Stay ConnectedWelcome to Hi, Fam! Learn how to blend ancient wisdom with modern living to design a family life you love.
Your host, Avital (pronounced Ah-Vee-Tal), is a designer, parenting coach, and mother of five on a mission to guide parents to build unbreakable homes, create passionate marriages, and raise resilient kids.
Tune in weekly for no-nonsense myth-busting, tough love, fascinating conversations, and deep dives into controversial subjects.
Learn more at hifam.com
Can babies play independently? Is that even possible? Or is it something that only develops later (if at all)? The answer is...they can! And in this episode I'm going to talk about 10 ways they can play and how to encourage them to do so.
[01:05] #1 - Don't entertain your baby
[02:39] #2 - Le Pause
[04:13] #3 - Don't overstimulate - keep it simple
[06:23] #4 - Don't interfere
[07:52] #5 - Keep things low
[09:20] #6 - Keep trying
[10:59] #7 - Try different times
[12:43] #8 - Try different positions
[13:38] #9 - Make sure they're comfortable
[14:21] #10 - Experiment with music
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
Resources:
Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/97
When you're pregnant, it can be so hard to get enough sleep. Between the hormones and feeling so uncomfortable, it can be very hard to sleep. And if you have other children or issues in the mix, it can be even more challenging to get the rest we need.
While there certainly are some things outside of our control, there are quite a few things that are within our control. In that light, I'd like to offer 10 suggestions to help you prioritize sleep so you can get more rest.
[01:39] 1. Keep your bedroom clean and tidy
[03:11] 2. Use calming fragrances
[03:37] 3. Use comfy PJs and sheets
[04:58] 4. Keep your room cooler
[06:11] 5. Use comfy pillows
[06:51] 6. Reduce light exposure
[10:04] 7. Talk to your health care provider about sleep supplements
[11:25] 8. Drink more water in the morning and less in the evening
[12:05] 9. Try out some gadgets and gizmos
[13:36] 10. Go to bed earlier
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
Resources:
Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/96
Do you ever hate this whole parenting thing? There's absolutely no shame here...I think most parents feel this way at some point in their parenting journey.
In this episode I'm going to cover 10 reasons you might hate parenting, and most importantly what you can do about it.
[00:53] 1 - haven't come to terms with your own childhood
[03:02] 2 - You're still waiting to be parented yourself
[05:39] 3 - Your home is a mess
[07:29] 4 - You haven't stepped into your leadership role yet
[10:06] 5 - You're giving waaaay too much of yourself
[13:40] 6 - You're not addressing key behaviors that are disruptive
[16:06] 7 - You're not sleeping enough
[19:00] 8 - You're not making it fun for you
[22:33] 9 - You're comparing yourself to others
[25:18] 10 - You have a fixed mindset
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!
Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
Resources:
Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/95
Let's talk depression. First I want to say that I have gone through seasons where I needed professional help, and there's absolutely no shame in that. If you feel you need some help, please don't hesitate. It can make a world of difference.
But even if you're not feeling clinically depressed, it's common to go through seasons of feeling "the blues" or feeling down. Thankfully, there are some things we can do to help bolster our mood and help us feel better!
In this episode I'm going to give you 15 things you can do when you're feeling down.
[00:45] 1 - Normalize
[02:56] 2 - Express don't suppress
[04:23] 3 - Seek professional help
[05:54] 4 - Do "The Work" by Byron Katie
[06:40] 5 - Get outside
[07:18] 6 - Get a listening partnership
[08:33] 7 - Get enough sleep
[09:14] 8 - Move your body
[10:09] 9 - Laugh (watch some comedy)
[10:47] 10 - Pamper yourself
[11:25] 11 - Eat well
[12:58] 12 - Check if you need supplements or a dietary change
[13:14] 13 - Cleanse your mental diet
[14:41] 14 - Take a break from social media
[15:10] 15 - Help others
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
Resources mentioned:
Books about CBT:
Books about mindset:
Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/94
Do you feel overwhelmed by your life at home with young children? I'm a mother of 5, I run my own business, I homeschool part-time...I have a lot on my plate (and I'm sure you do too).
It can be so easy to feel overwhelmed! But we're not helpless. There are things within our control that can make a big difference and reduce the overwhelm in our lives.
In this episode I'll give you 10 tips to help you reduce the overwhelm.
[00:52] #1 Declutter
[02:37] #2 Create storage systems
[03:58] #3 Clean as you go
[06:01] #4 Batch your cooking
[08:03] #5 Develop consistency & routine
[10:18] #6 Buy things in sets
[12:05] #7 Store similar things together
[14:21] #8 Create a family color pallette
[16:36] #9 Get clear on your vision
[17:53] #10 Put systems in place
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
Resources:
In our culture it's quite acceptable to wear yoga pants all day, have cheerios in your hair, have spit up on your shirt, and always look a little bit like a hot mess once you become a mom.
And you know what? It's OK if you do! Being a mom is exhausting and demanding.
Compared to the childless life, it's a lot harder to look and feel phenomenal as you're running around after toddlers all day, taking care of newborns all night, chauffeuring kids around all day, preparing lunches, making loads of meals, washing loads of dishes, cleaning all the time, and the list goes on. I get it. I really get it.
I'm not a lifestyle, fashion and makeup guru, but I do know this: when I feel put together, somewhat taken care of, and I like the way that I look, I operate better. I'm a much more patient, upbeat, and positive person.
So I happen to think that it's an incredibly powerful parenting tool to make yourself feel like the best version of yourself. When we feel good and feel confident going out into the world we have more energy to show up for our children with more love, patience, energy, space and joy! We just have more of ourselves to give.
In this episode I'll give you 8 tips to help feel phenomenal as a mom with littles!
[02:33] #1 - Don't snooze
[05:07] #2 - Get dressed in the morning
[06:51] #3 - Do something to take care of yourself in the morning
[08:29] #4 - Add fragrance to yourself and/or your home
[09:41] #5 - Play music you love
[11:00] #6 - Make food you love
[13:55] #7 - Take time to do little things for yourself throughout the day.
[15:58] #8 - Take care of yourself at night
[19:03] Speaking of nighttime...go to bed earlier!
[20:42] Feeling phenomenal as a parent is a form of good parenting!
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
In this episode I'll be addressing a question from a member of our Present Play community.
Tracy from Georgia asked what to do when your children use rude or inappropriate language, and also how to address their negative self-talk.
Thank you for your question Tracy! You are certainly not alone in this struggle. All parents are presented with these challenges (including myself).
There are a few ways to go about it, but I'd like to talk about my preferred approach.
[04:59] Keep in mind: Childhood development is a slow process. Changes are gradual and it takes time, repetition, and consistency.
[06:22] Typical approach #1: Authoritarian Approach
[09:02] Typical approach #2: Permissive Approach
[11:20] 3rd option: Be calm but firm and address the situation.
[12:16] We have to be responsive to the situation, but not reactive.
[12:30] Step 1: Pause, breathe, and calm yourself down. Then state clearly and calmly to yourself and your child what you DO want to see.
[13:23] Say to yourself "I will respond when I've gathered myself and collected my thoughts."
[15:14] Step 2: Calmly explain what will happen if they continue. Just a logical consequence for continuing.
[17:00] It's not a threat or punishment. We're trying to teach them what the results of certain behaviors are.
[17:34] Step 3: Follow through immediately.
[21:13] How to address a child's negative self talk.
[22:38] Center yourself. This is a normal part of childhood and every child needs to work through it.
[25:22] Help them focus on the right things.
[25:53] We're trying to teach our children what advances their agenda and what takes away from it.
[30:36] The energy at which we have these interactions is the most important factor.
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
When you're home with young children it can feel really overwhelming and stressful. Between all the messes, the tantrums, the whining, the noise, and the smells, it can make your home a place you want to escape from instead of a place to escape to.
In this episode I'll give you 10 practical tips to bring more pleasure, peace, joy, fun, and energy into your home.
[02:07] #1 - Add some plants
[04:51] #2 - Play music
[06:23] #3 - Use aromas and fragrances
[08:11] #4 - Keep surfaces clear
[11:06] #5 - Decorate with affirming words
[12:55] #6 - Print and display family photos
[14:49] #7 - Use neutral colors
[17:46] #8 - Use natural and soft lighting
[20:15] #9 - Add beautiful objects (and remove ugly objects)
[24:31] #10 - Comfortable furniture pieces
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/90
Do you ever feel like you don't want to do this anymore? This parenting thing, I mean. The nagging, the fighting, the wining, the dishes, the laundry, feeling tired and drained and sometimes, hopeless. Angry. Vengeful.
Exhausted.
We all go through seasons like this. But the good news is we don't have to stay there. One thing that can make a huge difference and give you the extra push to get through the lows is to create a vision for your family.
That's what I want to talk about today.
[02:53] What do we do when we don't feel like we can keep going?
[04:37] That's why it's so important to have a vision.
[05:35] We need to understand what it's all for.
[06:07] We all need a vision for our families
[06:57] If you don't already have one, it's time to start working on it!
[07:18] Examples, to get the creative juices flowing...
[07:54] It needs to be meaningful. Something to get you up in the morning. Something worth fighting for.
[08:44] If you'd like help crafting yours, I've put together a package to guide you through the process step by step.
Creating a big juicy vision for your family will help you push through the challenging times. It'll provide a north star, a guiding light, taking you closer to what you really want for you and your family.
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
Resources:
Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/89
Many people find they lose aspects of their identity when they have kids. Can you relate? This year has certainly made it more challenging to hold onto our identities. Many things in our lives have been "lost" (or put on hold) during the pandemic, and it has been hard.
If you're feeling like you've lost yourself, this episode is for you.
[00:36] Join me in my free challenge, Finish Strong!
[05:34] Ready to create the vision for your family?
[05:39] Many of us feel a loss of identity as we enter parenthood.
[05:56] Let's evaluate the source of our identity
[06:57] Changes in life can change our identities.
[08:05] The things we are or do make for superficial identities.
[09:48] Where else can we find our identity?
[12:36] Start focusing more on the "how" and less on the "what"
As we start to focus more on how we show up, how we go about our days, we'll find that our identities are much more stable and steady in the face of adversity. The "what" might change, but how we show up remains constant.
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.
Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.
Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.
Resources:
Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/88
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