Connected Families Podcast

Photo by Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash Grandparents, we have something specifically for you today!  (If you’re a parent, listen and then consider sharing this episode with a grandparent in your life.) You long to build more connection into your relationships with your grandchildren or to be more supportive of your adult children as they learn to parent.  The Connected Families Framework can help you build connection and be the supportive grandparent you long to be.    In today’s episode, two Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches, Cindy Stonestreet (Grandmother and CRNA) and Dijea Young (Grandmother and homeschool mentor), join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for an encouraging conversation. Cindy and Dijea share their hearts about the powerful impact the Connected Families Framework has had in their daily interactions with their grandchildren.   In this podcast, you’ll discover: it’s never too late to change your approach to discipline practical ways to infuse the interactions with both your adult children and grandchildren with safety, connection, and unconditional love   how you can respond to your grandchild’s meltdown or defiance with a fresh approach examples of how you can support and respect your adult children in their parenting  We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families Framework  Connected Families Parent Coaching Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program Request a meeting with Connected Families Executive Director, Anna Braasch Give a year-end gift to Connected Families Guest Bios:  Cindy Stonestreet is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and grandmother of five lively grandchildren.  She has worked as a registered nurse for 39 years: 18 years in the NICU and 15 years as a CRNA at Women and Children’s Hospital.  She seeks to guide parents and grandparents to develop skills and wisdom in their children and grandchildren. Dijea Young has served children and families most of her adult life as a credentialed teacher, homeschool accrediting consultant, and now as a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach.  For 29 years, she home-educated her own 8 children and now enjoys her ever-growing number of grandchildren…Number 10 is expected any day! Spread the “aha” moments of grace Connected Families relies on your generosity so more families can experience “aha” moments of grace. DONATE & MAKE CHANGE TODAY!

Are you looking forward to celebrating Christmas with family but dreading unsolicited advice from well-meaning relatives?  You are not alone.  Changes in your daily routines, travel, lack of sleep, and large gatherings set the stage for parenting challenges.  Sometimes these difficult situations may be scrutinized by other adults in your family. This may lead to comments or questions that don’t feel supportive.  Navigating family gatherings can be tricky! On today’s podcast, Chad Hayenga (Director of Education & Equipping) and Jenna Williams (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about navigating the holidays with relatives.  Specifically, how you can respond when grandparents or other family members criticize you (or your children).  Role-playing possible scenarios, Jenna and Chad bring humor and practical wisdom to you just in time for holiday gatherings. In this podcast, you’ll discover: proactive strategies to intentionally prepare your family for upcoming gatherings, including evaluating your own expectations, having conversations with your children, and even having conversations with grandparents about their expectations roleplays to help you navigate criticism, unhelpful comments, or harsh discipline by grandparents or other relatives that you can model humility and the value of connection to your parents and kids during holiday gatherings and difficult situations We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families Parent Coaching Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program Connected Families Framework Unsolicited Advice? 4 Ways to Respond (Connected Families PDF) Guest Bio: Jenna Williams and her husband, Sam, have been married for ten years. They live in Colorado Springs, CO, and have three amazing children ages 3-7.  Jenna is a registered nurse by trade and works in a postpartum unit.  She is also a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and loves caring for and supporting families! Connected Families has been a true blessing for her and her family, and she is excited to share that blessing with others.  You can find her on Instagram: jennawilliams0411. Spread the “aha” moments of grace Connected Families relies on your generosity so more families can experience “aha” moments of grace. DONATE & MAKE CHANGE TODAY! Related PostsHealthy Conflict Resolution in Adult RelationshipsHow to Handle Unsolicited Parenting Advice from Family (4 Grace-Filled Tips)How to Stop Attention-Seeking Behavior Before It Starts

Today’s podcast is part two of a series on how the gospel informs the Connected Families Framework.  Part one explored the gospel in the first three layers of the Framework. Today’s conversation will unpack how the gospel is woven into the final level of the Framework: Correct: “You are RESPONSIBLE for your actions.”  Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Connected Families Co-Founders Jim and Lynne Jackson for a conversation that is rich with scripture and reflection. Together, they dig into the true goal of discipline as you seek to correct your children when they misbehave. In this podcast you’ll discover: how your approach to correction can have a powerful impact in-the-moment, and a lasting impact on your child’s openness to the Holy Spirit and discipleship to Christ ideas for modeling restoration and reconciliation in your home how the fruit of the Spirit can guide you to gently restore your child ways you can set the example of humility for your family that correction is ultimately about you becoming more like Jesus in a way that attracts your child to a life with Jesus We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! The Gospel in Our Parenting, Part 1 | Ep. 107 Check out the first part of this podcast where we dig into how The Gospel informs the first three levels of the Framework. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN Mentioned in this podcast: The Gospel In Our Parenting, Part 1 – Episode 107 Sensitive & Intense Kids online course (Coming Soon!) Donate to Connected Families Request a meeting with CF Executive Director Romans 6:23 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Galatians 6:1 Galatians 5:22-23 (Fruit of the Spirit) Hebrews 12:11 Matthew 5:23-24 Matthew 18 Acts 3:19 2 Corinthians 7:1 Learn more about the Framework Want to dig deeper into Connected Families’ Parenting Framework? Get our FREE ebook, What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity. Related PostsLegalism vs Grace: How to Let Go of Perfectionism & Grab Hold of GraceMy Child Doesn’t Care About ConsequencesThe Gospel in Our Parenting, Part 1 | Ep. 107

As 2022 winds down and we head into the holiday season, we have so much to be grateful for.   You’ve probably heard about the benefits of practicing gratitude, but do you know what goes on inside of your body when you experience gratitude?  The brain science and physiological impacts are fascinating.  So what exactly IS the impact of gratitude on the brain? In today’s episode, Dr. Troy Spurrill, DC (Founder & CEO, Synapse Center for Health & Healing) joins Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss the positive impact that practicing gratitude can have on families. Dr. Troy draws on his experiences as a scientist, father, and follower of Jesus to explain how gratitude impacts your heart and health.    In this podcast you’ll discover: how giving and receiving gratitude build your brain the chemical difference between intentional gratitude and quick, robotic expressions the powerful connection between receiving God’s grace and gratitude aspects of daily life that block our ability to express and receive gratitude practical solutions to support kids (or adults) experiencing anxiety or despair  We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families 20th Anniversary Celebration Video Sensitive & Intense Kids: Navigating Challenges with Purpose & Hope (coming soon!) Synapse Center for Health & Healing 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Join the Connected Families Donor Team  Guest Bio:  Dr. Troy Spurrill is the founder and CEO of Synapse Center for Health and Healing. He started Synapse over 26 years ago with a vision to bring an integrative approach to healthcare through functional medicine, making Synapse an internationally known center for true health. He received a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from the University of Manitoba, and a Doctorate of Chiropractic from Northwestern Health Sciences University. He has extensive training in Functional Neurology, Nutrition, and Applied Kinesiology. Dr. Troy is an author and international lecturer on wellness and brain-based healing. Dr. Troy and his wife Christine have 10 children together. When he’s not at the clinic, Dr. Troy enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and attending sporting events. Spread the “aha” moments of grace Connected Families relies on your generosity so more families can experience “aha” moments of grace. DONATE & MAKE CHANGE TODAY! Related PostsGive Your Family a THANKS-filled ThanksgivingQuestions to Put the THANKS Back in ThanksgivingThanksgiving GreetingsThe 3 Most Important (and Most Overlooked) Reasons to Be Thankful to God

Before you had children you may have held idealistic visions of what family life and parenting would be like someday.  For some parents, as their hopes and expectations meet the realities of daily life, they begin to feel disillusioned. Insecurities and anxiety around parenting may surface, and they may ask, “Am I enough? Am I the right parent for this child?” In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Taylor Irby (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) for a conversation exploring how to move past our own expectations and into the security God has for us as parents.  Both Stacy and Taylor have children through birth as well as adoption.  In this podcast you’ll discover: messages you can use to challenge insecurities you experience in parenting ways control can show up in your behavior toward yourself and your children steps to help you move from anxiety and control to Truth in the moment what happens in our minds, hearts, and behavior when we trust that God is taking care of us We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Episode 98 – Can you parent well when you’re anxious – Guest Taylor Irby  Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Connected Families Framework Sensitive & Intense Kids online course (Coming soon!) Slow, low, and listen  Romans 5:8 Guest Bio:  Taylor Irby is a mother to 5 kids, and she understands the struggles parents face. Every day she faces ADHD, autism, anxiety, developmental delays, and adoption trauma. She too has sat in the trenches and searched the world for answers. Taylor read book after book and got excited over methods that were short-lived. That is when she hit the wall of desperation and sought parent coaching through Connected Families. Taylor ultimately became a coach through their training program to help others like her. She has seen transformation in her home through working with a framework that not only has changed her children’s behavior but their hearts as well. You are not alone on this parenting journey. There is hope and you can enjoy your children, build that relationship you have wanted and see behavior change. You can learn more about Taylor at taylorirbycoaching.com, and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/taylor.irby.5 and Instagram @taylorirbycoaching 

If you’re here, your parenting goal is likely to have a connected family. But what do you do when you have a child who is pulling away from you? A child who does not seem to want connection?  Feelings of disconnection from a child can be painful and challenging for a parent. Even in the most “connected” families, this can happen. You are not alone.  In today’s podcast, Chad Hayenga (Connected Families Director of Education & Equipping), and Jim Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) have a conversation about pursuing kids who push away. They share stories from their own parenting journey as they explore practical ideas to pursue a child when connection feels out of reach.   In this podcast you’ll discover: possible reasons why a child may push awayhow a parent’s beliefs and thoughts may influence what’s going on simple questions that can create opportunities for connectionhow to become a student of your child and let them guide you towards connection We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: My Child Wants Nothing To Do With Me. Is There Hope?Matthew 12:342 Corinthians 10:5Ephesians 1Ephesians 2Colossians 3Donate to Connected FamiliesConnected Families Parent Coaching Less arguing. More wisdom. That’s what you get with the Power of Questions online course. $35 LEARN MORE

Prayer is a meaningful faith practice that you probably want to pass on to your kids, but teaching your kids to pray may feel overwhelming. You may feel unsure how to answer your kid’s questions about prayer or how to incorporate regular prayer times with them into your daily life. In today’s podcast, Stephanie Thurling (author and co-founder of Raising Prayerful Kids) joins Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to talk about teaching children to pray in meaningful ways.  Stephanie’s experience working with youth and families inspired her to start her ministry equipping parents to pray with their children.   In this podcast you’ll discover: practical tools you can use for how to pray with your child how to create moments of connection through blessing prayersways to use the Bible to guide prayer with your kidscommon pitfalls parents experience when they try to teach their kids to pray (and what to do about them!) We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families Parenting Strengths AssessmentLectio DivinaRaising Prayerful Kids BookRaising Prayerful Kids Ministry Guest Bio:  Steph Thurling is co-founder of Raising Prayerful Kids, a ministry that equips parents to pray with their kids in meaningful ways. She has her master’s degree in youth, family, and culture from Fuller Theological Seminary and worked in youth ministry for several years before deciding to stay home with her kids. Does your child need help calming down? Would a free course presenting you 7 sensory strategies to calm your child be useful? If yes, take our FREE online course 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids. TELL ME MORE

Your child is done with school (or preschool) for the day and instead of relaxing, you’re now navigating meltdown after meltdown.  Why do the strategies that worked with one child fall flat with another?  Do you find yourself wondering, “Will it always be this way?” In today’s podcast, Lynne Jackson (Occupational Therapist and Connected Families Co-Founder), and Amy Nyvall (seasoned mom and past coaching client) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to share ideas on how daily sensory rhythms can bring down the chaos and cultivate more peace in your home.  Through Amy’s story, you’ll learn how daily rhythms that incorporate sensory activities will often help your child avoid meltdowns and reestablish calm in moments of chaos. In this podcast you’ll discover: how to find calm and clarity as a parent to guide your family to take the next step ideas to schedule your day to create a culture of peace in your home ideas to help equip your family through the challenges of mornings, dinner time, and quiet time activities to try when everybody feels off (one even includes chocolate!) We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – Coming Early 2023! 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids-FREE online course (this includes the video of Amy’s husband doing the burrito roll with kids) Guest Bio:  Amy and her husband Andrew have been married for 16 years and live among the fir trees outside Portland, Oregon. They enjoy outdoor adventures as much as possible and have a blast homeschooling their three intensely creative, adventurous, and active children. In her spare time, you’ll find Amy encouraging moms and homeschoolers, learning alongside the kids, or slipping away to read from a stack of her own books. Amy is passionate about creating a family culture that equips our children to be prepared to serve the Lord in the days ahead. Take the course that was made for your family. Got a child with extra big emotions? We get it. And we want to support and equip you. Raising an intense and sensitive child isn’t easy, but it can be filled with hope. LEARN MORE

Do you sometimes struggle to think of an appropriate consequence for your child’s misbehavior?  Or dole out punishment only to have your child refuse to accept the punishment? Sigh.  Offering consistent and effective discipline can feel like an ongoing and overwhelming challenge.  In today’s episode, Chad Hayenga (Connected Families Director of Education & Equipping), and Katie Wetsell (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss what effective discipline can look like. (It IS possible!) The conversation explores the messages we send through discipline and how to coach children to be responsible for their actions. In this podcast you’ll discover: 3 key questions to ask in any discipline situationhow to work with your child as a team for more effective disciplinethe opportunity in discipline to offer and receive God’s grace and forgivenesshow to help your child see the natural impacts of their behaviorhow to guide your child to “make it right” how “paused privileges” can help motivate a child  We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart online course registration Connected Families Parent Coach CertificationConnected Families Parent CoachingConnected Families PodcastGalatians 6:7  Guest Bio:  Katie Wetsell is our Discipline That Connects online course moderator. She is also a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, pediatric nurse, and mom of four through birth and adoption. She is passionate about encouraging and empowering parents to love their families with confidence and connection. Building on her bedside experience, she has also been trained in SPACE treatment (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to help parents support their children in overcoming anxiety. Her website is www.parentwithhope.org. You can help your child with their anger. Learn how to break the addictive anger cycle. Get the FREE ebook, Helping Kids With Anger.

In today’s episode, Corrie and Alan Thetford (founders of Building Wise Families and Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss how to help our children want to calm down when they are experiencing big emotions. The conversation explores what’s going on in us as parents when we try to make our child calm down, the role of empathy in supporting our child’s big emotions, and what’s going on beneath the surface of our child’s big outburst.   In this podcast, you’ll discover: what’s happening in your child’s brain and body that makes them not want to calm downhow your good intentions to make your child stop or take a break during a meltdown can actually escalate emotionsempathy’s role in helping your child feel understood and able to move through big emotions so they want to calmwhy something small is often the trigger for your child’s cascade of emotion We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart online course  Connected Families Parent CoachingConnected Families Coaching Certification programCorrie & Alan Thetford’s Podcast – Building Wise Families Guest Bio:  Alan and Corrie have four children and are Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches as well as instructors for CF coaches-in-training. They are passionate about multiplying the gospel by helping families transform power struggles and conflicts into opportunities for gospel messages.   You can help your child with their anger. Learn how to break the addictive anger cycle. Get the FREE ebook, Helping Kids With Anger.