Save The Parents Podcast

Fewer topics solicit more fear, dread and influence than death. Most people prefer to avoid talking about death - forcing you to come to terms with the mortality reality of you, your spouse, your kids, your animals, your parents, etc. It's scary, hard and emotionally painful. Imaging the world without your key people in them is painful... and often so easy to not think about, or come to terms with. But mortality, death and survivor ship is a real thing that's likely not going away and can often be more painful emotionally if you're not prepared and aware of these risks. So why do we fear death so much? Perhaps it goes back to our own biological survival mechanisms trying to keep us (and our offspring) alive... or perhaps its the fear of unknown. Either way, we know the world continues on without us (or worse, without our kids or spouse), and it's really emotionally hard to understand. So why not just bury this issue? Why not just sweep it under the rug, not worry about it and pretend that it's never a risk or not going to happen. But then you die (just like our dog - unexpected, sudden and ever-changing). What happens to your debts, estate, kids, family, possessions or obligations? If you've never looked into wills, student debt repayment obligations, life insurance, etc chances are your family is at risk. But as young parents - the obligations we already face (both in time and money) are pretty strong. It's so easy (and often emotionally advantageous) to put these wills, life insurance and conversations to the bottom of your priority list. But the risk is there, and it's worth having these conversations to both better come to peace with your own mortality, and better prepare for these unfortunate scenarios. Unfortunately, we had the opportunity to reflect upon all of this when our Great Dane, Lena passed away unexpectedly on Thanksgiving day. Seeing her pass over the "rainbow bridge", helping our kids understand what exactly happens, and then reflecting upon how we as parents can better manage the reality of death that faces everyone. So in the interest of you learning from our experiences, here's a podcast reflecting on our own mortality. Although a somber topic, may it be helpful to you and your family. Save the Parents Podcast is a podcast by & for parents brought to you by the generosity of our Patreon Supporters and fans. If you like our work, please follow us, share and like our podcasts through reviews, support and engagement. We sincerely appreciate all our listeners. Check out www.save-the-parents.org and www.patreon.com/savetheparents to learn more. Thanks for listening!

23. Should We HATE Hate? by Jennifer Thuen

Livin' in the 'burbs is a unique facet of life. Built largely out of necessity for people looking to live within proximity to a city & community but unable to afford and manage kids in a more urban center the great suburbia landscape has really expanded in the past 50 years. But suburbia life has unique challenges. With close proximity and decreased privacy, suburbia life seems to offer close geographical proximity to neighbors without necessarily mandating that neighbors build a personally-connected community. When people live 20 feet away from each other and fail to "meet" their neighbors, a unique phenomenon happens. Throw in an HOA organization to manage conflict resolution, renter bias and moral hazard and kids' need for space to play and explore... and you've got a rather interesting situation. You can discount these issues as "first world problems", but for many "first world" residents, these problems seem to pose very real threats and challenges to their well being and livelihood. How is it, that with such close geographic proximity communities can feel hollow, cold and impersonal? How is it that parents within these communities can feel disconnected to the point of inaction? How is it that more neighborhood regulations within an HOA often seem to feel like they are ineffective and insufficient? Whether your neighbors are 20 feet away or an acre, chances are you'll empathize with this cultural and social phenomenon that seems to ripple across neighborhoods around the country. But acknowledging and dealing with these issues seems incredibly necessary. With global populations continuing to expand with urban centers and requirements, rockin' life in the 'burbs will be a skill we all could stand to improve upon. Save the Parents Podcast is a podcast by & for parents raisisng kids in today's crazy world. We're here thanks to the support of our Patrons and supporters, and welcome your reviews and feedback through www.patreon.com/savetheparents and via email at jenny@save-the-parents.org and within your listening app. Thanks for listening!