to paireyewear.com/SIMPLE for 15% off your first purchase. Prep Dish | Two Weeks Free at Prepdish.com/families Join the Simple Families Community!

I'm excited to chat with Bunmi Laditan--I've been a fan of her work for years and find myself repeating her beautiful words in everyday parenting. Bunmi, also know as The Honest Toddler, is a writer, poet, and mother who has inspired millions of women across the world. She's sharing more about life and her new book. Links for this Episode Find Bunmi on Instagram & Facebook Bunmi's Website: www.bunmiladitan.com Bunmi's Books SPONSORS KiwoCo: For unique learning activities and experiences, use the Promo Code "Simple" to get 50% off your first month, or free shipping on any Crate line. Hello Fresh: Get 16 FREE meals and 3 FREE gifts using this link for a Summer meal delivery service to make life simpler.

In light of the recent tragic events in Texas, I am moving up the interview with Dr. Kate Truitt. I have found Dr. Truitt's method of Havening so simple, yet powerful for managing stress and anxiety. I utilize this self-directed method on myself and have been teaching it to my children. I hope you find it useful as well.  Dr. Kate Truitt is a neuroscientist and clinical psychologist with an M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration and has dedicated her life to advancing the treatment of trauma and stress-related disorders. She leads her flagship organization, Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates, headquartered in Pasadena, CA. She is the CEO of the Trauma Counseling Center (TCC) with offices throughout Los Angeles. Links From This Episode Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrKateTruitt  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.katetruitt  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.katetruitt/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKateTruitt SPONSORS Manscaped - Gift for Father's Day. Use Code SIMPLE to receive 20% off, plus FREE shipping. Daily Harvest - Up to $40 off your first box. Use the code SIMPLE Pair Eyewear - 15% off your first purchase of eyewear. Use the code SIMPLE This originally appeared on Simple Families

Got questions? Leave them for me on Speakpipe. Today, I am answering five different listener questions. Tune in to learn more about handling screen time, the middle childhood years, getting rid of toys and art, power struggles, and siblings challenges (we’ve all got ’em!). Links from this Episode Simple Families Podcast Episode 302 & 303: Analog Curious I & Analog Curious II Simple Families Podcast Episode 169: Too Many Toys Simple Families Podcast Episode 233: Expansion & Contraction Simple Families Podcast Episode 282: Power Struggle Simple Families Community – Join us now! Sponsors Shopify – Excellent tool for small business Indeed – Find great talent The post Q&A with Denaye appeared first on Simple Families.

We all talk to ourselves. For better or worse, our “chatter” or self-talk can have a profound impact on our moods, relationships, and confidence. It’s easy to operate on auto-pilot and let these thoughts come and go. But in my conversation with Ethan Kross today, he gives us tools to pump the brakes and shift our self-talk so that it works for us rather than against us. Ethan’s is the author of the bestselling book Chatter: The Voice in Our Head and Why it Matters. He’s also a professor and researcher out of the University of Michigan. Links from this Episode Find Ethan on Instagram and Twitter Website: EthanKross.com Chatter: The Voice in our Head, Why it Matters and How to Harness It SPONSORS Fabric – Protect your family with term life insurance now, in just 10 minutes Mint Mobile – To get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, including the Modern Family Plan. The post Mental Chatter appeared first on Simple Families.

A few times a year, I invite a member of the Simple Families to share their story on the podcast. Today, we are on a journey to simplicity with Meredith Bay-Tyack. Meredith has been a long-time member of the community, but she opening admits that she’s very much a work in progress. Meredith applies simplicity to most aspects of family life. She loves to shop second-hand and strives to be low waste + minimal-ish–which she interestingly notes often conflict with one another. Links from this Episode Meredith Bay-Tyack https://www.instagram.com/meredithtested/ Sponsors KiwiCo – Get 30% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line with code SIMPLE at kiwico.com. Hello Fresh – HelloFresh.com/simple16 and use code simple16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!” The post Meredith’s Story appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s world, we are faced with distractions at every turn. It can be hard to focus on the things that matter. In Joshua Becker’s new book, he explains that distractions make us feel restless, tired, and unfulfilled. In our conversation today we discuss distractions, envy, and raising kids to live a more intentional life. Links in Episode: Find Joshua on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter Becoming Minimalist Things that Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life Article on Envy Sponsors: Faherty – Get 20% off (code SIMPLE) Prep Dish – Get two weeks free Pair Eyewear – get 15% off (code SIMPLE) The post Things that Matter appeared first on Simple Families.

Niro Feliciano set out to write the book on happiness…then she realized happiness wasn’t even the goal. Today, she joins me to discuss what contentment means and how we can ditch the metrics t0 move towards it. She’s a cognitive psychotherapist, mom of 4, and a brand-new author. Links from this Episode Niro’s Website This Book Won’t Make You Happy: Eight Keys to Finding True Contentment All Things Life with Niro Podcast SPONSORS Evite – Find thousands of unique invitation themes for your next party Daily Harvest – Get up to $40 off your first box Fabric – Find security and protection for your family with term life insurance. The post Contentment appeared first on Simple Families.

Entrepreneurship and motherhood can seem like an overwhelming combination, but for Nell Shapiro & Stephanie Merks, it has brought them additional joy and purpose. The founders of Kibou are joining me to talk about turning their idea of a minimalistic mom-bag into a business and how they survived, even thrived, during the pandemic. Links from this Episode Kibou Website Kibou on Instagram Kibou on Facebook SPONSORS Ana Luisa Jewelry – Get 10% off with code SIMPLEFAMILIES Green Chef – Use code “Simple130” to get $130 off and FREE shipping. Indeed – Find great talent with a $75 sponsor job credit through April 30, 2022. The post Entrepreneurship & Motherhood appeared first on Simple Families.

Procrastination has been on my mind lately, so I invited an expert, Dr. Tim Pychyl, to dissect and explain the many examples I could list in my life where I find myself delaying tasks that feel important. I was fascinated to learn that not all my delays are considered procrastination, how mindfulness relates to procrastinating, and what my 6-year old daughter thinks about this topic. Listen to hear my interview with Tim (and my little girl!). Links from this Episode Tim’s Website – Procrastination.Ca Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change iProcrastinate Podcast WOOP Method Sponsors KiwiCo – Get 30% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line with code SIMPLE at kiwico.com. Hello Fresh – Go to HelloFresh dot com slash simple16 and use code simple16 for up to 16 free meals AND3 free gifts. The post Procrastination appeared first on Simple Families.

Welcome back to Part II of Analog Curious (if you missed Part I, catch it here). In this episode, I continue to explore my analog curiosity and provide some useful ways I have been able to decrease the impact of screen time and social media use. One thing is for sure, I’m a work in progress. I’d love to hear more about your journey! Want to get on the waitlist for the new (simpler) Simple Families Community? The post Analog Curious – Part II appeared first on Simple Families.

If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that I’ve been on a bit of a digital detox. Or what I’m calling, being “analog curious”. This means I want to know what life feels like relying on technology less. In the past two years, technology has barged its way into all aspects of our lives. And for a while, this hasn’t been sitting well with me. It feels like a double edged sword. During the pandemic, a time of great isolation, technology brought us together. Technology has brought about amazing possibilities for social connections, community building, and learning. But in many cases, including my own, this has also led to compulsive use. This type of use happens beyond our awareness or control. That’s what I’m exploring today. Links mentioned in this episode: Sober Curious episode My Year Without Alcohol Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke M.D. The post Analog Curious – Part I appeared first on Simple Families.

Let’s redefine what “bad behavior” in childhood really means. So often, we view challenging behavior as a sign of our own shortcomings as parents, but our episode today explains that most difficult behaviors are actually a neurological response to stress, fear and/or discomfort. What if we could figure out how to manage the behavior by learning more about the way the nervous system operates? Today, I am thrilled to be talking to Dr. Mona Delahooke about her new book, Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behaviors and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids. In her book, she delves deep into the idea of personalizing the approach based on each unique child. And spoiler alert, it’s a lot simpler than it sounds. Get in touch with Mona: Website Book Instagram Facebook The post Body-Brain Parenting appeared first on Simple Families.

If you (or your loved ones) are living with clutter; trying to make space for connection over content; or moving to a smaller home or retirement community, then you’ll love hearing from my friend, Matt Paxton. Matt is an Emmy-nominated hoarding expert and in today’s episode he’s sharing more about his new book, Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff, and his journey to life with less. Links to get in touch with Matt: Book Instagram Twitter Legacy List  The post Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff appeared first on Simple Families.

Mothers all over the world have faced similar challenges across generations. Today, I’m chatting with Ana Tajder. Ana is the host of Thank you, Mama a podcast where she interviews woman from around the world about the lessons they learned from their mothers. Today, I’ll be interviewing her about her own mom, who was an awarded Yugoslavian Actress/artist. Ana Tajder was born in Zagreb, Coatia and had to flee to Austria when the war reached her hometown as a child. There, she continued her education and travels to become an accomplished author and journalist, contributing to German, Austrian and Croatian magazines and newspapers. Links to Get in Touch with Ana: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter The post Thank you, Mama appeared first on Simple Families.

Today we are talking about accommodating, especially accommodating anxious behaviors in our kids. Sometimes accommodating is also known as enabling. This happens when an anxious person asks another person in their life to do something specific that relieves their anxiety. Like when your kid is fearful about going to bed and you lay with them until they fall asleep; when they are nervous about going to a birthday party so you cancel at the last minute, or when they are afraid of taking the bus so you drive them to school each day. We all do it. We all accommodate anxious behaviors in our kids–and its never so simple and straightforward.  The post Accommodating appeared first on Simple Families.

Parenthood rarely turns out as we expect. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Rachel Nielson, the host of the podcast 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms.  Rachel is a mother, teacher, and writer. In this episode she’s sharing her journey to motherhood. Get in Touch with Rachel: Her Podcast Her Website Instagram The post Idealizations appeared first on Simple Families.

In honor of Valentine’s Day and the Re-Launch of my Partners in Parenthood program, I have my partner, David, on the podcast today. We are talking about the highs and lows of parenthood and about how we have grown together in the process. The post Partnership appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, Kanesha Baynard opens up about her experience and expertise with the topic of multigenerational family living. This type of living arrangement has become increasingly more common in recent years with the pandemic and child care challenges.  Find Kanesha on her website + instagram + twitter.    The post Multigenerational Families appeared first on Simple Families.

Many of you listening are moving towards a more intentional approach to parenting, so I know you will enjoy this episode. Mr. Chazz Lewis is one of few male voices in the movement towards more respectful parenting. I’m thrilled that he let me pick his brain on topics like mistakes, cooperation, the parent-child relationship, and breaking cycles.   Find Chazz online: Instagram TikTok Podcast Patreon The post Mr. Chazz appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I’m joined by Laura Fenton. Laura is a writer, editor, and the author of The Little Book of Living Small. She and I are chatting about the ways that small living has impacted our lives and what it looks like in practice. Find Laura on Instagram Laura’s Book, The Little Book of Living Small The post Living Small(er) appeared first on Simple Families.

As the world has grown busier, many of us have moved towards short-form content to get the knowledge and information we desire. Rather than reading a book or listening to a podcast, we want that same information in a tweet, a TikTok, or an Instagram square. That can feel like a firehose of information. But could that move toward short-form content being doing more harm than good? That’s our topic today. I’m joined by my dear friend, Eden Hyder. Get in Touch with Eden: Website Instagram Podcast

In 10, 20, or even 50 years from now, early parenthood may feel like a blur with a few major bookends that stand out in our memories. What will those bookends be for your family? Do you have control over the bookends? Want to join us in The Mental Unload? It starts January 6th, 2021.

Are messiness and minimalism compatible? In fact, we messy people probably need minimalism the most–because we can’t handle having a lot of ‘stuff’. My guest today is Rachelle Crawford. Rachelle and I have bonded over our natural tendencies towards messiness. Rachelle is sharing her journey and introducing us to her new book, Messy Minimalism. Get in touch with Rachelle: On Instagram Rachelle’s Website On Facebook Buy her book

On the podcast I often feature the voices of parents and professionals who support children. As support people, our vantage point is unique. But what about the viewpoint from those with lived experience? Today, I’m speaking with lived experience educator Sonny Jane. Sonny (whose pronouns are they/them) is a queer, agender, physically disabled, autistic ADHDer and provides lived experience education, consulting and advocacy services to neurodivergent individuals, mental health professionals and organizations + services. They believe in listening to and centering lived experience as well as allowing neurodivergent voices to come first when speaking about their own identities and experiences. I hope you enjoy our chat. Find Sonny on Instagram Sonny’s Website: The Lived Experience Educator Books recommended by Sonny: The World Needs More Purple People Different Like Me The post Lived Experience appeared first on Simple Families.

It’s that magical time of the year…you probably started to feel it back in October when the decorations hit the stores. The pressure to shop early and the FOMO has never been stronger. There’s a good chance you have kids that are excited for the holiday season due to the anticipation of the gifts that are to come. If that sounds like your kids, you aren’t alone. Today, we are talking about staying focused on what matters the most: the real reason for the season. I’m joined by Meg Nordmann, author of Have Yourself a Minimalist Christmas. Meg is mother of two and also the voice behind the podcast, Journey to Freedom. You can find her on Instagram at Meg Nordmann. The post Minimalist Christmas appeared first on Simple Families.

I’m thrilled to welcome our first Mother-Daughter duo to the podcast today. Quyionah Wingfield and her daughter Serenity are entrepreneurs. They’ve written books, launched online dance classes, and now their first family game app. All their ventures have a common theme–building family connection. You can find Qui and Serenity here: Cool Moms Dance Too Website Cool Moms Dance Too on Instagram Gen Connect Game Quyionah Wingfield, mother of two, founder, creator and CEO of Cool Moms Dance Too! (CMDToo!), founder and host of Set An Intention For Your Day Morning show is a family health and wellness provider and advocate. Quyionah Wingfield co-founded CMDToo! an organization that focuses on family dance wellness and play to help improve physical and mental health for mothers and their children. Quyionah studied Psychology at Georgia State University and is an AFAA/NASM certified fitness instructor and CEU training provider. In 2018 Quyionah was an award recipient for Atlanta’s A3C Action Summit for Social Justice for her work addressing health disparities, health education and equity. Emory University’s Goizueta Business School’s Start:ME accelerator awarded Cool Moms Dance Too! for their business strategy and outstanding local community work. Quyionah successfully completed The Center for Civic Innovation and Sara Blakely Foundation’s fellowship. Currently, Quyionah and CMDToo is completing a incubator with the city of Atlanta’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative and has been featured as a #Forbes1000 company. Quyionah also has a background in Accounting and Finance most recently working with Audacy Communications; Radio Broadcasting Company. Serenity Marie is an entrepreneur, author and actor born and raised in Atlanta, GA. The daughter of entrepreneur Quyionah Wingfield, Serenity is a sweet and charismatic kidpreneur, co-founder of Cool Moms Dance Too!, and co-author of “The Bully Police Book.” In October 2021, Serenity and her mother released their first app, Gen Connect Game – The Game that gets Families Talking in an initiative to help 22,000 families by Spring of 2022 build stronger connections via communication and play. Her organization Cool Moms Dance Too has helps over 8,000 parents and children and has been featured as a #Forbes1000 company. In addition CMDToo! has created partnerships and collaborations with Invest Atlanta, Atlanta Hawks, Sara Blakely Foundation, Spanx, Mental Health America Georgia, NAMI Georgia, V103 Atlanta, Kate’s Club and more. Serenity studied dance with Kameo Production Studios, Ballethnic Dance Company and acting lessons at the Alliance Theatre and The Actors Scene. Her career accomplishments have been being featured on NBC 11-Alive, Cool Moms Dance Too series choreographer, opening for KidzBop Kids, working with Mental Health America GA and NAMI GA as a presenter. Serenity’s future aspirations are to be an interior designer and entrepreneur. The post Family Connection appeared first on Simple Families.

Do your kids have too many toys? When it comes to toys, there is no perfect number. But in today’s episode we are talking about why children don’t need a lot of toys. Having an abundance of toys is not only unnecessary but could be harmful. Want to join Tame The Toys? Use the code NOV21 for 20% off through the end of November.

What do I do if I think something is “wrong” with my kid? How do I know if my kid is developing okay? I hear these questions a lot. Today I’m talking about how to choose a professional and how to know what the best step is to find the support your child needs. The post Diagnosis appeared first on Simple Families.

I frequently hear from women who are diagnosed with ADHD after entering motherhood. Those who are diagnosed with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning. In short, executive functioning is our ability to plan, organize, and coordinate life. And as you know, parenthood has a way of pushing our executive functioning skills to the max. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Yakini Pierce of ADHD Love. Yakini and her two children are diagnosed with ADHD and she’s sharing her journey and work with us. How to reach Yakini: Instagram Website Podcast The post ADHD in Motherhood appeared first on Simple Families.

I find it confusing when we are told that as parents we need to set boundaries. We need to hold our ground. But so often when we do that, we end up in power struggles.  Power struggles can happen in any relationship. They are especially common in the parent-child relationship. It happens anytime the parent and child both want their way…and they refuse to back down. As a parent, I don’t want you to back down. But I want you to practice meeting your child in the middle. I would ask if power struggles are a thing in your house, but I already know they are. Because essentially, raising children is one gigantic 20+ year power struggle as we are launching kids off to be independent humans. We are slowly letting go of control little by little by little and handing over the power every day. Some days it’s a smoother transfer of power than others.  Even though power struggles are present constantly in the parent-child relationship, don’t always have to be messy and complicated. Especially if we can catch them early and strive to hand over a little bit of that power to balance things out. Today, I’m introducing a 3-step approach to do it simply. Learn more about Partners in Parenthood The post Power Struggles appeared first on Simple Families.

Today, we are discussing interoception. If you don’t know what that means, you aren’t alone. You might be surprised to learn you know more about it than you realize. Interoception is sometimes called the “Eighth Sense”, it’s the sense of the entire condition of the inner body, including hunger, temperature, pain, and the need for the bathroom. I’m joined in conversation with Occupational Therapist and Interoception Expert, Kelly Mahler. Today’s Sponsor: Recess, use coupon code SIMPLE20 for 20% off your first purchase. Get in Touch with Kelly Kelly-Mahler.com Kelly on Instagram Kelly’s Facebook Group The post Interoception appeared first on Simple Families.

The COVID vaccine is going to be available for younger children in the coming weeks here in the U.S.. I don’t know about you, but this has been on my mind for some time. Today, I’m sharing my decision-making process. This episode may or may not resonate with you–and that’s okay. In this chat, I’m joined by NYC pediatrician Dr. Kelly Fradin. I walk through my own decision with her and she answers questions that listeners submitted to me. Links to Get in Touch with Dr. Fradin: Instagram Facebook Newsletter Website Book The post COVID Vaccines for Kids appeared first on Simple Families.

Parenting is one of our most important jobs in life. But we also don’t get formal performance reviews like we do in the working world. Sometimes that can leave us guessing.  How am I doing? You want to know, right? Since there isn’t a formal review process, we tend to look to the world around us to evaluate ourselves. One common way that we decide whether or not we are doing a good job is by looking at our kids happiness. If the kids are happy, we must be doing okay. Right? If they are unhappy, we must really be botching things up, right? Or sometimes we look at the outcomes of parent-teacher conference, the kid’s grades, or grandparent commentary Often, these things can result in a lot of self-doubt for us as parents.  The post Performance Reviews appeared first on Simple Families.

Today I’m bringing you a live recording — Your simplicity questions answered!

We just moved into a new house. We’ve been renting for almost a year and found a permanent spot right down the road. Even though it’s not a far move, it’s been a big move. Big life transitions like this can feel really out of control. There’s always unexpected stress. Unexpected tasks. Unexpected emotions.  If it feels like you are constantly “Putting out fires”. Jumping from one crisis to the next. Like parenting is one big uphill climb—you can never find that easy, flat road. You don’t feel like you have a baseline to return to in times of struggle. Then this episode is for you.  The post Back to Baseline appeared first on Simple Families.

Back-to-school season can feel busy and stressful–especially this year. In today’s episode I’m answering some of your back-to-school questions. Heads up, next week I’ll be starting a one-week special offer on Simple Families Foundations. The post Back-to-School Q&A appeared first on Simple Families.

As adults we are accustomed to a certain type of communication. Usually, it involves spoken word and it’s fairly civilized. That’s not always the case when it comes to communicating with our kids.  Our children are still developing the ability to regulate their emotions and tolerate frustrating circumstances. The result is that often they communicate with more emotion than we are used to as adults. Kids get louder and more excited. Kids often get angrier and yell more. They get sad and cry more.  These big emotions can be very triggering for us as parents. And what happens is that we get upset about the way our child is communicating and we completely lose sight of the message they are trying to get across. And when we miss the message, things tend to escalate. Things tend to spiral.  The post Hear the Message appeared first on Simple Families.

We all need to move. But in this busy world, it doesn’t seem easy to make time and space for movement. As our culture has become more sedentary, this topic is increasingly important for all humans–but especially for parents. Our children’s brains develop through movement. My guest today is Katy Bowman of Nutritious Movement. Katy is sharing a bit about the history of movement and how changes in our society has shifted our natural tendencies. We are talking about her new book Grow Wild and how to get kids moving outside–even when there is a lot of whining! Links to Katy Bowman Katy’s Website Katy on Instagram Grow Wild (new book) Katy’s previous books The post Movement appeared first on Simple Families.

Starting the day…it can feel like a lot. It can be busy and overwhelming. There are so many things that need to get done and so little time to do them all. I know in many parts of the world people are preparing to go back into the world and back to school. Maybe you’ve had a break from the morning hustle and you are about to get back into the swing of things. Or maybe the morning hustle has been just that–a hustle–for too long and you are looking for some harmony. That’s what we are talking about today. Download the Free Printables Start the Day Bullet Journal The post Start The Day appeared first on Simple Families.

Many of us have been decluttering our homes for some time. But what about our brains? Mental clutter is real. Parenthood can feel heavy. We are tackling the 10 reasons that parenthood feels cluttered and overwhelming. If you are committed to self-care but aren’t sure where to start, I want to invite you to join us in The Mental Unload. Visit Simplefamilies.com for more info. The post Mental Clutter in Parenthood appeared first on Simple Families.

One of the most common concerns I hear from parents is this: “My kids don’t listen to me!” Generally, what this means is that you ask your kids to do something and they don’t do it. Maybe you ask them several times. Perhaps you ask them several times with an increasing sense of urgency until you are finally screaming. Today, we are going to break down what it really means to “listen” and a two-step strategy to move forward. The post Listening appeared first on Simple Families.

Minimalism looks different for everyone. When Christine Platt found minimalism she expected it would involve moving towards an all-white, barren aesthetic. But in search of an intentional life, she has built a home and lifestyle that is unique to her individual needs and culture. Christine, also known as the Afrominimalist, encourages us to search for our “why” and create a home and life that is true to us. Find Christine Platt online: Website Instagram Books New book: The Afrominimalists Guide to Living with Less  The post Minimalism Your Way appeared first on Simple Families.

Get dressed. Brush your teeth. Say thank you. Eat your breakfast. Sometimes we sound like a broken record. We feel like we are prompting and reminding our kids to do things all day long…and sometimes we are. It’s exhausting! That’s what we are talking about today. I’ll share my tips and tools for success. For my 7-year-old boy For my 5-year-old girl The post Reminders appeared first on Simple Families.

What if I get rid of something that I might need someday? How will my kids react? Making a big lifestyle change can feel scary. Moving towards simplicity is no exception to this. In today’s episode, we are discussing common fears around living a simpler life. The post Fears of Simplicity appeared first on Simple Families.

You should know this by now. I’ve asked you a hundred times. How could you forget?  Today we are going to talk about consequences, punishment, and discipline. How do we raise kids to take ownership and care for themselves and their belongings? Today I’m going to give you some things to think about and some things to do.  The post Consequences appeared first on Simple Families.

I’m going to start today off with a quote:  “We’re often afraid that if we give our kids an inch, they will take a mile. Every single grain of rice in their bowl must be eaten up, every toy in its proper place, every “I” dotted and “t” crossed. We believe this is comforting to our kids, knowing that their parent will always be steady and unchanging. We mean what we say and say what we mean. Rarely will we make an exception or change direction mid-course. We are solid and dependable: like steel.  Unfortunately the Titanic was also made from steel and we all know what happened there.  We are so strict with our rules that our consistency becomes rigidity. But what happens to something hard and rigid when it meets with a blow?  It breaks easily.  The very strictness that we think makes us strong actually makes us brittle. Instead of steel, we can strive to be more like bamboo, firm yet flexible.” Iris Chen, UntigeringThis quote comes from Untigering, a book by today’s guest Iris Chen. In Untigering, she shares her journey of leaving behind authoritarian tiger parenting to embrace a respectful, relational way of raising children. As a Chinese American mom, she draws from her experiences of living in both North America and Asia and offers insights and practices. [Book excerpt] You can find Iris on Instagram, and website, and her book Untigering: Peaceful Parenting for the Deconstructing Tiger Parent is available wherever books are sold. The post Be Like Bamboo appeared first on Simple Families.

If you’ve tuned into the news at all in the past year, you’ll know that there’s a heck of a lot of controversy around science. Whether we are talking about climate change, masks, or vaccines you’ve probably come across disputes and wars of words on scientific topics. I think back to a generation ago, where we had to break open an encyclopedia or visit a library to look deeper into a scientific topic of interest. With the ever-growing amount of knowledge that we have available at our fingertips, there is a growing interest and awareness around scientific topics of all types. Science is no longer limited to science class at school, the broader knowledge base is impacting our children from the very beginning of their lives more than ever before. And overall, I think that’s pretty great. Today I’m chatting with Emily Calandrelli, better known in our house as Emily from the Netflix series Emily’s Wonder Lab. Emily is a science communicator, and she playing a part in making science approachable for both kids and adults alike.  Emily in Instagram Emily on Twitter Emily on Tik Tok Emily’s website The post Science appeared first on Simple Families.

There are many ways in which society has constructed parenting to be far more complicated than necessary. The result is parental overwhelm. As parents, we all have the same goals. Raising happy, healthy, successful kids. In order to reach those goals, we commit ourselves to doing anything and everything possible. We want to give our children the world—even if we compromise our own well being in the process. Today, we are going to talk about the simplicity connection. In parenting, we have the best of intentions. But sometimes wanting the best outcomes for our children translates into overbuying, overprotecting, and generally just overdoing it. Which doesn’t actually get us closer to our goals of raising happy, healthy successful kids. Instead, it leads our families to stress and overwhelm.  Learn more about Simple Families Foundations The post The Simplicity Connection appeared first on Simple Families.

Summer used to be synonymous with time-off and relaxation. But times have changed and many parents now feel a sense of dread and overwhelm around the unstructured time that comes during the summer—especially after spending over a year at home. Today, we are talking about finding balance this summer.  Summertime. It used to be synonymous with relaxation and time off, but the past generation has seen a shift. There are many parents who dread summer because it feels like a lot of open unstructured time. That can feel scary, especially after spending over a year, mostly at home. So you may be overwhelmed thinking ahead to summer, to the abundance of options for camps, vacations, the desire to want to do all the things, The post Summer Plans appeared first on Simple Families.

I’ve seen numbers that say over 90% of women are unhappy with their bodies. Our body image, or the way we perceive our own bodies, is impacted by family, friends, social media, the news, and more. Many of us entered motherhood with pre-existing body image challenges, and pregnancy and motherhood can exacerbate that. Today I’m joined by Dr. Lexie Kite from Beauty Redefined, and we are chatting about changing the way women view their bodies.  Links to Connect with Lexie + Lindsay More than a Body Beauty Redefined on Instagram The post Body Image appeared first on Simple Families.

In this episode, I’m doing a quick-fire Q&A. I have a long list of questions from you all and I’ll be moving through, answering a variety of questions. We will be covering whether or not I have a junk drawer, parenting kids with bad attitudes, capsule wardrobes, defiance, video games, camping, lots of questions about partnership, and much more. Simple Families Foundations NY Times Hormone Surge of Middle Childhood Article SEN Superpower Books Expansion & Contraction Episode Messiness Episode Bedwetting episode The post Quick-Fire Q&A appeared first on Simple Families.

For the longest time, I was a budget-resister. As a minimalist, I don’t buy a lot of stuff so I didn’t think I needed a budget. But I was wrong–moving towards a consistent, air-tight budget has been one of the most intentional changes that we have made in our family. Today I’m chatting with author and financial educator Tiffany Aliche, also known as The Budgetnista. She’s sharing her tips and resources to ‘Get Good with Money’. Tiffany’s Resources New Book (for Grown Ups): Get Good with Money Kid’s Book: Happy Birthday Mali Moore More Resources: GetGoodwithMoney.com The post Get Good with Money appeared first on Simple Families.

“It’s just too much.” My daughter, who is newly 5, said this to me for the first time this week. She asked me to come clean up her room with her and when I walked in she sighed and said, “it’s just too much”. We don’t have a lot of toys, but she manages to accumulate stuff. Although this was the first time she has put this into words, her behavior has been telling me this her entire life.  Rarely will our kids be able to verbalize their overwhelm with stuff. More often, they will speak with their behavior. They will be able to feel the overwhelm, but they won’t be able to articulate or comprehend the solution. Which means we have to steer the ship. Episodes Mentioned: My Messiness Too Many Toys How to Use a Reward Chart The post Clean Up appeared first on Simple Families.

If you’ve been around the podcast for sometime, you will be happy to hear I’m bringing back the “Journey to Simplicity” series. In this series I chat with both friends and members of the Simple Families Community. We talk about what a simpler, lighter life looks like–and spoiler alert! It’s always imperfect and a work-in-progress. Find Jillian on Instagram // Link from Jillian to learn more about TM Simple Families episodes on alcohol: Episode 128 (Thinking about giving it up) Episode 141 (New Year’s Resolution to give it up) Episode 184 (Reflections a year later) The post Jillian appeared first on Simple Families.

Sometimes the road to self-improvement can also lead us toward self-doubt. Things that we previously thought we were doing okay on, we suddenly start to think we aren’t doing well enough. This especially happens in parenting. I hear from parents all the time that they want to “say the right thing”–but there is no clear wrong and right when it comes to parenting. You are doing better than you know.  Sometimes the road to self-improvement can also lead us towards self-doubt, things that we felt like we were doing okay on, now suddenly we feel like we're not doing well enough. This especially holds true in parenting. I get questions and emails all the time with people wondering how they should talk to their kids specifically what they should say to their kids. Now, if you're approaching unchartered territory, like the death of an animal, introducing the birds and the bees, or some other topic that you just have no idea where to start or no idea how to cover it. Then I think it's wise to seek out information and resources and friends who might have experience with these things. But what I'm seeing is this increasing trend towards getting it right and saying the right things in small, everyday interactions with our kids. What do I say? When my kid gets upset with me? What do I say? When my kid gets left by a friend? What do I say? When my kid shows me a picture that he's really proud of? What do I say? When my kid hurts my feelings? When it comes to the social and emotional development of our kids, we so desperately want to get it right. We so want to say the right things for them to grow and thrive and be happy. We start on a path towards self-improvement, but the truth is most of these questions weren't answers that come from the heart that come from your authentic reaction. As a human, as a parent, there is no right and wrong. If your kid asks you a tough question or you come into a difficult situation and you flub it up, it'll be okay. So that's what we're talking about today. Letting go of that self-doubt and the desire to say all the right things, to get it right every time and lean in just being ourselves and being human and being authentic with our kids. Even if that looks imperfect. The post Self-Doubt appeared first on Simple Families.

Saying ‘no’ can feel hard—especially to people we love. But if you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, you might benefit from saying no more often. We have to take ownership over how we spend our time, money, and energy. If we don’t, we will end up burned out, exhausted, and broke. It can be hard to say no, whether it's saying no to our kids, to obligations, to other adults, it's challenging because saying no often means setting a boundary. And when we set boundaries, sometimes other people get upset. If you're relatively new to saying no and setting boundaries, it can feel scary because you can worry about other people getting angry. But I will warn you if you don't say no and you don't set boundaries, you are going to end up angry and upset. We have to take ownership over how we spend our time, our money and our energy. And if we don't, we're likely to end up burnout exhausted and broke financially. If you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, you might benefit from it. Practicing saying no more often, even to the people that you love. That's what we're talking more about today. The post Saying No appeared first on Simple Families.

We are nearly one-year into a global pandemic, therefore I’d say we are far overdue in talking about therapy. Therapy: Who needs it? How do you get started? Maybe you are interested in exploring therapy but you have decision fatigue—there are far too many options and you don’t even know where to begin. Today I’m going to try to simplify some of that for you.  Resource for finding mental health support ASAP. The post Therapy appeared first on Simple Families.

Bedwetting and accidents can be taboo to speak about as our kids get older. However, we’ve been challenged by these things in our home so I understand the importance of this topic first hand. I’ll warn you, my guest Dr. Steve Hodges and I are going to talk about poop and pee a lot in this episode, but I think you will enjoy hearing a new perspective.  Dr. Hodges Books: Bedwetting and Accidents Aren’t Your Fault: Why Potty Accidents Happen and How to Make Them Stop (Kid’s Book) It’s No Accident: Breakthrough Solutions to Your Child’s Wetting, Constipation, UTIs, and Other Potty Problems (Older book, the “Why”) The M.O.P. Book: Anthology Edition: A Guide to the Only Proven Way to STOP Bedwetting and Accidents (Newer book, the “How”) The post Bedwetting + Accidents appeared first on Simple Families.

Maybe you don’t consider yourself an outdoorsy person. Maybe you have a kid who isn’t into nature. I totally get that. The truth is that nature can be uncomfortable. It’s often: Too bright.  Too hot. Too cold.  Too windy.  Too loud. But we are all nature people, in fact—we need to spend time outdoors for our health and wellbeing. If you don’t think you are an outdoors person, let’s talk about why. And how we can start to shift that perspective and get outside of our comfort zones. For our own good and the good of our families.  The post Outdoorsy appeared first on Simple Families.

Our family recently downsized in a big way. I’ve had many people ask why we sold our lovely home and the short answer is: It’s complicated. My husband, David, is joining me in today’s episode for a candid conversation about the perils of homeownership and moving towards simplicity. The post Downsizing appeared first on Simple Families.

Let’s talk about kids who hit. Let’s also talk about adults who hit. This kind of behavior is taboo, especially as kids get older. We aren’t as open to talking with friends about it, and sometimes we feel like we’re the only parent facing this problem. There’s a lot of self-blame that goes into this as well. I know this because I have a kid who hit and occasionally still does hit. Hitting can trigger many emotions in us as parents. The post Hitting appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s world, we are inundated with information. Whether it be about parenting, cooking, art projects, gardening…the world is quite literally at our fingertips thanks to Google.  The result is that we often feel like, if the information is available to us, we should consume it. And we should be able to put it into action. If you saw a meme online with 10 things you should say to your kids (I use this example because I have this list). Well, you read it, and it makes sense that you should go put it into practice.  Right? The truth is, that’s not always the case. When we learn new things and fail to put those new things into action, we can feel a lot of guilt. I call this “Know Better, Do Better guilt” The post Know Better, Do Better Guilt appeared first on Simple Families.

We are knee-deep in the holiday season, so let’s take a moment to talk about over-gifters—these are people in your life, or especially your kid’s life, that give more gifts than you’d like. Generally speaking, these are good, well-intentioned, loving people. The last thing you want is for them to walk away, feeling hurt, alienated, or confused.  Yet, you may also wish to see change, especially if you are moving towards a simpler life with less stuff. Particularly if you are raising your children with simplicity as a core family value.  The post Over-gifters appeared first on Simple Families.

We have different expectations for our kids’ behavior based on the type of environment that we take them into. Perhaps you feel at ease when you pull into a playground, and your kids can jump out to just run, yell, and play. But what if you have to take them to a department store to make some returns? Or to an upscale restaurant for Grandma’s 90th Birthday dinner? Sometimes we have to take kids into environments that challenge both them and us. In these situations, I find it helpful to use what I call ‘Prep Talks’. Prep Talks are when you simply lay out your expectations for behavior before entering into a potentially challenging environment. The post Prep Talks appeared first on Simple Families.

There’s so much empty space left to fill during the holiday season. That emptiness often leads to discomfort. But, as humans, we have a way of filling those voids without pause. It’s true; there’s so much missing this holiday season. It might feel slower and more open than you intended or hoped. The post What’s missing this holiday season? appeared first on Simple Families.

Let’s talk about Santa. I’ll start by saying this is not a kid-friendly episode, because we will be discussing Santa from the perspective of a parent. If you know what I mean. If you have a child present with you—press pause and come back to this. With the Holiday Season upon us, I know many parents have mixed feelings about how to integrate Santa Claus into their celebration in a way that feels authentic and approachable to your family.  In this episode, we are going to start off by letting go of all your core beliefs about Santa and starting fresh. There are probably aspects of your childhood that you want to keep, and others you want to let go of. As the parent, you are steering the ship. You get to define the role of Santa and gift-giving in your home. If you are trying to focus on non-tangible gifts this holiday season—like relationships, religion, and family connection…then you might find it necessary to strike a new balance in your approach to Santa Claus.  The post Santa appeared first on Simple Families.

This gift guide isn’t meant to literally click and buy (although I’ve included links for ideas). Instead, it is intended to make you think differently about gifting. Our kids may grow out of their toys, but they won’t grow out of spending quality time together as a family.  If we want to stay focused on what matters most around the holidays, then we need to consider the way we are gifting. Our kids can easily be distracted by the piles of wrapped gifts. There’s a whole lot of dopamine and anticipation build up to those gifts. And that can be distracting if we are trying to focus on the real gifts of the season–family, community, and religion. Find links to products/services mentioned on simplefamilies.com. The post 2020 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Simple Families.

Organization can feel like a false promise of more. If only you could be more organized, you could manage MORE stuff. You could handle MORE on your calendar. But the truth is, the sheer quantity of…everything…is inundating us.  My efforts at organization mostly lead me to feel like a total failure. I can’t organize my dresser drawers, they end up a heap of mess. I can’t organize my purse, it ends up all thrown in the middle. I can’t organize multiple playdates and activities for my kids on a weekend, because I forget things. You don’t need more bins. More planners. You don’t need ombre’d markers. And you certainly don’t need more self-loathing about being unable to maintain complex systems. What you need is more practice saying no.  Organization isn’t the answer. Minimalism or better yet, essentialism is the answer.  The post Organize vs. Minimize appeared first on Simple Families.

We all want our kids to eat well. We will try anything and everything to make it happen. But what if sometimes we try too hard and end up mucking it up in the process? There is plenty to be said about simplicity and feeding children–today we are exploring this topic more. Feeding a family can feel anything but simple. When you try to juggle health and nutrition with preferences and moods, not to mention cost and time feeding a family can quickly feel overwhelming. This is a topic that I've long been interested in and not because I'm any kind of connoisseur in the kitchen, but because I'm a recovering picky eater, I don't think I ate a single vegetable until I was about 19. That coupled with my interest in child behavior and parenting. This is where I chose to focus my doctoral research. In particular, my dissertation looked at the parents' approach to feeding in the early years and the impact it had later in life. So, today I'm going to be sharing a combination of research and my personal experience. And the good news is there is a lot that we can do as parents to get our kids to eat well. And no surprise simplicity plays a huge role, and I'll be sharing more about that today. The post Simplify Feeding appeared first on Simple Families.

Today we are talking about upsetting our kids. Sometimes as parents, we have to make hard decisions for our kids. Decisions they don’t like. Decisions that upset them. We are talking about feeling that tension between what your child wants you to do versus what you actually need to do.  This tension can quickly turn into fear. Fear that they will whine. Fear they will be disappointed. Fear that they will cry. Maybe even fear that they will be traumatized (I hear this one a lot from you all!).  Here’s where I feel like it gets confusing. We are all striving to be responsive, respectful parents. We want to honor our children’s individuality. We want to honor their choices. We want to empower them to make important decisions in their own lives.  BUT…our kids don’t have fully developed reasoning skills. They can’t fully see through the implications of their decisions. They can’t always understand our rationale. They often live in the moment.  The post Hard Decisions appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, Part III, we’re going to talk about how we can work to improve and better understand the challenging relationships that we have in our lives. We will cover setting boundaries, empathic listening, building connection, and communication patterns. Listen to: Part I Part II The post Challenging Relationships (Part III) appeared first on Simple Families.

In last week’s episode, we started talking about challenging adult relationships. I asked you to think about who that person(s) is for you. Now, this week we will talk about setting goals for those relationships and the impact of idealizing these relationships. In the previous episode, we discussed that some of the people who challenge us the most are those who have different beliefs, world views, and levels of emotional intelligence than we do.  Having a world full of people who are a carbon copy of ourselves and our beliefs just isn’t realistic. And frankly, may even be a little boring. But just because we are different, doesn’t mean we can’t have a positive relationship.  The post Challenging Relationships (Part II) appeared first on Simple Families.

We all have challenging people in our lives. Maybe it’s your brother or your mother or a best friend from childhood. Our goal is to try to start viewing this person through a new lens—so you can reframe your mindset and your attitude. This topic of relationships is incredibly broad and I want to narrow it down to focus better. So we’re talking, specifically, about finding peace in challenging adult relationships. TUNE INTO PART II. The post Challenging Relationships (Part I) appeared first on Simple Families.

Stress can lead to anger and irritability. In today’s episode, we are talking about how anger can spill over onto the people we love the most, including our partners and children. I’m sharing how we talk about this concept with our kids. In this wild and crazy year of 2020, there's no denying that every family across the world is facing stress and overwhelm. And this stress and overwhelm is going to invariably impact our mood. When we're feeling pushed to our limits, we're going to get angry, we're going to get irritable, and it's going to spill out onto the people that we love, including our kids, including our partners. One question that I get a lot, especially from women from mothers is how do I stop yelling? Now I don't think there's any easy answer to this. So today I'm going to share just one thing. One thing that's working in our house. When we talk about anger and frustration and irritability, as with most things, I don't think we should strive for perfection. I don't think we should strive to have a happy, bubbly mood all the time. Our kids need to know that we're real humans and they need to know that it's okay to experience all these emotions. And despite your best efforts, you will absolutely experience all the emotions with your kids at different points in time. So in this episode, we'll talk about processing those feelings and talking with kids about how we manage them ourselves. The post Spilling Anger appeared first on Simple Families.

For the first 30 years of my life, I struggled with messiness. No organizational system worked for me. In this episode, I’m sharing about my natural tendency towards mess and chaos along with how simple living has changed that for me. Let's talk about messiness. I am a messy person by nature, and I do think that's a thing. I think there are many of us who are prone towards messiness based on the way that our brains function. And I'm going to talk more about that in this episode today, but I know pre simplicity life felt even more than messy. It felt chaotic. And that chaos and messiness very much felt like a character flaw for me, no matter how hard I tried the physical stuff, the mental stuff, the parenting stuff, it all felt overwhelming. It felt like too much. So today I'm sharing a little bit about my story of my messiness. And if you're feeling hopeless, I want to reassure you that you aren't, or if you feel like your kids or your partner Hopeless, they aren't. If I can find my way on this path toward simplicity, I promise you can too. The post Messiness appeared first on Simple Families.

One of the greatest, if not THE greatest, obstacle to simplicity with kids is FOMO. The fear of missing out. We worry about our children missing out on toys, experiences, and opportunities that they desire. We worry our children will be negatively impacted as a result. We fear they are going to miss opportunities. We also worry they are going to be mad at us. Or that they won’t fit in if they don’t have the same things as their friends. As the adults, we have to serve as the brain managers for our children until their brains are fully developed (so…like 25-years-old? Kidding, not kidding.) That means we have to make hard decisions based on reason, logic, and family values. Often these are decisions that our children just aren’t equipped to make. The post Comparison, Envy, and FOMO appeared first on Simple Families.

Today I’m sharing my best relationship tool. It’s called expansion and contraction. Expansion and contraction is a simple way to find the rhythm in your family. In fact, it’s probably something you do all the time without even noticing. However, once you bring it to your awareness you will be able to use it with more intention. You’ll find your days flow more smoothly and you view your relationships more positively. In this episode, I’m going to show you how to use it as a mindset switch and as a tool to manage behavior.  As many of our kids head back into the school year in some way, shape or form, there's a lot of discussion around finding a rhythm for your family. Personally, I think that this idea of finding a rhythm in your home sounds kind of abstract. What does it even mean? So today I'm going to be sharing my favorite tool that does actually help you find a rhythm. It helps you manage the energy and the behavior of your children, but it's also a general tool that I find helps me in relationships across the board, with my partner, with myself, with extended family, it's called expansion and contraction. And I've talked about this in previous episodes have kind of touched on it lightly, but I've had so many requests to go deeper on this topic. So that's what I'm going to do today. I'll be sharing more about this mindset switch that so many people have told me has transformed their parenting and relationships. And the best part is it's easy. You're probably already doing it, but once it's brought to your awareness you're going to do it with even more intention, and you're going to see even more success. I hope you enjoyed this episode. The post Expansion & Contraction appeared first on Simple Families.

Our family was on vacation recently–and my husband and I wanted to explore some new sights. We love to wander around and breathe it all in. My kids don’t always share this joy. In fact, on this particular trip, their legs seem to quit functioning altogether. They “couldn’t walk” another step but could miraculously ride a bike and swim with ease. Whining is very much a part of childhood. In fact, it’s also very much a part of adulthood. But by the time we are grown, we have learned the difference between public and private speech, and we understand the need to separate the two in different contexts. The post Why Do Kids Whine? appeared first on Simple Families.

Do you feel like you need some new screen time rules for your kids? There’s a good chance that your kids have consumed an increased amount of screen time during the pandemic. Whether it’s for work, school, or pleasure—we’ve all been home more and utilizing new devices in new ways. But what hasn’t changed is the self-blame and criticism we place on ourselves as parents for giving our children “too much” screen time. Because “good parents don’t let their kids have too much screen time.”  Right? Have you have internalized the message that the quantity of screen time your child consumes correlates with the quality of your parenting? I know that I have. From the earliest days of pregnancy, I indulged in books on brain development that touted the benefits of going screen-free in the early years. Therefore, in the first years of my parenthood journey, my son was screen-free. The post Screen Time Rules for Kids appeared first on Simple Families.

After our last episode, Educating Your Child in a Pandemic, I got a lot of questions. Today I’ll be answering your questions about returning back to school this year. Show Notes/Links: Link to First Name Basis episode on privilege White Fragility by Robin DeAngelo Hi there and welcome to episode 230. Today, I am doing a back to school question and answer session. After the last episode, educating your child in a pandemic. I got a lot of questions. Today is just going to be a real straight talk, giving you my thoughts and opinions in this hard, tricky season of life. And I want to tell you first and foremost, that what's right for me and my family is right for me and my family. It's going to look very different than you and yours. You are the expert on your family. Trust her gut. You have all of the answers inside of you. The post Back to School Q&A appeared first on Simple Families.

Right now, many of us are thinking about back to school decisions. Educating your child in a pandemic is no easy task. Homeschooling? Distancing Learning? In-person school? Even if we are privileged to have a choice, making hard decisions for our families can feel agonizing. You may even lose sleep over it. That’s why I’m sharing the 9 things you need to know about educating your child in a pandemic. The post Educating Your Child in a Pandemic appeared first on Simple Families.

The toy industry sells us the story that our children need toys to be happy. In fact, we are sold the story that our kids need lots of new toys to be content. You may have come to believe that more toys=more joy and find yourself spending countless dollars attempting to prove this theory to be true. You aren’t alone, in 2020 the toy industry brought in over $95 million in global sales. These numbers surely bring a lot of happiness to the toy industry. But what about our kids?  Let me tell you our story. When I became a new mother, I was ready to give my baby everything. All the toys, all the love, all the best.  This motto “more is better” wasn’t new to me. I entered motherhood with a lifelong history of clutter–both physical clutter and mental clutter. But I had different circumstances than most when I gave birth to my first child. At that time, I was finishing up my doctorate in Child Development.  That means, during my first pregnancy, I was elbow deep in more than just clutter—I was also immersed in the research about what children really need to grow, learn, and thrive. Much to my surprise, there was nothing in the research that supported the idea that buying lots of toys was actually good for our kids. In fact, having fewer toys benefits our kids in more ways than you can imagine. Over the past decade, I’ve turned thousands of families into believers of the benefits of fewer toys.  And I can tell you one thing for sure, you will never look back.  Not only does fewer toys benefit the development of the child, but also the well-being of the parents. Because the way we buy for our children teaches them. That’s why I want to share with you 9 things that kid’s learn by having fewer toys.  The post Why Children Will Benefit from Fewer Toys appeared first on Simple Families.

We’ve all picked up on a few habits during this crisis–and some of those habits might not be serving us. Today I’m sharing more about my attempts to moderate caffeine, a habit that I’ve leaned on hard the past few months. I’d love to hear from you. Do you have any habits you are trying to moderate right now? The post Caffeine + Crisis Habits [Quick Wins] appeared first on Simple Families.

When we speak to our kids, words do matter. We don’t have to get it right all.the.time, but I like to use the same phrases repeatedly to help drive home important lessons. Therefore, I’m sharing the 10 exact expressions my kids hear on a regular basis. Sometimes the simplest things can be the most impactful. You can either listen along or read–in today’s episode, I’m sharing how I use these and why they are important. The post Simple Things I Say to My Kids appeared first on Simple Families.

In our house, we have three primary rules that guide the way we parent our kids. Today, I’m sharing the three rules and how we talk to our young children about them.  Here they are: Respect the rights of other people,   Protect and care for the environment (both inside the house and out),  Take only reasonable risks.  It can be really easy to fall into the trap of creating a lot of little rules, often based on annoying behaviors. Don’t throw sand. Don’t touch the exercise bike.  You are allowed to change your rules. If you have too many, you might need to reevaluate and decide which ones to keep after this episode. Because the truth is, they may cost you more time and energy than they are worth. Thanks again for tuning in to today’s episode! The post Rules [Quick wins] appeared first on Simple Families.

Many of us have been decluttering our homes for some time. But what about our brains? Mental clutter is real. Parenthood can feel heavy. We are tackling the 10 reasons that parenthood feels cluttered and overwhelming. The post Mental Clutter 101 appeared first on Simple Families.

We are wrapping up our first year of homeschooling and I wanted to share my reflections with you. I know that many people are considering homeschooling next year due to the pandemic, but our family is planning to send the kids to school. Tune in to hear the things I loved about homeschool and the parts I struggled with as well. SHOW NOTES/SHOW LINKS All About Reading Math-U-See Exploring Nature with Kids Oak Meadow The post Homeschool Reflections appeared first on Simple Families.

Many people around the world are reentering and finding a new “normal” after several months at home. In today’s episode we are talking about what this might look like. This includes communication about your comfort level in socialization, finding the silver-linings, acknowledging the experiences of others, recognizing resilience in your children, and making space for partnership. Show Notes/Links: White Fragility by Robin D’Angelo Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad Jasmine Bradshaw of First Name Basis The post Reentry appeared first on Simple Families.

Are you wondering how to talk to young kids about race? I’m so pleased to welcome Jasmine Bradshaw to the podcast today to share her insights. Jasmine and her husband Carter are the voices behind the podcast First Name Basis. Her work is a resource that I will return to time and time again. Be sure to subscribe to her show and follow her on Instagram. Show Notes/Links: First Name Basis Podcast Find Jasmine on Instagram Join the First Name Basis Community on Patreon The post Talking to Kids About Race appeared first on Simple Families.

Today I’m introducing a new format for summer. I’ll be intermittently sharing some shorter episodes like this one that include a few straightforward tips and tools that you can implement right away. We are going to start in the pantry, one of the spaces that took me the longest to get under control. Screenshot while you are listening to this episode and share your own favorite tips on Instagram, I’d love to hear what is working for you! The post Pantry [Quick Wins] appeared first on Simple Families.

I love you, I hate you. You always yell at me. You never cook anything I like. Young children tend to think in black and white. Their feelings can be big, bold, and intense. In this episode, we are discussing why this happens in everyday conversations. We will also discuss how we can help our kids to recognize the “in-between”. Show Notes/Links: Simplify Siblings – Confidently guide the sibling relationship (without losing your mind) The post Absolute Thinking appeared first on Simple Families.

Do your kids show a strong preference for one parent or the other? In today’s episode we are discussing why this dynamic exists and some tips for helping to balance things out at home. Show Notes/Links Simplifying Siblings Episode 160: Selfless or Selfish? The post Parental Preference appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we are chatting about high-functioning anxiety. Many of us experience challenges with fear, worries, and anxiety. I’m sharing more about my experience and some of my favorite tips and resources. Mental Health Resources: Betterhelp Immediate Help COVID-19 Mental Health Resources The post High-Functioning Anxiety appeared first on Simple Families.

Today we are talking about minimalism, money, and developing a spending plan. For years I was a budget-resister. I wanted nothing to do with having a budget for our family. But now I’m singing a different tune. The reality is, developing a solid spending plan for our family has been one of the most intentional things we’ve done in our path towards a simpler life. In this episode I’m also answering a question from an audience member: How much do you play with your kids? The post Spending Plan appeared first on Simple Families.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, I am joined by Stephanie Seferian from the Sustainable Minimalists Podcast. We are chatting about realistically moving towards sustainability and raising kids to love our Earth. I’m also answering a question from Kara, she asked: How can I get my kid to take more risks? Part I: Eco-Friendly Families [@ 3:01] Part II: How can I get my kid to take more risks? [@ 41:15] The post Eco-Friendly Families + Getting Kids to Take More Risks appeared first on Simple Families.

In times like this, it can be hard to explain the News to our children. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Andrea Barbalich, the editor-in-chief of The Week Junior. The Week Junior is a brand new magazine that simplifies the news for kids. Andrea and I are discussing how to bring discussions around the news and current events into our families. The post Kids + The News appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we are discussing how to develop a play space that is suitable for children of multiple ages. Do we really need baby toys? Can we find toys that grow with children? How do we balance safety and developmental needs? These are questions we are diving into in this episode. The post Q&A | How can I design a play space for kids of different ages? appeared first on Simple Families.

Not all reward sticker charts are created equal. In today’s episode, I’m going to explain how to use a reward chart effectively–and I will also explain why we don’t use them very often. How to Use a Reward Chart How to Use a Sticker Chart The post How to Use a Reward Chart appeared first on Simple Families.

You are enough. You are doing enough. In today’s episode, I’m taking a question that many parents across the world are wondering: Am I providing enough structure/educational stimulation for my child in this time of crisis? The post Q&A | Am I doing enough to supplement my kid’s education right now? appeared first on Simple Families.

Irritability. Potty accidents. Night wakings. Tantrums (child AND adult). Difficult behaviors can increase during times of stress. In today’s episode we are discussing the implications of stress and uncertainty on child and adult behavior. Because most of us are feeling it at this time, right? Show Notes/Links: Simple Families Foundations The post 5 Tips for Stress Behaviors appeared first on Simple Families.

Who could use a little quiet time right now? I see you nodding your head. Yes, me too. In today’s episode we are talking about initiating quiet time with young children. During this period of social distancing, even short periods of quiet time can be life-giving to parents who are all-hands-on-deck 24/7. Thanks for tuning in! The post Q&A | How do you get kids to do quiet time? appeared first on Simple Families.

We all know that it’s important to stay home right now–it is our social responsibility. The Weidner family is one of a million reasons this continues to be important. Today I am bringing you their story. Hillary and her husband Jordan are not strangers to social isolation–they were put on a year-long lock down after Beatrice had a liver transplant in the first year of life. We are talking about what it’s like to be parenting an immunocompromised child in the current pandemic. Get in touch with Hillary: On Instagram Hillary’s Blog The post Hillary + Beatrice’s Story appeared first on Simple Families.

If you have bored kids driving you crazy right now, the easy solution might be to shower them with new toys and activities to keep them busy. But sadly, Amazon doesn’t have the answer to all our problems. An onslaught of new stuff will keep kids busy for a short period of time, but the feelings of boredom will emerge whether we like it or not. Today we are chatting about using shopping as a way to feel more in control along with some mindset shifts in how to view boredom. Show Notes/Links Simple Families Foundations Virtual Coffee Chat Registration Follow Denaye on Instagram The post Q&A | What should I buy to keep my kids busy during isolation? appeared first on Simple Families.

I’m feeling grateful that I have the ability to work from home during this season of life. But having the whole family home right along with me isn’t exactly a “walk in the park”. Today I’m sharing my 7 best tips for staying sane in an extended time period of social distancing. The post 7 Tips for Social Distancing (with Kids) appeared first on Simple Families.

Are you inundated by the news right now? Is there such a thing as too much news? We are raising children in an era of constant exposure to the news–it hits us instantly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With the current pandemic, it has many of us captivated as we find it hard to look away. Constant exposure to the news can increase anxiety. Is there a way to find a balance between being informed and being inundated? That’s what we are chatting about in today’s episode. The post Q&A | Are you in a state of news overwhelm? appeared first on Simple Families.

Partnership is transformed in parenthood. Today I am joined by Shane Birkel, a podcaster and couples therapist. Shane and I are discussing communication and relationship patterns for partners during the early years of parenthood. Show Links: Shane Birkel – Website Shane’s Podcast – The Couple’s Therapist Couch Relational Life Therapy (Shane’s Method) Gottman Method Emotions Focused Therapy The post Partnership + Parenthood appeared first on Simple Families.

I know you are already inundated with the news on COVID-19. But we are going to talk about it a little here today too–I’m taking a question from an audience member wondering how we are handling it in our family. Show Notes/Links Green Kid Crafts Kid’s Podcasts Story Pirates Molly of Denali Rebel Girls Stories Podcast The post Q&A | How are you handling the spread of coronavirus? appeared first on Simple Families.

I’m joined by Courtney Carver, author of the brand new book Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More. In today’s episode, she shares her minimalist wardrobe challenge that has spread throughout the world. I also have my sister-in-law, Kim, joining us for a mini-coaching call with Courtney. Kim is brand new to a capsule wardrobe and Project 333, and Courtney is talking her through the process. Get a copy of the book! Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More The post Minimalist Wardrobe Challenge appeared first on Simple Families.

How do I teach my daughter to value her inner-beauty? How do I teach her that self-worth isn’t sealed into pretty? I will teach her that strangers can’t see the beautiful stuff on the inside. However, out of some bizarre cultural norm she will find that these strangers constantly praise and discuss her external appearance. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the simple words I use with my daughter tell her that she is more than pretty. Show Notes/Links: The Reason I Need You to Stop Calling My Baby “Pretty” Plastic Reusable Lids Soap Dispenser Flower Arrangers Straw Lids The post Q&A | How do you teach little girls that they are more than pretty? appeared first on Simple Families.

What if you are too overwhelmed to deal with your overwhelm? I hear this a lot. This week we are launching a new round of The Mental Unload–my signature 7-day program that focuses on decreasing mental clutter. Even if you think you don’t have the time for this, I’m going to explain all the details today. Show Notes/Links The Mental Unload Far from the Tree by Andrew Solomon The post Q&A | Is The Mental Unload™ right for me? appeared first on Simple Families.

The truth is, parenthood rarely turns out how we expect. Today, I’m happy to introduce you to my friend Jen. I met Jen over twelve years ago–long before my motherhood journey began. She’s the mother of a son with special needs and twin daughters. Jen’s love and tenacity have always inspired me. I’m thankful she is sharing an intimate look into her parenthood journey with us today. Show Notes/Links: Get in touch with Jen by emailing me: [email protected] The post A Special Story appeared first on Simple Families.

We often feel a great responsibility to keep our kids occupied and happy. That can be a heavy burden to carry. In today’s episode, we are talking about understanding this need and setting boundaries to benefit the whole family. Show Notes/Links: Visual Timer on Amazon Visual Timer App The post Q&A | How do you occupy a young child? appeared first on Simple Families.

What if your kid says “yuck” at the dinner table. Cooking a meal for your family is hard work and when your kids express distaste, it can really get under your skin. The truth is that most kids think in black and white: they either love a food or they hate it. Not only do they think in black and white, but they also speak in simplistic terms as well. Today we are talking about letting go of the need to constantly instruct and correct our kids, and instead, giving our kids new (more socially-appropriate) language to communicate their needs and feelings. Show Notes/Links Scooter Boards Gonge Hilltops The Target version of Hilltops Bozo’s Grand Prize Game Ellyn Satter The post Q&A | What if a kid says “yuck” at the dinner table? appeared first on Simple Families.

What is executive functioning? As parents, it is important to understand that executive function is one of many components that is in-development in the early years of life. As our children grow, they slowly develop the ability to make plans, organize their ideas, follow directions, and manage time. This process can feel slow and arduous. However, it’s important to know that executive functioning is still developing throughout the teenage years and into the early 20s. Today on the podcast I am joined by Dr. Mark Bertin, a development pediatrician and executive functioning expert. He’s sharing more about this topic , his work with patients, and his books for parents. Show Notes/Links How Children Thrive: The Practical Science of Raising Independent, Resilient, and Happy Kids Mindful Parenting for ADHD: A Guide to Cultivating Calm, Reducing Stress, and Helping Children Thrive Dr. Mark Bertin’s website: Developmental Doctor Research Article Discussed: Less-structured time in children’s daily lives predicts self-directed executive functioning The post Executive Function appeared first on Simple Families.

Do my kids fight? YES. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite tools and thoughts around sibling relationships. I’ll be honest, this is one of my biggest challenges in parenthood. But with time, I’ve been able to develop empathy that gives me the ability to stay calm in times of crisis with my kids–and that has made a huge difference. How do you handle sibling conflicts? The post Q&A | How do you handle sibling fights? appeared first on Simple Families.

I am wrapping up a treat-free month with my kids. Back in December, the cookies, candy, and treats got more than a little out of hand. This month has been a learning process for my kids, but more importantly for me. I’ve been able to let go of some of my longtime beliefs about the role that sugar needs to play in childhood. Have you ever tried to go treat-free with your kids? Show Notes/Links Babies Eat Real Food Workshop Clara Davis Study The post Reflections on a Treat-Free Month appeared first on Simple Families.

Anyone parenting with a busy schedule will tell you that the quality of food you are feeding yourself may be lacking. It can take time, thought, and effort to feed ourselves well. On the podcast today, I’m chatting with my wellness guru, Megan Lyons. We are chatting about mindful eating, managing cravings, embracing hunger, meal prep, intermittent fasting, and much more. Show Notes/Links: Find Megan on Instagram The Lyon’s Share Wellness Website Mel Robbins 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Adaptogens Organic India Tulsi Tea Rishi Hot Chocolate Four Sigmatic Ashwagandha Rhodiola The post Mindful Eating in Parenthood appeared first on Simple Families.

Do you have a kid who struggles to take “no” for an answer? That’s the question we are covering today. The truth is, somtimes we need to firm up our “no” when talking to our kids–I’m giving you a few examples of what this sounds like. I’m also giving you an example of how I use my job description. “As your Mom, it’s my job to help keep your brain and body healthy. To do that, I have to be sure you eat good food and get plenty of movement” Time Stamps: 1:01 Something Simple I’m Loving: Coop Eden Pillows 2:53 Other things for the bed: Saatva Mattress (We have the classic, Luxury-Firm) 4:05 Today’s sponsor: Simple Contacts 5:05 Leave your questions here! 5:29 Today’s Question: What about a kid who won’t take “no” for an answer? The post Q&A | What about a kid who won’t take “no” for an answer? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a journey to simplicity. Marie, a Simple Families community member is giving us a closer look inside her day-to-day life. She’s been working towards simplicity for over a year and has found that a simpler life improves her well-being and the overall harmony of her family. Marie and I discuss her adventure in decluttering the physical “stuff” in the home, as well as scaling back on the calendar to find more peace and quiet in the way they spend their time together. Thanks for sharing your journey with us, Marie! The post Marie’s Story appeared first on Simple Families.

Should we insist that our kids apologize or say “I’m sorry”? I actually don’t. However, both my kids have come to apologize and express authentic empathy in their early years (without my demanding it). They have learned to do so naturally through their environment. When it comes to teaching manners and empathy, we can cue our kids to use certain expressions. But often it’s not about teaching. It’s about exposing them to things like manners and empathy in their influential relationships with adults. Children learn better through exposure in their natural environment. So instead of direct teaching, we can show them how it’s done ourselves. Timestamps: 1:18 // Something Simple I’m Loving: Knowledge Encyclopedia 2:51 // About our big book overhaul: Reading Aloud + Our Book Overhaul 5:45 // Today’s Sponsor: Care/Of 7:04 // Today’s Question: Should you make kids apologize? The post Q&A | Should you make kids apologize? appeared first on Simple Families.

In three years of podcasting, I’ve never shared my own views on sleep. This is not an accident. The reality is that I’m afraid to approach this divisive topic. I do have a lot of opinions on the topic, but today–I’m sharing the 7 most important things I’ve learned about sleep and parenthood in my own life. Time Stamp: 1:01 // Episode disclaimer 1:53 // Episode sponsor: Native 2:50 // Simplify Food + Family Live Workshop 4:10 // Listener spotlight with Renee 5:40 // Let’s talk sleep 7 Tips on Improving Sleep in Parenthood 7:58 // Setting goals and expectations 10:28 // Martyrdom 13:03 // Calm Confidence 16:05 // Limit setting 18:40 // Thinking outside the box 21:32 // Accepting help 25:04 // The extinction burst 25:32 // Recap The post Sleep + Parenthood appeared first on Simple Families.

How do you get your kids to sleep in later? That’s the question for the day. Although there is no magic bullet, I have a few tips to help you move in the right direction. Including some strategies around using an “Okay to wake clock”. I’m also sharing something simple that I’m loving this week. Time Stamps 1:27 Introducing live workshops this month: Simplify Food + Family 2:30 ‘Something Simple’ I’m loving this week: Hoopla 4:57 Question for the week 5:30 Message from the sponsor: ButcherBox 6:30 Response for the question for the week Link to Hatch Rest Lamp The post Q&A | How do you get kids to sleep in? appeared first on Simple Families.

Happy New Year! Today we are talking about the Simple Families “word for the year”: Community. Building a community in parenthood can feel like “one more thing” we have to do. But it’s invaluable to you and your family as you grow, change, and face the rollercoaster of life with kids. In this episode, I’m joined by my friends Erica Layne from The Life on Purpose Movement, Zoë Kim from Raising Simple, and Rachelle Crawford from Abundant Life with Less. We are sharing more about our own experiences with community throughout parenthood.  Find Erica online: Instagram Facebook Website Book Find Zoë online: Instagram Facebook Website Book Find Rachelle online: Instagram Facebook Website The post Find Your People appeared first on Simple Families.

Back in January, I joined the sober curious movement as I gave up alcohol for the year as a New Year’s Resolution. It was an amazing year and I learned so much about myself. Today I’m sharing my month-by-month experience and Brooke Conley joins me for moral support. Show Notes/Links: SFP 128: Living Coffee ’til Cocktails [with Brooke Conley] SFP 141: Q&A – Can you tell us more about your 2019 resolution? Recommended book to give up drinking: Annie Grace’s The Naked Mind Reach Brooke Conley on Instagram + Her website The post My Year Without Alcohol appeared first on Simple Families.

Stepping into new spaces can make anyone uncomfortable. For many of us, developing a relationship with an individual with special needs might be new territory. In today’s episode, we have Mama/Author/Advocate Heather Avis sharing her ideas about raising kids with kindness and moving towards inclusion. “When we walk into the world with our children we know we are different. What we want is for people to embrace us, not turn away from us.” Heather Avis Learn more about Heather Find Heather on Instagram Heather’s Book: Scoot Over and Make Some Room The post Scoot Over and Make Some Room appeared first on Simple Families.

Are you wondering how to talk to your kids about Santa? That’s what we are chatting about today. Actually, I’m introducing something brand new today! Starting in 2020, I’ll be adding a second weekly episode to the Simple Families Podcast. In addition to the regular weekly episode, I’ll be adding a shorter form episode. Today, I’m sharing an example of how exactly this will look. The new episode will be in two main parts: We’ll start the episode off with a Q&A segment where I answer a question from an audience member. Then, we’ll move on and discuss “Something Simple” that I am loving each week–which may be a concept, a book, a product or anything else. I invite you to send me your contributions for the show! Show Notes/List Submit ‘Something Simple’ that you are loving Submit a question for the Q&A Segment 2019 Simple Families Holiday Gift Guide 2019 “A Few of My Favorite Things” The post Q&A | How to Talk to Kids about Santa appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, I’m bringing you a Journey to Simplicity. I’m chatting with Dr. Gillian Goddard, a physician living outside of New York City with her husband and four kids. Although Gillian’s life may feel anything but simple, she and her family have made strides towards finding the balance and rhythm that works for their family. Show Notes/Links: 2019: Holiday Guide (NEW) 2019: These Are a Few of MY Favorite Things (NEW) Simple Families Toy Gift List 2018 Simple Families Toy Gift List 2017 Photo by Alison Sheehy The post Gillian's Story appeared first on Simple Families.

Ready for a mindset shift around gifts this holiday season? In today’s episode, we are discussing how to gift with intention. This includes shifting the conversation around gift-giving with your kids and choosing gifts that will keep-on-giving. I’m also sharing the 10 items on the Simple Families 2019 Holiday Gift Guide. Show Notes/Links Shifting the conversation about gifts Buying more intentionally this holiday season The problem with experience gifts Front-loaded vs. back-loaded gifts My Holiday Prep chat with Erica, Rachelle, and Zoë How to Get Your Kid to Play Independently Podcast Episode How to talk with extended family about intentional gift-giving: “Our kids love spending time with you and I’ve enjoyed seeing your relationship grow. I fear that too many packages may distract them from appreciating all the wonderful gifts that you bring as a person. I want them to look forward to special time with you more than they do the gifts. How can we work together to keep them focused on the important stuff?” [Quote from Denaye’s Book Simple Happy Parenting] Simple Families Toy Gift List 2018 Simple Families Toy Gift List 2017 2019 Holiday Gift List Links Ocean Bingo + Sea Life Book Library Book System: Book Bin + Book Tote Green Kids Crafts (Code EARLY70/GIFT40) Storyworth Family Collage: Large Canvas + Paint + Decoupage  Sprout-Kids: Table + Stools + Chairs (Code SIMPLE10) Mindfulness Kit: Little Renegades Cards + Lavender Spray + Mindfulness Book Binoculars (Kid-sized Day/Night Version) + Stargazing App + Moon/Constellation Books Sticker Puzzles: Adult + Child Meri Cherry’s Book + Essential Art Supplies (find her list in the book on page 12) This post contains affiliate links, your support is appreciated! The post Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Simple Families.

If you are striving to simplify the holidays this year, take a listen to my chat with three of my favorite minimalist mamas, Erica Layne from The Life on Purpose Movement, Zoë Kim from Raising Simple, and Rachelle Crawford from Abundant Life with Less. Between the four of us, we have 12 kids under age 14. But we carved time out to grab a virtual coffee (or tea) as we talked about simplifying all things holiday prep: decorations, traditions, gifts, the calendar, and holiday cards. You can listen to our chat on the podcast or watch the video of our conversation. Show Notes/Links: Find Erica online: Instagram Facebook Website Book Find Zoë online: Instagram Facebook Website Book Find Rachelle online: Instagram Facebook Website The post Simple Holiday Prep appeared first on Simple Families.

Some days I feel like every mother I know is ridden with stress and overwhelm. This type of parenthood seems to be slowly becoming the norm. In today’s episode (episode 178) we are talking about what happens when your cup overflows. When your cup overflows the contents spill out and splash on the people who are nearest and dearest to you. What’s splashing out of your cup? Happiness? Gratitude? Stress? Overwhelm? What sort of helping hand do you need to get your emotional well-being on a path to balance and health? Show Notes/Links: The Mental Unload Where to go if you need mental health support: Get Immediate Help Suicide Helpline Mental Health Challenges – What to Look For The post When Your Cup Overflows appeared first on Simple Families.

I really don’t know much about art, but I’m learning. One thing I know for sure is that art is important, for kids and adults alike. Today I’m chatting with author Meri Cherry about art + kids. The tagline on her book “Creative Activities and Projects that Inspire Confidence, Creativity, and Connection” got me thinking. Giving our children opportunities for art isn’t just about encouraging a future career as an artist. Instead, art instills foundational elements such as confidence, creativity, and connection that will last a lifetime. Meri is an advocate for process art, which is the type of art that is focused on making/doing rather than the final product. As Meri says, “the focus is on process over product”. Art truly is for everyone, even the kids who seem uninterested or hard to engage–and we are exploring that more today. Show Notes/Links: The Mental Unload starts November 7th Meri’s Website Meri on Instagram Meri’s Book: Play Make Create Play, A Process-Art Handbook: With Over 40 Art Invitations for Kids The post Why Kids Need Art appeared first on Simple Families.

In honor of my birthday week, I’m bringing you a casual conversation with my husband David. It’s his first appearance on the podcast and we are talking all things love, marriage, and parenting. The post SFP 176: Conversation With My Husband appeared first on Simple Families.

Parenting an early bloomer comes with its own set of challenges. Those of us who have precocious children know this well. Today, we are discussing the ins and outs of early blooming from a child development perspective. And I’m sharing more about my personal experience parenting an early bloomer and being an early bloomer myself. The post SFP 175: Early Bloomers appeared first on Simple Families.

Right now, I’m tired. We just returned from a two-week international trip with our family. Today I’m sharing all the details: the plans, the obstacles, dealing with jet lag, letting go of expectations, and why we keep doing it. Show Notes/Links: Packing videos on Instagram Saccharomyces Boulardii (to prevent travel’s diarrhea) The post SFP 174: Ambitious Travel with Kids appeared first on Simple Families.

When it comes to kids, buying more sustainably can feel intimidating. If you are unsure of where to start or how to prioritize, we are chatting more about this today. Our guest is Brendan Synnott, the CEO of Pact, and he’s bringing us insight on the sustainable fashion industry, organic cotton, and what he’s doing with his own family. *This episode is not sponsored by Pact and does not contain affiliate links* SHOW LINKS: Pact [use coupon SIMPLE to get 40% off your first order The post SFP 173: Sustainable Fashion for Kids [with Brendan Synnott of Pact] appeared first on Simple Families.

Life with young children is always evolving. The way we spend our time changes too. Finding the right balance that works for each of us is incredibly important. The way I spend my time is going to look very different from the way that you spend yours. In today’s episode, I am sharing what a typical day looks like in our house–right now. It could change next week, next month, or next year. Life is dynamic, and that’s what keeps it interesting! The post SFP 172: A Day in Denaye’s Life appeared first on Simple Families.

Have you started talking to your kids about money? Money can be a taboo topic, even within families. In today’s episode I’m chatting with Liz Frazier Peck author of Piggy Banks and Lemonade Stands: How to Teach Young Kids About Finance (and They’re Never Too Young). SHOW NOTES/LINKS: Piggy Banks and Lemonade Stands: How to Teach Young Kids About Finance (and They’re Never Too Young). How to Talk to Kids about the Birds and Bees Liz’s Website Liz on Twitter The post SFP 171: How to Talk to Kids about Money [with Liz, author of Piggy Banks and Lemonade Stands] appeared first on Simple Families.

Is there such a thing as overly-responsive parenting? I believe so. Early in parenthood I found myself being a mindreader. It is important to be in tune with our kids’ needs, but we also need to give them the opportunity to step up and advocate for themselves. The post SFP 170: Overly-Responsive Parenting? appeared first on Simple Families.

Do your kids have too many toys? When it comes to toys, there is no perfect number. But in today’s episode we are talking about why children don’t need a lot of toys. Having an abundance of toys is not only unnecessary but could be harmful. We are talking about all that and more. The post SFP 169: Too Many Toys? appeared first on Simple Families.

Life gets busy. Sometimes it gets hard to make time for the simple things–like taking your kids for a walk in nature. But the value of the free and simple things should never be underestimated. Today, I’m sharing my favorite strategies for hiking with kids and the immense (yet not-so-obvious) benefits for the whole family. Show Notes/Links: Episode 90, There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather with Linda Åkeson McGurk. Tula Toddler Carrier The post SFP 168: Hiking with Kids [How + WHY] appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, we are discussing the 5 Love Languages as they pertain to children. I am joined by Diane Debrover, the Deputy Editor of Parents Magazine where we talk through each of the Love Languages and explore how they show up in children. Spoiler alert: I’ve got my reservations about the Love Language of gifts. Show Notes/Links: Article on Parents.com The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively Parents IRL The post SFP 167: The Love Languages + Children [with Diane Debrovner of Parents Magazine] appeared first on Simple Families.

Summer is supposed to be relaxing, yet I have found that this summer we’ve had a lot of transition, a lot of change, and my brain has been very busy. Therefore, today’s episode is dedicated to just that: We’re talking about the “Tip of the Iceberg” and brain busyness. The post SFP 166: The Tip of The Iceberg (Brain Busyness) appeared first on Simple Families.

Today I’m chatting with Jane Monnier about her journey towards reducing mental and physical clutter. Jane is a longtime member of the Simple Families Community. She’s also is a rocket-scientist-turned-military-wife-and-mother who has lived around the world with her family. I think you will enjoy Jane’s wisdom in this episode! (Full episode transcription below). Show Notes/Links: The Mental Unload Jane’s Website Jane on Facebook Jane on Instagram The post SFP 165: Journey to Simplicity | Jane’s Story appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, I am chatting with Rich Karlgaard, Publisher of Forbes Magazine, about his new book Late Bloomers. Rich is a self-proclaimed late bloomer. He’s sharing more of his story along with some research that will give fellow parents of late bloomers some piece of mind. Show Notes/Links The Book: Late Bloomers Rich’s Website Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset The post SFP 164: Late Bloomers [with Rich Karlgaard of Forbes Magazine] appeared first on Simple Families.

It happens. All kids will use less-than-desirable language as they are growing up. Whether its potty words or outright profanity, we all deal with this as parents. Today I’m reflecting on how we’ve been managing it in our house–including what is working and what is not working. Hi, there it's episode 163. And today we're talking about kids using bad words and not just necessarily profanity, but just undesirable words. The post SFP 163: Reflections on Bad Language + Potty Talk appeared first on Simple Families.

I recently went through and did a huge book overhaul. I got rid of all the “twaddle” in favor of prioritizing high quality, well-written children’s books. To quote today’s guest Emily Cook, “well-read children will grow into well-read adults”. In this episode, Emily and I talk about reading aloud and choosing great books for our children. Show Notes/Links: (Our new fairytale books) Atlas of Classic Tales/Atlas of Fairy Tales My Father’s Dragon Good Omen Emily’s Website: Build Your Library Emily on YouTube: Arrrgh Schooling Emily on Instagram: bylibrarycurriculum Emily on Twitter Emily’s Book: A Literary Education  The post SFP 162: Reading Aloud + Our Book Overhaul [with Emily Cook of Build Your Library] appeared first on Simple Families.

It’s officially book launch week! In today’s episode I am sharing more about the publishing process behind Simple Happy Parenting, along with my goals and hopes for the book and what exactly I am afraid of. The post SFP 161: Behind-The-Scenes appeared first on Simple Families.

There is a fine line between selfishness and selflessness in parenthood. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Hunter Clarke-Fields of Mindful Mama Mentor. We talking about martyrdom in motherhood and how trying to be-it-all and do-it-all is not actually the best thing for kids. This is an important message for every parent. SHOW NOTES/SHOW LINKS: Facebook: Hunter Clarke-Fields, Mindful Mama Mentor Instagram: Mindful Mama Mentor Twitter: HClarkeFields Denaye’s Book: Simple Happy Parenting The post SFP 160: Selfish vs. Selfless Parenthood [with Hunter of Mindful Mama Mentor] appeared first on Simple Families.

Slow living with kids…what does that look like? Frankly, the days can feel painfully slow. But sometimes they can be delightful. What gives? Today we are talking about shifting toward a slower lifestyle and what that looks like with family life. Finding a balance between structured and unstructured family time can help us find more happiness in parenthood. Show Notes/Links: Preorder Simple Happy Parenting Claim the Preorder Bonus The post SFP 159: Slow Living with Kids: Painful or Delightful? appeared first on Simple Families.

I get to be on the other side of the table today! In today’s episode, I am being interviewed by the host of Minimalish, Desirae Endrees. I had the pleasure of being a guest on Minimalish last week and I loved our chat so much that I wanted to re-air this episode for you on Simple Families. In this episode, I’m talking about how Simple Families got started (and about the other blog I had before Simple Families was born). Thanks to Desirae for having me on and letting me share this with you all. Show Notes/Links: The Original Episode on Minimalish Minimalish on Instagram Minimalish Facebook Group PREORDER SIMPLE HAPPY PARENTING + CLAIM BONUS COACHING Why I Got Rid of My Wardrobe Why I Got Rid of the Toys Un-Fancy (Caroline Rector) Courtney Carver – Be More with Less – Project 333 Care/of – plus use coupon code coupon SIMPLE25 for 25% off The post SFP 158: Practical Steps to Simple, Happy Parenting [with Desirae Endrees of Minimalish] appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I am sharing more about our decision to homeschool. Homeschool was never in the plans for our family, so I will tell you more about our decision to go down this path. I’m also sharing some of the vital pieces in making this process successful for our family. Hint: It doesn’t involve me doing-it-all and being-it-all. Show Notes/Links: Oak Meadow All About Reading Wild + Free The post SFP 157: Our Decision to Homeschool appeared first on Simple Families.

Changing your mindset and finding joy usually doesn’t happen overnight. Baby steps, right? In today’s episode, I am chatting with authors and happiness experts Marc and Angel Chernoff. We’ll explore the small ways we can increase happiness and life a more intentional life. Show Notes/Links: Marc and Angel’s Website: Marc & Angel Hack Life Find them on Instagram + Facebook New Book: 1000+ Little Things Happy Successful People Do Differently First Book: Getting Back to Happy: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Reality, and Turn Your Trials into Triumphs The post SFP 156: Little Bits of Happiness [with authors Marc and Angel Chernoff] appeared first on Simple Families.

On the podcast today I am reading the first chapter of my new book, Simple Happy Parenting: The Secret of Less for Calmer Parents and Happier Kids. Show Notes/Links: Preorder the book: Simple Happy Parenting Grab your spot in The Masterclass The post SFP 155: Simple Happy Parenting [The First Chapter of My New Book] appeared first on Simple Families.

Simplifying parenthood may sound like a lofty goal. But in today’s episode, I am chatting with Nicole Smith, a mother who has made huge strides. Nicole is sharing her ‘Journey to Simplicity’ that has happened over the past few months. Nicole is a wife, mother of three children, and a former participant in the Simple Families: The Masterclass. She’s sharing her story about letting go of fear and watching her family flourish in simplicity. Show Notes/Links: Simple Families: The Masterclass Nicole Smith Before and After of Nicole’s Kitchen: Nicole’s Kitchen Before the Masterclass Nicole’s Kitchen After (#1) Nicole Kitchen After (#2) The post SFP 154: Simplifying Parenthood [with Nicole Smith] appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, Tsh Oxenreider is sharing more about her “Journey to Simplicity”. Tsh is a wife and mother of three who has been on the path towards a simpler, more intentional life for over a decade. Tsh is an author and the voice behind The Art of Simple and the podcast ‘Simple’. She’s sharing more about her story and reflections on simplicity and parenting as her children have grown. Show Notes/Links: Last Child in The Woods by Richard Louv Video of Adventure Parks Get in touch with Tsh: Her Books, The Art of Simple, TshOxenreider.com, The Simple Show, and Instagram. The post SFP 153: Simple Living + Free-Range Parenting with Big Kids [with Tsh Oxenreider of The Art of Simple] appeared first on Simple Families.

Overparenting is a phenomenon that happens for many parents who have the best of intentions. We want the best for our children and as a result, we want to do everything and be everything for them. This happens because we are fearful of not doing enough. We fear underparenting. This often spills over into discipline. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to dole out rewards and consequences for all the minor and major behavior infractions as children grow. But in today’s episode, I am explaining why we don’t need to fear underparenting. And in fact, often less is more. The post SFP 152: The Fear of Underparenting appeared first on Simple Families.

In the age of social media, it’s impossible to avoid “the comparison game”. In this episode, I am chatting with my friend Erica Layne from The Life on Purpose Movement. We are exploring the tendency to compare our family to others and how the comparison game and emotional clutter has impacted us personally. SHOW NOTES/LINKS: Erica’s Book: The Minimalist Way: Minimalism Strategies to Declutter Your Life and Make Room for Joy Erica Website: The Life on Purpose Movement Erica on Instagram: The Life on Purpose Movement Erica on Facebook: The Life on Purpose Movement How to Declutter Your Life and Make Room for Joy (which gives backstory on the book)  10 Clutter Clearing Strategies that Will Gradually Make Your Life 100 Times Easier The post SFP 151: The Comparison Game [with Erica Layne of The Life on Purpose Movement] appeared first on Simple Families.

Recent Family Photo (Au Pair Included) Since we brought our first au pair last summer I have received nearly constant questions about the experience. So today, I am sharing my thoughts on all types of childcare arrangements (including daycare, family care, nannies, nanny share, etc.) and how we came to our decision to use an au pair. In this episode, I’ll also speak more about my experience with the au pair program. What questions do you have? Show Notes/Links: Cultural Care Coupon code for free registration: PCREGWAIVER The post SFP 150: Tips on Choosing Childcare + My Experience with the Au Pair Program appeared first on Simple Families.

Last week, we had a primer on the importance of outdoor play with Linda Åkeson McGurk. This week, I am re-airing an important follow up piece on the scientific perspective on this topic. In today’s episode, I speak with Carla Hannaford, world-renowned biologist and outdoor advocate, about her studies on the connection between movement and brain development. If you are brand new to learning about brain development, tune into Episode 92 for a simple, quick overview before diving into this one. The Mental UN-load is coming March 14th! The Mental Unload is launching next week! This program will lighten the load of parenthood, reserve your spot here. The post SFP 149: The Science Behind Outdoor Play + Movement [with Carla Hannaford Ph.D.] appeared first on Simple Families.

Today I have one of the top Simple Families episodes! I am re-sharing my chat with Linda Åkeson McGurk about the importance of getting kids outside in all sorts of weather–even in the heart of winter. There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. Linda, a Swedish mother, joins us to talk about raising our kids to be more connected with nature. Linda’s book is one of my favorites–and her blog, Rain or Shine Mamma, is a worth-while resource as well. I hope you enjoy this episode! The post SFP 148: Getting Kids Outside in ALL Types of Weather [with Linda from Rain or Shine Mamma] appeared first on Simple Families.

The journey into motherhood isn’t easy for any woman. But after giving birth here in the U.S., there is societal pressure to return to a “normal life” almost overnight. In other cultures, this transition comes more gently. Women are given more time, more support, and more grace. In today’s episode I am chatting with my friend Lora Amigo. Lora is a Mexican woman raising her children in Chicago–far away from her support network. She shares her story of learning how to mother here in America and the pressure she felt in the process. We are talking about postpartum depression, helicopter parenting, and finding joy in returning to work. The post SFP 147: Mothering Without A Village [with Lora Amigo] appeared first on Simple Families.

As a parent raising children in the United States, I realize that I have a lot to learn from other cultures around the world. In today’s episode, I am exploring an international perspective with Indian mother Devishobha Chandramouli. Devishobha is raising her children in India, but is also involved and informed with Western parenting practices. In fact, she has even created an online conference to bring these perspectives together. Devishobha shares more about her experience merging the Eastern and Western worlds of parenting. She tells us about the expectations for kids to learn self-control, busyness, the influence of ancient mindfulness practices, co-sleeping, the postpartum experience, and much more. Despite her calm and gentle voice, Devishobha shares that even she is inclined to lose her cool with her kids sometime, because parenting in any part of the world comes with challenge. Show Notes/Show Links: Conference Details: Kidskintha Online Summit Kidskintha The post SFP 146: International Perspectives in Parenting [with Devishobha Chandramouli of Kidskintha] appeared first on Simple Families.

Why is it that some kids turn into zombies in front of a screen? Then they get angry and act crazy when we turn it off? That’s what we are talking about in today’s episode. I’m going to be skimming the surface on some brain research and share how I use this to manage and understand the screen “zombies” in my own house. (Names in this episode were changed to protect privacy) SHOW NOTES/SHOW LINKS: Beautiful Boy Movie Trailer Beautiful Boy Book Free Solo Movie Trailer Alex Hannold Brain Analysis Beautiful Boy Movie Trailer Beautiful Boy Book Free Solo Movie Trailer Alex Hannold Brain Analysis Neurodiversity The Highly Sensitive Kid The post SFP 145: Q&A – Why Do Some Kids Turn into Angry Zombies with Screen Time? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Amy Lang about sex. She’s sharing her best tips on how to talk to kids about sex, the human body, teaching consent, and the sexualization of childhood. This is a conversation that needs to be on the radar of all parents with young children. SHOW NOTES/LINKS: Amy’s Podcast: Just Say This Amy’s Website: Birds+Bees+Kids Birds & Bees Made Easy Online Resource Center: Use coupon code SEXTALK for 50% off your first quarterly payment Amy’s Book Recommendations Amy’s Internet Monitoring Software Choice: Qustodio The post SFP 144: Talking to Young Kids about Sex [with Amy Lang of Birds+Bees+Kids] appeared first on Simple Families.

The way that you parent will look very differently from that of your close friends and family members. Today I am answering a listener’s question. We are discussing how to manage these relationships when you have very different expectations for your own children. Show Notes/Links: Cooperation: the Mini-Course (FREE) Overview of Diana Baumrind’s Research on Parenting Styles Denaye’s Simplifying Child Behavior Program Episode 130: Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations The post SFP 143: Q&A – How do you handle when your parenting choices clash with others? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I am chatting with professional organizer Rachel Rosenthal. If you are anything like me, you might struggle with complex organizational systems. Rachel is bringing her best tips to keep it simple and approachable–and maybe make 2019 your most organized year yet. Show Notes/Links: Rachel’s Online Program (use the code NEW YEAR for 10% off) Rachel’s Website Rachel on FB + IG The post SFP 142: Organization for Everyone [with Rachel Rosenthal] appeared first on Simple Families.

If you’ve ever wanted to drink less alcohol, then you might want to tune into this episode. I’ve had a lot of questions about my 2019 resolution to give up alcohol–even though I wouldn’t classify myself as a heavy drinker. Today on the podcast I am sharing more about my “why” and some of the recent personal revelations I have had in the process. Show Notes/Links: Episode 128 with Brooke Conley How to Quit Overdrinking Podcast Series by Brooke Castillo This Naked Mind by Annie Grace Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol by Ann Dowsett Johnston The post SFP 141: Q&A – Can you tell us more about your 2019 resolution? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I am chatting with Erin Loechner. Erin is an author, blogger, designer, and mother of two. She shares her journey towards simple living along with her best tips for making slower New Year’s Resolutions–including arm circles, waking up before the kids, and finding your own definition of self-care. Show Notes/Links: Find Erin on Instagram Design for Mankind (Erin’s website) Chasing Slow (Erin’s book). Erin Loechner The post SFP 140: Slow Resolutions [with Erin Loechner] appeared first on Simple Families.

Independent play doesn’t come easily to all children. In today’s episode we are discussing what to expect from independent play as well as how to support our children to do it more often. When it comes to independent play, it’s important that we do three things: gauge our expectations as parents; assess the individual personality types of our children; and set them up for success. Show Notes/Links: Visual Timer Story Starters The post SFP 139: Q&A – How Do I Get My Kid to Play Independently? appeared first on Simple Families.

About 95% of everything I put on the internet is real life, not staged. The other 5% includes things like the photo in this post, because I generally don’t frolic in fields in pretty dresses. Today I am answering a question from a reader about how much of what I share with you is representative of my real life: my home, my parenting, and the activities I do with my children. The post SFP 138: Q&A – Is Your Social Media Actually Real Life? appeared first on Simple Families.

I don’t know about you–but my kids have the tendency to move slowly. They function on their own timeline. The result is that as parents, we often find ourselves “hurrying” them to speed up and get on our agenda. In today’s episode I am chatting with Janet Lansbury about hurrying our kids through their days and through their lives. Show Notes/Links: Simple Families: The Masterclass (30% off this week!) Janet’s Website/Blog Janet’s Podcast: Unruffled Janet’s Books: No Bad Kids + Elevating Child Care Book mentioned: The Hurried Child by David Elkind The post SFP 137: Let’s Stop Hurrying our Children [with Janet Lansbury] appeared first on Simple Families.

Taking the road less traveled is not always simple. During the holiday season the list of obligations grow rapidly and saying “no” can seem out of reach. Today I am chatting with Rachel Rainbolt from Sage Parenting. Rachel and I are talking about the idea of “doing life differently”. Many of us are raising our own families in ways that are different from the way that we ourselves were raised–and it can lead to conflict. Show Notes/Links: More on parenting approaches: Authoritarian vs. Authoritative “Discomfort is the price of admission for a meaningful life” -Susan David Rachel’s Website: Sage Parenting Rachel on Instagram Rachel’s Podcast: Sage Family The post SFP 136: Taking the Road Less Traveled [with Rachel from Sage Parenting] appeared first on Simple Families.

Buying new toys for our children can be exciting–but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many options out there and our children are inundated with marketing materials. Today I am chatting with Lizzie Assa from the Workspace for Children. She and her family buy toys outside of the mainstream options–that means they lean towards simple, open-ended toys made of more natural, non-plastic materials. We are chatting about buying toys that are durable and will hold the interest of children across different ages, genders, and interests. Show Links: Lizzie’s Instagram: The Workspace For Children Lizzie’s Toy Guide Website Simple Families Holiday Guide The post SFP 135: Choosing Great Toys [with Lizzie Assa from The Workspace For Children] appeared first on Simple Families.

We all believe that the holiday season is the happiest time of the year. But is it really? Today I am chatting with Happiness Guru Gretchen Rubin about finding happiness in the holiday season. You may know Gretchen from one of her New York Times bestselling books, her top ranked podcast, or perhaps most importantly her legendary quote, “The days are long, but the years are short”. In our conversation today Gretchen and I are talking about seeking happiness in the midst of a complex season of expectations, that includes: balancing how we spend our time, gift giving, traveling to visit family/friends, managing “toxic” relationships, and staying connected to the people we love the most. Show Links from Gretchen: The Days are Long But the Years are Short Video Sign up for Gretchen’s newsletters The Four Tendencies quiz Gretchen’s site Listen to the podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin The books: The Four Tendencies—New York Times bestseller The Happiness Project—#1 New York Times bestseller Follow her on social media: Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook The post SFP 134: Happier for the Holidays [with Gretchen Rubin] appeared first on Simple Families.

Welcome back to Part II of the Holiday Q&A (If you missed Part I, catch it here!). Rachelle Crawford from Abundant Life with Less and Zoë Kim from Raising Simple are joining me to answer the rest of your holiday questions. Today we will chat about minimal decorating, envy amongst children, simple holiday meals, and more. We will bring examples from our own lives and little bits of wisdom that I hope will carry you through the season. The post SFP 133: Holiday Q+A [Part II] appeared first on Simple Families.

The holidays are upon us. I am here to tell you that you don’t need to do or buy all.the.things. Today is the first of a two-part series focused on answering your questions about living a more intentional holiday season. I am joined by Rachelle Crawford from Abundant Life with Less and Zoë Kim from Raising Simple. Together we are moving through your questions and bringing examples from our own lives and small pieces of wisdom to take forth into the holiday season. Cheers! Show Notes/Links Shutterfly Calendar National Geographic Little Kids The Other Question to Ask Kids this Holiday Season The Spirit Post Ann Voskamp, Underwrapping the Greatest Gifts Compassion International Preschool Fudge Recipe The post SFP 132: Holiday Q+A [Part I] appeared first on Simple Families.

Dare I say that developing a gratitude practice is actually easy? I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly small acts of gratitude have changed my life. In today’s interview I am chatting with mother and gratitude expert Josie Robinson about her unlikely, yet transformative journey. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES Show Links/Notes: The Gratitude Jar book Give Thanks Gratitude Journal Josie’s Site Facebook page Instagram Pinterest The post SFP 131: Rewiring Our Brains for Gratitude [with Josie Robinson of The Gratitude Jar] appeared first on Simple Families.

Starting in the early days of pregnancy we set expectations for ourselves. Perhaps your kids won’t have screen time. You will breastfeed for one year or more. Your kids will only eat organic. In today’s episode Natalie Telyatnikov [from Better Postpartum] and I are sharing some of the unrealistic expectations of which we have let go and how we are taking better care of ourselves as a result. SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN ON ITUNES Show Notes/Links Visit Better Postpartum Follow Natalie on Instagram Learn more about the Better Postpartum Course The post SFP 130: Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations in Motherhood [with Natalie from Better Postpartum] appeared first on Simple Families.

Most of us feel like there’s no way we could add one more thing to our plate. But the truth is that starting a side-hustle (or part-time passion-driven work) can actually be a form of self-care. I know that for me, working helps to fill up my cup so I can be more calm and present in the time that I am with my kids. Today I am chatting with Meghan Fitzgerald, the founder of Tinkergarten. Meghan and I are chatting about balancing work with motherhood + the value of adding a side-hustle. Show Notes/Links Reference to Episode 125 with Rahima Dancy Become a Tinkergarten Leader – bit.ly/tg-become-a-leader Find a Tinkergarten class near you – bit.ly/tg-view-classes Facebook: facebook.com/tinkergarten Instagram: Tinkergarten Twitter: @tinkergarten Site: tinkergarten.com The post SFP 129: Work Can Be Self-Care [Meghan Fitzgerald of Tinkergarten] appeared first on Simple Families.

Sometimes there is so much to be done that we find ourselves needing coffee to wake up in the morning and wine to take the edge off and calm down in the evening. In today’s episode I am talking with Brooke Conley about alcohol + motherhood. If you have ever thought about cutting back on alcohol or felt like you wanted to give it up–tune in as Brooke and I talk more about our relationships with alcohol. Show Links/Notes Stay in touch with Brooke and see her recommended resources: Her website Instagram Online Hip Sobriety Laura McKowen Books This Naked Mind — Annie Grace Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol — Ann Dowsett Johnston Drinking: A Love Story — Caroline Knapp Podcast on overdrinking that Denaye mentioned (books contain affiliate links) The post SFP 128: Living Coffee ’til Cocktails [with Brooke Conley] appeared first on Simple Families.

Today on the podcast I am sharing a Q&A episode. That means I am taking your questions and giving you my honest, unfiltered answers. In this episode we are talking about how many gifts to give, how to manage sibling squabbles, minimalism in different regions, and mealtime struggles. The post SFP 127: Simple Q&A | Too many gifts, siblings quarrels, social media + kids appeared first on Simple Families.

As parents, we just want to give our kids the best. We want to give them opportunities and send them to the best colleges. Sometimes that means signing them up for all the classes and starting the resumé in the earliest years. In today’s episode I am chatting with author Bill Deresiewicz. We are discussing the disconnection between the pursuit of success and happiness. Show Notes/Links: The Book: Excellent Sheep Revisiting the Value of Elite Colleges How to Raise an Adult How to Raise Successful Kids Without Overparenting [Ted Talks] Author Bill Deresiewicz       The post SFP 126: How to Give Your Child the Very Best [with Bill Deresiewicz, author of Excellent Sheep] appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s society we often feel like we need to be out and about, entertaining our children and staying busy. In this episode I am joined by author Rahima Dancy. We are discussing the educational value of just staying home with our children–because their most important learning experiences start right at home with us. Show Notes/Links: You are Your Child’s First Teacher [Rahima’s book] LifeWays North America Inspired Homemaking Course Celebrate the Rhythm of Life The post SFP 125: The Value of Just Staying Home [with author Rahima Dancy] appeared first on Simple Families.

[Heads up–there’s a wee bit of audio issues in the first part of the interview, but hang it there–it gets better!] This month we are going to be rethinking education. For anyone that has followed the podcast for sometime, you will know that I am an advocate for progressive forms of education. Namely child-led learning styles. In today’s episode, I am chatting with author and educator Aubrey Hargis of Child of the Redwoods. Aubrey is sharing her insight into the earliest of years of education–infancy and toddlerhood. What do babies really need as far as education in those first years of life? Show Notes/Links About Aubrey: New Book: Baby’s First Year Milestones Website Courses Instagram Facebook Facebook Group The post SFP 124: Rethinking Education in the Early Years [with Aubrey Hargis of Child of The Redwoods] appeared first on Simple Families.

Back by popular demand, today’s episode is a Q&A format. I am answering a variety of your questions about positive parenting, minimalism, moving, homeschooling, and childcare [all rather unapologetically–because remember this is opinion and what works for my family]. Show Notes/Links Follow Simple Families on Instagram Simplify Child Behavior Program Preview App Oak Meadow Cultural Care Au Pair Program Coffee + Chat Meet up in Columbus, Ohio. The post SFP 123: Simple Q&A appeared first on Simple Families.

Today is the first ever male guest on the podcast. While it’s long overdue, I am happy to welcome my friend Clark Davis. Clark is the final interview in the series ‘Journey to Simplicity’ this month. In today’s episode, Clark shares his insight on living small, intentional fatherhood, and minimalism. Not only is Clark on a journey to simplicity in his family life, but he’s also the founder of Sprout-Kids, a furniture company with a likeminded mission: To create sustainable and functional furniture for kids. Clark Davis Show Notes: Sprout-Kids Instagram Facebook The Board The Floor Bed Kitchen Helper [coming this Fall] The post SFP 122: Intentional Fatherhood [with Clark Davis] appeared first on Simple Families.

This is my favorite podcast episode yet. This month we are exploring the journey to simplicity in four real-life families. Because minimalism just makes good sense for families. Today I am chatting with Kristen Puzzo. Kristen is an active member of the Simple Families Community. I have been following her journey as she has been lightening the heavy load of motherhood for over a year. In this episode she shares an incredible amount of wisdom and insight for aspiring minimalists everywhere. Show Links: How to Pack a Minimalist Beach Bag   Kristen #mommingsohard The post SFP 121: Minimalism + Parenthood [with Kristen Puzzo] appeared first on Simple Families.

Some people make big life changes in search of simplicity–Lilly Neubauer is one of them. When the busyness in her life spiraled out of control, Lilly quit her job to get her family back on track. I look forward to sharing her story with you today. Lilly Neubauer Show Links: Trading my Job for Minimalism (Lilly’s Guest Post on SF) Keep in touch with Lilly Find Lilly on Instagram The post SFP 120: Trading my Job for Simplicity [with Lilly Neubauer] appeared first on Simple Families.

We are launching off a new 4-part series:  Journey to Simplicity. I am interviewing four real families about moving towards minimalism and how it has impacted their lives.  Today I am chatting with Rachelle Crawford. Rachelle and her family of 5 live in Michigan. She felt a sudden call to minimalism 18 months ago and hasn’t looked back. In this episode we chat about her journey and the positive impact it has had on her own well-being along with the well-being of her family. Show Notes/Links: Stay in touch with Rachelle via: Blog: Abundant Life with Less Instagram Facebook Download: The Declutter Like a Minimalist Guidebook The post SFP 119: Living an Abundant Life with Less [with Rachelle Crawford] appeared first on Simple Families.

We know the environment in which we live and the food we eat have an impact on the development of our children. In today’s episode I am speaking with author + science writer Jena Pincott about all-natural biohacks for parents. Biohacks involve making changes to diet and lifestyle that transform biological tendencies that exist in our bodies. I learned so much from Jena’s book, and I hope you enjoy our chat today! Jena’s Book: Wits Guts Grit: All-Natural Biohacks for Raising Smart, Resilient Kids   The post SFP 118: All-Natural Biohacks for Kids [with author Jena Pincott] appeared first on Simple Families.

The value of play in childhood is often underestimated. Our children need to play and when pushed into academics at a young age they miss vital opportunities to develop and grow. In today’s episode we are discussing the balance between work and play. I am chatting with Jeanne-Marie Paynel of Voila Montessori about understanding the connection between these concepts. Show Notes/Links Jeanne-Marie’s website About Jeanne-Marie The “Be the Best Parent You Can Be” Summit The post SFP 117: Finding the Balance of Work Vs. Play in Childhood [with Jeanne-Marie Paynel of Voila Montessori] appeared first on Simple Families.

Children benefit from the opportunity to play in open-ended, unstructured environments. Today I am talking with Nicole Roccaro from Naturally Curious Children. We talk about finding a balance in play, leaning towards unstructured activities, and following our children’s lead. Nicole’s home and approach are inspired by something called Reggio-Emilia. In this episode, we are discussing more about what this means and how parents can nurture this type of play in our families. Show Notes/Links Nicole on Instagram: Naturally Curious Children Nicole on Facebook: Naturally Curious Children Grimms (toy referenced) The post SFP 116: Raising Naturally Curious Children [with Nicole Roccaro] appeared first on Simple Families.

Horseplay is developmentally beneficial for our growing children. If you have a kid who plays rowdy, then you need to hear this. We need to find a way to encourage this behavior rather than discourage it. In today’s episode, I am chatting with Frances Carlson, the author of the book Big Body Play. I found Frances’ work to be eye opening and I think you will too. For some children, the need to move is just too much. They just have to let that energy out. And unfortunately they get labeled as misbehaving children, when what they are doing is what they need to develop. It’s like saying “if you get up and eat, you are misbehaving” – Frances Carlson Show Links/Notes: Big Body Play [the book] Big Body Play [the website] The post SFP 115: The Benefits of Rowdy Play [with Frances Carlson of Big Body Play] appeared first on Simple Families.

Never underestimate what your children are learning through play. In the early years, play is the main vehicle for learning and education. In today’s episode, I will be introducing you to the importance of play. We chat about stages of play, types of play, and what role that adults may have in play. Show Notes/Links The Play’s the Thing The post SFP 114: The Importance of Play appeared first on Simple Families.

Child behavior is anything but straightforward. My children are well-behaved, but as humans–they have their “moments”. As parents, we can feel powerless when our kids aren’t cooperating or being respectful. Today on the podcast I am explaining how we blend positive parenting methods with some strategies and techniques. One technique in particular that we are discussing is “time-out”. Time-out is often overused and misused. I give you 5 tips for using it successfully, as well as 4 shame-free ways to execute it (you might be surprised, none of these involve sticking your kids nose in the corner). Do you ever use time-out? Have you found it to be successful? The post SFP 113: Simplifying Child Behavior | Troubleshooting “Time-Out” appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I am chatting with Hunter Clarke-Fields of Mindful Mama Mentor. Hunter specializes in mindful parenting and in this episode we are talking about control in parenting. As parents, we feel like we should have control over our children. But children have their own agendas and ideas about this. How much control do we really have—or is it all an illusion? Show Notes/Links: Mindful Mama Mentor Free Course/Resources The post SFP 112: Do we control our kids? [With Hunter from Mindful Mama Mentor] appeared first on Simple Families.

The words that we speak to our children become their inner voice. And the average woman speaks 20,000 words per day. While we can’t always be intentional in the way we speak to our children, we can do better. In today’s episode, author Tracy Cutchlow and I are discussing how to speak to our children. We talk about the impact that our words have and strategies for improving our language to encourage a “growth mindset” (+all about what that means). Show Links: Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Based on Science (the book) Zero to Five (Tracy’s website) Word-for-Word Examples Using Language of Listening Growth Mindset Workshop The post SFP 111: How You Talk to Kids + Why it Matters [with Tracy from Zero to Five] appeared first on Simple Families.

What does it mean to “raise successful kids”? Today I am chatting with Krista from A Life in Progress. I knew I could rely on Krista to bring some excellent perspective to this topic and she comes through in this episode. When it comes to life, Krista thinks outside the box and walks off the beaten path. She has raised three young adults and considers her kids to be her greatest teachers. Krista and I are diving deeper into the idea that there is more than one path to successful parenting and perhaps raising “mediocre” kids might not be so bad after all. Show Notes/Links A Life in Progress What if All I Want is a Mediocre Life What to Do When You Live with Messy People The post SFP 110: Raising Successful Kids [with Krista from A Life in Progress] appeared first on Simple Families.

Parents spend a great deal of time and money baby-proofing the home. But how does this process impact our kids? Today, I am chatting with Nicole from The Kavanaugh Report. Nicole and I are both passionate about creating a home that is child-friendly rather than child-proof. That means that we are thoughtful to design our homes with both the children and adults in mind. How have you created a home that is child-friendly? Show Links: Case Against Childproofing (Article) The Kavanaugh Report (Nicole’s Blog) The post SFP 109: Make your home child-friendly, rather than child-proof [with Nicole from The Kavanaugh Report] appeared first on Simple Families.

Zoë Kim has lived in 24 homes in 13 different states. She’s an expert at moving and has a healthy dose of wanderlust, but she also manages to connect to the communities in which she lives. In today’s episode, Zoë and I are discussing moving, finding minimalism, and how to build a happy home (make that plural, in her case). Show Links: Zoë’s Blog: Raising Simple Zoë’s Book: Minimalism for Families (Affiliate) The post SFP 108: Moving, Minimalism, and Building a Happy Home appeared first on Simple Families.

I haven’t always lived in places that I love. But I have found gratitude and contentment in some surprising places. Today on the podcast, I am sharing how I created a home that I love along with how I engage in my community to increase a sense of attachment and rootedness. Want to talk more about this topic? Join us this month in the “Love Where You Live Experiment”. [button url=”simplefamilies.com/may”]JOIN HERE[/button] The post SFP 107: How I Created a Home I Love appeared first on Simple Families.

  In today’s episode we are exploring the idea of “putting down roots” and becoming attached to the places that we live. Melody Warnick shares her own personal experience and the research on this concept called place psychology. If you ever spend time linger on Zillow or perusing the “Best Cities to Live” lists, then you will love to hear what Melody has to say. For the month of May, we will be falling in love with our less-than-perfect homes and connecting to our communities. Join Denaye from Simple Families, Zoe from Raising Simple, and Melody, Author of “This is Where You Belong” as we explore this exciting (and much needed) topic. JOIN US HERE  Show Links: This is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick Walk Score The post SFP 106: Love Where You Live [with Melody Warnick, author of “This is Where You Belong”] appeared first on Simple Families.

Have you ever dreamt of starting an organic garden? Today on the podcast I am chatting with my friend and homesteader Beth Brettell from High Sierra Permaculture. She’s a former designer turned homesteader, and along with her partner Bret they have created a beautiful and productive garden in Northern California. Beth answers all of my beginner questions + gives us all a quick lesson in Organic Gardening 101. Be sure to follow Beth and Bret on Instagram to see what life looks like on a homestead and learn more about organic gardening. Want to learn more? Get their free crash course to get started. In this episode, Beth and I chat about: When to plant. What to plant. Is it better to start with seeds? How to prepare soil. An introduction to composting. How to attract pollinators. +much more SHOW LINKS: Farmers Almanac Master Gardeners Permaculture Homestead Crash Course Pinterest: Beginning Gardening 101 Instagram: High Sierra Permaculture The post SFP 105: The Basics of Organic Gardening [with Beth from High Sierra Permaculture] appeared first on Simple Families.

As mothers, we often carry the heavy responsibility of feeding our families. Despite what Pinterest leads us to believe, cooking for a family doesn’t have to be fancy. In today’s podcast episode I am chatting with Erin Odom of The Humbled Homemaker. Erin and I are discussing our favorite methods for simplifying meal planning and cooking for family. We both know firsthand that this season of life with young children can be difficult to prep and cook healthy meals–so we are scaling it back to the simplest ways that we know and sharing them with you. Show Links: The Humbled Homemaker More Than Just Making It (Erin’s first book/aff link) You Can Stay Home With Your Kids (Erin’s brand new book) Eating Well on a Budget (Free E-Course) Field To Plate (Seasonal food guide) Trim Healthy Mama (Erin’s favorite health/recipe guides) The post SFP 104: Food Made Simple [with Erin from The Humbled Homemaker] appeared first on Simple Families.

We know that the kitchen is the most used room in the house–yet simplifying the kitchen is anything but easy. On the podcast today I am chatting with Melissa Coleman of The Faux Martha. Melissa is a food blogger and she is sharing her story about how the kitchen “broke” for her. She decided she either needed to make big changes or call it quits. Fortunately, she stuck with it and now she’s sharing the art of creating a minimal kitchen. Inspired by Melissa’s ways, I will be sharing a tour of my kitchen and pantry in the Simplify Food + Family group this week. Join us there! Show Links: The Minimalist Kitchen (Melissa’s book) The Faux Martha (Melissa’s blog) The post SFP 103: The Minimalist Kitchen [with Melissa from The Faux Martha] appeared first on Simple Families.

Every parent wants to feed their children nutritious food. That probably means a heaping dose of vegetables, ample proteins, and a well-rounded source of vitamin-rich foods. Even if we know what we should be feeding our children, we don’t always know the magic tricks to actually get our kids to eat those super foods. In today’s episode, sociologist and author Dina Rose Ph.D. explains to us why feeding children really isn’t all about nutrition. Dina is changing the conversation from nutrition to establishing positive habits–her wisdom will have you thinking bigger than just broccoli. Want to join in this discussion for the month of April as we talk all things food + family?  [button url=”simplefamilies.com/april”]SIGN UP HERE[/button] Show Notes About Dina Her Website: It’s Not About Nutrition Her Book: It’s Not About the Broccoli Her Super Food Explorer Kit The post SFP 102: It’s Not About Nutrition [with Dina Rose Ph.D.] appeared first on Simple Families.

In our house, mealtimes are pleasant. My kids eat well and we enjoy each others company. I don’t have it all figured out, but I do have a Ph.D. in Child Development with a research background in child wellness. That means I use a combination of both research-based ideas and intuitive planning to help develop my kids into good-eaters. Not all these things are going to resonate with you and work for your family–but they have surely worked for mine. Want to join in this discussion for the month of April as we talk all things food + family? SIGN UP HERE.  SHOW NOTES We started out this way from Day 1 The Cardinal Rule of Feeding Children The dinner table is enjoyable We keep “meal windows” Snacks are used carefully We don’t talk about “likes and dislikes” Food preferences are considered dynamic rather than static There are no assumptions, other than that our children will eat well I use backwards meal planning We keep the food-prep and recipes simple There’s no sugar SHOW LINKS Exactly How I Feed My Kids (a blog post) Your Questions Answered (a podcast episode answering all your questions on this topic) Getting Started with Baby Led Weaning Martha Stewart’s One Pot Meals The Minimalist Kitchen by Melissa Coleman The post SFP 101: How I Feed My Family appeared first on Simple Families.

I don’t have a regular yoga or meditation practice, although I wish I did. Yet each day I find moments of mindfulness and presence in regular activities. In today’s podcast episode I am speaking with Shawn Fink from The Abundant Mama Project. We are chatting all about how to meditate without meditating–and by that I mean how to find moments of calm within the chaos that can overwhelm motherhood. What unconventional, yet very ordinary ways do you catch moments of mindfulness in motherhood? Show Notes/Links: A Busy Mom’s Guide to Meditating without Meditating Achieve Balance with a Mindful Motherhood Philosophy Rise and Shine Challenge Savoring Slow Book + Kit The post SFP 100: How to Meditate Without Meditating [with Shawn from the Abundant Mama Project] appeared first on Simple Families.

She’s skinny, ​crafty, active, accomplished in her career, family-focused, and well-dressed (all the time, even at drop off). She’s the perfect mom. She’s the mom that we are secretly striving to be–the one that does it all and has it all. In fact, many of the things we spend our time and energy striving towards are because of her. It’s because we feel like we don’t measure up. Because we feel like we aren’t enough. Today on the podcast I am chatting with Catia Holm, author and inspirational speaker. We are talking about the striving that we do as mothers. What if we could let go of that perfect mother and embrace the very person we are today? I never knew how much magic could be found in the ordinary -Catia Holm Show Notes/Links in this episode: The Courage to Become by Catia Holm The Six Stages of Parenthood by Ellen Galinsky The Robcast The post SFP 99: Perfectionism in Motherhood [with Catia Holm] appeared first on Simple Families.

Parenthood is notoriously associated with sleep deprivation. Good sleep goes beyond just getting kids to sleep through the night. Do any of these things resonate with you? At the end of a long day you desperately need sleep, but you can’t put your Instagram/Netflix away. You drink coffee to wake you up in the morning and wine to help you go to sleep at night. You wake up in the middle of the night with a to-do list a mile long. You are so incredibly exhausted but yet you can’t fall asleep. Getting a good night sleep is important for your physical health and mental health. But it’s also important for the well-being of your family. Because if you are tired and irritable, you may struggle to be calm, present, and mindful with your children and spouse. In today’s episode, I talk with Dr. Janet Kennedy, the NYC Sleep Doctor. Dr. Kennedy and l discuss the barriers to being well-rested as a parent and tips for improving your sleep hygiene You can get Dr. Kennedy’s book here, or visit her at NYC Sleep Doctor. What’s keeping you up at night? The post SFP 98: Sleep + Parenthood [with Dr. Kennedy of NYC Sleep Doctor] appeared first on Simple Families.

Stress and overwhelm are an epidemic in childhood–which means mindfulness for kids has become essential. As adults, many (if not most) of us carry significant amounts of stress and overwhelm on a daily basis. It has become so ingrained into our society and culture that we have normalized it as a part of who we are as individuals. Even if “stressed out and anxious” is normal for you–you need to consider the effect that it has on your children. Stress impacts our children twofold: (1) they are impacted by the stress levels of their parents and (2) they are impacted by their own personal stress encountered in daily life. In today’s podcast episode I am speaking with Jessica Knopke about teaching mindfulness to kids. Jessica is an Occupational Therapist and Yoga Teacher who has dedicated her career to bringing calm and intentional movement to childhood. She is also the founder of Lily Pad Yoga, a yoga center and Youtube channel which brings movement and breath to children. In our chat, Jessica shares more about her observations of the growing rates of childhood anxiety and depression–along with specific strategies that we as parents can use to plant seeds of mindfulness in our children during these early years. Jessica shared that mindfulness in children doesn’t necessarily mean stillness, because they have an internal drive to move.  Jessica will be joining us in the Mindfulness focus group for this month, click here to join in the discussion and ask her any questions you may have! In the mean time, check out five of Jessica’s simple strategies to teach mindfulness to kids. Mindfulness for Kids at Home: 5 Simple Ideas Blowing on feathers.  Blow feathers off the palm of your hand.  This will help children to experiment with different intensities of breath. Starfish breath. Make a starfish with one hand by opening up all the fingers.  With your other hand gently trace the outline of the starfish.  Breath in as your finger moves up and breathe out as your finger moves down. Using our finger to trace as we breathe fosters a mind-body connection. Anchoring to sounds.  Listen for the subtle sounds outside the room, inside the room, and then within your own body.  It might be the hum of the furnace or the chirping of a bird–we can pause our brains and tune into the sounds that are present right now.  Mindful eating.  You can really pay attention to that first bite of your meal.  How does it look?  How does it smell? Is there a sound it makes while you chew? If you are picking it up with your hands, what does it feel like?  Before you take that first bite, who can you thank for that food? The worms that nourished the soil, the sun for helping it grow, the farmers who grew it, the workers who packaged it, truck drivers who drove it to the market, the grown ups who put it on the table….then chew that first bite really slowly. Glitter jars.  Put warm water, sparkles, glitter glue and food coloring (optional) in a jar.  Shake it up and it resembles how we feel in our bodies and minds when we are scared or angry.  As you sit in stillness watching the glitter settle your mind and body begin to settle too.  Then we can see the water clearly, just as we can see more clearly now that we are calm. Do you want to chat more about bringing mindfulness to kids? Join the discussion! Be sure to check out Jessica on Youtube! The post SFP 97: Mindfulness for Kids [with Jessica from Lily Pad Yoga] appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, I am sharing some simple (yet exciting) changes coming to the podcast and the Simple Families Community. Listen in to hear more, and click here to join the conversation for this month. The post SFP 96: Simple Families in March appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I am sharing more about what my typical day looks like. Like many women, I am always seeking to find a balance between having a career and spending quality time with my family. I am the primary caregiver for my 1-year-old and 4-year-old, but I also balance working from home as well. My days are full, but I don’t feel overwhelmed and busy. In today’s glimpse, I am sharing the balance that’s working for me right now. How do you balance work and family life? [Also, starting today you can sign up for the free Mindfulness program I am running for the month of March. We will dive deeper into finding peace, happiness, and mindfulness with family. I hope to get to know you better. Please join us!] The post SFP 95: A Day in Denaye’s Life appeared first on Simple Families.

Traveling with kids can be intimidating and even downright scary. But it’s also rewarding. In today’s episode, I have a special treat. I am chatting with my best friend and travel-with-kids-guru Amanda about adventuring both in and out of the country as  a family. Amanda and her family were recently in Hawaii for the false missile alert. She’s also been hospitalized while traveling on more than one occasion–but she doesn’t let any of this slow her down. In fact, we are preparing to head out on a joint international family adventure soon. In this interview we’ll talk about our upcoming trip to an unlikely destination, packing light, dealing with kiddie jet lag, and the importance of planning less for these types of adventures. Want to see my minimalist packing video? The post SFP 94: The How + Why of Traveling with Kids [with Amanda, my best friend and travel guru] appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, I talk with Carla Hannaford, world-renowned biologist and outdoor advocate, about her studies on the connection between movement and brain development. If you are brand new to learning about brain development, tune into episode 92 for a simple, quick overview before diving into this one. The post SFP 93: The Science Behind Outdoor Play + Movement [with Carla Hannaford PhD] appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s world of baby gadgets and excitement around milestones, many babies are skipping the crawling stage and going straight to walking. But is this actually a good thing? In today’s episode, I discuss why crawling is important to development [and also give a preview of what’s to come for episode 93.] The post SFP 92: Why do babies need to crawl? appeared first on Simple Families.

There are so many children’s books out there, how do you choose what to include in your home library? In today’s episode, we talk about why not every classic makes the cut in our family and what I look for in both new and classic storybooks. The post SFP 91: How do you choose children’s books? appeared first on Simple Families.

There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. Today, Swedish mother Linda Akeson McGurk joins us to talk about raising our kids to be more connected with nature. Linda’s new book is one of my favorites–and her blog, Rain or Shine Mamma, is a worth-while resource as well. I hope you enjoy this episode! The post SFP 90: There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather [with Linda from Rain or Shine Mamma] appeared first on Simple Families.

This week, I am excited to be talking on the podcast with Courtney Carver from Be More With Less. On the blog and podcast, I frequently discuss the “how” of minimalism. But in this episode, Courtney takes us one step further. She explains why simple living is good for your heart, family, and future. I just wrapped up Courtney’s brand new book, Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More. Courtney shares her story in moving from a stressed out, cluttered life to minimalism as a result of a devastating diagnosis. Her story is beautifully written–it will both lift you up and bring you to tears–I am not sure if I can say I have ever cried about someone else’s dog dying–but now I have. Here’s quick excerpt from Soulful Simplicity that spoke to me: I’m confident that because I got lost, disconnected, and turned upside down, I was able to come out even better on the other side and experience the kind of gratitude you just can’t tap into unless you know what it’s like to live outside of your heart. Not being yourself is exhausting and breaks you down from the inside out. Simplifying my life was the way I remembered who I was. When we hear about the benefits of simplicity, we immediately think of organized sock drawers, clean countertops, and tidy bookshelves, but it’s much more than that if you want it to be. Courtney is currently on a 15 city book tour–she will be here in NYC next week and I look forward to meeting her there! If you can catch her in a city near you, I highly recommend hearing her words and her story in person. The post SFP 89: Soulful Simplicity [with Courtney from Be More With Less] appeared first on Simple Families.

We need to respect our children and their desires–but we can also help to steer them to buy more intentionally. In today’s episode we discuss how to get older children on board with simplicity using 3 simple questions.   The post SFP 88: How can I get older kids into simplifying? appeared first on Simple Families.

Fitness and nutrition are on the minds of many at the beginning of a New Year. As we transition into motherhood, our bodies change. I know for me personally, the way I view my body changed after babies. But the way I use my body changed also. Fitness in motherhood is about more than just looking good, it’s about being strong. When we are strong it helps us to be the calm, present, engaged parent that our kids need. In today’s podcast episode, I chat with Cari Oschman from Fit Mama in 30. Cari is a fitness expert and mother of two young children. Cari and I dove deeper into a topic of which she’s well versed–fitness in motherhood. We discuss the following questions: How does motherhood change our body image and the way we view ourselves? How can we inspire fitness and wellness in our families? Why do we need to be fit as mothers? Click here to learn more about Fit Mama in 30 and sign up for the Free 7 Day Program. Follow on Facebook | Instagram. The post SFP 87: Simple Fitness in Motherhood [with Cari from Fit Mama in 30] appeared first on Simple Families.

Is your holiday season feeling busy? In today’s episode we talk about how to find calm this holiday season–including tips to keep it simple. How to combat busyness? How to minimize decorating? How to drop the guilt? How to decrease the sugar? How to create traditions? The post SFP 86: How do you move toward a calm, simple holiday season? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I have an interview with Megan Lyons from The Lyon’s Share Wellness (Facebook | Instagram). Megan is a health and wellness coach based in Dallas, Texas and provides services worldwide. In our chat today, we talk all about sugar. She answered several of my questions such as: Is there such thing as a sweet tooth? How can we create holiday traditions that revolve around something other than candy and desserts? How can we make sense of the many types of “sugar” alternatives on the market today. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Megans book: Start Here: 7 Easy, Diet-Free Steps to Achieve Your Ultimate Health and Happiness. (Affiliate Link) Holiday Webinar My Experience With Food Intolerance Testing The post SFP 85: All About Sugar [with Megan from The Lyons Share Wellness] appeared first on Simple Families.

Potty training regression is discouraging and frustrating. In today’s episode we discuss how to handle a situation when a child suddenly starts having accidents after they’ve been successfully potty trained. Suggested Book: Oh Crap! The post SFP 84: How should I handle potty training regression? appeared first on Simple Families.

Early risers can leave moms and dads feeling exhausted and irritable. In today’s episode we talk about how we can survive this common stage, especially with little ones who still require some supervision. Suggested: Ok to Wake Clock + Visual Timer The post SFP 83: How can I handle an early riser? appeared first on Simple Families.

Dealing with a child that whines and complains a lot is draining. In today’s episode we talk about how we can help model the kind of attitudes we want to see in our children, along with how to validate their feelings without encouraging the unwanted behavior. The post SFP 82: How do you handle whining/complaining? appeared first on Simple Families.

Starting solids with your baby can be intimidating, especially when you add in the worry of choking. In today’s episode we talk about baby led weaning and how you can tell if your baby is just gagging (and why that’s totally normal) versus choking. The post SFP 81: I am terrified that my kid will choke, what should I do? appeared first on Simple Families.

Most babies go through a stage with separation anxiety. Even though it’s a normal development stage, it can be hard on both mom and baby. In today’s episode, we discuss how to handle a clingy baby and still get the things we need to do done. The post SFP 80: How should I handle a clingy baby? appeared first on Simple Families.

The mental load in motherhood is overwhelming. In today’s special episode, we are discussing why this matters and what we can do about it. Denaye also introduces a simple, 4-step plan to begin peeling back the layers. Want to starting unpacking the mental load together, join us! The post SFP 79: SPECIAL EPISODE: How can I reduce the mental load? appeared first on Simple Families.

It’s very easy to get overwhelmed by parenting a high-needs child. Today I discuss my top recommendation for understanding and improving challenging behavior. The post SFP 78: How can we start enjoying our child more? appeared first on Simple Families.

Sometimes we get into the habit of saying certain things to our kids–but maybe we need to reassess our words. Today we are discussing the reference to being a “good girl” or a “good boy”. The post SPF 77: What are your thoughts on the term “good boy/good girl”? appeared first on Simple Families.

I don’t really recommend food sharing. In today’s episode, I discuss why. The post SFP 76: How do you handle food sharing? appeared first on Simple Families.

Today we are discussing how to manage hunger and weight in early childhood. The post SFP 75: Does my kid eat too much? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we discuss collaborating with your child’s caregivers. I lay out some specific communication strategies that I use and give you an example of a personal situation I am facing right now. The post SPF 74: How can I find a middle ground with other caregivers? appeared first on Simple Families.

Parenting can be divisive when it comes to friendship. Today we discuss what happens when two friends parent differently, including what to do…and what not to do.     The post SPF 73: How do you handle friends who have different parenting styles? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we are talking about “when kids should just know better.” I explain why I don’t really like this phrase and a new way to look at these situations. The post SFP 72: When should my kid “know better”? appeared first on Simple Families.

Playing outside seems so simple and natural, but often it doesn’t happen that way for many families. In today’s episode we are discussing how to promote outdoor play in families. The post SFP 71: How can we play outside as a family? appeared first on Simple Families.

Many children go through a stage where they bite, hit, or otherwise use behaviors that are undesirable. In today’s episode we discuss how these behaviors typically aren’t aggressive, instead they are primitive forms of communication. The post SFP 70: What do you do when a kid bites? appeared first on Simple Families.

Do you have a kid who asks the same question repeatedly? Or how about one who constantly requests the same movie, book, or song? In today’s episode we are discussing why kids need this type of repetition. The post SFP 69: Why do kids repeatedly ask the same questions? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I am sharing the best parenting advice I have ever heard along with my thoughts on keeping a small child in a bed. The post SFP 68: How can I get my kid to stay in bed? appeared first on Simple Families.

  Masturbation and genital touching in your children is a natural and normal part of development. In today’s episode we discuss how to address this concern when necessary. The post SFP 67: How should I handle young children who masturbate? appeared first on Simple Families.

Even if we don’t buy toy guns for our children, they may decide to turn sticks and other devices into make-believe guns. In today’s episode we talk about this type of play and whether or not we should purchase toy guns for young children. The post SFP 66: Should kids play with toy guns? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s special episode we take a closer look at choosing a preschool/daycare for your children. I explain how I made the decision for my own children and important factors to keep in mind during the process. The post SFP 65: SPECIAL EPISODE: How to Choose a Preschool/Daycare appeared first on Simple Families.

It can be hard to listen to our kids compare themselves to others. Today, we are discussing “social graces” in young childhood and how to support children through this challenge. The post SFP 64: What to do about kids who compare themselves to others? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we discuss hand-me-downs. It can be hard/awkward to refuse a generous offer from a family member or friend–so today we talk about doing it graciously. We also discuss best tips for keeping a kid’s wardrobe simple. The post SFP 63: How do you refuse hand-me-downs? appeared first on Simple Families.

Rowdy play can be scary for parents to watch, but this type of play has huge benefits for our kids. In today’s episode we are discussing the benefits of horseplay. The post SFP 62: What are your thoughts on rowdy play? appeared first on Simple Families.

Keeping kids on a schedule while traveling is difficult. In today’s episode, we discuss the importance of children getting good sleep–regardless of where they are lying their heads. The post SFP 61: How do you keep a routine when away from home? appeared first on Simple Families.

Today we are talking about Lego overload and how to contain it all. We also discuss great toys for older kids. LINKS:  The Toy Detox The post SFP 60: What are your thoughts on managing Legos? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode, we discuss how to manage kids who don’t like to be contained: whether it be in the carseat, the shopping cart, or the stroller. Today’s sponsor: KIND snacks [more details here]   The post SFP 59: How do you survive with a kid who can’t be contained? appeared first on Simple Families.

Today we are discussing options for first bikes. I explain my personal favorites and a little about my distaste for powerwheels. LINKS: Amish Bike (Valley Road Wood Works) Wishbone 3 in 1 Bike (affiliate) Ybike (for babies-affiliate) The post SFP 58: What is a good first bike? appeared first on Simple Families.

When you ask your kid to do something and they have their own agenda…it can be so frustrating. Today we are discussing how to move things along when a little one is filibustering the day. LINKS: More about my big move The Cooperation Mini-Course The post SFP 57: How do you handle a child changing the subject? appeared first on Simple Families.

Moving with kids is hard–we are currently in the midst of it in my family. In today’s episode I am sharing tips for moving with young children. The post SFP 56: What are your tips on moving with kids? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we are talking about whether I give my children milk. I also discuss the transition from formula/breastmilk to cow’s milk after the first year of life. Show Notes/Links: How I Feed My Kids How I Feed My Kids (Your Questions Answered) Why My Toddler Doesn’t Drink Milk (original article) The post SFP 55: Do your kids drink milk? appeared first on Simple Families.

Gifts serve so many purposes. They excite the gift giver and receiver. They can make the gift giver feel like they are leaving a part of them when they aren’t present. But it’s deeply ingrained in our culture. In today’s episode we discuss how to handle receiving unwanted gifts. The post SFP 54: How do I handle unwanted gifts? appeared first on Simple Families.

The sibling relationship sets the stage for many relationships to come. We need to let our children use this dynamic to practice handling conflict. It will be anything but graceful in the early years, but this conflict serves a deeper purpose. The post SFP 53: How should I handle sibling disputes? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we discuss how often a kid needs to go to school–we discuss how to find that magic window of time and how to shed the guilt around it. The post SFP 52: How much preschool does a kid need? appeared first on Simple Families.

Gifting at birthday parties can be tricky for those trying to be intentional. In today’s episode I discuss my personal favorite gifts to give at parties. LINKS: Seedling Craft Kits Back to the Roots Garden National Geographic Little Kids This post contains affiliate links The post SFP 51: What do you give as birthday gifts? appeared first on Simple Families.

I recently explained exactly how I feed my kids [read the post here]. I loved the enthusiastic response that I received from readers and members of the Simple Families community. Because of the overwhelming response, I decided to do a special podcast episode to answer all of your feeding questions. Without further ado, here are the questions–and tune in for my answers. LINKS MENTIONED: Exactly How I Feed My Kids Visual Timer (affiliate link) Getting Started with Baby-led Weaning

I have shared before that I have a daily laundry habit–and it’s amazing. In today’s episode I am answering a question about this and telling you how I make it happen at our house. LINKS: The Simple Families Facebook Group The post SFP 50: How do you handle laundry? appeared first on Simple Families.

Does your child whine and complain throughout the day? In today’s episode I discuss how to handle a complainer. The post SFP 48: How Do I Deal with a Complainer? appeared first on Simple Families.

Bedtime can be a struggle for children–regardless of the age. In today’s episode we discuss this topic. The post SFP 47: How Do I End Bedtime Meltdowns? appeared first on Simple Families.

On the podcast today I am explaining the best timing for potty training–and it might not be what you think. SHOW NOTES/LINKS My favorite tips and tools for potty training The “Oh Crap” Book The post SFP 46: What is the best timing for potty training? appeared first on Simple Families.

Separation anxiety has a way of making us feel very loved and very crazy. We are talking more about this on the podcast today.   The post SFP 45: What can I do about separation anxiety? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we are discussing about “back talk”. I give you my best strategies for handling it and some tips to keep in mind.   The post SFP 44: How should I handle back talk? appeared first on Simple Families.

Today we are discussing the best way to get your kid’s on board for clean up. SHOW NOTES/LINKS: The Toy Detox The Cooperation Mini-Course The post SFP 43: How much should I expect my kids to clean up? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I am discussing the pros and cons of enrolling a young child in classes. The post SFP 42: Are baby classes worth the money? appeared first on Simple Families.

You don’t need to do a lot of arts and crafts activities to meet your kid’s needs. In today’s episode, I am discussing why this is. SHOW NOTES/LINKS: Why I Don’t Do Pinterest-Worthy Activities With My Kids IDEAS FOR LESS-MESS ARTS + CRAFTS Dry erase crayons Paint in the bathtub Bath crayons Stickers Felt board Water Wow The post SFP 41: Should we do arts and crafts at home? appeared first on Simple Families.

Independent play can be difficult to teach to toddlers. In today’s episode, we talk about how to encourage this type of play and the benefits.   The post SFP 40: How do I get my child to play independently? appeared first on Simple Families.

You don’t need a separate play room for your kids–having the toys in the living space has it’s advantages. In today’s episodes, I will discuss what to keep in mind when combining the living space and the playing space. Show Notes/Links: Our Minimalist Play Room (Video Tour) The Toy Detox How to Declutter the Toys The post SFP 39: How can I incorporate a simple play space in my living room? appeared first on Simple Families.

I hear this time and time again: time-outs don’t work. So why do we keep using them? In this episode we talk about why I don’t recommend time outs for very young children. Cooperation Mini Course  The post SFP 38: What to do when time-outs aren’t working? appeared first on Simple Families.

Parents are not referees–it’s important that they realize that early. In today’s episode, we talk about managing competition in sibling relationships. The post SFP 37: How do I handle competition between siblings? appeared first on Simple Families.

It’s not always easy to let “things” go. In today’s episode, we discuss how to keep the conversation positive with kids–along with two key questions to ask. The post SFP 36: How can I teach kids to let go of their possessions? appeared first on Simple Families.

On the podcast today I am answering a question about how to discipline very young children. The post SFP 35: How should I discipline very young children? appeared first on Simple Families.

Birthday celebrations shouldn’t be complicated—they should be focused on what is important. In today’s episode, I discuss why we should keep celebrations small, intimate, and focused on the needs of the child. The post SFP 34: Is it possible to have a simple birthday party? appeared first on Simple Families.

In this episode we discuss switching a child’s bedroom in anticipation of a new sibling. I also talk about making the switch from the crib to a toddler bed.  The post SFP 33: Should I change my toddler’s bedroom? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we are discussing how to repurpose items we have from decluttering. The post SFP 32: How do I repurpose the things I have from decluttering? appeared first on Simple Families.

Every parent deals with kids that interrupt. Today we are discussing two approaches of how to handle this challenge. The post SFP 31: How do I stop my kid from interrupting? appeared first on Simple Families.

Many of you are probably blessed with family and friends who love to give your children gifts. In this episode we are discussing how to talk to family members about toy minimalism. The post SFP 30: How do I handle family members who give too many gifts? appeared first on Simple Families.

Our kids are not going to be good at everything. In today’s episode we discuss how to approach a child that is not having success in sports or other activities. The post SFP 29: Should I encourage my kids to do things they aren’t good at? appeared first on Simple Families.

Sometimes our kids can feel impossible at meal times. In this episode, I give my best advice–and it might surprise you. The post SFP 28: How do I end food battles with my kid? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I am answering a question from a mother about pretend play. She wonders how often she should intervene when there are disagreements or when the play shifts to an inappropriate story line. The post SFP 27: When should I interrupt my kid’s play? appeared first on Simple Families.

Sometimes babies get restless–but how much entertaining should we do as parents? In today’s episode I answer a question about how to handle a restless, bored baby. The post SFP 26: What should I do if my baby gets bored? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we discuss how to handle big transitions with toddlers–things like moving, starting a new school, and having a new baby. The post SFP 25: How much transition can a kid handle? appeared first on Simple Families.

Preparing for your first baby can be overwhelming. Today I discuss how I suggest you spend time preparing during pregnancy, including some of my favorite books. Show Links/Notes: The Best 5 Books to Read Before a Baby The post SFP 24: How do I prepare for my first baby? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we discuss how to maintain a minimalist play space when you have children of various ages. Show Notes/Links: Video Tour of our Minimalist Playroom The 25 Best Toys Get the Toy Detox The post SFP 23: How does toy minimalism work with different aged siblings? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode I respond to a question about how much we should push our kids to be successful. I explain that parents should provide support when teaching new skills, but kids might actually benefit when parents “disappear” and give them opportunity to persevere on their own. SHOW NOTES/LINKS: Get the Toy Detox The post SFP 22: How much should I push my kid to succeed? appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we are discussing how to handle the “stranger danger” talk with your children. I am not a fan of putting fear and anxiety into children. I think you can educate them and prepare them for life without scaring them. It’s important that children have opportunities to practice socializing with new adults, but at the same time maintaining a healthy dose of skepticism. Show Notes/Links: The Toy Detox How to Teach Your Kids Consent (Huff Post) The post SFP 21: Should I encourage my kid to be friendly to strangers? appeared first on Simple Families.

It can be difficult to wean a baby off of a bottle. In this episode I discuss the transition from formula/breastmilk to cow’s milk. I also explain the attachment to the bottle and why this process is so difficult. I also discuss things to keep in mind when making the switch from bottles to cups. Show Notes/Links Are sippy cups even necessary? Open Training Cup Open glass (6 to 12 months) Open glass (12 to 24 months) The post SFP 20: How do I cut out the bottles? appeared first on Simple Families.

In this episode I will discuss three things to consider when preparing your child for a sibling. We will also discuss what type of behavior and emotions you might encounter from a young child during this period as well. I wrap up with the one thing I wish I would have known before having my second baby. Show Notes: Sign up for the Toy Detox The New Baby Book (Depicts breastfeeding) Rocker made for 3 + Ottoman The post SFP 19: How do I prepare my child for a new sibling? appeared first on Simple Families.

In this episode I answer a question from a mother about her child that is shy and slow to warm up. I discuss ways to support and encourage her. The post SFP 18: How Should I Handle My Shy Child? appeared first on Simple Families.

In this episode we talk about making the difficult transition to daycare as a toddler. I discuss why it is so difficult for kids to separate and give (a strange) analogy. The post SFP 17: Am I Traumatizing My Kid When I Leave Him at Daycare? appeared first on Simple Families.

It seems like kids are starting school earlier and earlier. In today’s episode, I will be discussing how to decide on the best age for a child to start preschool. Highlights: Preschool vs. Daycare–what’s the difference? What type of curriculum and education does a baby/young toddler need? What’s the best age to start school? Show Notes/Links: How to Choose a Preschool The post SFP 16 : What Age Should Kids Start Preschool? appeared first on Simple Families.

The kids of today need minimalism. In this episode I am sharing with you some of the benefits of minimalism with kids and family. Highlights: What is minimalism? Four benefits for our children. Show Notes/Links Does your Kids Have Shiny Object Syndrome Why Kids Need Fewer Toys Research: Children learn better in simple, clean spaces Research: Clutter increases stress The post SFP 15: How Will My Kids Benefit from Minimalism? appeared first on Simple Families.

Kids shouldn’t be playing with their food. That means making a mess should be the exception, not the expectation. In this episode I will discuss how to handle throwing and playing with food at mealtime. Highlights: Understand the motive Control of Error The Food Time-Out Show Notes/Links: How to Get Kids to Stop Throwing and Playing at Meal Time One Simple Tip to Get Kids to Eat Better (Why we don’t talk likes/dislikes) Episode 05: How I Feed My Kids The post SFP 14 : How Do I Put an End to Food Throwing? appeared first on Simple Families.

It can be hard to get kids to go to bed. In today’s episode, I am answering a question about how to get a child to go to bed (and stay in bed). Highlights: Bring the positive energy. Pattern your days for success. Get kids to stay in bed The post SFP 13 : How Can I Get My Kid to Go to Bed? appeared first on Simple Families.

Sharing is hard. In this episode, I am explaining why sharing can be such a struggle for young kids. I will also introduce the strategy that we use at home to handle sharing easily and effectively. Highlights Why it’s so hard for kids to share Walk a mile in their shoes The Method: How do handle it at home Show Notes/Links Teach Your Kids to Share Without Losing Your Mind The post SFP 12 : How Do I Teach My Kid To Share? appeared first on Simple Families.

Our kid’s behavior can be frustrating–particularly when they won’t “stop” when we ask them to stop. Today we are talking about why it’s so hard to get kids to “knock it off” and how we can handle these situations with success. Highlights A new lens to view behavior Inertia–and how it applies to kid behavior An easy, effective strategy for improving behavior Show Notes/Links Why My Kid Doesn’t Listen to Me (Get the Mini Course on Cooperation) The post SFP 11 : How Do I Stop My Kid From Misbehaving? appeared first on Simple Families.

I got rid of my oversized wardrobe in favor of creating a tiny collection of clothing articles that I really love. This has been an amazing change in my life. In this episode, I will share with you how I got started and some of my favorite things. The Highlights Why I made the switch to a small wardrobe How to get started Favorite pieces that I am wearing right now Show Notes and Links Why I Got Rid of My Wardrobe (The story of how I got started) Pick a Wardrobe Color Palette The Perfect Sweater My favorite tunic (aff. link) My favorite chambray shirt (aff. link) Do you have a question for the show? Ask it here.  The post SFP 10 : How Do I Get Started With a Small Wardrobe? appeared first on Simple Families.

Getting our kids to cooperate with everyday tasks can seem impossible. Brush your teeth, take a bath, put your shoes on…even the simple things can be a struggle with young children. In this episode I am going to explain why cooperation is so difficult. The best part–there is an easy trick to get immediate results with your kids. The Highlights Why is cooperation such a struggle? Why you can’t “threaten” a kid into cooperation (and why you are probably doing this–even if you don’t realize it) A quick trick that works magic to get kids to cooperate Show Notes and Links How to Really Tick Off a Toddler Why My Kids Doesn’t Listen to Me SFP 08: Why Time-Out Isn’t Working Do you have a question for the show? Ask it here.  The post SFP 09 : How Do I Get My Kids To Cooperate? appeared first on Simple Families.

Nearly all parents resort to using “time-out” with their kids at some point. But the problem is it rarely works. In this episode I explain how to use time-out correctly and why I don’t really use it much myself. The Highlights What exactly is “time-out” Why I don’t really like it or use it myself If you are going to use it–how to do it correctly Show Notes and Links The Bad Behavior I am Ignoring (why ignoring behavior can be an effective way of giving “time-out”) How to Really Tick Off a Toddler Why My Kids Doesn’t Listen to Me Do you have a question for the show? Ask it here.  The post SFP 08 : Why Isn’t Time-Out Working? appeared first on Simple Families.

The first year of feeding solid foods to babies is incredibly important. In this episode, I am giving you tips to get started the best way possible. The Highlights How to introduce tastes How to introduce textures The importance of positive talk Show Notes and Links Getting Started With Baby-Led Weaning Mastering the Dinnertime Hustle One Simple Tip to Get Your Kids to Eat Better Do you have a question for the show? Ask it here.  The post SFP 07 : What Is the Best Way to Start Solid Food with Babies? appeared first on Simple Families.

In this episode I am answering the question, “how much do you play with your kids?”. I don’t actually play with my kids very much and I am going to give you an explanation of why. The Highlights What quality time looks like in our house. How I facilitate play without playing myself. When I am playing with my kids, what is my role? Show Notes and Links Catherine Wallace Quote From This Episode Why I Don’t Do Pinterest-Worthy Activities with My Kids Do you have a question for the show? Ask it here.  The post SFP 06 : How Much Do You Play With Your Kids? appeared first on Simple Families.