Art Creativity & Wellbeing

Today's guests, Annemarie Kelly-Harbaugh and Ken Harbaugh, did some pretty amazing stuff before they became parents. She helped troubled young people in a program that functioned mainly way out in the woods, he was a naval officer who flew reconnaissance missions and responded to disasters here at home and internationally. They had each encountered their fair share of storms, which helped them prepare for the challenges of parenthood. Just like all of us, Ken and Annemarie have seen some storms in parenting; what's cool about them is that they don't just ride out the storms – they learn from them. In fact, they've written a book – Here Be Dragons: A Parent's Guide to Rediscovering Purpose, Adventure, and the Unfathomable Joy of The Journey – and are on the show today sharing some of their best lessons with us. I'm excited to bring you today's episode this week especially, because Thanksgiving comes up in our conversation. And so does so much else. Click weturnedoutokay.com/119 for full show notes and key links, including those to Annemarie and Ken's awesome blog and book! 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

When Ninja Parenting Community member Melissa shared about the anxiety that her kids can feel in new situations – as well as that she herself experiences this anxiety – I knew this was going to be a great Your Child Explained episode. Who among us has not felt anxiety in new situations? It's so easy for kids to feed off of our worries. I hope you learn lots as Melissa opens up about the toughest parts of the family's day, feeling overwhelmed, and lots more that you will totally identify with – I know I did. Click weturnedoutokay.com/118 for my recommendations and key links! 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

The gist of this show is, we take care of each other. It's going to be okay. This morning I woke up to pandemonium, with Canadian loved ones seriously offering their homes… Some of the calmest people that I know terrified and freaking out… My Facebook feed – like yours, I'm sure – filled with tears and panic. Because half the country was pro--her, and the other half of the country pro-him, we were all going to know some people who hate and fear the results of yesterday's presidential election. What resonated with me most: parents asking "how do I tell my kids about this?" Here's how I talked to my boys this morning: I posted a quote to ponder. In the recent Boston Globe Magazine Women & Power issue, Axcelis Technologies CEO Mary G. Puma was asked how she handles crisis. She responded that a mentor of hers used to say (here comes the quote): "Never waste a good crisis." Meaning: how can we move forward? I wanted this episode to use today's "good crisis" as a catalyst, to help us all bring our kids through tough stuff. So, I got in here a little earlier than usual in hopes of making you feel better if you are, shall we say, not your usual calm self. Click weturnedoutokay.com/117 to read about the three ways you can help your kids, and talk to them about this election! 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

What worries you about technology and your kids? Is it online predators? Cyber bullying? The idea that they'll disappear into their little devices and you'll never see them again? My guest today, Devorah Heitner, is an expert at helping us understand technology and our kids – and ourselves. Because like it or not, we are raising digital natives; we need to get this right! Devorah has appeared on the Today show, NPR, the Discovery Education Channel; she's been featured in Time magazine and Real Simple. Most recently, she's written Screenwise, a book about raising kids in this digital age, highly recommended! Today – election day if you're listening in real time – Devorah is on the show to help us understand both raising kids in our digital world, and how to teach civility in this era of utterly uncivil political/public discourse. To read more about my conversation with Devorah, view her amazing TED-X talk, and to listen to our conversation, go to weturnedoutokay.com/116!   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 the final chapter in our three-part series (click here for Part 1 about good sleep, and here for Part 2 about the antidote to anxiety), The Modern Parent's Guide to Surviving This Election Cycle, I share about how you can become as educated as possible on the candidates… Because knowledge IS power. I'll be voting a week from today – I share in this episode about why voting at all is so important to me, having only been able to vote in the last three presidential elections – and I hope you will vote too. In this series, I'm also working really hard to be completely unbiased… I don't care WHO you vote for. I just care that you go in with good information and actually vote. Click weturnedoutokay.com/115 for notes and links to the unbiased websites I worked so hard to find for you (we stay well away from the candidates' own sites, as well as any site that hints at bias); get informed and then please go vote! 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 past Tuesday, my conversation with mom and broadcast journalist Cheryl Tan ranged among many important topics, including how to talk to our kids about current events and tough stuff, and how to feel better about this election. (Go to weturnedoutokay.com/113 for my conversation with Cheryl.) One aspect of our talk resonated with me as a great subject to dive into in a Your Child Explained episode: a family schedule that works for everybody. Click weturnedoutokay.com/114 for notes from this episode on why creating a great family schedule is so important, and for key links! 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

I knew I wanted to speak with a journalist regarding next month's presidential election, so I was thrilled when today's guest, veteran TV reporter/anchor Cheryl Tan, agreed to come on the show! Cheryl has appeared on CNN and Fox News, and currently hosts her own entrepreneurial TV show, Hampton Roads Business Weekly, the Standout podcast, and teaches entrepreneurs how to connect with journalists in her online community, PR Pro. Speaking with Cheryl helped me realize that "the mainstream media" – feared by some, considered distant by others – is made up of real people. They are sons and daughters, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and like Cheryl they want to tell people's stories. In today's episode Cheryl shares about the crazy schedule-juggling that two married journalists go through while raising three boys, how to talk to kids about current events, and Cheryl shares advice that she's not sure you'll love, but nevertheless is her best idea for parents of young children… Click weturnedoutokay.com/113 for notes in key links on today's episode! 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

Here are the top 2 reasons to listen to today's episode: 1) With all the fear in the air right now, you might benefit from a story about becoming fearless – so, here it is! I told this hilarious and inspiring story last week, about becoming fearless while sitting in front of my mom's sewing machine as a young woman, and it took second place in the Massmouth Story Slam competition! I'm semifinals bound, and super excited : ) (My 4 1/2-minute story is, shall we say, not expletive-free… Grab some headphones or listen away from your kids. I hope you enjoy it!) 2) Speaking of fear, according to this article last week at Vox.com, 55% of voters were "disgusted" with the campaign… back in September. I'm betting that that number has gone up a bit as this election has changed from PG to R-rated. And if we are that freaked out – how are our kids? When our fear and upset level goes up, so does theirs. You can make both you and your kids feel better by coming to my FREE online class tonight: How to Parent Young Children in this Mixed-up, Crazy World I'll teach you how to: – Coach your kids through the election insanity – Help them feel less anxious – Lessen your own anxiety You can make "Everybody Sucks 2016" a little better for yourself and your kids – Go to weturnedoutokay.com and sign up for tonight's class! I can help you help your kids through the election craziness, tonight at 7 PM Eastern standard Time. See you in class! 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

According to this article last week at Vox.com, 55% of voters were "disgusted" with the campaign… back in September. I'm betting that that number has gone up a bit as this election has changed from PG to R-rated. And if we are that freaked out – how are our kids? When our fear and upset level goes up, so does theirs. You can make both you and your kids feel better by coming to my FREE online class: How to Parent Young Children in this Mixed-up, Crazy World I'll teach you how to: – Coach your kids through the election insanity – Help them feel less anxious – Lessen your own anxiety You can make "Everybody Sucks 2016" a little better for yourself and your kids – Go to weturnedoutokay.com and sign up for the October 20 (this coming Thursday) class! I can help you help your kids through the election craziness, Thursday October 20 at 7 PM Eastern standard Time. See you in class! 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

I start out today by speaking a little bit more about homework for young kids and the remarks that American Academy of Pediatrics president Dr. Benard Dreyer made regarding this in episode 107. After hearing episode 106 (the homework backlash episode), a mom got in touch with me to share about the heaps of homework her first grader receives each night, and the fact that three missed homework assignments earns this six-year-old after school detention. After school detention! For a six-year-old! I really hope that listening to Dr. Dreyer's words on homework is helpful for everyone, but especially for those of you whose kids are stuck in a really crummy homework situation. This past Tuesday in episode 110, my guest, former assistant secretary of Homeland Security and creator of book and podcast Security Mom, Juliette Kayyem, shared many great ideas for helping us feel safer amidst the contentious election and toxic fall vibes. Today I expand on her comment that if we are calm, our kids will be calm as well – but if we freak out, they'll freak out too. We look at security through our kids' eyes, discussing why they react that way and figuring out how to alleviate their anxieties. Click weturnedoutokay.com/111 for notes, a hilarious and wonderful – and, I promise, relevant to today's show – YouTube clip of the Muppets, and to listen! 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