Art Creativity & Wellbeing

Lots of things can happen over the course of a day to make us all feel anxious…How does your child handle anxiety?  Today licensed mental health counselor, play expert, and mom-to-2 Janine Halloran gives us some wonderful – and very specific – tools to help our kids handle stress. True to the nature of We Turned Out Okay, my hour-long conversation with Janine covers lots more than this! Janine and her family are spending the year in California, clear across the country from their home in Massachusetts; we talk about how and why the Hallorans took on this move. We also dig into the concept of fidgets, devices to help people concentrate better – and this podcaster realizes that fidgets are more of a thing – in her own life – then she realized. To read about Janine's stress-busting advice, get links to some great books about play and her websites on encouraging play and teaching children coping skills, and to listen to the show click weturnedoutokay.com/137! 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 a podcaster who helps you advocate better for your young children, I meet and hear from an awful lot of you who are… Unhappy. Stuck. Sinking under all your worries and fears for your children – and awfully hard on yourselves. In January I did two episodes about goal-setting and affirmations, and I shared about one particular life-changing exercise I've done every night for more than a year: speaking to myself in the mirror. That idea resonated with a lot of you – but you had a hard time imagining how to begin, or even believing you could really speak to yourself in your own mirror. So I've created a free, 10-Day challenge… I called it The Friendly Mirror because I do hope that, by the end of the challenge, you'll be doing this exercise too. Maybe you think that self-acceptance and self-forgiveness are fine for other people, but not for you (I know I used to feel this way.) I work with a lot of moms and dads who struggle with this – and the struggle 100% affects their parenting, and thus their kids. If you need a kick in the pants – or a guide into the world of not scowling in the mirror – then sign up for my free Friendly Mirror 10-day challenge! The Challenge will be conducted via video modules and a live interactive training session; specifically, each day for 10 days you'll get the latest video module, sometimes with a mini-assignment to complete if you choose. We'll wrap up with a live training session to answer your questions and work on keeping our great momentum going... Click here to sign up! Or – click here to go to the private Facebook group I've set up for our challenge. Or, click here to sign up for the challenge on the post for this special announcement. I really hope you'll join the challenge! 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 think that self-acceptance and self-forgiveness are fine for other people, but not for you (I know I used to feel this way.) I work with a lot of moms and dads who struggle with this – and the struggle 100% affects their parenting, and thus their kids. If you need a kick in the pants – or a guide into the world of not scowling in the mirror – then sign up for my free Friendly Mirror 10-day challenge! The Challenge will be conducted via video modules and a live interactive training session; specifically, each day for 10 days you'll get the latest video module, sometimes with a mini-assignment to complete if you choose. We'll wrap up with a live training session to answer your questions and work on keeping our great momentum going... Click here to sign up! The idea of goals is really resonating with y'all right now, judging from my inbox, Facebook page, and podcast download statistics… Today we spend a little bit more time on this track, when I extend on listener Eri's question about how the ability to accept and forgive ourselves impacts our children. Each night for a little over a year, I have had a very specific conversation. In the mirror, with myself. Today I teach you exactly how to have that conversation – and why it's so important. For key links including to the books I reference in today's episode, for written directions to the nightly mirror conversation, and to listen go to https://weturnedoutokay.com/136! 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

Remember a few weeks ago, when I got emotional about talking to myself in the mirror every night? (Listen to that episode, We Turned Out Okay's second annual goal-setting episode, by clicking here.)   If you struggle with self-acceptance and self-forgiveness – and if you also want to be a better example for your child – click this link to listen to today's episode! You can read the full text of listener Eri's question about how her struggle with self-acceptance could negatively impact her 14-month-old daughter – as well as watch my new favorite YouTube video in which a preschool-age girl stands on her bathroom vanity and cheerfully shouts affirmations for herself in the mirror – and sign up for tonight's live FAQ about the Ninja Parenting Community by clicking this link: https://weturnedoutokay.com/135 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

Diving into the archives of We Turned Out Okay, and finding wonderful shows like this one which you may not have heard before (and will get something out of even if you have heard it already), seems like a fitting start to a new year. My guest today, Gift of Failure author Jessica Lahey, has helped me in so many ways: to be a better mom, to forgive myself when I screw up, to take the long view on mistakes, thinking not so much about epic fails but instead asking myself "how do I learn from this?" (Jess is also 1/2 of the #amwriting with Jess and KJ duo; click here to check out one of my favorite podcasts, and great if you have any interest in writing or creating!) I know you'll learn a lot from our conversation today, thanks for tuning in! Today's show is brought to you by the Ninja Parenting Community: If you like what you hear on We Turned Out Okay, but you feel like it's not quite enough… If you want more personal help and advice from me… The Ninja Parenting Community is the place for you to get that help! – We've got classes, like Sanity With Kids, to help you simultaneously raise your children and retain your sanity – Parent-Coaching calls: one "starter" call for monthly members and one each quarter for annual members – Forums where I personally help and advise members – and where we all support each other Now is the perfect time to join, because you get beta pricing and it's really built out to help you most. This coming Friday the cost will double when we leave beta, so click this link to see what it's all about! Want a closer look PLUS a free copy of Positive Discipline Ninja Tactics, the book I wrote to help you handle everything your child can throw at you? Come to the live NPC FAQ Q&A! This coming Thursday night, February 2, at 8 PM EST you can: – look inside the community – listen as I address lots of frequently asked questions – ask your questions! And just for showing up at the Q&A you'll receive a free copy of Positive Discipline Ninja Tactics! Up until now the book has only been available in Amazon – get it for free at the Q&A : ) To sign up for the NPC FAQ Q&A – and for notes to today's show, go to weturnedoutokay.com/134! 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

Just about a year ago, on the Flipped Lifestyle podcast, co-host Shane Sams asked me if what I do here at We Turned Out Okay is to teach people how to combat their kids' "evil Jedi mind tricks" – which I thought was such a great definition! In the last few weeks my family and I saw and loved Rogue 1, and also mourned the loss of Carrie Fisher; it seems fitting to talk about all that with you today, sharing two great ways to combat your child's Jedi mind tricks. Want a free copy of Positive Discipline Ninja Tactics, the book I wrote to help you handle everything your child can throw at you? Come to the live NPC FAQ Q&A! This coming Thursday night, February 2, at 8 PM EST you can: – look inside the Ninja Parenting Community – listen as I address lots of frequently asked questions – ask your questions! And just for showing up at the Q&A you'll receive a free copy of Positive Discipline Ninja Tactics! Up until now the book has only been available in Amazon – get it for free at the Q&A : ) To sign up for the NPC FAQ Q&A – and for notes to today's show, go to weturnedoutokay.com/133! 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 show asks the question: how can I help you go to bat for your child? It's easier to think about standing up for our children that it is, oftentimes, for us to stand up for ourselves. But sometimes – especially when an authority figure like a doctor or a teacher is doing the pushing – it can be hard to know how to stand up for our children. Today's show is brought to you by the Ninja Parenting Community: Are you raising little kids and feeling overwhelmed? Could you use some accountability and support? Join us inside our membership community to get access to: – courses, like the one I just finished up, called Sanity With Kids, helping you stay sane while simultaneously raising children – live, members-only calls – direct feedback on how to get through your toughest challenges – the support of a community where were all working to worry less and enjoy more while raising kids! We leave beta very soon, because the community is really built out now with course offerings and great forums, so get in before the price goes up! Click this link or go to weturnedoutokay.com/ninja-parenting-community-login to get all the details – Click weturnedoutokay.com/132 for lots of links, and enjoy today's show! 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

Diving into the archives of We Turned Out Okay, and finding wonderful shows like this one which you may not have heard before (and will get something out of even if you have heard it already), seems like a fitting start to a new year. Today's guest, along with his wife and children, have been special people in my family's life ever since we had the excellent luck of moving in across the street from them more than a decade ago. We've watched Steve Mirando and his wife Sue support each other through a lot – having children, figuring out work-life challenges, Steve's going to full-time school for acupuncture and then hanging out his shingle as a practicing acupuncturist… many of these all happening at the same time! I know you'll learn a lot from our conversation today, thanks for tuning in! Today's show is brought to you by the Ninja Parenting Community: Are you raising little kids and feeling overwhelmed? Could you use some accountability and support? Join us inside our membership community to get access to: – courses, like the one I just finished up, called Sanity With Kids, helping you stay sane while simultaneously raising children – live, members-only calls – direct feedback on how to get through your toughest challenges – the support of a community where were all working to worry less and enjoy more while raising kids! We leave beta very soon, because the community is really built out now with course offerings and great forums, so get in before the price goes up! Click this link or go to weturnedoutokay.com/ninja-parenting-community-login to get all the details – And for notes to today's show, go to weturnedoutokay.com/131! 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 early in the new year, everyone is thinking about resolutions and how to keep them; today, I'm asking you to think a little bit differently about resolutions – in fact, I'm asking you to not even use the word "resolution!" I prefer the shorter, less-charged "goals." Goals can be short-term, medium-term, or long… And the goals we choose for ourselves today don't just help us; the goals we choose and start working toward today help our children as well. In our second-annual show about goals, I share mine, I share how I did with last year's, and I ask you to share yours with me! (Which you can do by going to weturnedoutokay.com/contact.) Today's show is brought to you by the Ninja Parenting Community… If you're raising little kids and feeling overwhelmed; if you could use some accountability and support – Join us inside our membership community, and get access to: – courses like the one I just finished up, Sanity With Kids – live, members-only calls – direct feedback on how to get through your toughest challenges – the support of a community where we're all working to worry less and enjoy more while raising our kids – beta pricing – but only for a little while… we leave beta very soon, so you want to get in before the price goes up! Click here to check out Ninja Parenting Community, I hope to see you in the forums! To read my goal setting report card, and for key links I talk about in this episode (including to the awesome podcast #amwriting with Jess and KJ, and last year's goalsetting episode), click weturnedoutokay.com/130! 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 our first Your Child Explained episode of the new year, listener Jennifer asks: "When my boys says, "that's for boys" or "girls can't do that," is there more I could do than simply replying "you know, girls can do everything boys can do…" The short answer: yes, there is lots more we can do to foster the gender identities of our sons and daughters. Go to weturnedoutokay.com/129 for show notes and key links from this episode! Also - are you feeling overwhelmed in your parenting? Check out the Ninja Parenting Community, for expert advice about how to handle anything your kids throw at you! We've got training courses – like the Sanity With Kids course, about staying sane even while raising kids – exclusive members-only calls, vibrant forums, and lots of ways to feel better. Click here to check out the community, I hope to see you in the forums! 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