Keaton It Real

From potty training setbacks to behavioral bumps in the road, we talk about dealing with "regression" in our kids. How are we handling it? Are we making mountains out of mole hills? Are we being too hard on ourselves? We don't know. We hope we're getting closer to figuring it out, though! Thanks, as always, for choosing to spend your time with us!

Looking for helpful tips on how to handle your home when all the kids (and adults) are ruthlessly criticizing each other? We are, too. Nitpicking is something of which we are all guilty. Once it starts, it all seems to go downhill from there. Join us as we discuss our thoughts on how we're learning to handle the bad nitpicking days, why we think they happen, and how we can grow from it! Thanks, as always, for choosing to be with us! 

Everyone's story is a little different. Join us as we sit down with Matthew's mom, Michelle. She'll discuss discovering her breast cancer, fighting it, and the long road ahead. She'll get real about her anger, her sadness, and the Golden Retriever who helped her get through the tough times. Thanks, as always for being with us! 

Thanks for being with us! We're all aware of breast cancer these days, and an increasing number of us have stories to share. Join us as Lara share's her mom's battle with the breast cancer that would eventually take her life. We also talk about staying vigilant if it runs in the family, and staying even more vigilant if you're one of many survivors! 

This week, we try something a little different. We ask each other a selection of questions from Oprahdaily.com's list of "100 Questions to Help Couples Get to Know Each Other." Stay tuned for a cameo from one of the kids (who definitely should've been sleeping). Thanks, as always, for being with us! 

Feeling stressed by un-folded laundry and growing piles of dirty dishes? Feeling guilty about the moments you take to care for yourself? We get it. Join us as we talk about the inner voice which calls us "inadequate" no matter how many tasks we check off our list. Thanks, as always, for choosing to be with us! 

Hi everyone! Join us for a quick wrap up of the first week of homeschool for the 2021/2022 school year! The highs, the lows, and the plans for the future! Thanks, as always, for being with us! 

Feeling constant pressure to keep your kids (and yourselves) entertained? Feeling more like an event planner than a parent? We get it. Join Lara and Matthew for a discussion about technology, productivity, and our growing collective fear of boredom and unstructured time to ourselves. Thanks for being here! 

CW: Domestic violence, physical/verbal abuse, alcoholism, attempted suicide No flowery verbiage here: This week's episode discusses Lara's upbringing and how it has affected her parenting style and parenting goals. We discuss a chaotic early life of abuse and uncertainty. We hope that, if you've lived through a similar situation, you may be able to find some fellowship and hope from Lara's story. Thanks for being with us! 

Join us this week as we discuss the pace of life during a pandemic, and the effect of social media "doom scrolling" on our parenting. We discuss "un-schooling," refusing to intervene in your kids' arguments, and choosing your battles wisely. Mostly, we'll discuss the wave of "crunchy," "granola," "hippie" parenting tips that we've encountered--and which of them are most helpful in un-learning the modern pace of life. Thanks for being with us! 

Join us as Matthew discusses thoughts on Disability Pride Month and the social media content it produces. Helpful? Harmful? Well-intended? Sit with us as we digest and reflect on advocacy, allyship, and all the personal stories we share along the way. Thanks for being with us! 

Thanks for joining us! This week we discuss taking the kids to the zoo, surviving weekly Mass as a family, and making new friends! If you're still feeling buried by your struggles, we get it. We hope you'll join us as we celebrate a few of our little wins along the way. 

Debating whether or not you should "get your child on medication?" If so, which one? How much? For how long? DISCLAIMER: We're not professionals, but we've DEFINITELY grappled with these questions! If you're currently in the fog while you consider your options, join us as we share our experiences, anxieties, and successes with medication. Then, as always, have a conversation with trusted doctors and caregivers. Thanks for joining us! 

Having a hard time recognizing and empathizing with the unique struggles of your little one because their "disability" isn't easy to see? Struggling with the word "disability?" We get it. Join us as we discuss grief, strength, and finding more empathetic ways to meet our kids where they are. Thanks for being with us!

Struggling with your temper? Having a hard time identifying WHY your fuse is so short? We get it. On this week's episode, we consult a section from How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids by Carla Naumburg, PhD. The book has an illuminating section on what triggers are, why they may not be your fault, and why our iced coffees and smartphones may not be helping to manage them. Thanks again for joining us! 

We survived! Lara handpicked the curriculum, planned the lessons, and spent a school year teaching two of the three boys through successes, setbacks, meltdowns, and everything in-between. We discuss the highs and lows of the school year and our plans for the future. Thanks, as always, for choosing to spend your time with us! 

Do you struggle with other parents who micro-manage every playground visit or moment of freedom? Do you struggle with BEING one of those parents, sometimes? We get it. Join us as we discuss letting go of the urge to control, and dealing with the anger we feel when adults get a little too coarse as they interrupt play time. Thanks for listening! If you support what we do, please listen, subscribe, and share! Rating the podcast on your favorite app is also a big help! You can contact us with personal stories, episode suggestions and more: On Instagram @KeatonitrealpodBy email at keatonitrealpod@gmail.com 

Struggling to adjust to a new rhythm of life as your child has to split time between different homes? Dealing with the ebb and flow of those new emotions? We get it. This episode tackles the simple, complicated, aggravating and wonderful world of co-parenting. Everyone's experience is different, but we'd like to share ours with the hope that it will help you feel seen and heard! We talk about the importance of communication, patience, and growing into a new phase of adulthood. Thanks, and we hope you enjoy!

Ever feel like you're the assistant manager of the parenting team? Do the kids bypass you to speak to someone with "real authority?" Yeah. Us, too. Lara and Matthew discuss the two-parent dynamic where one parent feels more/less capable and in-charge than the other. Thanks, as always, for joining us! 

Ever feel like you're doing too much? Feeling a pressure to avoid resting? Worried there's no "space" for other things in your life? Us, too. Join us for a discussion on the creeping onset of burnout and the importance of making margin for the important things in your life.

We are joined for this week's episode by Audra Sisak! Audra is a therapist, autism/epilepsy advocate, and an entertainer. Audra shares her experiences and valuable insights as an adult with autism, including: Masking, public acceptance, co-occurring conditions, and how YOU can advocate for the autistic/neurodiverse people in your life. You can learn more about Audra and her work by visiting the links below:1. Audra's WASPA group https://www.facebook.com/groups/7924509176027392. Neurodiversity Newsstand FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/8908893777436903. Autistic Women and Non-Binary Network https://www.facebook.com/awnnetwork.org4. ND BIPOC FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/875466955980460/ 5. Suitman Productions:  https://suitmancomedy.com/events Look for Audra's shows Autastic Artists and Dating with Disabilities

Join us for a very special Mother's Day edition of Keaton It Real where we interview Matthew's mother, Michelle Keaton! We discuss the process of raising a child with a disability from the perspective of someone who's been doing it for over 30 years. We'll discuss grief, acceptance, uncertainty, and the importance of advocacy all along the way. We hope you enjoy Michelle's stories and unique insights, and we thank you, as always, for listening! 

This very special episode discusses the first chapter of Bonnie Landry's 2015 book "Revolution Of Mercy." With the book as a guideline, we'll discuss how to foster an environment of spiritual receptivity within our homes and move past "carrot and stick" discipline. Bonnie Landry is an author, podcaster, and homeschool mom extraordinaire! It was a great pleasure to be able to feature her work. You can learn more about her work and support her by clicking the links below: Bonnie's Website: www.bonnielandry.ca Podcast: Make Joy Normal: Cozy HomeschoolingInstagram: @Make.Joy.Normal Buy "Revolution Of Mercy" on Amazon!

Join us for a very special interview with Arlene Keeler, owner of Kaleidoscope Family Gym in Puyallup, Washington! Kaleidoscope is an inclusive play space that welcomes all families--with a special focus on children with autism and other additional needs. We talk with Arlene about how her grandson inspired the vision for her business, her fight to keep the business going, and the wonderful rewards of her work! To find more information and book a play date, you can visit: http://www.kaleidoscopefamilygym.comTo support the gym's crowdfunding efforts, please visit GoFundMe: Fundraiser by Arlene Keeler : Kaleidoscope Family Gym Needs Some Help! (gofundme.com)Follow Kaleidoscope on Instagram @Kaleidoscope FamiliesVisit Kaleidoscope on Facebook at Kaleidoscope Family GymYou can visit the gym IN-PERSON at: Kaleidoscope Family Gym3850-6 South Meridian (by the South Hill Mall)Puyallup, WA, WA 98372

On this very special episode, we discuss our personal experiences with (and without) religion. Lara recalls her time in the LDS church while Matthew discusses time as a teenage atheist and a nondenominational Christian. Finally, we'll discuss how YouTube videos, priests, prayer apps, and spiritual writers led us to our current exploration of Catholicism. Thanks, as always, for letting us share this show with you! Feel free to reach out to us via email and social media at: keatonitrealpod@gmail.comOn INSTAGRAM @ keatonitrealpod

This episode discusses the short and long-term fears associated with parenting, especially with kids on the spectrum. Will they be able to live independently when we're gone? Who will be there to take care of them? Will the world care for them like we do? We'll also discuss the advice we received NOT to have another baby. It's a heavy episode, so we'll close with another minute of silence to be with your feelings. We love you and we're proud of the work you're doing! Thanks for listening, we hope you enjoy! 

Join us as we host our first guest--Matthew's twin sister, Megan! The three of us will talk about what it was like to grow up side-by-side with a sibling with Cerebral Palsy, and we'll relate that to our current experiencing raising siblings on the autism spectrum. We'll talk about love, understanding, independence, and giving each sibling opportunities to shine! Thanks again for joining us and we hope you enjoy!  

Enjoy our first BONUS EPISODE where we celebrate Lara finally being able to adopt Hunter and Jax! We discuss the ups and downs of a long, rewarding process. Thanks for letting us share this moment with you. We hope you enjoy! 

Feeling like your child is the only one running around the classroom with their pants down? We've got an episode for you! We discuss our experience with Individualized Education Plans (IEP's), 504's, and other educational accommodations you and your family might need! Join us for another minute of silence at the end of the episode and, as always, we're proud of how great you're doing! Thank you, and we hope you enjoy! 

Get your "Worst Parents Ever" hats on! On this week's episode we discuss the little, annoying things our kids do that make us tick. We talk discipline, forgiveness, and the annoying realization that we'll never be perfect. Join us for another minute of silence at the end of the episode where you can breathe and take a break from the noise. Thanks for listening, we hope you enjoy! 

Welcome to Keaton It Real! Our preview episode invites you to join us, Matthew and Lara Keaton, as we discuss married life, blended families, parenting with Cerebral Palsy, and raising beautiful children on the autism spectrum. Future episodes will include discussions about therapy, home school, and all the joys and challenges of our daily life in a noisy world. Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoy!

Our first episode discusses the ups-and-downs of ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) Therapy? We tackle our experiences, the process of weighing our options, and the results we've observed with two of our children. We'll also take a quick minute of silence to give your brain a break from the abbreviations! 

Welcome! This episode discusses the evolution of our homeschool experience. What began as a necessity at the beginning of quarantine has grown into something we deeply enjoy. We discuss the decision to homeschool two of the three kids, the process of choosing and teaching curriculum, and the results we've seen! Thanks for listening, we hope you enjoy!