Simple Families

Latest Episodes:

Marie’s Story Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a journey to simplicity. Marie, a Simple Families community member is giving us a closer look inside her day-to-day life. She’s been working towards simplicity for over a year and has found that a simpler life improves her well-being and the overall harmony of her family.

Marie and I discuss her adventure in decluttering the physical “stuff” in the home, as well as scaling back on the calendar to find more peace and quiet in the way they spend their time together. Thanks for sharing your journey with us, Marie!

The post Marie’s Story appeared first on Simple Families.

Q&A | Should you make kids apologize? Jan 14, 2020

Show notes

Should we insist that our kids apologize or say “I’m sorry”? I actually don’t. However, both my kids have come to apologize and express authentic empathy in their early years (without my demanding it). They have learned to do so naturally through their environment.

When it comes to teaching manners and empathy, we can cue our kids to use certain expressions. But often it’s not about teaching. It’s about exposing them to things like manners and empathy in their influential relationships with adults. Children learn better through exposure in their natural environment. So instead of direct teaching, we can show them how it’s done ourselves.

Timestamps:

1:18 // Something Simple I’m Loving: Knowledge Encyclopedia
2:51 // About our big book overhaul: Reading Aloud + Our Book Overhaul
5:45 // Today’s Sponsor: Care/Of
7:04 // Today’s Question: Should you make kids apologize?

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Sleep + Parenthood Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

In three years of podcasting, I’ve never shared my own views on sleep. This is not an accident. The reality is that I’m afraid to approach this divisive topic. I do have a lot of opinions on the topic, but today–I’m sharing the 7 most important things I’ve learned about sleep and parenthood in my own life.

Time Stamp:

1:01 // Episode disclaimer
1:53 // Episode sponsor: Native
2:50 // Simplify Food + Family Live Workshop
4:10 // Listener spotlight with Renee
5:40 // Let’s talk sleep

7 Tips on Improving Sleep in Parenthood

7:58 // Setting goals and expectations
10:28 // Martyrdom
13:03 // Calm Confidence
16:05 // Limit setting
18:40 // Thinking outside the box
21:32 // Accepting help
25:04 // The extinction burst
25:32 // Recap

The post Sleep + Parenthood appeared first on Simple Families.

Q&A | How do you get kids to sleep in? Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

How do you get your kids to sleep in later? That’s the question for the day. Although there is no magic bullet, I have a few tips to help you move in the right direction. Including some strategies around using an “Okay to wake clock”. I’m also sharing something simple that I’m loving this week.

Time Stamps

1:27 Introducing live workshops this month: Simplify Food + Family
2:30 ‘Something Simple’ I’m loving this week: Hoopla
4:57 Question for the week
5:30 Message from the sponsor: ButcherBox
6:30 Response for the question for the week
Link to Hatch Rest Lamp

The post Q&A | How do you get kids to sleep in? appeared first on Simple Families.

Find Your People Jan 02, 2020

Show notes

Happy New Year! Today we are talking about the Simple Families “word for the year”: Community. Building a community in parenthood can feel like “one more thing” we have to do. But it’s invaluable to you and your family as you grow, change, and face the rollercoaster of life with kids. In this episode, I’m joined by my friends Erica Layne from The Life on Purpose Movement, Zoë Kim from Raising Simple, and Rachelle Crawford from Abundant Life with Less. We are sharing more about our own experiences with community throughout parenthood.

Find Erica online:

Find Zoë online:

Find Rachelle online:

The post Find Your People appeared first on Simple Families.

My Year Without Alcohol Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

Back in January, I joined the sober curious movement as I gave up alcohol for the year as a New Year’s Resolution. It was an amazing year and I learned so much about myself. Today I’m sharing my month-by-month experience and Brooke Conley joins me for moral support.

Show Notes/Links:

SFP 128: Living Coffee ’til Cocktails [with Brooke Conley]
SFP 141: Q&A – Can you tell us more about your 2019 resolution?
Recommended book to give up drinking: Annie Grace’s The Naked Mind
Reach Brooke Conley on Instagram + Her website

The post My Year Without Alcohol appeared first on Simple Families.

Scoot Over and Make Some Room Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

Stepping into new spaces can make anyone uncomfortable. For many of us, developing a relationship with an individual with special needs might be new territory. In today’s episode, we have Mama/Author/Advocate Heather Avis sharing her ideas about raising kids with kindness and moving towards inclusion.

“When we walk into the world with our children we know we are different. What we want is for people to embrace us, not turn away from us.”

Heather Avis

Learn more about Heather
Find Heather on Instagram
Heather’s Book: Scoot Over and Make Some Room

The post Scoot Over and Make Some Room appeared first on Simple Families.

Q&A | How to Talk to Kids about Santa Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

Are you wondering how to talk to your kids about Santa? That’s what we are chatting about today.

Actually, I’m introducing something brand new today! Starting in 2020, I’ll be adding a second weekly episode to the Simple Families Podcast. In addition to the regular weekly episode, I’ll be adding a shorter form episode. Today, I’m sharing an example of how exactly this will look.

The new episode will be in two main parts: We’ll start the episode off with a Q&A segment where I answer a question from an audience member. Then, we’ll move on and discuss “Something Simple” that I am loving each week–which may be a concept, a book, a product or anything else.

I invite you to send me your contributions for the show!

Show Notes/List

The post Q&A | How to Talk to Kids about Santa appeared first on Simple Families.

Gillian's Story Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

In today’s episode, I’m bringing you a Journey to Simplicity. I’m chatting with Dr. Gillian Goddard, a physician living outside of New York City with her husband and four kids. Although Gillian’s life may feel anything but simple, she and her family have made strides towards finding the balance and rhythm that works for their family.

Show Notes/Links:

Photo by Alison Sheehy

The post Gillian's Story appeared first on Simple Families.

Holiday Gift Guide Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

Ready for a mindset shift around gifts this holiday season? In today’s episode, we are discussing how to gift with intention. This includes shifting the conversation around gift-giving with your kids and choosing gifts that will keep-on-giving. I’m also sharing the 10 items on the Simple Families 2019 Holiday Gift Guide.

Show Notes/Links

Shifting the conversation about gifts
Buying more intentionally this holiday season
The problem with experience gifts
Front-loaded vs. back-loaded gifts
My Holiday Prep chat with Erica, Rachelle, and Zoë
How to Get Your Kid to Play Independently Podcast Episode
How to talk with extended family about intentional gift-giving:

“Our kids love spending time with you and I’ve enjoyed seeing your relationship grow. I fear that too many packages may distract them from appreciating all the wonderful gifts that you bring as a person. I want them to look forward to special time with you more than they do the gifts. How can we work together to keep them focused on the important stuff?” [Quote from Denaye’s Book Simple Happy Parenting]

2019 Holiday Gift List Links

Ocean Bingo + Sea Life Book
Library Book System: Book Bin + Book Tote
Green Kids Crafts (Code EARLY70/GIFT40)
Storyworth
Family Collage: Large Canvas + Paint + Decoupage
Sprout-Kids: Table + Stools + Chairs (Code SIMPLE10)
Mindfulness Kit: Little Renegades Cards + Lavender Spray + Mindfulness Book
Binoculars (Kid-sized Day/Night Version) + Stargazing App + Moon/Constellation Books
Sticker Puzzles: Adult + Child
Meri Cherry’s Book + Essential Art Supplies (find her list in the book on page 12)

This post contains affiliate links, your support is appreciated!

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