Parenting in Real Life

We are sad to let you know, that this is the final episode of the Parenting in Real Life Podcast. We took this episode to share a few things we learned from podcasting for 7.5 years. This whole podcast documented our kids' young years and us learning as young parents. When we started, our oldest was 5 years old and now our youngest is 5. We'll leave these episodes available for you to go back through if you find them helpful.Please stay in touch! We believe in families and want to keep sharing the things we're doing, family activities, and fun. You can follow us on Instagram @iamalexisinreallifeSponsor:We still love our Troomi phones and watches! If you are looking for your first phone for your kid or a smart watch for your kid, definitely check out Troomi and use the code PARENTING for $50 off!Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this episode, we interviewed Angela Santomero, the creator of iconic children's shows like Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Blue's Clues. We discussed the importance of staying playful as parents and the valuable lessons we can learn from children's shows. We also talk about how to implement times of playfulness so you can connect and create fun memories with your kids. Angela's book, "Life Clues," offers guidance on nurturing playfulness and 20 lessons that will help you unlock passion, joy, happiness, and positive thinking. You can pre-order Angela's book Life Clues here on Amazon. You can also find Angela on Instagram @angelasclues and on her website Angela's Clues.The Atlantic article with more info about Daniel Tiger.SponsorsWomen's Meditation Network: The busy holiday season is here and it's so important for moms to be able to find peace and calm. The Meditation for Moms podcast is a weekly guided podcast for moms, by moms, that guides you through meditations for all the seasons, circumstances, peaks and valleys of motherhood. Visit Meditation Network or search Meditation for Moms on on your favorite podcast app.Troomi: If your kids are ready for their first phone or a smart watch, we highly recommend Troomi! These kid safe phones are the perfect way to keep in touch with your kids and help them learn to be responsible with technology. Use the promo code: FREEA14 for a FREE phone or watch30 for $30 off a watch. These make great Christmas gifts! Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

We are super excited to have Brooke Romney on this podcast episode! In this interview, we discuss helping kids step out of their comfort zones, embracing mistakes, praising effort over outcomes, and setting clear expectations for children. We also have some great tips for parents too about remembering that every new parenting step means new things to learn and to allow yourself grace even when you're a seasoned parent.You can find Brooke Romney on instagram @bookeromneywrites. We also highly recommend her books 52 Manners for Modern Kids and 52 Manners for Modern Teens.SponsorsWomen's Meditation Network: The busy holiday season is here and it's so important for moms to be able to find peace and calm. The Meditation for Moms podcast is a weekly guided podcast for moms, by moms, that guides you through meditations for all the seasons, circumstances, peaks and valleys of motherhood. Visit Meditation Network or search Meditation for Moms on on your favorite podcast app. Troomi: If your kids are ready for their first phone or a smart watch, we highly recommend Troomi! These kid safe phones are the perfect way to keep in touch with your kids and help them learn to be responsible with technology. Use the promo code: FREEA14 for a FREE phone or watch30 for $30 off a watch. These make great Christmas gifts! Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

On this episode, we discuss emotional intelligence for children with life coach, business coach, and parent, Jody Moore. We explore the importance of allowing children to experience negative emotions without labeling them as problems. We delve into the concept of emotional intelligence and the benefits it brings to both children and parents. We also share practical tips on how to regulate behavior and emotions and teach kindness, empathy, and decision-making skills. This is a great interview that you will definitely want to listen to!To learn more from Jody Moore, you can listen to her podcast Better Than Happy.Sponsor:We love Troomi phones as kid safe, first phones for kids. Right now they're having a Black Friday sale and new customers get free phones! Just use the promo code: FREEA14 and make sure to use this link to get there. They also just came out with kid safe watches! We just got them for our 3 youngest kids and we have loved being able to know where they are and tell them when it's time to come home from playing at the neighbor's house. Use the code: watch30 for $30 off and make sure to use this link to get there.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In episode 164 of Parenting in Real Life, we interview three passionate women from Bloomfully, a company dedicated to helping tweens and teens. We discuss cultivating confidence and strength in young people amidst social media and technology. The importance of growth mindset, trying new things, and creating routines for stability is emphasized. We also talk about the impact of screen time, making friends in middle school, and the value of their program for tweens.You can find the I Believe in Me program for tween girls here.You can also find them on Instagram @ibelieveinmegirlsThanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this mini episode, we discuss the value of Halloween candy and which ones are worth indulging in. This is totally for fun because we think you should be able to do what you want, but if you're trying to be more health conscious, but want to eat of few pieces of your kids' Halloween candy, we're sharing the ones that may be worth it.If you have a parenting question, you can email us at parentingirlpodcast@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram!Candy ArticleThanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, we discuss the importance of gratitude. We share practical strategies for cultivating gratitude in our homes, including daily practices and incorporating it into family conversations. We also explore ways to foster gratitude with our kids, such as using gratitude journals. There are some really great thoughts on here from the article that we found and we hope that you will choose just one to work on this month with your family as we get closer to Thanksgiving.Gratitude Article Troomi Watch!We have loved Troomi phones as a first phone for kids and now they just launched a new product - a kid safe smart watch! This is perfect for the younger kids who may not be ready for a phone. You can call your kids, track them on GPS,  have there's a parental control app. They also have fun features like tracking your steps and games to earn points. Make sure you visit Troomi and use the promo code watch30 for a discount.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, Dayna Abraham, author of "Calm the Chaos," provides practical guidance for overwhelmed parents. She shares a roadmap of five stages for parenting success and emphasizes the importance of connection, understanding, and self-compassion. Dana encourages open conversations, problem-solving, and repairing after difficult moments. Check out her book for valuable insights and tools to create a thriving family environment. You can even get the first chapter of her book FREE in podcast form here. Find her on Instagram and social media @calmthechaosparenting.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, we discuss three unpopular parenting opinions. We talk about monitoring our children's candy consumption, our thoughts on  smartphones or social media for our kids, and whether we pay or don't pay our own kids when they babysit. And then we throw in a few more.Do you agree? Or disagree? Let us know on Instagram!Special Promotion! Troomi is having a free phone promotion until October 31st! Use the promo code SECRETSTOCK to get your free phone. This is the perfect time to get your kid a phone for Christmas.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, we speak with Jenny Layton, a professional organizer and life coach, about achieving better organization in our spaces and schedules. Jenny's holistic approach addresses the underlying reasons behind disorganization and offers practical tips for decluttering and creating a "home base" for mental clarity. We also discuss ways to help our children of all ages get organized. Listen for valuable insights on how organization can improve our lives and relationships.You can find Jenny Layton on her website The Happy Gal and on Instagram @jlthehappygal Jenny's free Get Organized Fast download.SponsorTroomi is having a secret sale! You can get a free phone when you sign up for Troomi! Just use the promo code: SECRETSTOCK. This sale will only last through the end of October. Click this link to get your kid a safe phone.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, we address challenges with our kids' struggling to be kind and how we're trying to help that with our kindness jar challenge. We explore different maternity leave policies around the world and the impact on parents' careers. We also share practical tips for when you've been working or busy all day and your tank is empty by the end of the day. How to still connect with your kids and have meaningful family time with little time and little energy.  Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In episode 158 of Parenting in Real Life, we interview Ashley Bartley, an elementary school counselor and author, about helping kids solve problems, manage emotions, and be kind. We discuss teaching independence and problem-solving skills, recognizing and regulating emotions, and how to help our kids foster kindness. Ashley shares valuable insights and strategies for parents. This is a great conversation full of helpful tips for navigating parenting challenges.You can find Ashley Bartley on her website: www.counselorstation.com or on Instagram: www.instagram.com/counselorstation. And make sure to check out her cute books at https://www.boystownpress.org/author/ashley-bartley/ especially the one she mentioned Diamond Rattle Loves to Tattle.Other books about kindness: Be Kind by Pat Miller I Walk with Vanessa by KerascoetGreat news! Troomi is continuing their free phone sale! Just click this link and use the promo code: LABORDAY to get your kid a free phone. This is the perfect starter phone for kids where parents really get to decide what the kids are able to do on their phones.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

Fall is just about here and Christmas will be here before you know it. This season seems to fly by and can often leave us stressed with all the activities going on and money that is spent.In episode 157 of Parenting in Real Life, we dive into the wonders of fall, discuss tips for saving money during the holiday season, and highlight family-friendly fall activities. We also give our best tips on planning and things to be thinking about now so that when the holidays come, you're more prepared, can feel less stressed, and better enjoy all the holidays.Important links:Is your kid wanting a phone, but you want to get them a kid friendly phone that is safe and something they can grow into? We love Troomi for this reason! And they are having a special deal that first time customers can get up to 4 devices free! Use this link and the code LABORDAY to get your free phones until September 15th! We love the Get Out Pass as a way to do fun things with our family, for way cheaper. Their passes are in 31 states so check to see if it works for your location! Use the promo code: Tanner15 to get $50 off each ticket!Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this episode, we interviewed Joe Hashey of the Strong Family Project.  We talk about keys to building a strong family, how to set family goals and follow up with them, and creating a family system that works. The Hashey's are intentional parents who have taken the time to really think about what they want for their family and they're doing it. We love Joe's advice to take one thing you want to do with your family, work on it for a few months, and then do the next thing. Strong families take a lot of time and effort and we're here to support you along the way!Make sure to download their free resource Your Strong Family Path with 7 elements to building a strong family. And follow the Hashey's on Instagram. Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

It's been a few months since our last podcast episode. But we are officially back! And will be posting each week again. We also have some big changes happening our int family so hear the update on the Tanners! Plus, we share our 4  favorite back to school organization tips to help keep you sane these next few weeks.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

Figuring out a work-life balance in the summer can be tricky. Whether you're working from home or just trying to get some things done around the house, it can be tricky to know how to get things done with your kids home at all times. In this episode, we're going to share our best tips for getting things done as well as ideas for better screen time use as a family.For more info on screen time use, make sure to check out @betterscreentime and @mindfulwithmedia.Summer Bucket ListOne of our favorite things to help make sure we have fun is to do a summer calendar and bucket list. You can find our calendar on our website.SponsorIf you're looking for activities to do with your kids, visit Annie's Kit Clubs and check out their monthly kids craft kits. Use the promo code: REALLIFE for a discount.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

Summer is almost here and that means that kids are going be home all the time.  We have spent the last seven years trying to figure out what to do with our kids when they come home from school for the summer.We're going to tell you the things that have been working for us and what we have really enjoyed doing over the summer. Summer Bucket ListOne of our favorite things to help make sure we have fun is to do a summer calendar and bucket list. You can find our calendar on our website.SponsorIf you're looking for activities to do with your kids, visit Annie's Kit Clubs and check out their monthly kids craft kits. Use the promo code: REALLIFE for a discount.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

Do finances and chores seem to cause contention between you and your spouse? Or maybe you feel like things aren't balanced quite right. Then this episode is for you! We have some great tips from Brain Page about how to be on the same page as your spouse when it comes to finances and household chores.Brian Page is the founder of Modern Husbands, a company dedicated to sharing ideas for devoted husbands to manage money, the house, and a life full of experiences.His course, Self Help Homework Hacks is designed to empower students with the lifelong study skills they need to thrive as independent learners. The evidence-based strategies are presented by multiple Milken National Educators of the Year and award winning educators and current college students who can relate to the learners. You can also find him at the Modern Husbands Podcast.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

We recently did a book review of The Coddling of the American Mind and we talked about how experts are finding that young adults in college are often unable to handle the challenges that come with life. It really struck a chord with us because we are raising a bunch of people that we hope won't be that way.  So we are starting a journey where we're going to talk about some of the things we're doing to help our kids be more independent and more ready for what's ahead of them. The first thing is chores.  In this episode we talk about what we do and why we do it. It's definitely a process for us, but we're going to give you our insights and we hope it helps you get started. In this episode we talked about some resources:Free Chores by Ages ChartSkills to Learn BreakdownChore WheelGreenlight Chore AppFamily Council Jar blog post (podcast episode 145)Research Articles for this episode:Chores for KidsFamily RoutinesChore and ChildrenWays to Get Kids to do Chores NowThanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

Are your kids having a hard time being a good friend to others? Maybe they can't seem to get along or don't know what to do when they're playing. That was the problem of one listener and you may relate, I know we do. In this episode, we interviewed Stephanie Valdez of Empowerful Girls who talks about how to be a good friend and how we as parents can help our kids learn this important skill.You can find Stephanie on Instagram @empowerful girls or on her website Empowerful Girls.Grab Stephanie's Friendship Recipe WorksheetModern Husbands PodcastIdeas from experts to manage money and the home as teammates.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyThanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

The world is pretty chaotic and we are all on a fast pace which often ends up coming home with us. And on top of that, having a family can be stressful. But it doesn't always have to be! In this episode we are talking about how to unwind and destress as a family. We have lots of different ideas so you can pick ways that make sense for your family so you can use your family time to chill out. Here are some links that we talked about in the episode: Grandpa Beck Games - Use the code Parenting for 15% offCosmic Kids YogaCricutWays to Destress as a Family Articles Unwinding as a Family - WebMDStress Reducing Activities - Simple PracticeThanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

This is part two of our conversation from last week so if you haven't listened to that make sure you check out episode 147 first. In this episode, we are talking about the book The Coddling of the American Mind and the tools they teach to help our kids be more resilient.In the book they talk about three untruths and last week we talked about the first untruth which is "what doesn't kill you makes you weaker." Today we are going to continue our conversation about the second untruth "always trust your feelings" and the third untruth which is "life is a battle between good people and evil people. " Links for this episodeThe Coddling of the American Mind BookYou can find the parent solutions on the Wiser Kid page of their website.Episode 66: What Anxiety Looks Like in KidsEpisode 145: Family Council JarOur SponsorWomen's Meditation NetworkListen to Morning Meditation for Women or visit the Women's Meditation Network to find another one of their podcasts that fits your meditation needs.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

Today we're going to be talking about the book, t=The Coddling of the American Mind. Alan recently read it and it definitely changed his perspective on parenthood. The book talks about how these two authors have seen a trend in particularly in colleges. We're not gonna focus on the college part because we have small kids, but they give tips on how to keep your kids mentally strong  so that they don't become a part of this coddled generation that can't handle anything.The Coddling of the American Mind BookYou can find the parent solutions on the Wiser Kid page of their website.Here is the article on the new research behind the decline in teen mental health.Our SponsorsSign up for Emily Hamblin's Confidently Momming Kids with Big Emotions Membership. Use the promo code: REALLIFE for 50% off your first month.Women's Meditation NetworkListen to Morning Meditation for Women or visit the Women's Meditation Network to find another one of their podcasts that fits your meditation needs.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this episode, we are going to talk about how to use podcasts to bond with your kids. As much as we love to listen to podcasts for ourselves and the things that we like to learn about, we find that podcasts are also a great tool to connect with our kids. This can be on road trips or when we're doing chores or it just helps us find things to talk about with our kids. In this interview with Andi Smiley, she is going to share with us all about when to use podcasts to connect, some podcasts that she loves for kids, and different ways that we can use podcasts to connect with our kids of all ages from children through teenagers. You can find Andi on Instagram @friendlypodcastguide and make sure to get her Kid Podcast Guide to find great podcasts for all ages.Sign up for Emily Hamblin's Confidently Momming Kids with Big Emotions Membership. Use the promo code: REALLIFE for 50% off your first month. Our SponsorsMossa On DemandUse the code: RealLife30 for a 44 day free trial! After the free trial it's only $9.99 a month for on demand workouts! You are going to love the variety of workout levels and lengths that you can do in your home. Visit https://www.mossaondemand.net/ to get started.Women's Meditation NetworkListen to Morning Meditation for Women or visit the Women's Meditation Network to find another one of their podcasts that fits your meditation needs.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

We are really tired of our kids fighting and tired of us having to be the referees, breaking things up, and punishing our kids on the spot. So today we're going to be telling you about a new system that we are trying and how it's working for our family so far. This new system is a family council where we meet once a week and let our kids help decide how to handle the fighting that they reported. Here are the links to the websites we referred to throughout the episode.Family Councils: The Key is CommunicationOur SponsorsMossa On Demand Use the code: RealLife30 for a 44 day free trial! After the free trial it's only $9.99 a month for on demand workouts! You are going to love the variety of workout levels and lengths that you can do in your home. Visit https://www.mossaondemand.net/ to get started.Women's Meditation NetworkListen to Morning Meditation for Women or visit the Women's Meditation Network to find another one of their podcasts that fits your meditation needs.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

This week's episode dives into the topics of giving, gratitude, and kindness. We have award-winning author Stephanie Jones sharing her journey of giving a gift each day for over 10 years and the life lessons she's learned. Listen in as we discuss practical ways to cultivate giving in your own home, how to encourage your kids to use their strengths, and discover the power of your own words. You'll walk away with new ideas to spread kindness each day and resources to inspire your family.You can find Stephanie at the Giving Girl Website or on her Instagram account @giving_galYou can also find her 500 days of giving ideas here.This episode is sponsored by Mossa. Use the code: RealLife30 for a 44 day free trial! After the free trial it's only $9.99 a month for on demand workouts! You are going to love the variety of workout levels and lengths that you can do in your home. Visit https://www.mossaondemand.net/ to get started.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

We have some fun ideas for you to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your family. On this episode, we decided to go with a luck theme and came up with lots of different ways to do lucky things with your family throughout the day. All of these ideas are simple and easy to do. If you want to buy Lucky Charms cereal, make sure you do that now and go hide it in your closet! Sometimes they run out at the grocery store.This episode is sponsored by Mossa. Use the code: RealLife30 for a 44 day free trial! After the free trial it's only $9.99 a month for on demand workouts! You are going to love the variety of workout levels and lengths that you can do in your home. Visit https://www.mossaondemand.net/ to get started.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

Have your kids been sick a lot lately? Ours too. In a post covid world, it seems that all of our immune systems are shot. But what can we do about it? In this episode we talk with Dr. Jonathan Williams who is a pediatrician and known on TikTok as the TikTok Kid Doc. He shares with us why our kids are so sick, what we can do to help their immune systems, and how to help your kids who may be struggling with anxiety or depression. You can find Dr. Jonathan Williams in person at the Ogden Clinic in Layton, Utah. Get tips from Dr. Williams on TikTok at TikTokKidDoc.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

This month is the month of love and so we're focusing on relationships. In this episode, we're going to talk about going on dates with other couples, how to make friends as couples, and if married couples actually need friends. You may be surprised by the answer.In this episode we referenced a couple of different articles and links:Johnson Files post-date performance video and dating after marriage. They have a few so go scroll their feed!How to Make New Couple Friends article with relationship support worksheet.No. 1 thing that makes us happy in life Harvard StudyThanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

In this episode, we are doing an interview with Emily Hamblin from Enlightening Motherhood. And the fun thing is, we interviewed each other at the same time.  So this interview aired on her podcast not too long ago and now it's airing on ours. We talk about ways to have a little bit more fun with your kids, how having fun is more important than the conflict in sibling relationships, and some tips on dealing with sibling conflict.You can find Emily on her podcast Enlightening Motherhood, her website, and on Instagram. And here's a link to her free download Meltdown Cheat Sheet and video.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

With Valentine's Day coming up, we thought this would be a good time to do an episode about marriage. So we are sharing marriage advice that we've received over the years that have worked for us and may be able to work for you too.We also know that all marriages are different and bring in different personalities and quirks, so we're also sharing marriage advice that has worked for us just because of who we are. These are less helpful tips, but hopefully you find things that work for your marriage because of who you and your spouse are.Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

This is such a fun episode! We asked our listeners to share different Christmas and winter traditions that they have and since our audience is international, we were hoping for some traditions from a few different countries, and you delivered! We have traditions from China, the Netherlands, Chile, the USA, Portugal, Ireland, and Australia. We love sharing these traditions so that you can adopt one that you like or look into your own family history and find a tradition from your family's culture to incorporate in your family traditions. You can follow these friends here: Greta @brighterfitness_greta (Service Gift) Scarlet @sparkgoodness (Chilean New Year) Rosie @the_irish_mummy (Irish and Australian Christmas) Anabel @anabel.andrade.augusto (Portuguese Christmas) Meg @meg_themanylittlejoys (Gingerbread houses) If you want to share your tradition, send us a DM on Instagram at parenting.irl.podcast so we can share yours too. This is our last episode for 2022, but we will see you in January. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

Christmas is around the corner and it can be hard to know what Christmas gifts to get your kids. Do you get them what they want? Do you get them what you think they actually want? Do you get them activities or toys or experiences? In this episode, we are sharing the best and worst gifts we have given our kids. We're still looking for a remote control car that doesn't break right away, so if you have found an amazing one, please let us know! In our next episode, we are going to do a Christmas around the world episode. We would love to hear from you! Send us a voice message, video, or email of how your family celebrates Christmas. Send those to parentingirlpodcast@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. Send them in by November 25th to be added in the episode. In this episode, we talked about Kiwi Crates. Save $10 when you use this link! To find the other things we talked about in this episode, visit our Amazon Storefront. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

Knowing when to give your kids a phone and what kind is a common question we have as parents. This is something we often talk to family and friends about. There are so many different options, which one do you choose? And how do you manage your kids' phone use? We don't have all the answers, but we're sharing some stats that we've learned as well as what we do in our home. This is just what has worked for us. We love our Troomi phone for our oldest daughter and it has worked great for us. Use the code PARENTING to get $50 off your Troomi phone. Or on November 8-9, we will have a special 48 hour code that only our listeners have access to that will get you the $50 off PLUS 6 months of free cell service. So join our newsletter to get the link on those days or follow us on Instagram to get the code there. Mark your calendars because it's only those 2 days! If you would like to be a part of our Christmas traditions podcast episode, DM me on Instagram or email us at parentingirlpodcast@gmail.com. You can send a video, voice memo, or a written email. We would LOVE to hear from you! Here are the links to the websites we referred to throughout the episode: Have Smart Phones Ruined a Generation? The Difference Family Structure Makes in Teens' Tech Use Follow @betterscreentime on Instagram. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parenting.irl.podcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes. http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

This episode was inspired by what Alan thought would be a fun call to Santa Claus on the Google that turned into a frightening moment for our 4 year old. This made us think about other mistakes we've made over the last few weeks. From the funny to the frustrating, we're sharing a few of the mistakes we've made recently. In parenting, you're always learning and making mistakes so we hope this episodes helps you know that you are not alone in parenting! Podcast we recommend: On Boys Podcast with Janet Allison and Jennifer L.W. Fink. You can find their podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-boys-podcast/id135817170 Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parenting.irl.podcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

In this episode we are talking about Halloween traditions, our favorite family costumes, America's least favorite candy, and sharing some of our favorite Halloween jokes. Share them with your kids or whoever loves a good dad joke. You can see the photos we talk about on our YouTube Channel or on Instagram. Tanner Fam Sugar Cookie Recipe: https://www.parentingirlpodcast.com/amazing-sugar-cookie-recipe/?swcfpc=1 Make sure to check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHVc1_Kv8Ojb3HE9xI3Xoiw Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parenting.irl.podcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! Here are the links to the websites we referred to throughout the episode. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/news/make-or-buy-most-popular-approach-to-halloween- History of Halloween: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween How much candy we eat on Halloween: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/10/28/halloween-candy-experts-advice-how-much-kids-eat/8571670002/ Halloween jokes: https://parade.com/1056251/marynliles/halloween-jokes/ And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

When you want a fun treat with the family, fast food ice cream is one of our go tos. But where is the best ice cream? Which is the cheapest? Which is the easiest to feed a family? We're going to tell you our favorites and why and also share some fun tips about who created soft serve ice cream, which country eats the most, and we compare ice cream to cars. This is a fun episode you'll want to listen to with the whole family. Here are the links to the websites we referred to throughout the episode. Who eats the most ice cream https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-top-ice-cream-consuming-countries-of-the-world.html McFlurry Machines https://www.rd.com/article/mcdonalds-ice-cream-machines/ Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

Do you feel frustrated by the TV shows your kids are watching? Do you want them to watch shows you feel good about them watching? In this episode we are sharing 5 questions to ask yourself to help you find the best TV shows for your kids. We also talk about our favorite kids TV shows as well as some habits to help parents be better about their own screen time. This week's Sponsor is Troomi. Use the promo code: PARENTING for $50 off your Troomi phone. Visit https://troomi.com/ Here are the links to the websites we referred to throughout the episode. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-makes-a-childrens-tv-show-good-for-kids_n_5bd305cce4b0d38b588281ab#:~:text=The%20messaging%20of%20a%20children's,to%20drink%20the%20green%20smoothie.%E2%80%9D Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parenting.irl.podcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

How's your summer routine going? We are half way through the summer in our home and we are in need of a reboot. So this episode is coming at the perfect time for us! In this episode, we have Alyssa Blask Campbell who is the founder of Seed and Sew which teaches the Collaborative Emotion Processing method that she co-created. Alyssa has 3 great tips to help with a summer routine which can help get some new ideas flowing if you seem to be in a bit of a rut like we are. You can find Alyssa on Instagram @seed.and.sew or on her website seedandsew.org. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

If you've ever created a bucket list with your family, you may have gotten a lot of answers from your kids. It may seem a bit overwhelming or it may be full of things you may not necessarily want to or are able to do. In this episode, Lori Beth Auldridge shares with us how to create a more meaningful and rich summer experience when creating a summer bucket list with your family. It's all about your family values! If you're looking for ways to be more intentional about what you do with your kids this summer, you'll definitely want to listen to this episode. Resources: Our Summer Bucket List Print We did an interview with Dr. Lauren Cook and she had a great resource with examples of defining your values. Family Values Examples How to Define and Discover Your Family Values

We are a few weeks into summer and despite all the planning, things may not be going quite how you planned. But don't worry, today's episode with Lisa Sugarman will help you embrace the imperfectness of summer. Lisa is an advocate for encouraging parents to cut themselves some slack and give ourselves permission to show up for our kids exactly as we are without putting all kinds of crazy pressure or expectations on ourselves to live that perfect Instagram life. You can find Lisa Sugarman on Instagram and on her website lisasugarman.com Check out her book How to Raise Perfectly Imperfectly Kids and Be OK with It. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode!

Feeding kids during the summer is one of the hardest things for us. Kids want to eat all different foods all day long and if you're not careful, you could spend all day in the kitchen making food, putting together snacks, or cleaning up. Today we have Leah Grammar, a mom of 6, who has some great tips for keeping summer mealtimes under control and less overwhelming. You are going to love these tips from this experienced mom. We especially loved her tips on what to feed the neighbor kids and how to manage lunch time. You can find Leah on her Instagram account @iamleahgrammar and on her website leahgrammar.com. You can also watch the video on our Instagram account @parentingirlpodcast and on our new Youtube Channel! Come subscribe! And don't forget to leave us a rating and subscribe to our podcast!

Summer can be so chaotic with all the kids home and people coming and going with friends and camps. But as parents, we still have our responsibilities too. That's why we are so excited to share this episode with Josephine Atluri with you. Josephine is a mindfulness coach, author, and podcaster who has 3 great tips on how to stay grounded and practice mindfulness during the summer chaotic months. Our favorite quote from Josephine: "Mindfulness is just an awareness of yourself. How you're feeling physically, mentally, emotionally. An awareness of your environment and an awareness of your interactions with others." You can find Josephine Atluri on her website, her instagram, or on her podcast. Also, make sure to check out her Mindfulness Journal for Parents. If you would like to purchase our giant summer calendar print, you can on our website. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

One of the most common things that Money Coach Rachel Murphy hears from adults is that they wish they would have learned how to manage money as teenagers. I'm sure I'm not the only one who went to college with no money and no idea how to manage it. We want our kids to have a better understanding of financial skills and in this episode you're going to learn 3 ways to teach your kids how to manage money. You can also watch this video on Instagram or on our New YouTube Channel. Make sure to visit Rachel Murphy at her website and check out her book I Am Not Your ATM. Use our GreenLight affiliate code for $30: https://share.greenlight.com/11916208?advocate_partner_share_id=d64cf1107b Sign up for the Kid and Teens Baking Summer Series and use the code: REALLIFE for $10 off. https://shopmamalisaskitchen.com/collections/live-classes/products/youth-summer-baking-classes

We are super excited for this new podcast format we are doing this summer. We have asked experts in all kinds of fields to give us 10 minute videos of their best tips for parenting in summer. Our first guest is Ceri Payne who we've had on our podcast before. She is amazing! In this episode she talks about summer schedules. Should you have one? What should it look like? She asks her clients to ask themselves what their goals are and what they want the summer to feel like when determining how they should schedule their summer. She also has some great suggestions for scheduling out your summer for families with kids of all ages. She breaks it into pre-school aged, elementary/middle school aged, and then high school and even young adult aged that may be still living at home. Our favorite thing she said was, "A schedule simply is writing down your choices ahead of time." You are going to love this episode with Ceri Payne. You can find Ceri on her website at Ceri Payne Coaching and on Instagram. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

The kids are about to all come home for the summer which is both fun and hectic. This is especially true if you're working from home for any amount of time. Now that we've been working from home for the past two years, we have some tips that have helped us. We're also trying some new things to help us make sure we add in some fun, quiet time, and learning time. To learn more about the mom store, visit here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLaaeVrAOx-/ Find my extra large Summer Calendar and Bucket List print here: https://www.parentingirlpodcast.com/product/summer-bucket-list/ Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

We were on a podcast recently and were talking about dating your spouse. And although we have been far from perfect at this, we have found 3 ways to date your spouse that's on budget, doesn't take a ton of planning, and even ways you can do things to connect daily. We hope these simple tips can help you look for small ways to connect with your spouse. This week's Sponsor is Money Makers. I have been in Michelle Gifford's Money Makers group for over 2 years and have been working for her for the last year. If you're a business owner looking to take the next step or are ready to take your business more seriously, this is the program for you! For only $347 for a whole year, you get online courses, 2 monthly coaching calls with Michelle, and an amazing community of women who understand you! Just click this link to join! https://michelle-gifford.mykajabi.com/a/2147510452/m2wtDjPe Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

We don't have the perfect work life balance. In fact, our schedules, desires, and lifestyle seem to be changing all the time. But we have learned a few things along the way that have helped us have a little more balance in our lives and make sure we keep our priorities. We all have different life circumstances, but we feel one of the most important things in having conversations with your spouse. Hopefully this episode helps you continue to find a bit more balance in your life. This week's Sponsor is KiwiCo. We have loved their Kiwi Crate STEAM boxes! These are the perfect kits to help keep your kids entertained this summer. Get 50% off your 1st month of any KiwiCo Subscription with the link below. https://www.kiwico.com/Refer?i=AlexisT75 Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

We recently read an article about how teenagers today are more depressed than ever. But it wasn't caused by the pandemic or any one thing. They narrowed it down to 4 main things that we discuss and share some of our ideas of how we're combatting them. We were surprised that one of the 4 main things is modern parenting! This week's Sponsor is Troomi. We love using Troomi because it grows with our kid. It also has a great Parent Portal that allows me to see my kid's text messages, control their contacts, and see where their phone is located on GPS. Use the promo code: PARENTING for $50 off a Troomi phone. Here are the links to the websites we referred to throughout the episode. https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/04/american-teens-sadness-depression-anxiety/629524/ https://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-sports-are-back-where-are-the-athletes/2022/04 Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

On our last survey, we had a few people ask for some tips on some parenting headaches. We decided to do a speed round and answer 4 of those parenting topics with things that have worked for our kids. We are not parenting experts, so these are just tips you can try (if you want). In this episode we talk about stopping the whining, how to deal with night time potty training especially when kids are getting a little older than the "norm," setting boundaries and freedoms, and how to entertain your baby and yourself. We would love to know your best tips too. Make sure to comment on our Instagram posts! This week's Sponsor is Troomi phones. Use the code PARENTING to get $50 of your child's new phone! Here's the link: https://troomi.crrnt.app/bNxJp76V Don't forget to follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/parentingirlpodcast We'd love to hear your comments on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review! Here's a simple explanation of how to leave a review on itunes: http://www.imore.com/how-rate-or-review-podcast-your-iphone-or-ipad

Today's parenting pep talk is all about finding joy in the small things. We love both the sayings "Water what you want to grow" (Alan's mom) and "Look for the good and soon it's all you'll see" (Ralphie Jacobs). As you look for the good around you and in your children, then you'll not only find more joy in your surroundings, but you'll also find the positive behaviors in your kids that they'll want to repeat as you point them out. Look for the good in your kids today!