Art Creativity & Wellbeing

Today's guest has a new book out, The Toddler Survival Guide, that I know you'll love because it is practical, funny, and endearing. And, as soon as I heard author Heather Spohr's voice on the day of our interview, I knew that it would also be those three things… But it turned out to be a lot more. We talk about Princess Leia, potty training – and grief. Heather and her husband Mike lost a child to illness, when their daughter was just three years old, and what I love about Heather is her ability to share about the tough stuff while staying extremely positive. So, listen for the laughs, listen for the connection, and read Heather's new book to remember that you are not alone, if you are (or have ever been) the parents of toddlers. But also listen for Heather's description of the support that a strong community brings, whether real-world or virtual. Key links at weturnedoutokay.com/209 – and thank you 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

In my recent conversation with Mental Health Counselor and Play Specialist Janine Halloran, we talked about the outrageously high rates of suspensions and expulsions in preschools nationwide. And one listener wrote soon after to share her child's experience in preschool: "Such an interesting podcast and alarming pre-K statistics. I can say we saw an opposite thing happening… Several kids were overly aggressive with minimal consequences… My child was being bullied by these aggressive children to the point of not wanting to go to school." Listener Jessica was kind enough to let me share her thoughts with you, and address her concerns, which might be your concerns as well, in today's episode. What comes out of it is the realization that many preschool policies on discipline are way out of whack with what kids really need to learn – both the bullies, and the bullied  - to get along in this world. Key links at weturnedoutokay.com/208, and 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

Every January since We Turned Out Okay began, I've shared my goals for the coming year. Not resolutions… which feel to me a little more arbitrary and easier to pull out of… but Goals. And this year is no exception! Somehow the idea of glass balls and rubber balls (one of which breaks when dropped, and the other of which bounces) felt really important to share with you, probably because I'm returning from major burnout and got it because I dropped a glass ball, my "health" ball. So listen in to find out more about glass/rubber balls, the goals I've set and why I set them, and what this year's One Word is! Notes and links at weturnedoutokay.com/207! 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

Happy new year!! Next week we'll work on making 2018 be the best year yet – but part of that is looking back at 2017. Today I'm sharing the three most valuable lessons I learned from 2017, a year that many listeners characterized as pretty awful, but one that held many valuable lessons for me – and in many ways was a good and fun year too. I also share some changes I've made to the podcast schedule, based largely on the horrific burnout I experienced in December… It's tough to be helpful to you as you work to have a happy family life when I am so frazzled, when I'm attempting to pour from an empty cup. To keep being able to help you, I've made some changes, and I'm sharing about them today. Click weturnedoutokay.com/206 to read about them! 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

In which we discuss favorite episodes, Karen's, and Listeners'… The family dynamics of introverts versus extroverts; the joy and learning that comes with Loose Parts; falling down and getting back up again; a profound and hilarious potty training story. All links at weturnedoutokay.com/205… Happy listening and Happy New Year!! 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

On the day I recorded this episode, late last week in real time, I had a moment, at about 10 AM, where I realized I ought to be in about three different places… All at exactly 10 AM. That's when my heart started racing. Then, when I looked around my home and realized all that still wasn't quite done, or not even started yet… and then I realized I was still in my pajamas… The complete and total futility of the season slammed into my brain. As I've often said on the show, that was "Mom Karen" – Time to go and get some advice from Podcast Karen! So, I dropped everything and recorded this show about dealing with burnout. And I just want to give a special thanks in here for thirteen-year-old Jason Kolp (who shares great advice about how to help children with their fears, back in episode 193). He's the one who really helped me figure out what to focus on first. He told me to go and help you, which is exactly what I did. I hope this episode helps you, as much as it helped Mom Karen : ) For a quickie breakdown of the three steps to alleviating burnout, plus key links and to watch the video I made about handling holiday kid craziness, go to weturnedoutokay.com/204. 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 guest, returning champion KJ Dell'Antonia of the #AmWriting with Jess and KJ Podcast, brings her best ideas for how you can really enjoy this time of year, no matter what craziness you've got going on in your life. The WTOO annual Parent Holiday Survival Guide goes Beyond Audio in 2017 Each year I bring you resources I know you'll love as you figure out how to enjoy the holidays. This year I'm psyched because not only do I have audio resources for you, to listen while you drive on endless errands, bake endless cookies, or wrap endless gifts… I've got video and Facebook live offerings to help you handle the holidays as well! Go to weturnedoutokay.com/203 for key links, including: – KJ's Happier Parent Holiday Survival Guide PDF – The We Turned Out Okay Facebook group – The Latest how-to video ("How to handle holiday kid craziness") – Lots more resources to help you handle the holidays! 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

Are you, like lots of your fellow listeners, noticing a certain unhappiness creeping in to your daily life? A sense of insanity that you cannot escape from? Overwhelm at all the stuff you've got to do in pretty short amount of time, and getting shorter every day? Then you should join the free 5-Day Handle the Holidays Challenge. It starts tomorrow if you're listening in real time – Monday, December 18 – and in today's quickie bonus episode I share some reasons why listeners are joining… I also share a little story about burnout, right here in my own life. Thanks for listening! Sign-ups for the Handle the Holidays challenge end TONIGHT. Don't miss out! Click the link below to join weturnedoutokay.com/funDecember 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

In today's episode I tell a story about a woman who once sat at a table full of loved ones, watched some of these loved ones manipulate her child, and feel completely powerless to help.   Maybe you've found yourself in a similar situation:  – You understand that holiday gatherings include some degree of etiquette and civil niceties  – But sometimes these people – these dear relatives, friends, loved ones – can push our buttons and set off our children.They can really wake the Mama/Papa Bear in each of us. Sometimes we can feel truly helpless in handling complex social situations, and this time of year, we see A LOT of loved ones, magnifying the problem.   Today's episode is all about how to handle that type of situation!   Listen to learn the ninja tactic of getting control of a situation, especially involving your child, and especially in the public setting of a family/friend gathering, where everything can feel so contentious.   It's the first in this year's Holiday Parenting Survival Guide... Key links at weturnedoutokay.com/202. 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

In today's episode with 3-time returning champion Janine Halloran, the conversation goes in all kinds of useful directions, many of which I did not see coming! Listen to learn more about: – Big Feelings, the ones Janine says "feel like you can't contain them in your body" – How to stop engaging in the all-too-common and dangerous parenting ploy, "positively invalidating" our kids' feelings – Whether your young child is lucky, or unlucky, in the expression of feelings (and the HUGE difference this can make in a child's life) The Handle the Holidays FREE 5-Day Challenge, designed to help you cut through the BS and really enjoy this time of year, starts in just over a week! With daily emails that will give you a series of quick wins beamed into your inbox each day of the challenge, and a Facebook live in our private We Turned Out Okay Facebook group on the last day (Friday, December 22, 2017), you'll have a whole new outlook on how to really enjoy these last days of 2017! Click here to participate in one of WTOO's favorite listener rituals – the challenge – and feel better about the holidays at the same time! Key links at weturnedoutokay.com/201 – 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