Family 360 Podcast

Suddenly and sadly, this is our last family360 episode. In this goodbye, we share ‘why we needed to end', ‘insights from a wonderful guest whose recorded interview we can't release', and ‘wisdom from guests whose words will linger on with us for years to come'. Join us for our heartfelt goodbye. We are so grateful for all who have listened to family360!

Today's question is probably one of the core causes of stress in young families; ‘How to manage the household mess!' In the episode, Dr. Koh explores… how to make cleaning into a game. How to compromise some of our standards so we can cohabit more peacefully. Finding our own special space where we can have ‘cleanliness control'. And supporting each other through the relentless task of tidying a home.

It's a known fact - hobbies make life happier! So, whether it's music, sports, arts, or otherwise, of course, we want our kids to find passions that fuel their creativity and enjoyment. However, when what should be ‘fun' starts to feel like ‘work', and our kids no longer want to practice or pursue a hobby, when do we push them to stick with it and when do we allow them to throw in the towel? Join our guest Dr. Christine Koh for her insights on When It Is Kind To Let Kids Quit - and when is it NOT!

In this episode, we're talking about chores. Why do kids need them? What are fair expectations? Do we pay our kids for help around the house? We're back with our keynote guest, Dr. Christine Koh. She's describing how chores build our child's life skills, and how to work together as partners and parents without making chores a chore! Join us for this practical episode!

Are the efforts and actions of your days bringing you joy and contentment? Or do you feel like you're going through meaningless motions? In this episode, we're talking about large and small life hacks. Our guest is the author of Minimalist Parenting, and Harvard-trained brain scientist, Dr. Christine Koh and she is helping us look at what we do, and why we do it, and encouraging us to edit and change. Join us!

When we feel we're being left out, it's tough. When we feel our kids are being left out, it's terrible! This week, parenting specialist and author of Peaceful Discipline, Sarah Moore addresses a question about how to help our children when they don't seem to be settled into the social realities of school - especially if they're not being invited to playdates and birthday parties. Join us!

Is there a correlation between a highly sensitive temperament and mental health concerns? Today, our guest Sarah Moore answers a question from a parent who is wondering about the intensity of her son's emotions. She sees his emotional highs, but notices, even more, his lows and wants to know if she should be concerned. Sarah is the director of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting and the author of her wonderful and newly released book, Peaceful Discipline

Highly sensitive kids feel the intensity of their emotions. Their highs tend to be higher and their lows tend to be lower. This week, our guest Sarah Moore answers a question from a listener who asks, “How do you support a highly sensitive child when you feel like you have to walk on eggshells?” Join us for her compassionate and insightful response.

‘High Sensitivity' is a temperament trait, meaning it's biologically based rather than learned or taught. A highly sensitive child is a child who is very affected and often reactive to environmental influences - sounds, smells, temperatures, and even the attitudes and moods of those around them. In this episode of family360, author and parenting specialist Sarah Moore shares the unique emotional language of a highly sensitive child and what they need from their parents in order to feel seen, loved, and validated.

Child experts agree that commenting on our daughter's appearance may suggest we value her looks over other qualities and this inadvertently damages her self-esteem and sense of worth. In this 3rd Q-note episode with Maggie Dent, Maggie delves into her own past problems with ‘prettiness' and shares her well-seasoned perspectives on helping girls find their inner beauty.

'People pleasing sounds like a positive pursuit,' thought the parent who wrote in today's question. It's not! People-pleasing involves dishonoring yourself to honor someone else. Maggie Dent suggests generations of patriarchy have pushed women toward people pleasing. She addresses this and more as she answers this great question about people pleasing and how parents unintentionally encourage their children to ‘make nice'.

A Mom's wondering if she can bypass hosting a birthday party for her soon to be 7 year old, without alienating her daughter's friendships at school. Her daughter attends at least one birthday party a month and she loves going, but the parties are expensive and expansive. This Mom doesn't want to try to keep up and feels a small family party would be preferable. Maggie responds with warmth, wisdom and some entertaining birthday stories of her own. Join us!

Raising girls is complicated. In spite of all our empowerment messages, rates of stress, anxiety, and depression are on the rise for girls. Studies indicate a girl's confidence drops by 30% between the ages of 8 - 14. This week on family360 we're with the wonderful Maggie Dent, talking about femininity, feelings, and friends. Maggie believes we raise mighty women by raising mighty girls - and that starts right from birth with how we encourage our daughters ‘to be' - to value others and enjoy who they are - whether they want to purr or roar. Join us!

Is it appropriate to cry in front of your children? To be angry? To show frustration? How we express our emotions in front of our kids is an important component to their emotional development and in tricky parenting moments what to do and how to respond is not always obvious. In this episode, we're looking at two separate questions asked by listeners on this topic. Join us!

In this episode, a parent asks, “Will our kids be confused by the difference between my partner's and my parenting style?” It's not uncommon when one parent leans one way in an aspect of parenting for the other parent to lean the other way. Our kids can handle that best when we can handle that best. Join us as we dig into this great question!

A parent expresses concern for her 3-year-old's constant state of aggravation and whininess. Her daughter seems to wake up out of sorts. The parent is trying to be patient but is struggling and feels she and her partner are, “At their wit's end.” Rachel suggests a point of view for understanding and supporting children when they whine. She also looks at the mom's question and gives possible cues for why this little girl is whining. Join us!

Unlike IQ, EQ (emotional quotient) matures mainly through nurture - how our caregivers respond to us and role model their own emotional growth. This week on family360 we're digging into the profound work of Dr. John Gottman and 4 common parenting styles he noticed manifesting when children become emotionally dysregulated. He says there is no such thing as unacceptable emotion, but there are unacceptable behaviors. So, how does a parent hold boundaries while still accepting all emotions, and nurture their child's emotional growth? Join us and find out!

Dr. Kristy Goodwin believes bombarding parents with warnings about pornography, social media, and screen addiction renders us ineffective. Techno-guilting turns us off and shuts us down. And, expecting parents to stay savvy with all the newest online options is unrealistic. In this episode, Kristy introduces an easy-to-understand guide for creating a meaningful tech plan with our kids, and an explanation for why and how we help them buy into the plan. Join us!

This episode explores the healing power of movement with dance director and author of Bare - The Misplaced Art of Grieving and Dance, Sandy Oshiro Rosen. North American society notoriously gears us up to power-through vital messages from our bodies - sensations that should signal the need for our attention, but we ignore. When these messages are left unaddressed for prolonged periods, chronic ailments and mental illness can result. Movement is a powerful method for paying attention, discovering the messages, and finding rest and healing. Join us for this thought and movement-provoking conversation.

In this episode, we're talking with Dr. Hillary McBride about why 90% of children, who freely run, roll, wiggle and laugh when they are young, become so unhappy with their bodies later on in life, and how they can learn to engage and delight within their bodies once again. Most of us have complicated relationships with our bodies. When we discover how to be in our bodies in a way that protects us from body shame we're more capable of supporting our children on their own journey. Join us!

This episode is all about sex and pleasure and how we cultivate those kinds of desires after having kids. We're with UBC professor and director of the Women's Health Institute, Dr. Lori Brotto. Universally, sexual desire diminishes after having kids, but even at other times, female sexual dysfunction is extremely common, affecting up to half of women at some point in their lives. Dr. Brotto's work brings the issue of low sexual desire in women into the open so that women feel less shame and are empowered to cultivate their feelings of sexual desire if that is what they wish. All about this and more in this episode. Join us!

ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning disabled… neurodivergence is all around us. These are people who don't conform and who author and activist Debbie Reber believes we need, to come up with creative solutions to see the world differently. Debbie's mission is to change the way difference is perceived and experienced. As Debbie describes in this conversation, being differently wired isn't a deficit — it's a difference.

Dr. Ken Ginsburg wants us all to know that having a teen is just as exciting as having a baby. AND that our adolescents need us as intensely as our toddlers. In this episode he passionately dispels myths about pre-teens and teens, that compromise our care and connection with our kids.

We're barraged with controversial decisions when we have a new baby; breastfeeding, childcare, co-sleeping, sleep training… and often new parents resist discussing opinions with family and friends, even between themselves, fearing unwanted feedback and division. In this episode, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson offers science based encouragement to new and expectant parents - and its all rooted in what your children need the very most…YOU!

Whether it's having a new baby, starting our kids into school, transitioning into teen years, or navigating relational realities, our life continually moves through passages. Luci Shaw is a professor, and poet with over 35 published books, including 3 co-written with A Wrinkle In Time author/friend Madeleine L'Engle. Luci is 93 years old with a wealth of wisdom from decades of courageous living. In this updated interview, she speaks against protecting and guarding our children with ‘safe things,' describing how that creates a dry and uninteresting way to live.

Starting school can be an exciting time and a scary time for children and for parents. With 12 years of education ahead, starting school with enthusiasm and energy is the launch we want for our little ones. This week on family360, host Rachel Cram and Wind & Tide Educator Bev Bailey team up to talk about practical tips for helping kids start school. Join us!

It's not uncommon for kids to cry about not wanting to go to school. Transitioning from home to school is tough because it requires significant shifts in focus and feeling. However, when a child's crying continues for weeks/months, and leaving home is a continual source of stress, there's more to be explored. This episode is the story of a Mom who discovered she was a trigger for her child's school tears and the counselor who helped their family find release and resolve their struggle.

In this episode, family counselor Gila Golub describes how generationally past patterns shape our present relationships and realities. Through her own story and study, Gila shares, "When we are unable to change a situation or relationship, we need to change ourselves. And often the insight for that change is gained when we are willing to tolerate the discomfort of delving into our past.” We hope you enjoy this repeat episode from Season 1, with an additional new 20-minute conversation to augment the original interview.

A recent study by the International Institute of Mental Health revealed one in two children will develop a mood or behaviour disorder or a substance addiction before the age of 18. In this episode, journalist and parenting specialist, Katherine Reynolds Lewis explains how childhood has changed and what gives our kids the skills they need to manage their thoughts, behaviours and emotions.

In this episode of family360, Ranbir Puar shares the story of her birth in India as the 5th daughter to parents who longed for a son. Growing up unseen and feeling unwanted, she saw herself as a victim in her home - a narrative she redefined in order to grow and flourish in her adult life. In this conversation, Ranbir explores what contributes to a victim mentality, and how we can mitigate its effects by auditing our thoughts for a clearer understanding of what directs our inner life.

Toilet training is a significant first step on the long and winding journey of learning self-control, and it's a step we want to celebrate with our kids. In this episode of family360 we're with warm and humorous educator, Dr. Katie Rinald, discussing ways to lose diapers without losing dignity - your child's or your own. If you're about to undergo an adventure into underwear, listen in for some great tips and encouragement.

Insomnia affects 40% of adults and we can lie awake worrying about having it! Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is the recommended route to restore sleep patterns for people struggling with insomnia and in this episode, sleep specialist Tony Ho describes how CBTI can realign our relationship with sleep. Tony is the director of Quadra Wellness & Counselling Centre in Vancouver Canada and a mental health specialist. Join us!

High-quality relationships start with high-quality connections. We're constantly scanning our relationships for social cues on whether we belong and are valued. This week on family360 our guest is psychologist, family therapist and author Dr. Rod Wilson who writes about ancient traditions and teachings central to building authentic and trusting relationships.

This episode is filled with engaging and enlightening stories from early childhood educator and international consultant, Tom Hobson. Through decades of study and practice with preschoolers, “Teacher Tom” understands how children ‘learn how to learn' through play. He writes, "Time and again, when I've had faith in children, when I've held them as competent, for more often than not, they show me they are." He now shares that knowledge around the world, describing how we create classroom environments that let kids learn.

This week on family360, we're in conversation with New York Times Bestselling author, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, talking about being present for our kids so they feel safe, seen, soothed and secure. Seeking safety is a biological instinct. Our kids will naturally head for our harbour as long as they feel welcome, regardless of the storm. Listen to our conversation to learn more about the power of showing up.

The phrase, “all you need is love,” rings true until all you need is sleep… then ‘love' takes a close second. In this episode of family360, pediatric sleep specialist Tara Mitchell talks about the toll sleep deprivation takes on family functioning and offers counsel for sorting out sleep in a way that allows our children to rest in our care. Check in to hear her personal story and how she's helping put the joy back into parenthood, one good sleep at a time.

Until the 21st century, we thought skills and capacities discovered in childhood set the standard for adulthood. We assumed people grew from a ‘fixed mindset', giving way to phrases such as “you can't teach an old dog new tricks.” Ongoing discoveries in neuroscience reveal that not only can we teach old dogs, but that the new tricks are the ongoing path to brain growth. In this episode, Stanford professor and author Dr. Jo Boaler talks about our limitless minds and how our brains and our lives are highly adaptable when we welcome a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset.

Michele Borba is an internationally renowned educational psychologist recognized for her decades of research and study on the teaching of character. She's a dynamic and engaging writer and speaker and in this episode, you'll hear story after story from her years of experience working with educators around the world, discovering why it is, that in the midst of calm or crisis, some kids struggle and others shine.

We're wired for togetherness above all else. Separation is like the fire alarm that goes off in our brain crying, “Somethings wrong here! Pay attention!” In this episode of family360, clinical psychologist Dr. Deborah MacNamara describes 5 key things to know about ATTACHMENT and how to repair it when there is rupture. Deborah writes, "The secret to developing secure adult/child relationships is helping a child see that it's not their job to strive to hold on to us but to take for granted that we won't let go of them." Hear more about how we "hold on," as you listen to our engaging conversation with Dr. MacNamara.

In 2019, months before the beginning of the COVID pandemic, author and teen specialist Michelle Mitchell released a prescient book titled Self Harm: Why Teens Do It And What Parents Can Do To Help. Since the beginning of COVID, medical reports indicate an alarming rise in self-harm behaviours in teens. Self harm is the act of deliberately harming your own body to cope with emotional pain, frustration or uncertainty. In this episode, Michelle weaves stories and strategies that help parents care for kids when they're struggling to cope with the intensity of their feelings and experiences.

If life and death occur in the natural order of our expectations, our parents pass away when we are well into our adulthood, but even when we've anticipated this loss, we're often not prepared for our grief. There is no right or wrong way to grieve the death of a parent. Grief is as unique and different as we are from each other. Yet sometimes it's helpful to have hints. We hope this episode offers some insight into what will inevitably happen for all of us and some solace for those to whom it already has.

Did you know there are 4 communication habits that ruin relationships? Criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. We often engage in these without knowing. Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart is a pediatric specialist, a writer for The Gottman Institute, a parenting coach, and our guest this week on family360. She describes each habit and the antidotes to their ruinous reign in our relationships.

Social development starts at home and continues when our kids start school. Do you remember the scene from Lion King where Rafiki stands on Pride Rock, holding Simba for all to see? As parents, we can relate! We want to hold our children up for all to adore and admire. However, when we all arrive at schools with our little Simbas in tow, socialization becomes complicated with all our kids who ‘Just can't wait to be King!' The parental plan when our child is hit, hurt or not invited to a birthday party, sets the stage for their social development; their perceptions of who they are and how they relate to others. We're talking about all this, this week on family360! Join us now, for our first episode of Season Three!

In this episode, Dr. Shahana Alibhai shares the story of her lifelong struggle with OCD, how it intensified with the birth of her child, and how she eventually sought help and healing. Content note: Please be aware suicide is mentioned briefly in this episode. 

Everyone of us is covered in trillions of microbes, some of which make us sick. Antibiotics and vaccines save us from diseases these devastating microbes deliver. Unfortunately, they also kill many other microbes that would host our health and healing. Dr. Brett Finlay is a world-renowned microbiologist who is passionate about the well being of children and families. He is the co-author of the best selling book, Let Them Eat Dirt, and in this episode offers insight on saving our children from an overly sanitized world.

In his mid teens, Cal and Suzie Warneke's son Josh started to struggle with his mental health. This episode is the story of their family's journey. 1 in 5 children experience a severe mental health condition sometime between the ages of 13-18. For parents, distinguishing mental health concerns from teenager temperament is complicated, yet early diagnosis is key to care. The Warneke's story sheds light on what parents can look for and how, when and why to seek help. Join us!

In her newest book, Parenting Right From The Start, Dr. Vanessa writes, “to believe that your thoughts are your concrete reality is probably one of the most torturous misconceptions humans experience.” In this episode, Vanessa describes how the practice of ‘thinking about our thinking' allows us to select narratives that will best serve ourselves and our children.

Every moment of every day our subconscious mind runs stories that perpetuate our perspectives and practices that affect our parenting. We all do this! In this episode, the insightful and vivacious Dr. Vanessa Lapointe shares from her newest book, Parenting Right From The Start, exploring the implications of the stories we tell ourselves, and how "Conscious Parenting" is about bringing those stories to the surface so that we become consciously aware of our narratives that serve us or no longer serve us, and how we are showing up for our children.

What's the biology behind our child's tantrums and meltdowns? How do we navigate ‘screen time'? When to give our kids control? Why do we want a guinea pig!?! Accompanied by Maggie's humor and warm heart, this episode covers a wonderful and wide sample of topics from Maggie's newly released book, Parental As Anything. Join us for a conversation packed with practical takeaways, stories and encouragement for parents.

In her newest children's book, Indigenous author Monique Gray Smith writes, “When we are kind we remember we are all related.” Monique's celebrated works on Truth and Reconciliation offer a doorway into discovering our shared humanity - and kindness is the key. In this episode, she describes simple everyday ways that kindness unleashes our 'littlest citizens', and us as adults, to talk, listen, trust and love.

In this episode of family360, award-winning creator of Easy Daysies, and mom of 3, Elaine Tan Comeau, tells the story of her stroke; how it happened, how she coped and how it changed her perspectives on caring for herself and her ‘running the show,' at home and at work.