Art Creativity & Wellbeing

For a long time, the podcast was the tool. Then I wrote Positive Discipline Ninja Tactics – and we had 2 tools. And now, a little more than three years in, we've got a multitude of tools for parenting and happy family time... Today's episode is a discussion of some of the best tools, a description of how parents are changing their families' lives by utilizing these tools, and a roadmap so that you know where to find the exact We Turned Out Okay tools you need! This episode came up because, at the beginning of 2018, a new listener to We Turned Out Okay got in touch with me, and she shared that she had a bad experience listening to the show: to her, listening felt as if I'd taken her to a party where I knew everyone - and she knew no one. I really took that critique to heart. I've been working ever since to be sure that everything I do makes you, the listener, feel welcomed and included, and that's how we ended up where we are. The tools I talk about in this episode: Click here for the podcast page of weturnedoutokay.com Click here for the We Turned out Okay Facebook group… And click here for the We Turned Out Okay Facebook page Click here for my YouTube channel, where you'll find the Magic Words for Parents playlist Click here for the We Turned Out Okay Patreon page where you'll find Extra Magic Words for Parents, access to my patron-only feed, and where you'll be able to read my parenting books long before they are published! Lots of great tools in Patreon : ) Click here for the Ninja Parenting Community, where you'll have access to all of my best parenting tools Thank you for listening! Please share this episode if you know a parent who needs some good tools! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

Picture this: you're in the car, in a parking lot, with your screaming three-year-old and six-month-old. You're on a call with work, and you've got the call muted so that you can hear what's going on – but your coworkers can't hear the car chaos. Until one of your coworkers says "Shannon, what do you think?" – and you know that as soon as you unmute the call everyone on it will hear the screaming. What do you do? If you are today's guest, you learn from this situation… and you take that learning and make a life with a proper balance between family, and work. Join me in a great conversation with Shannon Miles, author of The Third Option, all about handling the tough choices that we parents face every day. Shannon shares a wonderful 3-step process if you're feeling stuck, with a big decision to make. Go to weturnedoutokay.com/227 for notes on this process, and also for the key links that come up during our conversation – and thank you so much for listening! PS Shannon asked me to share that the company she and her husband Bryan started is hiring! Click belaysolutions.com if you, or someone you know, might be interested in working for the Mileses : ) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

This episode, we focus on a serious issue. It's one you may have been wondering about, but not known what to do about – or even if it was a big deal at all: Does tablet or smartphone use contribute to a child's behavior problems? We live in this world, which is absolutely filled with tech. The tech doesn't appear to be going anywhere fast… So what's the answer? Does tablet use contribute to behavior problems? Listen to today's episode to find out! For notes on this episode including: - Three ways to safely use technology with your littles - The sign-up for the 3 Secrets of Happy Parenting FREE online class, which distills everything I've learned into 3 simple lessons for true enjoyment of this parenting life – Key Links and every back episode of We Turned Out Okay Go to weturnedoutokay.com/226. And thank you so much for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

Maybe you have said to yourself, when you're watching a parent fail miserably to bring a recalcitrant child under control, "that will NEVER be me. I pride myself on order and discipline in my house!" Or, maybe you've heard snide comments from teachers or relatives about your child "ruling the roost," and it's frustrating because you don't want to be a disciplinarian. That's not why you had kids, to order them around! So, which is it? Do you need to be firm? Or do you need to be flexible? Listen to today's episode to find out! For notes on this episode including: - The answer to this dilemma of flexibility vs. firmness - The sign-up for the 3 Secrets of Happy Parenting FREE online class, which distills everything I've learned into 3 simple lessons for true enjoyment of this parenting life – Key Links and every back episode of We Turned Out Okay Go to weturnedoutokay.com/225. Thank you so much for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

To us grown-ups, summer can mean headaches caused by heat and humidity, too much time spent in air-conditioning, and unwelcome changes in routine. Also, the endless application of sunscreen on our littles. But to kids, just being outside can be a revelation. There's birdsong, and water, and dirt… Summer is a great time for reconnecting with your child, for truly listening to him or her - for deep, true bonding with this little person you are bringing up. Does that seem daunting? If you're not sure how to begin, listen to this episode of We Turned Out Okay! Today, I am excited to interview Sunshine Parenting podcast host Audrey Monke, who has directed a summer camp for more than 30 years. In that time Audrey has seen it all: extreme homesickness, parental worries, and, again and again, the life-changing magic of summertime. We tap into her knowledge of how to make summer great, as Audrey shares THE 3 most important things you can do this summer to capture that magic, to truly enjoy the time you spend with your young child. For TONS of amazing links that come up in today's conversation, as well as to join our We Turned Out Okay private Facebook group (I've got a big announcement in today's episode about something new happening in the group!)… Go to weturnedoutokay.com/224. Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

As you probably did, I got spanked as a kid. But, probably unlike you, I became an early childhood educator and lesson one was "we never, EVER spank a child." Still, it's tempting, especially if it means stopping a behavior that you cannot stand for one more minute. So, is it ever okay to spank your child? Do you ever do it? Today – on We Turned Out Okay's THIRD birthday! – we dig into why parents spank kids, the lessons a child learns from being spanked, and what other options we parents have. WHY Parents Spank Kids Not surprisingly, spanking doesn't happen when your child's behavior is smooth and easy. It's when they balk at what you are telling them to do. When they drag their feet, whine, nag at a sibling until that sibling retaliates. Spankings happen when we feel that we have been pushed to the absolute brink – when we feel like we have got no other choice. Take a listen to this episode if you've ever felt like that, especially if you're not quite sure that spanking is what you should be doing, but you don't see any other option. For notes to today's episode, including: - A 3-step method you can follow to discipline without spanking - The sign-up for the 3 Secrets of Happy Parenting FREE online class, which distills everything I've learned into 3 simple lessons for true enjoyment of this parenting life – Key Links and every back episode of We Turned Out Okay Go to weturnedoutokay.com/223. Thank you so much for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

Lots of us parents are pretty freaked out by the thought of money, finances, and all the stuff we don't understand about it. Ben (my husband and the producer of our show) and I have spent the last year or so confronting our concerns about money, really looking our finances squarely in the face and conquering our fears… Through this process, we have become more of a team than we were before! Our goals are aligned, each understands the other's priorities better than ever, and we work closely together now to make our dreams come true. That's why I wanted to go in depth on the subject for you. I want you to have those same good feelings, and understand that it's possible to conceive of a great future for your child – and to actually start BUILDING that future.   What are the 5 most important things for you to remember, when you're thinking about finances and raising kids? Listen to today's episode to find out! Go to weturnedoutokay.com/222 for notes on today's 5 key takeaways, and links to every WTOO episode about parenting and money, so you can really go in depth on this topic! At the website you'll also find: – Every back episode of We Turned Out Okay – The sign-up for our 3 Secrets of Happy Parenting FREE online class – Links so you can subscribe to the podcast in Apple/iTunes, Spotify, and more Happy Listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

Today's conversation is super special, because it's with our personal financial planner, Steven Taylor – the man who has helped Ben and I align our goals and begin truly working together to achieve our dreams. Like many of the best conversations, ours doesn't stick strictly to the subject at hand. It starts off with sports and quickly develops into a meaningful conversation about parenting (Steven is Dad to 3-and 2-year-old boys).… And soon, it's a full-blown exploration of the best money mindset that parents can have. Whatever your fears about money, or your approach to financial planning, this conversation will make you feel better. Thanks so much to Steven for coming on the show, and to you for listening! Show notes, including lots of great links that came up during our conversation, at weturnedoutokay.com/221 – Also there, you'll find the link to sign up for two cool things happening at our local library: My workshop on how to handle weeknight chaos with little kids (this coming Monday evening, April 23), and Steven's workshop on budgeting, though he prefers the term "spending plan," on Tuesday evening, May 29! If you can be in Bellingham, Massachusetts for either of these, that would be awesome! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

If we're being honest, who among us has NOT bribed a kid? (Listen to this episode to hear about how we potty trained our youngest… using entire donuts as bribes.) But is there a better way? Something we could do to change our child's behavior from bad to good? Something that would stop us feeling like we're being emotionally blackmailed by our kids? Listen to today's episode to understand exactly WHY we parents resort to bribery – when it's most likely to happen – and for 3 things we can do instead! Read more about bribery… Find every back episode of the We Turned Out Okay podcast… Sign up for the 3 Secrets of Happy Parenting Class… All at weturnedoutokay.com/220. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

Working with parents of young children, one phrase comes up again and again – one really dangerous phrase. It's dangerous because it perpetuates bad behavior from our kids, which none of us want… Yet, it is really hard not to use it. You probably use this phrase yourself; I know I have. Today I share: – Exactly what the two most dangerous words in a parent's vocabulary are – Why these words get used so often – What you can say instead for good behavior from your child Today's episode helps you get past the bad behavior so you can fulfill your ultimate goal of truly enjoying family time! Read more about these two dangerous words and what to say instead… Find every back episode of the We Turned Out Okay podcast… Sign up for the 3 Secrets of Happy Parenting Class… All at weturnedoutokay.com/219. Happy listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe