Peace Starts with You Podcast

This week we are diving into our Sibling Rivalry Mini Series. If you are still stuck in the “who's right, vs. who's wrong” or “who's going to get in trouble, vs. who's off the hook” mindset, this episode is for you. Your attitude, and words have so much power, peace starts with you. Don't miss these highlights! 2:30 Put your kids feelings into words 5:46 Expressing what your child is wishing for 6:56 Help your child channel their negative feelings into creative outlets 7:47 Find comfort in knowing that they trusted you enough to say it 9:02 Show them how to express their anger without doing damage Peace Starts With You Team Podcast Host: @thepastelfox Podcast Manager: @fallonmicheleco

Does your marriage feel disconnected and hard, after having kids? Do you feel distant from your partner and want to regain what has been lost? This week I was joined by “the couple least likely to succeed in marriage” Meygan and Casey Caston of Marriage 365, for a real and raw conversation around marriage amidst the chaos of parenting. Don't miss these highlights: 8:06 Having a strong marriage in the midst of parenting and setting yourself up for success. 9:37 Look back at your childhood and your spouse's childhood to see what was modeled. 14:27 Weekly marriage business meeting. 20:08 What do you do when you feel distant and need to regain what has been lost? 27:45 What to do when you cannot come to an agreement. 36:51 7 Days of sex challenge. COUPON CODE: PEACE50 50% off of your first month of membership Links referenced: The Weekly Marriage Business Meeting https://marriage365.com/2agi The Secrets to Making Decisions as a Couple https://marriage365.com/6l64 The 4-Step Apology https://marriage365.com/08w5 3 Ways to Restore Trust https://marriage365.com/pd71 Our book for families https://marriage365.com/product/365-connecting-questions-for-families/ Follow Meygan and Casey on Instagram: Instagram.com/marriage365

Are you focused on your child's behavior and wanting them to behave a certain way? Do you believe that it's a reflection of you, and how good your kids are? Today's episode is for you. Come dive deep with me into how you can focus in on you instead. How you can change how you react, how you respond, how you feel, and in turn how that is going to model the behavior that you want to see from your kids, and shape their life in a positive way. Don't miss these highlights: 2:48 When you start positive, gentle parenting, it's not saying that you are going to be perfect or completely absent of yelling or making mistakes 3:34 Our kids are witnessing a relationship rupture, and also a genuine heartfelt repair 5:39 You are going to make mistakes, be reminded that nothing is lost, breathe deep and teach them how to respond rather than react 6:52 It's about learning to let go of our expectations of who our kids should be, or turn out to be, and instead open yourself up to the truth of who they are 8:51 You are laying the foundation for future emotional wellbeing 10:21 Give yourself all the grace, be kind to yourself. You are anointed and qualified for the assignment of Mother. 11:38 As you go into this week, focus on enjoying your kids. Peace Starts With You Team Podcast Host: @thepastelfox Podcast Manager: @Fallonmicheleco

Do you wish you could lead your kids from sibling rivalry to a state of peace? This episode is for you. Sometimes we think “it's just my kids' personalities” or “they're just never gonna be friends.” But, we as parents can intensify the competition or we can reduce it. We can drive hostile feelings underground, or we can allow them to be vented safely. We can accelerate the fighting or we can make cooperation possible. Peace starts with you. Below is an overview of the episode. 1:27 How we teach our kids to self regulate and handle emotions 5:32 Fear, aloneness and control are not effective 9:44 Attitudes and the skills that you can equip your child with to support them in relationships as they grow 11:43 Find your calm, connect to the moment, and be that thermostat for your kids Peace Starts With You Team Podcast Host: @thepastelfox Podcast Manager: @Fallonmicheleco

I am so excited to have the chance to chat with Wendy Snyder in this weeks episode. I have learned so much from her about gentle parenting and have applied it to the way I raise my kids. She also has so many great resources for you all if you are also on your own gentle parenting journey. I'd love for you to take a look at her resources below: I Left Bruises The Night A Threw A Book At My Kid Free Guide to Raising Strong Willed Kids Find Wendy on Instagram The Fresh Start Family Show

We are finally back for season 2 and I am so excited about the episodes that I have lined up for you! In this weeks episode I talk about different approaches I've taken with each one of my boys during our season break. All three of them are different in their own ways so when they are upset it's so important to me to work through it with them in a way that makes them feel heard.

We are in between seasons but couldn't resist dropping an episode. To find out more about the Season 2 please visit www.brooklynpowell.com and subscribe to the mailing list. I am so excited to be working on a new website for you as we step into Season 2. In this weeks bonus episode I share about the need to remind myself that parenting will never be a perfect experience. 1:50 Lacking patience as a gentle parenting podcast host 3:13 Perfection is not required to be a good parent 3:38 Who you are as a person has a bigger impact on your kids than any parenting strategy 4:51 Book “Habits of the Household” by Justin Earley 6:02 My reality is that I do not feel like I'm good at my job as a parent 6:44 We become our habits and our kids become us, which means who are kids are becoming is tightly connection to who we are becoming personally and as a community. 7:42 The greatest spiritual work happens in the normal moments of our daily lives 8:17 3 things to simplify parenting 11:15 Focus on a couple simple things: connection & not feeling guilty when you are “coming up short” and instead just do the opposite of whatever is causing you to feel guilty 12:56 The greatest gift you can give your kids is your undivided attention Peace Starts With You Team Podcast Host: @thepastelfox Podcast Manager: @vanessaarvallo NEW WEBSITE: www.brooklynpowell.com

As we close out Season 1, we want to celebrate our exciting accomplishment! Peace Starts With You has 20 episodes out now and we are just getting started. In this weeks episode Brooklyn talks about decluttering and getting organized. Below is an overview of the episode. 1:44 German Study “The nursery without toys” 3:22 Kids who have more toys are more distracted 5:44 Benefits from having minimal toys 5:58 Going to get harder before it gets easier 6:21 Going beyond just your kids toys 8:16 Cleaning and organizing is associated with less stress & anxiety 9:08 November Challenge Decluttering & organizing inspiration Instagram Favorites: @thebartahouse @allie_thatsme Book: Declutter Like a Mother Peace Starts With You Team Podcast Host: @thepastelfox Podcast Manager: @vanessaarvallo

The behavior that we model as parents is the behavior that we will see our children copy. In this weeks episode you'll get a few tips about self regulation.  0:45 Quote 2:42 Different seasons of life 3:13 Having a tough day 3:58 Do things you find joy in 4:34 Express how you feel 5:36 Our kids our learning from us 6:17 Self regulation as parents 9:17 You are their great role model

Parenting can be so challenging when you are in the middle of a situation and trying to figure out how to guide your kids. This weeks episode is a power round of some gentle parenting tips. 0:46 - 10 minute power round 0:55 - Using distraction to cope with uncomfortable feelings 1:57 - Forced apologies 3:57 - Kids who are shy 5:12 - A shift in perspective 6:10 - Holding our boundaries 7:55 - When your kids says “your mean” 11:02 - Quote

A surprising gesture can go a long way, even if it's a hug. Check out the overview to find out more about this episode. 1:05 Topic of todays podcast 1:36 A healing hug 2:00 Letting our kids feel emotions and simply being there with a hug and an “I love you” 4:03 How powerful a hug can be 4:18 Study done on a retirement home done in New York 4:49 Hormones oxytocin serotonin, & dopamine released 7:04 Hugs from Dax's perspective 7:50 Hugs from Jett's perspective 8:29 Hugs remind people that they matter and can be worth more than a thousand words

In a world full of processed foods it is important for us as parents to offer our children foods with nutritional values. If you don't know where to start, take small steps to shift away from the foods that can be harmful to their health and development. References from this episode: Cure Tooth Decay: Heal and Prevent Cavities with Nutrition Holistic medical practitioner

Highlights from this weeks episode. 0:45 Lawrence Cohen quote 1:26 Play matters 3:47 Discipline though play 7:09 Most valuable tool is the example we set 8:00 Jesus the Gentle Parent quote 9:13 Jesus the Gentle Parent quote #2 9:36 Our role as parents and our need for Jesus

I apologize about the mix up last week, thank you for being patient as we've been sorting this out. Below is a summary to help you navigate through this episode. 0:47 Poem by Tess Guinery 3:37 Cultivating good communication skills with our kids 4:00 Real life scenarios 9:37 5 tips 9:52 Listen to understand 10:30 Get on their level 11:45 Acknowledge their feelings 12:41 Control your response 14:36 Be clear and confident 15:30 Author David Thomas 16:33 Summary of tips 16:55 Berne Brown Quotes

Navigating through the messiness of parenting can be exhausting. Between taking care of the kids, the busyness of your home, and spending time with your husband, taking time to just soak it all up can feel impossible. It's important to slow down to acknowledge the opportunities that arise to teach your children about how to navigate through the world. Through each of those moments you have the privilege to make your kids feel deeply loved in an unconditional way. Many times fear based parenting parenting may be your default response when you find yourself in a difficult parenting situation. Step back from using fear and force and teach with compassion and grace. Leading with self control will help them become self confident about problem solving. Book recommendation: Punished by Rewards

Being intentional about what you are working towards makes a huge difference, especially in the home. As mothers, we have the privilege to set the tone of our home for our husband and children. Choosing to be happy over any other emotion takes a lot of work but it will make a lasting impression. Don't allow the distractions of life keep you from making it a priority for you home to feel safe.

1:15 this is not about perfection, its about awareness and trusting the process 2:00 tool #1 GEMS “genuine encounter moments” 7:27 tool #2 Pause Buttons with intention to teach 8:08 victor Frankl book “Mans Search for Meaning” 11:08 using fear, force, rewards, & punishments isn't teaching our kids 11:35 giving kids the gift of intrinsic motivation & ability to follow moral compass 13:16 You can be the source of peace Book Recommendations: Children: The Challenge : The Classic Work on Improving Parent-Child Relations--Intelligent, Humane & Eminently Practical by Rudolf Dreikurs and Vicki Stolz Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gordon Nuefeld and Gabor Maté MD Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships (Nonviolent Communication Guides) by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Navigating through postpartum can be so hard. In this weeks episode, Sandy Critides opens up about the thoughts and challenges she experienced once she became a mother. Welcoming her first baby into the world, did not go the way she had envisioned and it had a significant effect on her postpartum. She opens up about what helped her get to where she is today. Find Sandy on Instagram: https://instagram.com/sandyclaus7 Sandy's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-magnetic-with-sandy-wade/id1536874356

When we regulate our emotions it is teaching our children how to regulate theirs. Your child deserves to be heard, even when they resist, cry, and complain. In those moments engage them by asking what they think needs to be done. Discipline is an approach that helps a child solve a problem while punishment simply making a child suffer for having a problem. Leading them to think less of themselves. Book recommendations from this episode: A Woman After God's Own Heart The Power of a Praying Wife Love and Respect

Being completely available to your kids can feel nearly impossibly when you think of the mountain of tasks that you need to get done around the house. Being a homemaker can get overwhelming from time to time but the reality is no one else is responsible for managing your home but you. The beauty is that you approach that duty with such a joy once you get your focus right. You have the ability to foster connection with your kids by simply being intentional. Know that it is such an honor to be able to remind your kids of their goodness.

As a mom you play a huge role in setting the tone in your home for your kids. Do you feel like you are empowering and inspiring to your children? Being positive and communicating gentle all the time isn't going to be a breeze. It starts with being aware of the way you speak to your kids and how the way you respond to them. Acknowledge the way you are making them feel about themselves. Stop shaming them when they're having a hard time with something. As parents we should be an intentional and positive role models for our kids to look up too. Constant criticism erodes their confidence. Boundaries and limits do not need to be enforced using fear. Get creative and look for ways to build their strengths. Giving your kids small task can build their confidence in so many ways.

I know you've heard it before but I need to remind you, comparison is the thief of all joy. It is so easy to find ourselves entangled in negative self talk. You know, that little voice in our head that tells us to be content with live an average life. Self sabotage all starts with a simple thought. Leading you to constantly tell yourself that you are not good enough or that you will never get ahead in life. Shack off those thoughts and be intentional about reframing you beliefs. Dig deep and ask yourself why you think about yourself the way you do. Take an inventory, do a heart check, what negative ideas have you been telling yourself? Write it all down so you can see how harmful those thought are to your well-being. Now you can rise up and work to move past the negativity. Remember, you are are capable of doing great things.

Siblings fighting with each other is bound to happen. Setting limits and enforcing them is absolutely necessary. We can teach them so much by being intentional about how we guide them as they problem solve. Understanding their need to process on their own and express themselves helps us avoid getting into an emotional power struggle which builds their confidence. Give them space show you that they know what they should do.

Kids are hardwired to connect & when we can look at their behavior with a different perspective and see it for what it really is- a form of communication that clues us in on what is going inside our kids, then we can practice responding to absolutely anything in a respectful, gentle, & calm way. Watch, observe, listen, look and play with intention, which doesn't mean it has to be 24/7, but recognizing that we have to protect intentional time with our kids. We live in the busiest and most distracted time and we have to choose to be different. When are kids feel seen, heard and understood they become teens and adults who have self worth and self confidence. We were all made for love and connection so it only makes sense as our kids are growing and developing and learning that we cover them with that same love and connection no matter what.

10 things that are so important in shaping and molding the behavior of your kids than discipline. The way you see your kids, your relationship with your spouse, your relationship with your kids, filling up your own cup, where they go to school and the community that surrounds them, their basic needs, media, the atmosphere of your home. All these things play a major role in how our kids act and when we focus so much on discipline and don't take these factors into consideration you might find yourself frustrated and over your limit. When emotions are running high, tears are flowing, your kids are doing something that sets you off: get on their level, notice how big of a deal it is to them, recognize the emotion, focus on connection, validate how they feel, set limits as you guide and teach them.

Teaching kids how to share, validating and showing compassion as they learn, preparing our kids to be adults who are able to accept and manage emotions in a healthy way. Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. Lets be honest, a lot of things that are a big deal to our kids are not a big deal to us. But when we can get on their level, connecting before correcting, we have the biggest opportunity to build trust and love and show them we hear them. Your greatest super power is your calmness.

Finding joy and filling up your own cup in the midst of motherhood might feel nearly impossible. But often by taking small simple steps you'll notice they make a big difference in the way you feel, the way you show up and the peace that fills you and flows out of you. Hold onto the truth that there is power when you can give yourself grace as you grow and become the mom you want to be.

If your idea of motherhood is influenced by the lie that this season is anything but wonderful, we are here with a podcast to help you make a shift. The Peace Starts with You Podcast is hosted by a mom of 3 boys who is in the trenches with you yet is finding joy, peace and delight through it all. Think of her as your gentle partenting obsessed, bestie, who wraps you in the biggest hug each time you see her. She reminds you everything is going to be okay and every time you leave her you feel refreshed. Motivated and ready to take on whatever life throws at you with peace. Peace Starts with You is here to encourage you through rich conversations, guests speakers who are full of wisdom when it comes to motherhood, and practical tools you can apply instantly. You are not alone, you are doing better than you think you are, and you can create peace even if peace feels far from you at the moment.