Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens

Today’s guest is Cheryl Erwin, a therapist and parenting educator who began teaching parenting after her marriage broke down. We are discussing single parenting today. Join us!  What you’ll hear in this episode: The biggest challenges facing single parenting – finances, housing, misconceptions/stereotypes Asking for help as a single parent Making time for special time and relationship building when you’re outnumbered Using connection to build resilience Self-care and self-compassion after divorce and separation Finding joy vs creating joy – finding happy after separation The blessings and gifts of being a single parent The two kinds of special time The power of routine in single parenthood The value of spontaneity and choosing into lightness Lessons in delayed gratification, hard work and problem solving Learning to grow from mistakes Positive discipline as a single parenting tool Learning to let go after raising kids as a single parent Strength that comes from adversity – a gift of single parenthood Choosing to go high when others go low – child-centered co-parenting Being honest about co-parenting challenge while still being respectful and giving space for relationships to be maintained Single parenting by numbers – 70% of American kids spend some of their time in a single parent household Step parents as blessings to your children The importance of facilitating communication between parents and children during the other parent’s parenting times  What does Joyful Courage mean to you?To take each day as it comes and look for what’s right about it not what’s wrong with it and to not be afraid of risk – I’ve never been a good risk taker but as a single mom I learned I have to take some. As someone who now travels the world teaching positive discipline I’ve gotten comfortable with getting on planes and flying off to Egypt by myself when I don’t know anybody there and some of the greatest joy and blessings of my life have been when I found the joy and courage to take an appropriate risk. You don’t have to fly to China or Egypt to do that. You can do it right in your own backyard. Certainly the single parents who are listening know that life can be risky on a pretty regular basis and being able to embrace that and learn the skills you need to be able to do that well will bring you joy in your kids, joy in your grandparents and joy in your own life. At the end of it, my son goes off into the horizon and I’m left with my life and what I make of it and I’m trying to do something with my life that I can be proud of and that’s what joyful courage means to me. It’s taken me all of these 60 years to figure that out.Resources: Positive Discipline for Single Parents Where to find Cheryl:Website l Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yipee - one more day of the 0-5 Mini Summit with Julietta!! Today Julie and I dig into questions from the community surrounding self care. We KNOW it is important, and yet so many of us struggle to get it in! Listen in as Jules and I discuss chores, having the courage to seek out mental health, and how self care tips that help us keep calm during those epic meltdowns.Julietta is the cofounder of Sproutable, an online learning experience for parents, focused on development and years 0-5. She has a Masters Degree in School Counseling and Ed.S Degree in School Psychology from Seattle University. As a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer, she teaches Positive Discipline parenting classes and provides Positive Discipline trainings for teachers and parent educators.Julietta led the Seattle Public Schools Childfind preschool assessment screening team from 2007-2014. She is currently the school counselor at Queen Anne Elementary. She is the proud mother of two daughters ages 7 and 4. She understands the parenting challenges as well as the importance of early intervention and child development.Find more about Sproutable at:http://www.besproutable.com/ Facebook l Twitter l Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julietta is BACK ON to dig into the challenges brought to us by the Joyful Courage community. Julietta is the cofounder of Sproutable, an online learning experience for parents, focused on development and years 0-5.Julietta has a Masters Degree in School Counseling and Ed.S Degree in School Psychology from Seattle University. As a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer, she teaches Positive Discipline parenting classes and provides Positive Discipline trainings for teachers and parent educators.Julietta led the Seattle Public Schools Childfind preschool assessment screening team from 2007-2014. She is currently the school counselor at Queen Anne Elementary. She is the proud mother of two daughters ages 7 and 4. She understands the parenting challenges as well as the importance of early intervention and child development.Find Sproutable at:http://www.besproutable.com/ Facebook l Twitter l Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You all know that I love me some Julietta Skoog! She is a dear friend and a WEALTH of information. Julietta is the cofounder of Sproutable, an online learning experience for parents, focused on development and years 0-5.Julietta has a Masters Degree in School Counseling and Ed.S Degree in School Psychology from Seattle University. As a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer, she teaches Positive Discipline parenting classes and provides Positive Discipline trainings for teachers and parent educators. Julietta led the Seattle Public Schools Childfind preschool assessment screening team from 2007-2014. She is currently the school counselor at Queen Anne Elementary. She is the proud mother of two daughters ages 7 and 4. She understands the parenting challenges as well as the importance of early intervention and child development.Yup. She's amazing.Listen in to todays show as we break down Eric Ericksons model of psychosocial development and what WE as parents can do to ensure that our children are developing trust, autonomy, initiative and industry during their early years.Join us tomorrow as Julie and I dig into challenges sent in from the Joyful Courage community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s guest is Kim Estes, a speaker and coach who talks to parents of kids from pre-school to adolescents about safety concerns. We are discussing free-range parenting. Join us!“Our kids are wanting to explore their world and it’s our job to teach them to do it safely.” What you’ll hear in this episode: Misconceptions about free-range parenting Boundaries in free-range parenting: subject to change based on individual children and age-level Assessing age and individual capacity specific boundaries – the value of checking in for safety Free-range parenting as giving kids space to practice intuition Fear of judgment and free-range parenting Risk assessment and safety – likelihood of concerns relating to traffic safety and abduction Assessing risk tolerance as parents Stranger safety vs Stranger danger Free-range parenting as freedom within structure Finding the happy medium: learning new skills with appropriate boundaries Being consistent about expectations and boundaries Mistakes as learning experiences – handling situations where things don’t go as planned Being available and non-judgmental when negotiating boundaries – dropping into curiosity to keep communication lines open No questions asked, do-overs on both sides and owning failure Exercising self-compassion and forgiveness when you don’t realize you’re being called to “the big show” What does Joyful Courage mean to you?Joyful courage means to me to be able to parent courageously even if it’s uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, having something that feels good for everybody even if it’s the smallest success.Where to find Kim:Website l Facebook l Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s guest is Jamie Glowacki, a social worker who worked with dual diagnosis moms, transitioned to owning a children’s store and then became a potty trainer. We are discussing potty training. Join us! “I don’t really have a method. You have to take off the diapers.” What you’ll hear in this episode: The elimination communication movement Timing of potty training readiness “Pull-ups” and potty training – mixing old and new behaviors. Potty training and instant gratification – the role of patience in the process The myths of potty training Gender and potty training The role of social learning and praise Potty location and using the tool for the task The influence of Dr. Spock and the history of potty training Developmental milestones – should they be child-led? The myth of “readiness” - potty training as a skill that needs to be attended to rather than something that happens naturally in time without intervention The “magic window” of potty training – prior to individuation Potty training as a power struggle “Fear of release” – how to overcome it Managing expectations around developmental milestones and the danger of comparison How potty training challenges vary based on the age of the child Performance anxiety and potty training The best potty and ergonomic angle for potty training specifically for encouraging poop How to modify your potty or reposition your child to improve poop likelihood Rewards and consequences – their role in potty training Potty training power struggles as relationship challenges Potty training regressions – change in routines, the honeymoon period Using blocks of learning to solve regressions “Baby love” as a tool to help kids adjust to new siblings Location specific potty training challenges – how to unpack them Night time training strategies Developmental phases of bladder development   Resources:Squatty potty unicorn ice cream videoIs Night Training Really Necessary – blog post Oh Crap Potty Training BookOh Crap Potty Training video conferences  Where to find Jamie:WebsiteTwitterFacebook  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join the Joyful CourageTribe in our community Facebook group - Live and Love with Joyful Courage. Raising our children while growing ourselves...:::::So totally honored to have my friend and mentor, Tamara Azar, trainer and coach from Momentum Education on to talk about the important work that Momentum is doing to change the world.Listen in to the very end to hear about the incredibly generous offer to all the Joyful Courage Tribe!Find out more about Momentum Education, including upcoming trainings in Seattle, LA, Washington DC and NYC, by visiting www.momentumeducation.com.:::::March GIVEAWAY!The last few months I have been encouraging you all to share the shows by holding giveaways - everything from mantra bracelets to coaching has gone out to members of the community who have been willing to join in the work of #impact1millionkids - this month is no exception!!Simply by posting a podcast link, and tagging me (Casey O'Roarty) or Joyful Courage, you are entered to win!! This month I am giving away a spot in the Living Joyful Courage Membership program - WOOHOO!! AND, you can enter as many times as you WANT! Yes!:::::Weekly FB Lives are happening!!Join me every Tuesday at 10am pst on the Joyful Courage FB page to hear about a new Positive Discipline tool that you can begin using ASAP. Even if you are well versed in parenting with PD, you will take a way a renewed commitment and perhaps a deeper understanding of the tool.:::::Living Joyful Courage Membership ProgramJoin the LIVING JOYFUL COURAGE information list TODAY and enjoy freebies and reminders for when it is time to REGISTER for the membership program!!:::::Join the Joyful CourageTribe in our community Facebook group - Live and Love with Joyful Courage. Raising our children while growing ourselves...:::::Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Joyful Courage Podcast on iTunes to get the latest shows STRAIGHT to your device!! AND PLEASE rate and review the Joyful Courage Parenting Podcast on iTunes to help me spread the show to an ever larger audience!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s guest is Shawn Fink, also known as Abundant Mama. She is a mom of eleven-year-old twin girls. We are discussing living a life of abundance in our parenting. Join us! “For me, being awake is being engaged, being thoughtful, being very purposeful, living my values but also being present.”“Mistakes are opportunities to learn.”“Abundance is looking at your life and being grateful that you have enough, that you are enough and you do enough – but it’s much more than that. It’s become a lifestyle.”“There is enough happiness, joy and love in the world for everybody.” What you’ll hear in this episode: Moving from scarcity to abundance mindsets – from jealousy to gratitude Abundance as a way to mother yourself, be authentic and be aware of what’s around and within you Being awesomely awake: paying attention to your life, being mindful and living intentionally Self-care vs Soul-care – what’s the difference and how can it change your life and the way you see it? Being present and discomfort – learning to navigate it vs as being a way to eliminate it How to exercise self-compassion when you haven’t showed up in the way that you’ve hoped to Modelling asking for forgiveness for your kids The joys and challenges of raising tweens Motherhood as self-invention Learning to connect with your children as they grow – navigating relationship change The value in letting kids fail when they need to – leaving room for life lessons and learning how to handle discomfort The power of injecting playfulness into your routine and how it can be productive Finding joy in obligation Building habits for effectiveness in your parenting life  What does Joyful Courage mean to you?Joyful Courage is the joyful ability to completely show up as yourself and be you, as a mom, it’s really hard because we are trying so hard to keep everyone else happy. There is nothing better for our kids than for them to see us being fully ourselves. Resources:Insight timerThe Playful Family E-bookThe Abundant Mama online program10 Habits of Highly Effective Mamas Where to find Shawn:FacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestWebsite Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s guest is Kim Muench, a mother of five, parenting writer, a certified parenting coach and lover of parents of adolescents. We are discussing navigating decisions around technology with our kids. Join us! “Instead of looking at it as a tool of potential destruction, we are looking at it as a vehicle for us to build a circle of trust and communicate even better.”“Conscious parenting: being mindful and walking the tight rope between giving them autonomy and knowing when to step in and help them see the potential consequences of choices” What you’ll hear in this episode: Balancing your need for control and desire to protect your kids with providing access to benefits of smart phones Building trust, letting go of our own experiences and not projecting our own mischief (which can lead to friction) Navigating the tightrope: being honest, open and self-aware as you work through technology use with your kids Negotiating smart phone boundaries within your family Scaffolding social media communication – building progressively Adolescent boundary pushing as learning Falling off the tight rope – learning as a practice and getting back up Creating an agreement around technology usage – a collaborative approach subject to revision as needed initiated by either party Limits as helping Why you need open conversation about social media including topics such as safeguards and kindness Technology as distraction and disconnection Reassessing agreements on technology without blame and shame The value of eye contact and being fully present in resolving conflict How to address reigning in technology use under the umbrella of conscious parenting – identifying the source Working collaboratively vs exerting control – what are the outcomes of these approaches? What does Joyful Courage mean to you?Joyful Courage is embracing your authentic self with enthusiasm and being brave enough to share that with the world – it is an every day practice.Resources:Screenagers documentary Where to find Kim:WebsiteTwitterFacebookLinkedInFacebook Group Real Life Parenting Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's guest is Melissa Benaroya. Melissa is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience working with children and families. Melissa has a Masters degree in Social Work, is a Credentialed School Counselor and is trained in Positive Discipline. She is also a Certified Gottman Educator offering the Bringing Baby Home Program for families with young children and workshops on Emotion Coaching. Melissa practices as a parenting consultant, coach and speaker to groups and individuals by blending her clinical training with her knowledge of child development and discipline. In 2011 she co-authored the book The Childproof Parent.Melissa lives in Seattle with her husband and two children and keeps her sanity with an active lifestyle of running and Crossfit!“Empathy is the ability to feel and understand what another person may be feeling but ultimately … it means connection … and feeling understood.”What you’ll hear in this episode:·     Learning to use empathy as a first response and a parenting tool·     Empathy as reflecting your child’s feeling back to them versus owning their feelings or relating our own personal experiences·     How using personal experiences in place of empathy can escalate conflict·     How to use empathy to help your child build emotional resilience·     Using empathy effectively to help your child feel heard·     Empathy as a practice and a gradual learning process·     Childhood developmental milestones in empathy·     How to model empathy for your kids·     Using the “Fake It Til You Become It” approach to empathy in your parenting·     Being mindful of your physical self in how you demonstrate and model empathy·     Parenting from the couch as a barrier to empathy·     Echoing, mirroring and repetition as empathy·     The power of validation in feeling heard – when looking on the bright side gets in the way·     Empathy as a transferrable skill. What does Joyful Courage mean to you?It takes courage to take risks and try new things and that’s where joy exists. It’s what parenting requires of us – taking risks and trying new things. Empathy might be taking a risk because it doesn’t feel natural and we are going to have to take lots of risks and try new things throughout our parenting journey. It not only makes us a better parent but it also helps us to grow as an individual and that’s where the joy exists.Resources:The Child-proof Parent Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest ChallengesWhere to find Melissa:Website Child-proof Parenting website Facebook Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices