Simple Families Podcast: Parenting | Simple Living | Minimalism | Purposeful Life With Kids + Family

It's Back-to-School season and today we are talking about about contentment--as it relates to our children's educational experience. I'm joined by Niro Feliciano (Author, Psychotherapist, National Media Commentator and Mom of 4). In this episode Niro and I discuss monitoring our own expectations and reactivity, in addition to that of our children. Links from this Episode Niro’s Website This Book Won’t Make You Happy: Eight Keys to Finding True Contentment All Things Life with Niro Podcast SPONSORS KiwiCo: To build curiosity and fun, go to kiwico.com/simple to get 50% off your first month, plus free shipping. PrepDish: Meal planning made easy, go to prepdish.com/families for your first two weeks free.

Let go of the pressure to be the perfect parent and start to embrace the teachable moments that you are (accidentally) creating. In this episode we are flipping around some common summer #momfails. As parents, we are far from perfect. On the bright side, our mistakes often create opportunities for our kids to grow.

At the heart of being an intentional parent is striving to calm our own reactivity. Reactivity...we all experience it. Hunter Clarke-Fields, author and podcaster, joins me today to discuss this topic. Links from this Episode: Hunter's Podcast - Mindful Mama Mentor Hunter's Books - Raising Good Humans // Raising Good Humans Everyday First episode with Hunter on Simple Families Podcast SPONSOR: Go to EARTHBREEZE.com/simple to get started with 40% off

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Matthew Lederman, a physician and wellness expert that you might know from Forks Over Knives. His most recent book, Wellness to Wonderful (together with partner, Alona Pulde) goes into greater depth to explain how connection is has a profound impact on mental and physical wellness. That's our topic today: the intersection of connection + wellness.

Time management can feel challenging for both children and adults alike. Today, I'm discussing some tools and strategies to start intentionally handing over this responsibility to our children. My favorite kid-friendly analog clock Photo of our working clock depicting the morning routine Sarah Ward talks about her 'Working Clock' Concept

Today we're talking all about exposure: exposing our kids, and ourselves, to current events, different cultures and different parenting styles. With unlimited access in today's world, children and adults have more exposure than ever, which has its benefits and of course...risks. Links from the episode Leslie Cohen-Rubury's website: Home Is My Child a Monster? Podcast Sponsors Fast Growing Trees: Receive 15% off your entire order on fastgrowingtrees.com/simple. Storyworth: Perfect Father's Day or any day gift at storyworth.com/simple. Get $10 off your first purchase for a limited time. Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code 'Simple' to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics or Just Calm.

Today I’m sharing my best relationship tool. It’s called expansion and contraction. Expansion and contraction is a simple way to find the rhythm in your family. In fact, it’s probably something you do all the time without even noticing. However, once you bring it to your awareness you will be able to use it with more intention. You’ll find your days flow more smoothly and you view your relationships more positively. In this episode, I’m going to tell you how to use it as a mindset switch and as a tool to manage behavior.  Sponsors Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code 'Simple' to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics or Just Calm

Creating a more engaging home environment for our children can be difficult given the mounting sources competing for their attention. It take intentionality and hard work. Our guest Erin Loechner discusses how we can make some changes in our own lives, and our own screen-time use to foster a positive change in the lives of our kids. Links from the episode Erin Loechner's Website: Designed for Mankind Simple Families Podcast Episode 302: Analog Curious I Simple Families Podcast Episode 303: Analog Curious II Sponsors Storyworth: Perfect Father's Day or any day gift at storyworth.com/simple. Get $10 off your first purchase. Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code 'Simple' to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics or Just Calm. KiwiCo: To build curiosity and fun, go to kiwico.com/simple to get 50% off your first month, plus free shipping.

"It's not fair!" is a statement uttered by most children pretty early and often. Let's delve into defining the difference between 'fair' and 'equal' and try to understand why children's brain can not yet distinguish between the two. Links from the episode Simple Families Podcast Episode 219: Absolute Thinking Sponsors Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code SIMPLE to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics and Just Calm.

In continuing my quest to find a balance in my own use of digital technology, I found the book Rewired: Protecting your brain in the digital age. The author, Dr. Carl Marci, reviews mounting evidence that overuse of smart phones and social media is rewiring our brains. Links from the episode Dr. Marci's book: Rewired: Protecting your brain in the digital age Simple Families Podcast Episode 344: Addictive Technology ft. Gaia Bernstein Simple Families Podcast Episode 302: Analog Curious I Simple Families Podcast Episode 303: Analog Curious II Sponsors Fast Growing Trees: Receive 15% off your entire order on fastgrowingtrees.com/simple. Just Thrive Health: Visit justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code 'Simple' to receive 20% off a 90-day supply of Just Thrive Probiotics or Just Calm.

There's a lot of buzz about gut health and probiotics--but it can feel overwhelming to digest it all (no pun intended). In fact, years ago, I remember standing in the supplemental aisle at the grocery store wondering which probiotic I should buy. Do I get the refrigerated ones, the chewable...or maybe the gummies for the kids? Today, we are exploring all things gut health with Tina Anderson, the Co-Founder of Just Thrive Probiotics. Get 20% off the 90-day supply of Just Thrive probiotics. Go to Justthrivehealth.com and use the promo code "Simple."

I favor a positive parenting approach, so I don't use a lot of rewards and punishments in our house. However, there are times when these methods can be useful and I want to share some examples with you today. When it comes to behavior modification, it's most effective to use reinforcement/rewards when you want to increase a desirable behavior and punishment when you need to decrease undesirable behavior. I'll talk more about this today. Other episodes referenced: Reward charts - https://simplefamilies.com/episode211/ Time outs - https://simplefamilies.com/episode113/ Expansion and contraction - https://simplefamilies.com/episode233/  Consequences - https://simplefamilies.com/episode266/ Hitting - https://simplefamilies.com/episode250 SPONSORS: Get 22% off @iherb with promo code SIMPLE at iherb.com Go to EARTHBREEZE.com/simple to get started for 40% off

Let’s talk about kids who hit. Let’s also talk about adults who hit. This kind of behavior is taboo, especially as kids get older. I'll explore some basic reasons behind hitting and offer solutions. In next week's episode, I'll delve deeper into understanding this behavior in older kids and adults. This is a rebroadcast of Simple Families Podcast's most downloaded episodes. Take a listen again - you can really get new insights from with each phase of parenting. Links from the episode Simple Families Episode 113: Troubleshooting "Time-out" Sponsors Prep Dish -- Get 2 weeks free meal planning, prepdish.com/families KiwiCo - Get 50% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/SIMPLE.

When Majka Burhardt, social entrepreneur and world-class female rock/ice climber, found out she was pregnant with twins, she started writing her children letters. These raw, emotional and vulnerable written pieces later became the book More: Life on the edge of adventure and motherhood. I loved talking to Majka about risk, parenthood, marriage and more! Links from the episode Majka Burhardt's website: Passion.Purpose.Pursuit Book: More: Life on the edge of adventure and motherhood Sponsors Storyworth - Share your stories with future generations. Save $10 on your first purchase at www.storyworth.com/simple Fast Growing Trees - Sweeten up your garden this spring with 15% off your entire order of trees at www.fastgrowingtrees.com/simple

Many of us have made great efforts to control our technology use, but is it working? I've invited Gaia Bernstein, author of Unwired: Gaining Control over Addictive Technologies to the podcast today to discuss how this is more than an individual issue. We explore digital connection along with how community efforts and national policies can help us gain control of our technology use. Links from the episode Gaia Bernstein's website: Unwired Book: Unwired - Gaining control over addictive technologies Simple Families Podcast Episode 302: Analog Curious I Simple Families Podcast Episode 303: Analog Curious II Sponsors Indeed - If you need to hire, you need Indeed! Visit www.indeed.com/families.

You should know this by now. I’ve asked you a hundred times. How could you forget?  Today we are going to talk about consequences, punishment, and discipline. How do we raise kids to take ownership and care for themselves and their belongings? Today I’m going to give you some things to think about and some things to do.  This is a rebroadcast of Simple Families Podcast's most downloaded episodes. Take a listen again - you can really get new insights from with each phase of parenting. Sponsors KiwiCo - Get 50% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/SIMPLE. PrepDish - Try two weeks free prepdish.com/families

Today, I'm bringing you a much-requested life update episode. In the past year I've moved off social media and have limited how much I share publicly on a day-to-day basis. As my kids grow and establish their own identities, this has been a change that feels right for our family. But today, I will update you on home, work, family, and also tell you about my new health routine. Links from the episode Simple Families Podcast Episode 302: Analog Curious Part I Simple Families Podcast Episode 303: Analog Curious Part II Simple Families Podcast Episode 304: Analog Curious Part III Simple Families Podcast Episode 150: Au Pair Insights Simple Families Podcast Episode 184: Year Without Alcohol Simple Families Podcast Episode 251: Downsizing Bandolier Rent the Runway Sponsors Growing Trees - 15% off at FastGrowingTrees.com/SIMPLE. Earth Breeze – Subscribe and save 40% on Earth Breeze laundry detergent Eco Sheets. Visit www.earthbreeze.com/simple.

Today, I am speaking with the Founder of MomWell (formerly Happy as a Mother) Erica Djossa, who you may recognize from viral her maternal mental health memes on Instagram. Erica is a psychotherapist whose work on social media focuses on strategies to cope with the emotional load of motherhood. Links from the episode Erica Djossa's website: MomWell MomWell Podcast: Spotify MomWell Podcast episode with Denaye: Minimizing Mental Clutter Sponsors Earth Breeze – Subscribe and save 40% on Earth Breeze laundry detergent Eco Sheets. Visit www.earthbreeze.com/simple. Indeed - If you need to hire, you need Indeed! Visit www.indeed.com/families.

I don't know about you, but parent anxiety seems to surround me at every turn. In today's episode, I'm chatting with Dr. Dana Dorfman, author of the new book, When Worry Works. Dana explains that even though anxiety is an unavoidable part of parenting today, we can turn our unique parenting anxiety patterns into an advantage, instead of a liability. Links from the episode Dr. Dorfman's Website When Worry Works Quiz: Identify your anxiety type Simple Families Episode 340: How to Raise an Adult ft. Julie Lythcott-Haims Sponsors KiwiCo - Get 50% off your first month with ANY crate line at kiwico.com/simple. Indeed - If you need to hire, you need Indeed! Visit www.indeed.com/families. Thrive Market - Get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! ThriveMarket.com/simplefamilies

Overparenting is a pervasive practice in our society today. My guest Julie Lythcott-Haims identified over-parented students in her former role as the Dean of Freshman and Undergraduate Advising at Stanford University and wrote the NYT best-selling book How to Raise an Adult, and later Your Turn: How to be an Adult. Links from the episode Julie Lythcott-Haims: Website Julie Lythcott-Haims: Instagram How to Raise an Adult Your Turn: How to be an Adult Sponsors Prep Dish -- Get 2 weeks free meal planning, prepdish.com/families Indeed - If you need to hire, you need Indeed! Visit www.indeed.com/families.