After almost five years, it is time for us to say goodbye. We have loved our time together with Family Looking Up and are sad to say goodbye. In this episode we laugh about all the behind the scenes funny moments and talk about the great journey these last five years have been for us!  Thanks for listening and supporting us and being a part of our mom squad!

After almost five years, it is time for us to say goodbye. We have loved our time together with Family Looking Up and are sad to say goodbye. In this episode we laugh about all the behind the scenes funny moments and talk about the great journey these last five years have been for us!  Thanks for listening and supporting us and being a part of our mom squad!

278. Just Us: It's time to say goodbye

Join us as we walk down memory lane for the past 5 years recounting stories and moments we have shared together.

Join us as we walk down memory lane for the past 5 years recounting stories and moments we have shared together.

277. Just Us: Memory Lane

It's Valentines week and we are sharing our favorite Valentine ideas. What has worked and what we want to try. We laugh about the ridiculousness of the holiday and share how we make the day special for our kids.

It's Valentines week and we are sharing our favorite Valentine ideas. What has worked and what we want to try. We laugh about the ridiculousness of the holiday and share how we make the day special for our kids.

276: Just Us: Valentines Day 2023

Big things are happening for us in 2023. In today's episode we laugh at the goals that are working for us, and discuss our lastest trends in intermittent fasting and sourdough bread making. 

Big things are happening for us in 2023. In today's episode we laugh at the goals that are working for us, and discuss our lastest trends in intermittent fasting and sourdough bread making.

Episode 275. Just Us: Big Changes in 2023

I don't know about you, but we need a vacation with a capital V!  As mom's of lots of kids, wives, and ultimately just girls, we talk about girl trips, couple trips, and family trips.  We share our favorite places, favorite memories, and do a little 'outside the box' thinking of how to make it special.   If you're in the mood for some inspiration on fun times in YOUR future, this is the episode for you!  Enjoy!

I don't know about you, but we need a vacation with a capital V!  As mom's of lots of kids, wives, and ultimately just girls, we talk about girl trips, couple trips, and family trips.  We share our favorite places, favorite memories, and do a little 'outside the box' thinking of how to make it special.   If you're in the mood for some inspiration on fun times in YOUR future, this is the episode for you!  Enjoy!

Episode 274. Vacation Ideas For Everyone (Re-release)

Jenedy Paige

Jenedy Paige joins us today to discuss how she overcame adversity through God when she lost her son to drowning.  It's an inspirational story that will leave you feeling inspired.

Jenedy Paige joins us today to discuss how she overcame adversity through God when she lost her son to drowning.  It's an inspirational story that will leave you feeling inspired.

Episode 272.  Growth Through Adversity - Guest Jenedy Paige

Brooke Romney

Join us as we talk with the one and only Brooke Romney about how to teach our family manners without all the drama! Plus hear about our newest favorites in Christmas movies!

Join us as we talk with the one and only Brooke Romney about how to teach our family manners without all the drama! Plus hear about our newest favorites in Christmas movies!

Episode 268.  Manners: Teaching The Basics - Guest Brooke Romney

Our complete holiday gift guide is here!  Listen in as we talk about every age and stage.  

Our complete holiday gift guide is here!  Listen in as we talk about every age and stage.

Ep. 264 Holiday Gift Guide

Linda McGurk

Linda McGurk, one of our favorite return guests is back!  She is sharing more of her Swedish culture, this time about a concept known as Friluftsliv.  She has written a book about it and is here to teach us about how outside activities can bring us peace and contentment.

Linda McGurk, one of our favorite return guests is back!  She is sharing more of her Swedish culture, this time about a concept known as Friluftsliv.  She has written a book about it and is here to teach us about how outside activities can bring us peace and contentment.

Ep. 262 Friluftsliv - The Swedish Custom Of Outside Living - Guest - Linda McGurk

We're excited to bring you a fascinating episode from Jessica Downs, a clinician who specializes in EMDR Therapy.  In this episode she teaches about Polyvagal Theory and how it can help each of us understand the cues our body is giving us to find more peace and happiness in our day to day lives.  Enjoy!

We're excited to bring you a fascinating episode from Jessica Downs, a clinician who specializes in EMDR Therapy.  In this episode she teaches about Polyvagal Theory and how it can help each of us understand the cues our body is giving us to find more peace and happiness in our day to day lives.  Enjoy!

Ep. 261 Polyvagal Theory: How To Recognize The Cues Our Body Is Giving Us - Guest Jessica Downs

We're about all things family and home.  If you're a mom, and on the verge of jumping off the dryer or overdosing on Diet Dr. Pepper, visit us weekly for some laughter and hope.  Learn from our fails and the successes of others.  Motherhood is the busiest, messiest, worst paying job that we love...most of the time.  We want you to know you're doing better than you think.  When life gets you down, know that your family is looking up!

This funny and informative podcast is one I look forward to as a bright spot in my week.

They are so real!

My #1 podcast

Family Looking Up

Holly Thurgood

Holly Thurgood is a stay at home mother of seven.  She is a trained Parenting With Love and Logic Facilitator.  Parenting with Love and Logic is a parenting philosophy founded by Jim Fay and Foster Cline.  Parents who use the Love and Logic approach can help their children to be accountable for their choices.  This philosophy encourages parents to disengage from confrontation and allow the kids to come up with solutions for their own problems.  It also gives parents strategies to get children to complete chores without nagging and fighting. Sounds pretty amazing, right? Holly’s fun personality and hilarious examples made this interview both fun and informative.   Here is what we talked about:  Why Holly first sought out the Love and Logic parenting philosophy. What Love and Logic parenting is. Putting an end to arguing, backtalk and begging. Teaching responsibility without losing love. Setting limits without waging war. How to use strategic training sessions to eliminate specific bad behaviors. How to avoid power struggles. Guiding kids to own and solve their problems. How to get kids to complete chores without being asked or being paid.  Mom Squad Challenge: Instead of arguing with your kids or trying to solve their problems when they come to you,  just come up with a phrase you say that disengages you from the situation and lets them work on solving their own problems. For example, when they are upset about a situation at school, just listen and say, “That’s too bad.”  You don’t need to say anything else. Holly’s favorite Parenting Books: Smart Money Smart Kids Parenting With Love and Logic The Child Whisperer Growing Up Favorite Fiction Books: Harry Potter Pride And Prejudice Jackaroo Wednesday Wars Advice Holly wished she had had before she became a parent:  We are enough just the way we are, no matter how we are doing it.  Plan on a lot of mom fails and know that that is normal!

Holly Thurgood is a stay at home mother of seven.  She is a trained Parenting With Love and Logic Facilitator.  Parenting with Love and Logic is a parenting philosophy founded by Jim Fay and Foster Cline.  Parents who use the Love and Logic approach can help their children to be accountable for their choices.  This philosophy encourages parents to disengage from confrontation and allow the kids to come up with solutions for their own problems.  It also gives parents strategies to get children to complete chores without nagging and fighting. Sounds pretty amazing, right? Holly’s fun personality and hilarious examples made this interview both fun and informative.   Here is what we talked about: <ol> <li>Why Holly first sought out the Love and Logic parenting philosophy.</li> <li>What Love and Logic parenting is.</li> <li>Putting an end to arguing, backtalk and begging.</li> <li>Teaching responsibility without losing love.</li> <li>Setting limits without waging war.</li> <li>How to use strategic training sessions to eliminate specific bad behaviors.</li> <li>How to avoid power struggles.</li> <li>Guiding kids to own and solve their problems.</li> <li>How to get kids to complete chores without being asked or being paid.</li> </ol> Mom Squad Challenge: Instead of arguing with your kids or trying to solve their problems when they come to you,  just come up with a phrase you say that disengages you from the situation and lets them work on solving their own problems. For example, when they are upset about a situation at school, just listen and say, “That’s too bad.”  You don’t need to say anything else. Holly’s favorite Parenting Books: Smart Money Smart Kids Parenting With Love and Logic The Child Whisperer Growing Up Favorite Fiction Books: Harry Potter Pride And Prejudice Jackaroo Wednesday Wars Advice Holly wished she had had before she became a parent:  We are enough just the way we are, no matter how we are doing it.  Plan on a lot of mom fails and know that that is normal!

Ep.  38. Parenting With Love and Logic - Guest Holly Thurgood. 

Hank Smith

Don’t we all want to be happy?  Although we cannot control our happiness 100% we do have some control.  How happy we feel is 50% genetic, 10% circumstance and 40% up to you! Today we talk to Hank Smith, professor, speaker, and author.  We discuss his book, “Be Happy: Simple Secrets to a Happier Life” and talk about the ten things that we can do to make our lives a little bit happier.

Don’t we all want to be happy?  Although we cannot control our happiness 100% we do have some control.  How happy we feel is 50% genetic, 10% circumstance and 40% up to you! Today we talk to Hank Smith, professor, speaker, and author.  We discuss his book, “Be Happy: Simple Secrets to a Happier Life” and talk about the ten things that we can do to make our lives a little bit happier.

Ep. 33.  A Happier Life - Guest Hank Smith.

Collin Kartchner

Social media is full of the good, the bad, and some ugly.  Today we talk with instagram super influencer Collin Kartchner about the effects that social media may be having on you and your children.   In an ever advancing world we may struggle to keep up with everything happening on social media.  One thing that is becoming more and more clear is the consequences of misusing social media.  In this episode we discuss how access to a virtual world and prolonged amounts of time spent on it each day may be leading to depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, and in some cases self harming or even suicide.  Collin is starting a new dialogue and hoping to get the word out to parents that it is time we take control.  We are responsible for monitoring use of social media in our homes. We can have a discussion about how the images and posts we--and our teens--are looking at how they are making us feel.  His message is that we are good enough.  We don’t have to look to a virtual world for approval.   The “Mom Squad Challenge” this week is to take an honest look at how the things and people you are following are making you feel and have that same conversation with your children.  If something does not uplift and bring you joy, delete it from your feed.  

Social media is full of the good, the bad, and some ugly.  Today we talk with instagram super influencer Collin Kartchner about the effects that social media may be having on you and your children.   In an ever advancing world we may struggle to keep up with everything happening on social media.  One thing that is becoming more and more clear is the consequences of misusing social media.  In this episode we discuss how access to a virtual world and prolonged amounts of time spent on it each day may be leading to depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, and in some cases self harming or even suicide.  Collin is starting a new dialogue and hoping to get the word out to parents that it is time we take control.  We are responsible for monitoring use of social media in our homes. We can have a discussion about how the images and posts we--and our teens--are looking at how they are making us feel.  His message is that we are good enough.  We don’t have to look to a virtual world for approval.   The “Mom Squad Challenge” this week is to take an honest look at how the things and people you are following are making you feel and have that same conversation with your children.  If something does not uplift and bring you joy, delete it from your feed.

Ep. 17.  #socialmedia with Guest Collin Kartchner.

Susan Madsen

Today we are focusing on teaching our kids leadership skills.  It’s one of those things that some kids come with and some don’t, but if it isn’t intrinsically within them is it worth teaching it to them?   At its simplest a leader is defined as the inspiration and director of the action.  Perhaps we don’t care at all whether they inspire or direct other people, but what about whether they have the ability to stand on their own and not follow the crowd when they feel strongly about something?  In this world, there are so many pitfalls to avoid. Teaching children leadership skills will help them learn to inspire and direct others to a better, safer, smarter, happier or simply different path. 

Today we are focusing on teaching our kids leadership skills.  It’s one of those things that some kids come with and some don’t, but if it isn’t intrinsically within them is it worth teaching it to them?   At its simplest a leader is defined as the inspiration and director of the action.  Perhaps we don’t care at all whether they inspire or direct other people, but what about whether they have the ability to stand on their own and not follow the crowd when they feel strongly about something?  In this world, there are so many pitfalls to avoid. Teaching children leadership skills will help them learn to inspire and direct others to a better, safer, smarter, happier or simply different path.

Ep. 106.  Teaching Leadership Skills To Our Kids.  Guest Susan Madsen

Nancy Davis Kho

There is power in feeling gratitude.  Studies have shown that your brain releases serotonin and dopamine when gratitude is felt, which leads to an immediate sense of happiness. Nancy Davis Kho, a freelance writer, podcaster on Midlife Mixtape, and author took this idea of gratitude to a whole new level.  Instead of just feeling gratitude she decided to express it. She has written a book called "The Thank You Project", which is a culmination of thank you letters she wrote every week over the period of one year to those whom she felt had impacted and shaped her.   She joined us this week to discuss the book, her experiences, and the power of gratitude.

There is power in feeling gratitude.  Studies have shown that your brain releases serotonin and dopamine when gratitude is felt, which leads to an immediate sense of happiness. Nancy Davis Kho, a freelance writer, podcaster on Midlife Mixtape, and author took this idea of gratitude to a whole new level.  Instead of just feeling gratitude she decided to express it. She has written a book called "The Thank You Project", which is a culmination of thank you letters she wrote every week over the period of one year to those whom she felt had impacted and shaped her.   She joined us this week to discuss the book, her experiences, and the power of gratitude.

Ep. 110.  The Power of Gratitude - Guest Nancy Davis Kho

Brittany Kurtz

Chris and Brittany Kurtz, founders of the "Do Good. Be Kind." movement joined us this week.  We originally interviewed Chris in episode 13.  Now, two years and 98 episodes later, we met up with Chris and Brittany to talk about the movement of “Do Good. Be Kind.”.  About the takeaways they have gleaned after speaking at hundreds of assemblies and with thousands of people. Specifically, we talked about how individuals, families, and our children can benefit from this powerful message.

Chris and Brittany Kurtz, founders of the "Do Good. Be Kind." movement joined us this week.  We originally interviewed Chris in episode 13.  Now, two years and 98 episodes later, we met up with Chris and Brittany to talk about the movement of “Do Good. Be Kind.”.  About the takeaways they have gleaned after speaking at hundreds of assemblies and with thousands of people. Specifically, we talked about how individuals, families, and our children can benefit from this powerful message.

Ep. 111.  Helping Your Family Through "Do Good. Be Kind."  Guests Chris and Brittany Kurtz.

Niki Olsen

Note: This is part one of this interactive episode.  Part two is episode 40. Today we have Niki Olsen...AGAIN!  She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor.   She has spent over 16 years working with youth and families specializing in a modality called Mind Body Bridging which can help a variety of issues. She is married with two little girls in elementary school. She currently lives in Utah but is originally from Oregon. Niki loves to be with her family, and in her free time can be found exercising or sleeping.   We are focusing on using the technique known as “Mind Body Bridging” to help manage our stress.  Everyone experiences stress in their lives, but sometimes stress becomes so overwhelming that the stress then interferes with our ability to function.We will identify the cause that impairs our functioning and creates a dysfunctional Mind and Body state. We will also experience ways to help manage this dysfunctional Mind Body State.     This is our first interactive episode!  Listen to this episode when you have time to participate in the activities with us as you will be pausing the episode to complete some writing activities.  You will need three pieces of paper and a pencil.   We will be focusing on:    Becoming aware of the Identity System that creates the overwhelming stress. Mapping out our thoughts. Coming to our Senses to decrease body tension and mind clutter. Becoming aware of the Requirements in our lives that trigger the Identity System (dysfunctional mind and body state) Labeling these thoughts to free them from the Identity System   If you would like to learn more about Mind Body Bridging, please visit their website at MBBcharity.org.  There you will find scientific studies, more in-depth information on the theory and ways to become trained if you desire. You may also contact Niki at nikiolsen12@gmail.com for more ways to become trained or certified on the theory. If you would like to continue your personal Mind Body Bridging learning, there are also different workbooks to purchase.

Note: This is part one of this interactive episode.  Part two is episode 40. Today we have Niki Olsen...AGAIN!  She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor.   She has spent over 16 years working with youth and families specializing in a modality called Mind Body Bridging which can help a variety of issues. She is married with two little girls in elementary school. She currently lives in Utah but is originally from Oregon. Niki loves to be with her family, and in her free time can be found exercising or sleeping. We are focusing on using the technique known as “Mind Body Bridging” to help manage our stress.  Everyone experiences stress in their lives, but sometimes stress becomes so overwhelming that the stress then interferes with our ability to function.We will identify the cause that impairs our functioning and creates a dysfunctional Mind and Body state. We will also experience ways to help manage this dysfunctional Mind Body State.   This is our first interactive episode!  Listen to this episode when you have time to participate in the activities with us as you will be pausing the episode to complete some writing activities.  You will need three pieces of paper and a pencil. We will be focusing on: <ol> <li>Becoming aware of the Identity System that creates the overwhelming stress.</li> <li>Mapping out our thoughts.</li> <li>Coming to our Senses to decrease body tension and mind clutter.</li> <li>Becoming aware of the Requirements in our lives that trigger the Identity System (dysfunctional mind and body state)</li> <li>Labeling these thoughts to free them from the Identity System</li> </ol> If you would like to learn more about Mind Body Bridging, please visit their website at <a href="http://MBBcharity.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MBBcharity.org</a>.  There you will find scientific studies, more in-depth information on the theory and ways to become trained if you desire. You may also contact Niki at <a href="mailto:nikiolsen12@gmail.com">nikiolsen12@gmail.com</a> for more ways to become trained or certified on the theory. If you would like to continue your personal Mind Body Bridging learning, there are also different workbooks to purchase.

Ep. 22.  Stress Management- Interactive episode- Guest Niki Olsen.

Jill Savage

Parenting adult kids is NOT easy.  Empty nest parents are constantly faced with choices of what to say and what not to say to the “adults” who they have loved and taught from their infancy.  Not to mention that even though those “adults” are of age, that doesn’t mean they have nearly as much life experience and wouldn’t benefit from some sound advice.  However, when these empty nesters innocently insert their opinion into their adult children’s lives, they are often met with insult and frustration.   In todays episode, renowned author Jill Savage shares 6 lessons she has learned to help navigate this new season of parenting.

Parenting adult kids is NOT easy.  Empty nest parents are constantly faced with choices of what to say and what not to say to the “adults” who they have loved and taught from their infancy.  Not to mention that even though those “adults” are of age, that doesn’t mean they have nearly as much life experience and wouldn’t benefit from some sound advice.  However, when these empty nesters innocently insert their opinion into their adult children’s lives, they are often met with insult and frustration.   In todays episode, renowned author Jill Savage shares 6 lessons she has learned to help navigate this new season of parenting.

Ep.  96.  Parenting Adult Children: Six lessons learned by an empty nester - Guest Jill Savage.

Tracey Eyster

Tracey is the author of Be the Mom, in which she shares advice on how to avoid what she describes as the seven most common “mom traps.”  Tracey identified the seven most common “mom traps” in an effort to help her daughter as she embarked on the journey of motherhood.  The book is written in an encouraging tone that makes you feel like there is a possibility of learning to avoid these “traps” as we learn to recognize them for what they are.  The problem isn’t us. It’s our attitude. To say that Tracey is fun and easy to talk to is like saying that the Rockies are “biggish”.  I cannot begin to say how much we LOVED our conversation with her. Her laugh and wit are infectious (And if you listen closely, so is her accent.  Beth unknowingly switched into a Kentucky drawl halfway through the interview!)

Tracey is the author of <a href="http://traceyeyster.com/be-the-mom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Be the Mom</a>, in which she shares advice on how to avoid what she describes as the seven most common “mom traps.”  Tracey identified the seven most common “mom traps” in an effort to help her daughter as she embarked on the journey of motherhood.  The book is written in an encouraging tone that makes you feel like there is a possibility of learning to avoid these “traps” as we learn to recognize them for what they are.  The problem isn’t us. It’s our attitude. To say that Tracey is fun and easy to talk to is like saying that the Rockies are “biggish”.  I cannot begin to say how much we LOVED our conversation with her. Her laugh and wit are infectious (And if you listen closely, so is her accent.  Beth unknowingly switched into a Kentucky drawl halfway through the interview!)

Ep. 86.  How to be a Miserable Mom: 7 Traps that steal your JOY – Guest Tracey Eyster.  Rerelease. 

This Mothers Day we want to celebrate moms as they really are!  We also want to LAUGH! Laughter is the greatest gift we could possibly give our Mom Squad on this special day.  As we have lived the mom life we have found that all moms have FAILS every day, but having FAILS does not equal FAILURE.   In fact, any woman who is willing to live life and take on mothering (no matter how it comes to her) is a SUPERHERO!   This job is not for the faint of heart.  It is for those who are willing to lay their hearts on the altar.  Those willing to try their patience WAY past breaking point (often several times a day).  Those willing to “herd cats” everywhere they go, to look like an idiot in public on a VERY regular basis, and to try to teach the most ferocious creature on earth (the toddler) how to go wee wee in the potty.  Those also willing to hug and kiss every owie, to listen, to love more than they thought humanly possible, to read, to sing, to encourage, to uplift, to cry when things go wrong, and to soar as they watch those little ones fly! Here’s to MOTHERS with ALL gifts and ALL struggles.   We hope you enjoy this week’s episode where some of our Mom Squad called and emailed us to tell of their best and funniest Mom Fails!  THIS is real momming, not the glossy June Cleaver version. The down and dirty, trying our hardest, messy, “How is there only one shoe??” , “I’m losing my mind but still here and still making dinner” - version.  We hope it brings you laughter and perspective as you celebrate your best achievement: Being a mom.

This Mothers Day we want to celebrate moms as they really are!  We also want to LAUGH! Laughter is the greatest gift we could possibly give our Mom Squad on this special day.  As we have lived the mom life we have found that all moms have FAILS every day, but having FAILS does not equal FAILURE.   In fact, any woman who is willing to live life and take on mothering (no matter how it comes to her) is a SUPERHERO!   This job is not for the faint of heart.  It is for those who are willing to lay their hearts on the altar.  Those willing to try their patience WAY past breaking point (often several times a day).  Those willing to “herd cats” everywhere they go, to look like an idiot in public on a VERY regular basis, and to try to teach the most ferocious creature on earth (the toddler) how to go wee wee in the potty.  Those also willing to hug and kiss every owie, to listen, to love more than they thought humanly possible, to read, to sing, to encourage, to uplift, to cry when things go wrong, and to soar as they watch those little ones fly! Here’s to MOTHERS with ALL gifts and ALL struggles. We hope you enjoy this week’s episode where some of our Mom Squad called and emailed us to tell of their best and funniest Mom Fails!  THIS is real momming, not the glossy June Cleaver version. The down and dirty, trying our hardest, messy, “How is there only one shoe??” , “I’m losing my mind but still here and still making dinner” - version.  We hope it brings you laughter and perspective as you celebrate your best achievement: Being a mom.

Ep. 80.  A Mother's Day "Mom Fail" Tribute!

Lisa Bishop

In many ways being a parent is the scariest occupation out there.  Nevermind the teething, potty training, and tantrums (all scary in their own right), but how about the idea that every day of a childs life parents are either preparing that child to eventually launch from home or they are enabling dependence so the child fails to launch.  Talk about paralyzing pressure!   This week we have Lisa Bishop on our show discussing this issue of raising kids so that they can actually leave home and launch.  Lisa has worked as a family therapist with many clients who are struggling with this issue, either as the parent or as the child.

In many ways being a parent is the scariest occupation out there.  Nevermind the teething, potty training, and tantrums (all scary in their own right), but how about the idea that every day of a childs life parents are either preparing that child to eventually launch from home or they are enabling dependence so the child fails to launch.  Talk about paralyzing pressure!   This week we have Lisa Bishop on our show discussing this issue of raising kids so that they can actually leave home and launch.  Lisa has worked as a family therapist with many clients who are struggling with this issue, either as the parent or as the child.

Ep. 104.  Preparing Kids to Launch From Home - Guest Lisa Bishop

Mom guilt is as much of a reality to moms as dirty toilets in a house full of children.  Fun fact, both of them have a lot in common! They both stink, they both make a mom feel terrible about herself, and it takes some work to get rid of each of them.  However, closing our eyes to them, to pretend they don’t exist, eventually leads to hazardous mental and physical conditions. No woman ever wants or deserves a mental state that resembles a neglected bathroom, but that’s what she gets if the mom guilt isn’t checked and combated.  

Mom guilt is as much of a reality to moms as dirty toilets in a house full of children.  Fun fact, both of them have a lot in common! They both stink, they both make a mom feel terrible about herself, and it takes some work to get rid of each of them.  However, closing our eyes to them, to pretend they don’t exist, eventually leads to hazardous mental and physical conditions. No woman ever wants or deserves a mental state that resembles a neglected bathroom, but that’s what she gets if the mom guilt isn’t checked and combated.

Ep. 103.  Dealing With Mom Guilt - Guest Niki Olsen

Stephanie Sikora

On this weeks episode we interviewed Stephanie Sikora about reducing stress through home organization.  You may ask if organization LITERALLY reduces stress.  I honestly don’t know if it does for everyone on the planet.  All I can do I answer truthfully that for me, YES! IT! DOES!!!!!!!!!   Stephanie explained that clutter literally triggers a stress response, and that stress seeps into all aspects of life.  De-cluttering will actually lessen a persons stress response. To listen to all of Stephanie's tips and tricks and become a walking talking organizational genius (not unlike myself), just click on the link and listen to this terrific episode.  

On this weeks episode we interviewed Stephanie Sikora about reducing stress through home organization.  You may ask if organization LITERALLY reduces stress.  I honestly don’t know if it does for everyone on the planet.  All I can do I answer truthfully that for me, YES! IT! DOES!!!!!!!!!   Stephanie explained that clutter literally triggers a stress response, and that stress seeps into all aspects of life.  De-cluttering will actually lessen a persons stress response. To listen to all of Stephanie's tips and tricks and become a walking talking organizational genius (not unlike myself), just click on the link and listen to this terrific episode.

Ep. 74. Organizing Your Home to Reduce Your Stress - Guest Stephanie Sikora

Molly Claire

We are talking today to Molly Claire.  Molly Claire is a certified Life Coach specializing in motherhood and offers special programs for newly divorced moms.  She focuses on the unique challenges moms face from time management and productivity, to the worries , guilt and overwhelm that can wreak havoc on personal well-being.  Molly's emphasis on mindset and the way it impacts every aspect of our lives offers a coaching process that helps her clients make eating changes from the inside out.   We start the episode by asking Molly to explain the CTFAR model: Everything we do in our life come all stems from the way are thinking about our life.  The way that we think creates feelings, and our feelings drive our actions, and our actions drive our results.  For example: thing to lose weight.  Lets say you have the thought, "I will never lose weight."  When you think that, it causes you to feel hopeless.  When you are feeling hopeless you end up eating more and work out less. Which proves that original thought.  Molly uses that model to find out why we are feeling frustrated. We need to get a new perspective to create new feelings in our life. First trap of Motherhood: Mom Autopilot Mom Autopilot is an automated state that we run on.  It all starts when we brought home the our first child.  All of a sudden we are responsible for every need of another human being. What happens is the mom autopilot helps you get through sleep deprivation and colic, however over time it becomes not so useful. Beasue we get in the habit of taking care of things for our kids that they don't need us to do.  We might put more things in our to-do list than we need to.  This isn't just with our kids.  This is in our communities, in church.  Wherever people ask things of us and we take it on immediately. The way this shows up in motherhood is taking on the problem of solving our kids emotions.  Think about the last time your kids come to you with a problem. One of the other traps is the trap of believing that we are responsible for making our kids happy.  When we can shift into a place that it is totally normal for our kids to have emotional ups and down and it is not our job to fix it, then we can allow that space for them to be upset and we don't have to be upset.  If we can let people have their emotions then we can respond to situations better.  Kids are going to have negative emotions about half the time. We can choose how we feel. Trap: Attaching your kids success to our happiness We feel good when someone compliments our kids.  As moms we feel with many more negatives then positives.  Motherhood is a thankless job.  We have to be our own cheerleaders.  It is easy to get a feel good when someone says something good about our kids.  We make it mean that we are doing a good job when they have a success. The problem is when our kids do something terrible, then we feel like a failure.  We feel inadequate.  Separate our how you show up as a mom.  For example: It is important to me to teach my kids to be kind to other people. But my kids decide what to do with that teaching, whether they actually are kind or not. So we need to draw the line between what is our responibility and what is our kids responsibility.  When we can let go of taking credit for our kids success we can let go of taking credit of their failures and allow them to take credit for their own success.  We can let go of trying to control them, because control never works anyway.  Kids will take more ownership of it.  We can't create success for our kids anyway, When we see failure as part of success it makes it so much easier.  The founder and CEO of Spanx attributes her success to her dad.  Everyday he would say, "what did you fail at today."  We don't have to think of failure as a negative thing.  When we can think about it that way with our kids it is not as upsetting.  The more failures they have, the more success they can have.  It is so freeing.  It will also help your relationship with your kids.  If we are taking ownership of their failures, then we will be desperate to have them not fail or cover it up.  They will feel that.  If you feel really loved, it is much easier to love your kids despite what they do if you aren't worried about their failure. Trap 6: Victim Mentallity Think about so much is asked of us as a mom.  We start having a dialog in our head that we have do so many things, and it is not fair.  Falling into a victim mentality is when we act as if, and think as if, we don't have a choice.  But we can realize, we always have a lot of choices.   Recognize your choices and the more you do that, you will feel less like a victim.  This helps us realize the WHY of why we became a mom. To learn about the rest of the mom traps, read Molly's book: The Happy Mom Mindset To learn more about Molly, visit her website at Mollyclaire.com   Mom Squad Challenge: Remember to recognize your choices.  Think today about where you are succeeding.  It is easy to recoznize our failures, but today ask yourself where am I succeeding and focus on that. Beth's book recommendation: The Shepherd's Song by Larry Barkdull

We are talking today to Molly Claire.  Molly Claire is a certified Life Coach specializing in motherhood and offers special programs for newly divorced moms.  She focuses on the unique challenges moms face from time management and productivity, to the worries , guilt and overwhelm that can wreak havoc on personal well-being.  Molly's emphasis on mindset and the way it impacts every aspect of our lives offers a coaching process that helps her clients make eating changes from the inside out. We start the episode by asking Molly to explain the CTFAR model: Everything we do in our life come all stems from the way are thinking about our life.  The way that we think creates feelings, and our feelings drive our actions, and our actions drive our results.  For example: thing to lose weight.  Lets say you have the thought, "I will never lose weight."  When you think that, it causes you to feel hopeless.  When you are feeling hopeless you end up eating more and work out less. Which proves that original thought.  Molly uses that model to find out why we are feeling frustrated. We need to get a new perspective to create new feelings in our life. First trap of Motherhood: Mom Autopilot Mom Autopilot is an automated state that we run on.  It all starts when we brought home the our first child.  All of a sudden we are responsible for every need of another human being. What happens is the mom autopilot helps you get through sleep deprivation and colic, however over time it becomes not so useful. Beasue we get in the habit of taking care of things for our kids that they don't need us to do.  We might put more things in our to-do list than we need to.  This isn't just with our kids.  This is in our communities, in church.  Wherever people ask things of us and we take it on immediately. The way this shows up in motherhood is taking on the problem of solving our kids emotions.  Think about the last time your kids come to you with a problem. One of the other traps is the trap of believing that we are responsible for making our kids happy.  When we can shift into a place that it is totally normal for our kids to have emotional ups and down and it is not our job to fix it, then we can allow that space for them to be upset and we don't have to be upset.  If we can let people have their emotions then we can respond to situations better.  Kids are going to have negative emotions about half the time. We can choose how we feel. Trap: Attaching your kids success to our happiness We feel good when someone compliments our kids.  As moms we feel with many more negatives then positives.  Motherhood is a thankless job.  We have to be our own cheerleaders.  It is easy to get a feel good when someone says something good about our kids.  We make it mean that we are doing a good job when they have a success. The problem is when our kids do something terrible, then we feel like a failure.  We feel inadequate.  Separate our how you show up as a mom.  For example: It is important to me to teach my kids to be kind to other people. But my kids decide what to do with that teaching, whether they actually are kind or not. So we need to draw the line between what is our responibility and what is our kids responsibility.  When we can let go of taking credit for our kids success we can let go of taking credit of their failures and allow them to take credit for their own success.  We can let go of trying to control them, because control never works anyway.  Kids will take more ownership of it.  We can't create success for our kids anyway, When we see failure as part of success it makes it so much easier.  The founder and CEO of Spanx attributes her success to her dad.  Everyday he would say, "what did you fail at today."  We don't have to think of failure as a negative thing.  When we can think about it that way with our kids it is not as upsetting.  The more failures they have, the more success they can have.  It is so freeing.  It will also help your relationship with your kids.  If we are taking ownership of their failures, then we will be desperate to have them not fail or cover it up.  They will feel that.  If you feel really loved, it is much easier to love your kids despite what they do if you aren't worried about their failure. Trap 6: Victim Mentallity Think about so much is asked of us as a mom.  We start having a dialog in our head that we have do so many things, and it is not fair.  Falling into a victim mentality is when we act as if, and think as if, we don't have a choice.  But we can realize, we always have a lot of choices.   Recognize your choices and the more you do that, you will feel less like a victim.  This helps us realize the WHY of why we became a mom. To learn about the rest of the mom traps, read Molly's book: The Happy Mom Mindset T<a href="mollyclaire.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">o learn more about Molly, visit her website at Mollyclaire.com</a> Mom Squad Challenge: Remember to recognize your choices.  Think today about where you are succeeding.  It is easy to recoznize our failures, but today ask yourself where am I succeeding and focus on that. Beth's book recommendation: The Shepherd's Song by Larry Barkdull

Ep. 4.  Happiness in Motherhood - Guest Molly Claire. 

Lindsay McCarthy

This week we had the privilege of interviewing Lindsay McCarthy, co-author of Miracle Morning for Parents and Families.  We talked about the different elements of a “Miracle Morning” and how they can help improve your life each day.    To have a miracle morning you should wake up earlier than your normal time and do S.A.V.E.R.S.  These include time for Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing.  Each of these give you time for meditation, goal setting, self improvement, and focus.   After starting to practice miracle mornings Lindsay involved her two children.  They renamed the practice C.H.A.R.M.S for her children.  This includes Creativity, Heath, Affirmations, Reading, Meditation, and Services.  She has made this a daily expectation in her home for the children, herself, and her husband.   In the book she also shares some parents skills.  One that we discussed was being more playful with your kids.  She encourages us to take time to play whatever they want to play; really focus on the child without distraction.   MOM SQUAD CHALLENGE: Lindsay encouraged us all to try to have a “Miracle Morning.”  It counts even if we just start with just one of the S.A.V.E.R.S each day, or do each one for one minute.  Find out more about the Miracle Morning for Parents and Families at gratefulparent.com.

This week we had the privilege of interviewing Lindsay McCarthy, co-author of Miracle Morning for Parents and Families.  We talked about the different elements of a “Miracle Morning” and how they can help improve your life each day.   To have a miracle morning you should wake up earlier than your normal time and do S.A.V.E.R.S.  These include time for Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing.  Each of these give you time for meditation, goal setting, self improvement, and focus.   After starting to practice miracle mornings Lindsay involved her two children.  They renamed the practice C.H.A.R.M.S for her children.  This includes Creativity, Heath, Affirmations, Reading, Meditation, and Services.  She has made this a daily expectation in her home for the children, herself, and her husband.   In the book she also shares some parents skills.  One that we discussed was being more playful with your kids.  She encourages us to take time to play whatever they want to play; really focus on the child without distraction.   MOM SQUAD CHALLENGE: Lindsay encouraged us all to try to have a “Miracle Morning.”  It counts even if we just start with just one of the S.A.V.E.R.S each day, or do each one for one minute.  Find out more about the Miracle Morning for Parents and Families at <a href="http://gratefulparent.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gratefulparent.com</a>.

Ep. 9.  Miracle Mornings - Guest Lindsay McCarthy. 

Angie Calderwood

Feeling overwhelmed with your home, family and life?  ME TOO! Luckily this week we talk to Angie Calderwood. She is a professional organizer, designer and loves to inspire others to get organized and find a proper place for everything in their life.  This episode is full of practical tips to get our homes, families, and life organized. Here is what we talked about:    How Angie become a professional organizer. Why it is important to be organized. Angie’s shift in mindset that organization is more than arranging physical clutter, it is a way of life. What to do when you are not a naturally organized person. Organization can be a learned skill for everyone. Where to begin organizing your house. How to organize an area without making a bigger mess somewhere else. Strategies for decluttering. Getting over the emotional attachment to our possessions. We walk through the process of deep organizing an area.   Why it is important to work on a project from start to FINISH. How to maintain a clean area after we have invested time to organize it. Angie’s best tips for mothers to get organized. The family car tends to be an extension of the house.  Angie discusses strategies for keeping your van clean and organized. Keeping your life and house organized during the summer months. Teaching our kids to keep their room clean.  Mom Squad Challenge: Take a few minutes and sit down in your home. Close your eyes and imagine what you want your home to look like, feel like, and even smell like.  You can envision what your ideal is. Think about who lives in your home and why you want to make living an organized life something that benefits your entire family.  Angie's Website: aproperplaceorganizing.com

Feeling overwhelmed with your home, family and life?  ME TOO! Luckily this week we talk to Angie Calderwood. She is a professional organizer, designer and loves to inspire others to get organized and find a proper place for everything in their life.  This episode is full of practical tips to get our homes, families, and life organized. Here is what we talked about: <ol> <li>How Angie become a professional organizer.</li> <li>Why it is important to be organized.</li> <li>Angie’s shift in mindset that organization is more than arranging physical clutter, it is a way of life.</li> <li>What to do when you are not a naturally organized person.</li> <li>Organization can be a learned skill for everyone.</li> <li>Where to begin organizing your house.</li> <li>How to organize an area without making a bigger mess somewhere else.</li> <li>Strategies for decluttering. Getting over the emotional attachment to our possessions.</li> <li>We walk through the process of deep organizing an area.  </li> <li>Why it is important to work on a project from start to FINISH.</li> <li>How to maintain a clean area after we have invested time to organize it.</li> <li>Angie’s best tips for mothers to get organized.</li> <li>The family car tends to be an extension of the house.  Angie discusses strategies for keeping your van clean and organized.</li> <li>Keeping your life and house organized during the summer months.</li> <li>Teaching our kids to keep their room clean.</li> </ol> Mom Squad Challenge: Take a few minutes and sit down in your home. Close your eyes and imagine what you want your home to look like, feel like, and even smell like.  You can envision what your ideal is. Think about who lives in your home and why you want to make living an organized life something that benefits your entire family.  Angie's Website: <a href="http://aproperplaceorganizing.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">aproperplaceorganizing.com</a>

Ep. 30.  How to Organize Your Home and Life - Guest Angie Calderwood.

Kristen Jenson

This week we are talking to Kristen Jenson.  Kristen is the author of the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books including the best-selling Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids. She is the founder of ProtectYoungMinds.org, a website dedicated to helping parents empower their kids to reject pornography. Recently, she was invited to testify before the Washington State Senate Law and Justice Committee on the public health crisis of pornography.  In this episode we address the important topic of educating our kids about pornography and giving them the important tools to deal with it when they find it.  Here is what we talked about:  Why Kristen wrote her two books What things are discussed in Kristen’s books How to teach kids WHY we don’t look at pornography The importance of teaching kids how addictions work The appropriate age to start talking to your kids about pornography Why it’s important for parents to START the conversations with their children instead of waiting for children to come to them How having difficult conversations with your children can build your relationship with your child Whether its better to have a conversation about pornopraphy with the entire family, or as a private and special conversation The importance of ongoing conversations with your child and making the time for them Why connection with your child is one of the biggest factors in prevention How to create a safe place for your kids to talk to you The value of putting internet filters on devices When accountability software is useful How to help children build their own internal filters What accountability software is. The C.A.N.  D.O. Plan for kids to follow when they see pornography The difference between the “thinking brain” and the “feeling brain” Strategies for replacing bad thoughts How to teach your kids to empower their “thinking brain” to control their “feeling brain” The changes that occur in a brain of a person with an addiction    Mom Squad Challenge: 1.Talk to your kids and name their private parts using the anatomical names. Teach them that those parts are good parts, not shameful.  However, they are private and need to be kept private.  2. A. Give them a definition of what pornography is.  B. Help them understand that it’s dangerous and why. and C. Give them a plan.

This week we are talking to Kristen Jenson.  Kristen is the author of the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books including the best-selling Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids. She is the founder of <a href="http://ProtectYoungMinds.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ProtectYoungMinds.org</a>, a website dedicated to helping parents empower their kids to reject pornography. Recently, she was invited to testify before the Washington State Senate Law and Justice Committee on the public health crisis of pornography.  In this episode we address the important topic of educating our kids about pornography and giving them the important tools to deal with it when they find it.  Here is what we talked about: <ol> <li>Why Kristen wrote her two books</li> <li>What things are discussed in Kristen’s books</li> <li>How to teach kids WHY we don’t look at pornography</li> <li>The importance of teaching kids how addictions work</li> <li>The appropriate age to start talking to your kids about pornography</li> <li>Why it’s important for parents to START the conversations with their children instead of waiting for children to come to them</li> <li>How having difficult conversations with your children can build your relationship with your child</li> <li>Whether its better to have a conversation about pornopraphy with the entire family, or as a private and special conversation</li> <li>The importance of ongoing conversations with your child and making the time for them</li> <li>Why connection with your child is one of the biggest factors in prevention</li> <li>How to create a safe place for your kids to talk to you</li> <li>The value of putting internet filters on devices</li> <li>When accountability software is useful</li> <li>How to help children build their own internal filters</li> <li>What accountability software is.</li> <li>The C.A.N.  D.O. Plan for kids to follow when they see pornography</li> <li>The difference between the “thinking brain” and the “feeling brain”</li> <li>Strategies for replacing bad thoughts</li> <li>How to teach your kids to empower their “thinking brain” to control their “feeling brain”</li> <li>The changes that occur in a brain of a person with an addiction</li> </ol> <a href="https://protectyoungminds.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a> Mom Squad Challenge: 1.Talk to your kids and name their private parts using the anatomical names. Teach them that those parts are good parts, not shameful.  However, they are private and need to be kept private.  2. A. Give them a definition of what pornography is.  B. Help them understand that it’s dangerous and why. and C. Give them a plan.

Ep. 19.  Porn-Proofing Your Kids - Guest Kristen Jenson, Founder of 'Protect Young Minds'.

Wally Goddard

The really difficult thing about parenting is that you don’t really know if how you parent is truly effective (producing the end result you hope for) until it’s nearly too late.  Not only that, but sometimes you can parent the heck out of a child (in the most effective way imaginable) and that child still decides to use his/her agency to rip your heart out and turn your life upside down.  Such is the life of a parent. Dr. Goddard has worked for many years as a professor of family and human development in both Arkansas and Alabama, has authored many books, and has created several programs, one of which is on being an effective parent. According to Dr. Goddard there are 4 keys to use in becoming an effective parent.  Join us to learn those keys and to laugh in the process!

The really difficult thing about parenting is that you don’t really know if how you parent is truly effective (producing the end result you hope for) until it’s nearly too late.  Not only that, but sometimes you can parent the heck out of a child (in the most effective way imaginable) and that child still decides to use his/her agency to rip your heart out and turn your life upside down.  Such is the life of a parent. Dr. Goddard has worked for many years as a professor of family and human development in both Arkansas and Alabama, has authored many books, and has created several programs, one of which is on being an effective parent. According to Dr. Goddard there are 4 keys to use in becoming an effective parent.  Join us to learn those keys and to laugh in the process!

Ep.  89.  4 Keys To Becoming An Effective Parent - Guest Dr. Wally Goddard

This is the third installment of our "Ages and Stages" series.  The first two were episode 90 "Helpful and Hilarious Advice For The Baby Years" and episode 105 "A Guide To Help You NOT DIE Through The Toddler Years".   The school years are full of ups and downs, triumphs and tribulations.  They're bumpy for your kids too.  The three hosts of the Family Looking Up Podcast (with a combined 15 kids between the three of them) share their thoughts, hilarious fails, and a nugget or two of wisdom they gleaned along the way.  This is an episode you won't want to miss!

This is the third installment of our "Ages and Stages" series.  The first two were episode 90 "Helpful and Hilarious Advice For The Baby Years" and episode 105 "A Guide To Help You NOT DIE Through The Toddler Years".   The school years are full of ups and downs, triumphs and tribulations.  They're bumpy for your kids too.  The three hosts of the Family Looking Up Podcast (with a combined 15 kids between the three of them) share their thoughts, hilarious fails, and a nugget or two of wisdom they gleaned along the way.  This is an episode you won't want to miss!

Ep. 116.  Surviving The School Years - Beth, Andrea and Camille

Kami Kerby

Most parents have at least one strong willed kid.  Sometimes these kids bring some interesting challenges to unsuspecting parents.  Larry and Kami Kerby from "Parenting Rocks" are with us this week sharing lessons they've learned from Parenting With Love and Logic as they have dealt with strong willed kids in their home and in their practice. This episode is filled with lots of laughter, insight, and encouragement in your parenting journey!

Most parents have at least one strong willed kid.  Sometimes these kids bring some interesting challenges to unsuspecting parents.  Larry and Kami Kerby from "Parenting Rocks" are with us this week sharing lessons they've learned from Parenting With Love and Logic as they have dealt with strong willed kids in their home and in their practice. This episode is filled with lots of laughter, insight, and encouragement in your parenting journey!

Ep. 122. Parenting Strong Willed Kids - Guests - Larry and Kami Kerby

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