OkayCon FREE Virtual Summit happening now

If you're not sure how much more of this whole stuck-at-home stuff you can take, go to okaycon.com for a new, relevant interview each Monday and Wednesday, and a watch party each Monday and Wednesday evening throughout April! We will get through this together <3

I recorded this before our current "double pandemic" (of Covid-19, and Fear). But it seems especially relevant now:

Can you, or should you, train your child to play independently?
Do you negatively impact a child by playing with them often?
Do you feel guilty, whether you say "yes, I'll play," or "no, not right now"?

One member of our Ninja Parenting Community brought up these, and many other questions regarding independent play (her questions reference an only child... but this applies to all parents.)

Join us today to listen as I share the answers to these questions!
(Click weturnedoutokay.com/327 to view the video and see the notes.)

Key Links:

What we're doing here at WTOO to help you through the pandemic:

All during April's OkayCon 2020 Virtual Summit we're having live watch parties, so we can keep each other company in this era where we all need that!
Sign up to be notified about the guests and watch parties:
https://weturnedoutokay.com/weekly

Find out details about the summit itself:
http://okaycon.com

Like me, you are probably feeling all kinds of fear, anxiety, and worry right now.
Besides which, you are also likely sheltering in place with kids – whose behavior is leaving a lot to be desired at the moment!

That’s why I am offering a special membership rate, just $1 for your whole first month! It's the Friends & Family rate, available for a limited time at the following link:
https://weturnedoutokay.com/joinNPC

Our first Pandemic Parenting News:

Click here for the NYT parenting article in which a bouncer, a referee, and a therapist all help you stop your kids from fighting.

Click here for the hilarious and wonderful essay "We, The Hard-Working, Newly Homeschooling Parents of America, have Rewritten the Common Core Standards."

Click here for the Boston Globe article "Seven activities keeping my family sane during isolation."

Click here for @childlifesaver's wonderful post, "How to help kids wear masks," in Instagram.

Wishing you well throughout this unprecedented time! We will get through it together <3

Today's conversation is part of the OkayCon Virtual Summit! - Not sure how much more of this whole stuck-at-home stuff you can take? Go to okaycon.com for a new, relevant interview each Monday and Wednesday, and a watch party each of those weeknights! We will get through this together <3

Dr. Heather Maguire's day job is that of professor, teaching graduate students how to shape children's behavior.
My day job is that of parent coach, teaching moms and dads how to, well, shape their children's behavior.

Today we interview each other – so you get the best ideas on how to shape your child's behavior to what you want (and need) it to be, as well as the best ideas on how to homeschool and keep it together during this whole crisis.
Even, how to make this into a positive experience, something you and your kiddos can look back on as an adventure that you were on together.

Join us!

Special Parenting Help for You during the Pandemic

Get the help and support you need during this crisis!

I'm bringing Ninja Parenting Community members:
– Support through these tough weeks and months
– My child-development expertise, so you can cut the chaos in your home
– Steps to take that you can feel confident in, right from the start!

I am offering NPC membership at a never-before-seen rate:
$1 for your whole first month
… and then a 50% discount off the standard monthly rate : )

Join the Ninja Parenting Community today:
https://weturnedoutokay.com/joinNPC

Go to okaycon.com to watch Heather, and to watch for upcoming presenters at OkayCon 2020!

Click weturnedoutokay.com/326 for notes and links we discuss today : )

How, you might be wondering, are we actually really going to get through this time?

You're not alone in wondering that. I have been wondering about it too.

I've also been feeling terribly guilty, any time that I forget we are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and find myself enjoying something, or laughing at a joke, or feeling contented.

So today I want to bring you an episode that defines our most important asset, the single most important thing we need to get through this (or any) time of trouble.

I hope you find it helpful! (Click here for this post in your browser.)

Here are all the links I share about today:

1. Click here for the poem that brought me to tears, and also gave me permission to not feel guilty, but to embrace good feelings.

2. Click here for episode 188, my conversation with Mark McGuinness of the 21st century creative podcast.

3. Click here for the McElroy Family YouTube channel, where you'll find the wonderful series Stories From Your Gaffer, read each evening at 5:30 PM Eastern by Clint McElroy, one of my favorite podcasters ever.

4. Click here for The Adventure Zone, where I first heard Clint McElroy – but please, not with kiddos around!

5. Click here for my conversation with Audrey Monke, broadcast last Friday (in real-time) at Audrey's Sunshine Parenting Facebook page.

6. Click here for episode 273, my second We Turned Out Okay conversation with Audrey, about her wonderful book, Happy Campers.

7. Click here for my conversation as a guest on the wonderful #Am Writing Podcast; I share about my experience doing everything digital by voice, after losing the ability to use my hands to accomplish digital – and lots of analog – tasks.

8. If you are a Ninja Parenting Community member, click here for member Jen's success story, about helping her daughter overcome fears about coronavirus and house fires. She did this in such a cool way (I read out the success story today in this episode).
Not a member? Click here to become one.

9. Click OkayCon.com for OkayCon 2020, the FREE Virtual Summit going on right now here at We Turned out Okay!

10. Click here to join the Facebook group – that way you can be part of the OkayCon 2020 watch parties every Monday and Wednesday evening at 8 PM Eastern!

11. I share HUGE news today, about the Happy-in-Place Challenge going on in The Ninja Parenting Community (it starts on April 16, my birthday : )
Right now you can join NPC for just $1 for your first month and each consecutive month thereafter at 50% off the standard monthly rate! You can cancel at any time, so there is no risk… Only the hope, support, and accountability that membership brings.
Go to weturnedoutokay.com/joinnpc for details and to sign up!

Today we are bringing back – for the fifth time! – beloved guest, an expert in teaching kids coping skills, Janine Halloran LMHC of copingskillsforkids.com.
We discuss:
– How Janine is thinking about school work and all this extra time at home with kids and family
– The kinds of questions her clients are bringing to her right now, in spring 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic
– Why a child's behavior is most likely worse than usual right now
– What you can do about that, if that's the case in your home

Join us!
(Click the following link for the video of our talk, and also notes from today's conversation: weturnedoutokay.com/324)

How are you staying positive? Let me know!

In our Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1607987166145505/

in Instagram:
http://instagram.com/weturnedoutokay

in Twitter:
http://twitter.com/weturnedoutokay

All during April's FREE OkayCon 2020 Virtual Summit we're having live watch parties, so we can keep each other company in this era where we all need that!

Sign up to be notified about the guests and watch parties:
https://weturnedoutokay.com/weekly

Join the We Turned Out Okay Facebook group, where the watch parties are happening each Monday and Wednesday all through April, by clicking here.

Find out details about the summit itself:
http://okaycon.com

We will get through this together : )
Cheers!
Karen
Karen Lock Kolp, M.Ed. of https://weturnedoutokay.com

Helping parents change kids' behavior from bad to good, feel happy inside, and TRULY enjoy family time : )

PS Join my email newsgroup for lots of useful, free parenting tools, as well as lots of info on OkayCon, our Virtual Summit that is ongoing right now: sign up at weturnedoutokay.com/weekly

If you need some extra support, especially right now with all the madness, I'm offering special membership rates if you want to join our private coaching community, NPC. Click here for details and to join, so I can personally help you through this extremely challenging time!

Hey friends! I hope everyone you love is doing okay. And if you're going a little stir crazy, I hope I can help!

I've been working hard behind the scenes to put together a Virtual Summit, bringing you the best ideas, from experts in their fields, to help you through this double pandemic – of Covid 19, and Fear.

So! Each Monday and Wednesday at OkayCon.com during April 2020 I'm releasing presentations by experts in:
– Children's behavior
– Home and family security
– Helping children through this time
– How to find a job if you've been laid off
– and lots more!

Each Monday and Wednesday I'm posting the presentation at OkayCon.com, and simulcasting in YouTube and Facebook.

And each Monday and Wednesday evening at 8 PM EST we're having a watch party in the We Turned Out Okay Facebook group – click here to join our group (and use that link to invite anyone you think needs a boost!)

Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly to get notified automagically about the presentation for that day, and the watch party for that night!

I know this is a scary time. It's scary for me too! But we will get through this together.

I'm so grateful for you, and I am hopeful that I can bring you some help and support right now.

Cheers and I'll see you each Monday and Wednesday (starting tomorrow!) in April for OkayCon 2020 <3

Karen

During our Ninja Parenting Community live members only call last week, many members expressed frustration with all the list of activities coming at us, but the lists are often in a somewhat disorganized fashion.

So I wanted to give you a list, organized by how much time/input required by us parents!

Read the complete list at: weturnedoutokay.com/323

Announcing OkayCon, We Turned Out Okay's FREE virtual summit!
All the first week of April 2020, and into the second week of April 2020 (and possibly beyond : ) I am bringing you, completely free, presentations by people with answers you need right now:
– How to keep your family and home safe and secure
– How to foster the coping skills necessary to get through all this
– How to stock up and what to cook right now
– How to occupy the hours that you are stuck at home with your kiddo
– And lots more!
Go to okaycon.com for details (and also to watch starting next week!)

You are not alone.
If you've got questions or just feel like you cannot go on, email me and we can talk about it (I share my email address in today's episode)!

Join my Weekly Parenting Newsletter group for support, good information, and ideas for staying sane right now: weturnedoutokay.com/weekly

Get the extra support and encouragement you need right now by joining our private coaching community, the Ninja Parenting Community – at the Friends & Family rate, $1 for your whole first month - at weturnedoutokay.com/joinNPC

Also, lots of hugs coming your way for me!
We will get through this together <3

So, I say I'm going to drop an F bomb in the beginning segment of this episode, but we decided to edit it out, so no worries about earmuffs :-)

Re coronavirus: I had an anxiety attack this morning, before I was even fully awake. To help you in case you are experiencing heightened anxiety right now as well, I start off today’s show with audio from a video series I’m doing on how to feel better during this time of fear, worry, and coronavirus threats.

The video has its own post, with a cheat sheet of the ways I’m finding to alleviate the anxieties, available at https://weturnedoutokay.com/cv2

Go to https://weturnedoutokay.com/weekly to get these videos automagically delivered right into your inbox. We will get through this together 💕

———————-
Re the new ninja tactic:

I am SO excited to share this with you, a new ninja tactic that is absolutely great for regulating screen time!
Do you struggle with getting your kids to stop watching TV, or the tablet, or stop using your (or their) phone?
This is the show for you. I lay out exactly what words to say, to make this work – to get your kids to listen to you and actually control the screen time!
Join us : )

Here is the link to this post

Links that come up in this episode:
– weturnedoutokay.com/weekly, where you can sign up for the newsletters I send out each week! They are extremely useful, like this one about what to do when your child is disrespectful, and plus I love corresponding with you!

– The original post by our NPC member, who first brought this ninja tactic to my attention

– creatingchampionsforlife.com, the place our NPC member first learned of this tactic

– Bonnie and Thomas's video, outlining the tactic

– Positive Discipline Ninja Tactics, my first book, which contains lots more tools you can use in the stressful moments of parenting to get your kids to do what you want them to do : )

– weturnedoutokay.com/joinnpc, where you can become a member of the Ninja Parenting Community (just as this member did) and learn to overcome the challenges that are stopping you from truly enjoy family time

Thanks for reading, and listening!

Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough!
Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then
Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks.

Today's guests have written a book, called Screen Schooled, which has had a huge impact on how I think about my teenagers and their educations.
I found Matt Miles' and Joe Clement's book so compelling, and so full of great ideas for helping teens navigate the modern technical world, that I knew I wanted their take on young kids and tech. (They are both parents, each raising young children in their families.)
I knew I wanted to bring that perspective to you!
We discuss:
– How 21st-century skills are the same skills that human beings have needed throughout history
– What those most important skills are (hint: they are not tapping/swiping/navigating in our devices)
– How to incorporate technology into your life and family, for the biggest benefits and least amount of frustration and worry
– Matt and Joe's responses to some fantastic We Turned Out Okay Facebook group questions:
"Any advice on what is actually helpful for preschoolers when it comes to learning and technology? There are a million apps and games billed as "educational" but what's actually beneficial?"

"Often I hear the advice to "talk to your children about what they're watching/playing"… So far the only times I've used this technique is to help them see why a certain game is questionable. I don't otherwise ENJOY talking about the inane stuff they choose to do on their devices, so talking to them about it positively is really hard. What advice do these teachers have?"

"Will our children fall behind if they are not introduced to much technology at young ages?"

"I'm interested to hear how things have changed during [Matt and Joe's] careers, and how they anticipate things evolving in the future… Since most of us have little kids and it's hard to conceive of the world they'll be living in 10 to 15 years from now."

Hope you enjoy this conversation!

(Here is the link to this post : )

PS One place where you can get help with your challenges while raising little kids is the online community that I run, NPC.
During January 2020 you can spend your whole first month in the community for just $1! Click here for details.)

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
I've written newsletters on everything from remaining calm when they are throwing dirt at each other, to what to do when you feel like a failure.
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

When my husband Ben went grocery shopping this weekend, there were empty shelves instead of many things we normally get. Earlier in the day there had been not one but two fistfights in our local grocery store over supplies!

If you're worrying about interruptions in the supply chain, the stock market, and other factors related to (or attributed to, anyway) coronavirus, you are not alone.

And right off the bat I want to say: we will get through this together.

How we get through this is how we get through any crisis: by not panicking. By staying positive. With LOTS of handwashing. And by helping our family members feel safe.

Today I'm sharing ideas for talking with your kids about coronavirus, as well as the best ideas I've learned regarding prevention and containment.
I am a child development expert, not a doctor, so I am linking here to several resources that have excellent information on stuff that is out of my purview, such as: Number of cases; who is most likely to get infected; how can you limit your chances of getting coronavirus; and how can you keep kids from getting it, or the flu.

Read on for 14 ideas to help your family, watch the video above to round out those ideas (and check the bottom of this post for the bonus podcast episode I'm doing; should be out sometime late in the first week of March 2020) – and most of all take heart.

We will get through this, together <3

Screens are here to stay – which is awesome on the one hand, and completely frightening on the other.
Especially when it comes to little kids.
It's so hard to know:
– what is the right amount of screen time
– what is damaging or detrimental
– how to come up with guidelines about this in the first place
– how to implement those guidelines in the second

We discuss all of this today – in fact, we are talking kids and tech all month!

Join us as we kick off with a show about the basics:
Good guidelines to keep in mind with kids and technology, and also how you can implement those guidelines.
Click play to dive in!

Here's a cheat sheet for this episode:

The guidelines –
1. We all need boredom in our lives.
Having digital (or nondigital, for that matter) distractions for every moment when we might feel bored creates people who do not know how to amuse themselves.
It even creates people who don't know themselves.
So while it might not feel great, making sure that kids have a chance to be bored and need to figure out how to amuse themselves is super important.

2. Less is more.
The more time digital devices spend turned over and put away on a high shelf, the better.

3. Don't let tech interfere with human connection and bonding.

How to implement the guidelines –
1. Pick your time with care.
2. Put the tech away, for lots of every day.
3. Always, ALWAYS be sure to watch YouTube along with your kids.
As kids and media specialist Devorah Heitner says, "there is no safe way for young children to watch YouTube alone."
4. Mind your own tech use as well.

Here are the links that come up in today's episode:
– The newsletter I did about YouTube, the most dangerous place on the Internet.
(And here is where you can sign up to get future newsletters delivered right into your inbox : )

– Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, a great PBS show

– Anti-bullying expert Brooks Gibbs invites kids to try and bully him

– https://weturnedoutokay.com/joinnpc, the place where you can work closely with me to solve your biggest parenting challenges, feel happy inside, and truly enjoy family time <3

Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough!
Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then
Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks.

Thanks for listening and reading!

What do you do when:
– Your six-year-old witnessed a traumatic event, and is so traumatized that he feels he can never be away from your side
– Your four-year-old "really misses mommy and daddy" and cannot enjoy his enrichment class
– You fear your three-year-old's "declining independence," because she increasingly needs you by her side as she is going potty, getting dressed, and going to sleep at night
– Your seven-year-old is afraid to be alone in the upstairs of your house, while you are downstairs
– Your 11-year-old is feeling anxious about getting separated while skiing

Each of these situations come up in today's Live Case Study…
Join us and find out how to handle each!

PS - 50% off the annual Ninja Parenting Community rate

NPC member BabyBrain worried about her daughter's fear of being alone in any room in their new house – so, she asked for help.
And I created an entire course on handling your child's clingy behavior.
This course is a drop in the bucket of all the resources available for you there, to help you enjoy family time more.

This Leap Year, take the leap – 50% off Annual NPC membership!

Jump into the Ninja Parenting Community and start enjoying family life for real!
Click here for details, and to join at this amazing rate!

The following links come up in today's Case Study:

My conversation with Dr. Laura Markham in episode 255 of the We Turned Out Okay podcast, https://weturnedoutokay.com/255

Some fantastic downloads by Dr. Deborah MacNamara, including one about "what kids worry about at different ages" http://macnamara.ca/downloads/

The link where you can learn more about how to work closely with me, solving your biggest parenting challenges to get you feeling happy inside yourself and also enjoying family time: https://weturnedoutokay.com/joinnpc

Cheers! And thanks for watching/listening!
Karen
Karen Lock Kolp, M.Ed.

Website: https://weturnedoutokay.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/weturnedoutokay

Helping parents change kids' behavior from bad to good, feel happy inside, and TRULY enjoy family time : )

So, there's a tiny swear, the word bada**, in the break of today's episode… while I'm sharing about last week's hospitalization of one of my sons.

(There is also an invitation to you, to join the Ninja Parenting Community at 50% off the standard annual rate! Click here for details : )

– A parenting book about showing up
– A new action-adventure podcast for kids ages 8 to 12
– An awesome ninja tactic for handling your child backtalk and disrespect
– A manifesto for parents by a beloved author
What do these all have in common?
They dive into the positive and important beliefs their creators have about raising kids – and being parents – in today's busy and frazzled world.
Listen in to this week's episode for lots of parenting news that will help you formulate and live your beliefs!
(Here is the link to this episode)

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
Past editions have included how to make it so your child wins the parent lottery (even if you did not), and helping when your child is frightened.
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Welcome! To listen to today's episode, scroll down to the very bottom of this post and hit the triangular "play" button. Enjoy the show!
Recently an NPC member brought up a hugely important issue, and it sparked a whole line of thinking for me that led us to this video!

Here's the issue: "It would be interesting to hear some data/facts on how harmful NOT disciplining your kids can be. So many times we focus on the negative effects of discipline – spanking, timeouts, etc., but what's easy to forget is just how dangerous it is to take a backseat parenting your children."

So let's have a parenting-style smackdown:
Which is worse, Passive or Dictatorial Parenting?

The winner is… Both!
The worst parts of passive parenting – the lack of boundaries and having any expectations about our children's behavior – and the worst parts of authoritarian (which here I'm calling dictatorial or autocratic) – exerting control, simply for control's sake – both amount to a kind of neglect.

• The passive parenting amounts to neglect because it is terrifying for children to not have any boundaries or expectations for good behavior.
• The authoritarian parenting amounts to neglect because in this style, no thought is given to the child's experience, thinking, or ability to reason.

What should we do instead?
We should try to hit the middle of the spectrum. Somewhere between the extremes of Passive, and Authoritarian, lies Authoritative, also called Wise. It's the kind of parenting that will help you raise healthy and happy kids.
"The children of psychologically Wise parents," Angela Duckworth writes in Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, fare better than children raised in any other kind of household."

We dive into all that today!
I hope it helps you garner the courage to make any necessary changes in your parenting style.

Links and notes at: weturnedoutokay.com/318
Special thank you to the ninja parent who asked this question. I hope this helps <3

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each week I send out a couple parenting newsletters, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
I just wrapped up a series on "Kids gone sideways," all about what to do when with meltdowns, disrespect, and potty training challenges…
Useful stuff!
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created some great resources to help your child handle it when the going gets tough!
Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then
Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks.

Will you be my Valentine? I have a special gift exclusively for newsletter subscribers… Click here to read my most recent newsletter (all about Valentine's Day) and to subscribe!

"Schools are way, way behind the times when it comes to what kids need today," one of today's guests, educational psychologist Dr. Rob Reiher, shares during our conversation.
Rob and his podcast cohost, Wayne Yercha, teamed up because they saw a disparity not just in schools, but in children's entertainment.

So they created two shows! Live Above the Noise is the "for parents" show about helping kids find, and listen to, their inner voice – and speaking personally, it's a show that survived my 2019 digital reset because they give real insight into how we can best raise our little kids.

Their other show, Shieldstar Knights, debuts this week! It's an action-adventure show for kids ages 8 to 12, and differs from most other kids' entertainment by solving problems in other ways besides violence. (It's definitely geared towards kids between eight and 12, it would be pretty scary for younger children! Maybe listen, before you introduce it to your kids, just to be sure : )
We dig into both, and lots more, in this episode of We Turned Out Okay.

Join us!

Click weturnedoutokay.com/317 for everything we talk about in today's episode : )

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each week I send out a couple parenting newsletters, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos. (This one is about enjoying Valentine's Day when you've got littles running around and includes the link to become a subscriber yourself.)
I just wrapped up a series on "Kids gone sideways," so you can learn what to do when even the basics are a challenge!
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Click here for the We Turned Out Okay Facebook group.

And if you need some extra support for the tough parts of your parenting journey, join the private coaching community that I run! Click here to find out more, and to join.

What we believe influences everything: our thoughts, our interactions, our relationships, and in the end our reality.
But it can be really hard to nail down what we actually believe.
In today's episode I take you into my beliefs, show you how I figured out what they are, and most importantly help you clarify your own.
It's a master class in getting the reality that you want most – both as a parent and as a person. I hope you find this episode helpful!

Click weturnedoutokay.com/316 for a cheat sheet on how to define your beliefs, and on the links that come up in today's episode.

Also – Throughout February, in Instagram, I am posting my beliefs!
Click Instagram.com/weturnedoutokay (or find @weturnedoutokay in the app) to see them!
Thanks for listening!

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each week I send out a couple parenting newsletters, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos. (In today's episode I talk about the most recent newsletter, on the role kindness plays in improving my health, as I have lived with a tendon disorder for eight and half years.)
We're doing a series right now on "Kids gone sideways," so you can learn what to do when even the basics are a challenge!
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created some great resources to help your child handle it when the going gets tough!
Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then
Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks.

Hey friends! I'm excited to be a part of the launch of a new podcast, FAM – For All Moms. In this quickie bonus episode, you get to hear from Susan and Sharzad, the creators themselves, about their journeys to motherhood. (Click here for the trailer and additional information about FAM.)

The podcast is available right now, so if you like what you hear, be sure to find FAM - For All Moms in your favorite podcatcher!

Enjoy!!

FYI: If you need support keeping your sanity while raising kiddos, try out my private coaching community (called the Ninja Parenting Community)! You can spend your whole first month in the community for just $1 -  but only when you join by Friday 1/31. Click here for details!)

--------------------------------

Welcome to our first ever Parenting News Roundup!
Over the month of January a theme has developed around here, with the interview and podcast episodes all relating to the idea of self worth.
This month I wanted to focus on parenting news that also had to do with us parents, feeling worthy and in tune with ourselves.
So, what does that have to do with boys, and medication for ADHD? You'll have to listen to find out : )

Click weturnedoutokay.com/315 for links to everything I talk about today, including the articles featured in today's Parenting News!

I'm teaching a Free Online Parenting Class on successful potty training this coming Thursday, January 30! Go to weturnedoutokay.com/successful for details and to register.

Ideas and Tools that Matter as You Raise Your Kids

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
I've written newsletters on everything from remaining calm when they are throwing dirt at each other, to handling hangry meltdowns and what that has to do with our own self-worth.
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

"My dad and stepmom are, simply put, selfish and controlling. They guilt me about not seeing my son more often, and usually want us to drive an hour out to their very not-kid-friendly house. How do I find a line of how often to see/talk to them that works for me and my kid?"
So writes one of our most beloved ninja parents, known in the Ninja Parenting Community forums as Mama Llama.
Maybe her feelings are familiar to you?
In this episode, I outline 5 ways for you to get control of your relationship with your folks (or your in-laws) – on your terms.
Join us!
Cheat sheet of the five ways, plus key links and other good stuff, are located at: weturnedoutokay.com/314

PS This subject is covered far more deeply in the community that I run, NPC.
During January 2020 you can spend your whole first month in the community for just $1! Click here for details.)

Parenting News that Matters as You Raise Your Kids

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
I've written newsletters on everything from remaining calm when they are throwing dirt at each other, to last week's, on handling hangry meltdowns and what that has to do with our own self-worth.
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

My wellness coach is here for YOU today!

"Linda," who's going incognito for our conversation, shares about so much:
– Her own wellness journey
– What it was like for her to raise a child with special needs
– How to get what you want out of life

Hope you enjoy this conversation and find it helpful!

Here is the link to the show notes for this episode : )

PS One place where you can get help with your own challenges while raising little kids is the online community that I run, NPC.
During January 2020 you can spend your whole first month in the community for just $1! Click here for details.)

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
I've written newsletters on everything from remaining calm when they are throwing dirt at each other, to what to do when you feel like a failure.
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Key Links

Click here for the VIA Character Institute website. Linda and I have used their Character Strength Tool and talk about it in today's conversation.

Click here for the We Turned Out Okay Facebook group.

Happy New Year!! In 2019 I had two goals:
1. To fit into my ski pants
2. To be in control of my food intake

If my ski pants fit, that meant I could go skiing and spend wonderful, exhilarating time with loved ones!
And if I could be in control of my food intake, that meant I wouldn't inadvertently hijack other goals that I had about health and weight loss.
Today I share about how I met those goals, through a 5-step process that I hope will be helpful as you work to achieve your goals!

Links and other stuff I share in this episode are located at weturnedoutokay.com/312

Join us!

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
We're doing a series right now on what to do when you feel like a failure, and who among us hasn't felt like that at some point?
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Cheat sheet of the 5 steps to get what you want out of life:

1. Declare yourself worthy.
This is a tough one! I do it with something that I call "mirror chats."

2. Decide what you want.
This one feels deceptively easy, but sometimes it can take a while to figure out what we actually want.

3. Decide where you want to be with that goal… By a certain date.

4. Take one small step most days, or weeks.

5. Assess how it's going once a week.
Also, as part of this, find something to celebrate each week.

My One Word is: ENOUGH
this was such a tough one, I had to choose between two words and the people in my email newsgroup were so helpful as I made my choice! If that was you, thank you so much!

Continuing in this end-of-year "big idea" line of thinking, one of our beloved Ninja Parenting Community members recently asked a huge, and great question:

"How can I relax and enjoy our relationship more and not feel like I'm always on the edge of discipline mode or like I should have handled things differently [with my 3-year-old]?"

Effectively she's asking: do I have to control my young child's behavior all the time, or is there anything else besides that?

Today's episode is my response.

Video, the notes I posted in NPC, and links to everything we talk about are located at weturnedoutokay.com/311

Join us!

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
We're doing a series right now on what to do when you feel like a failure, and who among us hasn't felt like that at some point?
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

"He asked me tonight who God was…"
When Ninja Parenting Community member Mama Llama shared about this conversation with her three-year-old, I knew you were going to want to hear about it too.

This is a short-and-sweet episode (and it's topsy-turvy, with the other stuff coming after the main part of the show, rather than before.)

But don't be fooled by its brevity. We talk about something big! So big, maybe it can only be glimpsed at by us. I am excited to share, somewhat different, episode with you.

Plus in Parenting News:
I read from a recent Miss Conduct column on in-laws, and parents, and boundaries – and how you can feel good about yours.
(Ninja parents: click here for the live, members-only call which comes up in today's Parenting News! If you're not yet a member, but you would like to become one, click here.)

PS If this is a holiday celebration time of year for you, I hope it's wonderful!

Join us!

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
We're doing a series right now on what to do when you feel like a failure, and who among us hasn't felt like that at some point?
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough!
Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then
Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks.

Link to this post: weturnedoutokay.com/310

I love this conversation. It's different from many of the others I've done, a little less focused on children and family… And more focused on how today's guest, Sunny Gault, found fulfillment within herself and built a career in helping other parents find fulfillment.

Consequently Sunny is able to love and support her family, as they love and support her.

Come with me on a deep dive into one mom's journey. You may, as I did, recognize yourself in Sunny's choices, thoughts, and actions.

You may also, as I did, learn a good deal about how you might build that fulfilling life yourself!

Join us!

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
We're doing a series right now on what to do when you feel like a failure, and who among us hasn't felt like that at some point?
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created some great resources to help your child handle it when the going gets tough!
Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then
Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks and activity books.

Link to this post: weturnedoutokay.com/309

This question came directly from a ninja parent with this problem:
"I can't identify a trigger but [my three-year-old] wakes up sometime around 1 to 3 AM and is just wide-awake and mad that it's not morning yet. Any tips on sleep stuff?"

In this episode we talk about what to do when your child wakes up in the middle of the night and doesn't want to go back to sleep.

Join us!

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
Past editions have included how to make it so your child wins the parent lottery (even if you did not), and helping when your child is frightened.
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough!
Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then
Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks.

Link to this post: weturnedoutokay.com/308

Welcome to the fourth and final installment in our series about school, and how it can screw up your child, and how to make sure that that does not happen!
Today we discuss the dangers that come with someone feeling continually assessed, judged, and evaluated.
I work really hard to give you ideas to overcome this challenge.

Plus in Parenting News:
I share about this documentary that I first watched in college as a human development major. (Based on this documentary… Some of what's in the other is also here, but there is more here that is not covered in the other. I recommend watching them both!)
Recently it came up again, and I'm excited because I get to share with you today!

Also! If you can be at the Bancroft Memorial Library in Hopedale, Massachusetts this coming Saturday 12/7 between noon and 3 PM, come say hi - I'll be there as an author in their local authors book fair : )

Join us!

Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter

Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos.
Past editions have included how to make it so your child wins the parent lottery (even if you did not), and helping when your child is frightened.
Useful stuff.
Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week!

Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough!
Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then
Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks.

Link to this post: weturnedoutokay.com/307