Vida With Christie

It's time for a fresh start to a podcast that has grown with me for the last 6 years! In this episode of the Decolonized Motherhood Podcast, previously known as the Vida With Christie Podcast, I share with you the new direction for this project and what it is all about.  I also give a little life update, from family life to an insights into my academic work and thesis. I hope you enjoy the newest episode! Episode's Blog Post https://decolonizedmotherhood.com/2024/10/11/episode-45-decolonized-motherhood/ Let's Connect! TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@decolonizedmotherhood Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decolonizedmotherhood Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itschristielazo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itschristielazo X: https://x.com/itschristielazo Threads: https://www.threads.net/@itschristielazo Learn more about the Decolonized Motherhood Podcast at https://decolonizedmotherhood.com/podcast/.

It's time for a new chapter, and this episode will include many of the details of what this means for the Vida With Christie Podcast. While I and the podcast won't be going far, it is definitely bittersweet to update you on the upcoming changes. In this episode, I also discuss a parenting regret I have as a content creator which has become a life lesson as my child grows. Additionally, I include a quick catch-up of what I've been up to since the last episode and what is to come on the podcast. So stay tuned, we got exciting updates coming your way! Episode's Blog Post https://decolonizedmotherhood.com/2024/04/04/episode-44-time-for-a-new-chapter/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

On episode 43 of the Vida With Christie Podcast, I provided a quick life update and shared some exciting summer plans. I also touched upon an upcoming episode wich will be on best practices which I apply for prioritizing my life as an ambitious mama while lives among the hustle and bustle of living her dreams every single day.  I had the pleasure of speaking with Gilza Fort Martinez, a licensed marriage and family therapist and CEO of Resolution Counselling Center in Miami, Florida. As a Latina therapist, we had an incredible conversation about how the various elements of our culture influence and impact the difference aspects of our motherhood experiences. From the challenges of prioritizing self care to the weight we carry as mothers and daughters, Gilza offered insight on from the Latina perspective proving the importance of matching with a therapist who understands you.   Episode's Blog Post https://vidawithchristie.com/2023/05/23/episode-43-latina-motherhood-with-gilza-fort-martinez/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

As a result of instabilities caused by the pandemic, many children are currently requiring more educational support than ever before. While we know that our children will eventually learn to read, write, do math and other skills, it is important to reach out for support if our children need it as that support goes beyond the applied skills, tutoring can support with their self steem, confidence and overall experience within educational contexts.  As a result, it was wonderful to connect with Gabrielle Crichlow of A Step Ahead Tutoring Services to learn more about how we can help and support our children through tutoring. Gabrielle is an incredibly dedicated educator who provided us with valuable insight about when we should invest in tutoring for our kids, how tutoring can benefit them, and more. Episode's Blog Post https://vidawithchristie.com/2023/02/20/episode-42-supporting-kids-through-tutoring-with-gabrielle-crichlow/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

I had the incredible honour of speaking with Danielle Meadows-Stinnett who is a superheroine mama and owner of Octane Design Studios. In this episode, she shared her lived experience as a mother of a neurodivergent children diagnosed with autism. I am so grateful that she joined me on this episode to educate us about her family, and empower us with lessons on how we can pass on this education to our children and beyond. Danielle also shared with us how her family spends quality time with each other while making use a medium that many parents have yet to embrace. There is so much to learn from Danielle through this episode, and I have no doubt this will not be her only to join me on the podcast!  Episode's Blog Post https://vidawithchristie.com/2023/01/17/episode-41-speaking-to-children-about-autism-with-danielle-meadows-stinnett/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

It's been a hot minute as I've been juggling multiple items on my plate, from motherhood to career and most recently academia. 2022 has brought with it a LOT of wins resulting from mine and my family's hard work, but it has alsobrought some challenges and learning opportunities. I also reflect on celebrating 5 years of podcasting through Vida With Christie and what is next on this journey, it includes a new project, Decolonized Motherhood, which is a blend of the work I do in my researchand academia and the work I've done so far with this podcast.  Join me on this episode as I reflect on some anchor elements of 2022 and what's to come in 2023. Only up from here!  Episode's Blog Post https://vidawithchristie.com/2022/12/30/episode-40-2022-reflections/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

I have BIG news to share on this latest episode. While I don't want to give it away in the description, even though the title of this episode is a major hint, I will share that I am making one of my wildest dreams come true. I am living it and am fully dedicated to it, and it is something that I still pinch myself about as a part of me can't fully believe it yet. On this episode I share how difficult the journey was to get where I am today, my intentions in the near future, and tears are shed because this new adventure means so much to me.  I am over the moon to know that this project and new chapter in my life I am dedicated to will contribute so much to this podcast and the work that I am doing to educate and support parents with the work of decolonizing parenthood and breaking intergenerational cycles with the purpose of raising aware and empowered kids. More than ever I am dedicate to this work and I am so excited for what this means for this podcast and the episodes to come.  Listen to this episode to get the steaming hot tea cause I know you're curious!  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2022/11/06/episode-39-academic-mama/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

While we'd love to think that this pandemic is over, the unfortunate truth is that we are still living in it. As parents, many of us have gone above and beyond thus far to ensure the safety and well-being of our children, and because of this we have been one of the most affected demographics since March 2020. As we prepare our children to return to school, on this episode I reflect on the current status of the COVID19 pandemic in Ontario, the safety measures our family will take to ensure our child is safe, and concerns from a parenting standpoint of things I wish would have happened to better protect our school communities. After all, overcoming this pandemic is a community effort.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2022/09/05/episode-38-pandemic-parenting-its-not-over-yet/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast.   

Danielle Bettmann is an incredible parenting coach and educator who I've had the pleasure of connecting with on various ocassions. On this episode, Danielle and I speak about nurturing the relationship that we have with our kids from a young age to the teenage years and beyond, the complexities of having a co-parent that may not be on the same page, and much more.  Danielle is the owner & parenting coach of Wholeheartedly, helping families with a strong-willed toddler and a "good cop / bad cop" dynamic find sanity & solutions. She's also the host of the Failing Motherhood podcast, working to normalize the struggle and share vulnerable stories of feeling like a "failure", reminding you that YOU are the mom your kids need. To learn more about Danielle, and discover supporting resources for this episode, make sure to visit vidawithchristie.com.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2022/07/10/episode-37-parenting-wholeheartedly-with-danielle-bettmann/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

I had the pleasure of speaking to Lieutenant Colonel Claudia Peña, host of Parenting in Uniform Podcast, about the challenges and rewards of parenting while enlisted in Germany and serving the US Army. This was an incredibly educative experience for me as I know very little about army life, nevermind being a parent in that space.  Lieutenant Colonel Claudia Peña used her podcast to advocate for other parents who are enlisted and/or veterans, as well as leads the way for women and mothers in leadership within her space. It was truly insightful to speak to her and get a very eye-opening perspective to parenting life while enlisted. Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2022/05/25/episode-36-parenting-in-uniform-with-lieutenant-colonel-claudia-pena/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

Note: While I normally publish episodes in English, from time to time I will release episodes in Spanish. It makes me happy to share that this is one of them. Tune in to the next episode for our regularly scheduled English content. Estoy super emocionada de compartir mi primer episodio totalmente en español con ustedes. Era importante para mi de lanzar los episodios en español con el tema de romper ciclos intergeneracionales. No solo porque es un tema que nos afecta a todos, si no tambien porque es la basis del contenido de mi podcast y de mis experiencias como madre.  Ser madre me causo reflexionar comonunca lo habia hecho antes sobre mi vida, mis experiencias, mi niñes, y mucho mas. Esta reflexion profunda me llevo a cambiar mucho de lo que yo habia aprendido de mis padres con las forma que ellos me criaron. Sabia que no lo podia hacer igual, no solo porque los tiempos cambian pero porque habia tenido experiencias al resultado que no queria repetir con mi hija. Este proceso es muy "extraño" en nuestra cultura, donde criticar a los padres es visto como una gran falta de respeto. Yo no hablo de estos temas para hacer quedar mal a mis padres, todo lo contrario. Mis padres hicieron lo mejor que pudieron con su sabiduria, esfuerzo, alcanzes y limitaciones para criarme, y se que me quieren profundamente. Por eso, yo tengo el privilegio que poder reflexionar, aprender, desaprender, y mucho mas para que mi hija cresca sana; no solamente fisicamente pero psicologicamente y emocionalmente tambien. Este episodio es muy importante para mi. Yo se que este tema es dificil de practicar, especialmente en nuestra cultura, pero les recomiendo que escuchen este episodio con el corazon y la mente abierta. Nosotros tenemos el gran poder de mejorar el futuro con la forma que criamos a nuestros hijes, entonces porque no echarle ganas para un future mejor que el que nosotros tenemos? Blog Post Del Episodio http://vidawithchristie.com/2022/03/29/episode-34-breaking-intergenerational-cycles/ Redes Sociales Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Aprende mas sobre Vida With Christie Podcast en http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast.   

My podcast came from an idea of sharing my experiences and lessons as a parent, and how I parent differently than I was parented. My parenting approach is different because I wanted to break from what we know call "intergenerational cycles". This is truly the foundationof the work I do on this podcast.  As a result, I have recorded an episode to summarize what it means to break intergenerational cycles, come face to face with our traumas and what this means for your future and the future of your children. I highly recommend checking out this episode as it may just shift how you look at your life experiences and how they influence the way you parent. Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2022/03/29/episode-34-breaking-intergenerational-cycles/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Sara Olsher of Mighty & Bright. She was also joined by Danielle Bettmann of Parenting Wholeheartedly.  Sara shares her incredible story of resilience and determination as a breast cancer survivor, in addition to the challenges she overcame as a single mom of a young daughter. From those experiences, Mighty & Bright was born; a companyhelping families face though challenges with honesty and mental well-being in mind. As my listeners may know, these kinds of resources are greatly appreciated by me as I know too well what it is like to face though challenges as a family through my mom's metastatic breast cancer journey. Might and Bright's products and services would have without a doubt been usseful tools to help my daughter cope with her grandmother's cancer journey. While the experiences themselves are not always pleasant, it makes me so happy that Might and Bright exists and it is available for families and children facing challenges like divorce or cancer. Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2022/03/04/episode-33-helping-kids-face-tough-challenges-with-sara-olsher-of-mighty-and-bright/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

I had the opportunity to connect with Tiana "Tee" Gaines of Postivitee x2 Podcast and discuss the various parenting challenges that present themselves and how to face them with a positive tone. Tee, a mom of one who is a US Army vet, shares how she is adjusting to civilian life and her experience being away from her daughter when she was stationed abroad. Of course, we also chatted about our approaches to positive parenting and raising incredible, strong and brave young racialized girls. What I appreciated most about speaking to Tee is her positive outlook and approaches to life. You can listen to more from her and her daughter on her podcast, Positivitee x2.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2022/02/10/episode-32-facing-parenting-challenges-with-positivity-with-tee-of-positivitee-x2-podcast/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

Who would have thought that we would wrap up 2021 while STILL in a pandemic? But here we are!  On the last episode of 2021, I reflect on the last year and this could not be done without discussion the health crisis we are experiencing. It has impacted us on many levels, especially as parents. I discuss the importance of building and nurturing community in order to overcome the pandemic, share an incredible parenting pro tip for creating a healthier Elf on the Shelf experience at home, and set some intentions for 2022.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2021/12/31/episode-31-2021-reflections/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Alexandra Borisevich of Empowered Parenting for this episode about becoming better parents. Alexandra's strategic approach and educational foundation of early childhood education provides parents with a comprehensive approach to creating a healthier and safer environment for our children. As a result of her recommendations and approach, there is no doubt that we will better connect with our children and nurture a strong foundation that will lead us to incredible parent-child relationships for many years to come.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2021/11/13/episode-30-becoming-better-parents-with-alexandra-borisevich-of-empowered-parenting/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

I had a situation come up with my daughter's Halloween costume that made me reflect about cultural appropriation; and in particular what I have taught my daughter on the topic.  While I recognize that it is okay for us to appreciate someone else's culture, it is not okay for us to consume aspects of a culture for which its people can experience racism, xenophobia, discrimination and more for. Teaching our children to be empowered and aware humans means educating them on these topics from a young age, and Halloween is a key time to have these conversations.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2021/10/29/episode-29-speaking-to-children-about-cultural-appropriation/  Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

I had the incredible opportunity to interview Casey Davidson of The Hello Someday Podcast. She is a Certified Professional Life Coach who also hosts a podcast for busy women ready to drink less + live more. It was a pleasure to speak with Casey on this episode as living a sober life is something I have personally been curious about for quite some time and I know that some of my listeners may feel the same way. It was great to learn from Casey, from her insights to her recommendation, on how we can take that next step towards drinking less (or not at all).  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2021/10/03/episode-28-exploring-the-sober-life-with-casey-davidson-of-the-hello-someday-podcast/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

I had the wonderful pleasure of recording a podcast episode with my mom friend, Kat Antonopoulos. What started as a random discussion over Instagram DMs about a post I shared from @Empowered.Parenting turned into a podcast episode. We mamas discuss the positive and negatives around the word "no" and why we may not want to use it with our children because of how it impacted us as now adults, but also why sometimes it is also necessary to use it.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2021/09/18/episode-27-when-do-kids-need-to-hear-no-with-kat-antonopoulos/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/ Learn more about the Vida With Christie Podcast at http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast. 

Our kids are heading back to school this coming week in Ontario, but are we parents truly ready for that? Considering we are still in a pancemic with cases rising each day, I am feeling so nervous about my child going back to school.  On this episode, I break down my concerns regarding the back to school situation for kids in Ontario and how this is affecting parents. In addition, I discuss the political aspects of our children's return to school and what we as a community need to do to keep our kids safe.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2021/09/05/episode-26-are-we-ready-to-go-back-to-school/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/

The host of the Vida With Christie Podcast, Christie Lazo, influences parents to raise aware and empowered children.  Tune in to the podcast trailer for more information about her mission through each episode of the Vida With Christie Podcast.  Learn More http://vidawithchristie.com/podcast/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/

Even within a pandemic, it has been a busy summer for our family are we are trying to make the best of the warmest days of the year. Our backyard has truly become our oasis, outside of when this mama is working or taking classes. In  this episode, I share some insight on what is going on in my life as part of a catch-up. You haven't heard much about me since the first episode so I figured it would be a great opportunity for you to learn a little more outside of the educational and empowerment aspects of this podcast.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2021/07/28/episode-25-summer-catch-up/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/

I had an incredible conversation with Vanessa Graves of Hija De Tu Madre Podcast as we discussed being raised by Latina immigrant women, raising Latina strong daughters, and of course her podcast. Additionally, Vanessa shared with us about her biracial relationship with her husband and how that also shapes how she is raising her daughter, in particular with Latin American aspects such as language and culture. Naturally, we also spoke about what it means to be a Latina mother and how we are raising our daughters in a different way than we were also raised while acknowledging the strong influences that our mothers have upon our journeys within motherhood.  Episode's Blog Post http://vidawithchristie.com/2021/06/29/episode-24-how-our-mothers-influence-our-parenting-journey/ Connect With Me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/

In another episode within the "Speaking to Children About..." series, I share my journey in journey in speaking to my daughter about the 2SLGBTQ+ community and the importance of her having this knowledge, not only within our family but for our community and the world around her. We cannot preach to children about kindness without teaching them about the importance of acceptance and unconditional love.  This episode is an update from a blog post I wrote when my daughter was 3 years old and the first conversation I had with her about the 2SLGBTQIA community and what it means to be an ally. Now that she is a little older, I continue this work on another level and in more detail. This episode covers some talking points to use when introducing this topic to your child(ren) and serves as education for us parents to be able to speak to our children about this topic from an informed place. Visit the blog post for this episode to find the resources mentioned in this episode: http://vidawithchristie.com/2021/06/16/episode-23-speaking-to-children-about-the-2slgbtq-community/ Connect with me: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/VidaWithChristie/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/VidaWithChristie/ Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/VWCpodcast/

TRIGGER WARNING: Abuse, Violence, Genocide. This episode speaks about tragic current events, using examples such as the colonization of Palestine, family separation in the US and, most prominently, about the residential schools in Canada. This was a tough episode to record, not only because of the feelings I have about the topics discussed but because I wanted to make sure I got it right and made justice to the communities affected. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be challenging work within yourself and with your kids; I know I definitely don't have the right answers. But speaking to my child about current events, especially the most impactful and tragic ones, gives her a different view of the world outside of her home and school. It encourages them to think beyond themselves and also guides them towards action - how can they help? We often teach our children about kindness, but kindness goes much further than please and thank you. Kindness is something uncomfortable and may come with hesitation; but by teaching our children that they can be kind though advocating for others and using their voice to help communities around the world is kindness on a whole different level. So while you may be hesitant to speak to your children about tragic current events, like the residential schools or the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, I would encourage you to reflect on the benefits for your child beyond that difficult conversation. In my opinion, I would rather have this information come from me than from a "not so nice" or unreliable source. Visit vidawithchristie.com for more episodes, and connect with me on Facebook and Instagram @vidawithchristie or on Twitter @VWCpodcast. Also, don't forget to subscribe and/or leave me a review on Apple Podcasts!

This is a very special episode as my daughter is interviewing me for the very first time. We put a few questions together about motherhood, and it is without a doubt an interview we will cherish forever. As I will be speaking at Amplifying Her Voice In Moms We Trust Summit this week, we felt inspired to share a little mother's day joy through this episode which we hope you'll enjoy. It's a glimpse of our relationship, her sillyness, and you'll even get a glimpse of how I handle the "tough questions" in an honest parenting manner.  Visit Vida With Christie for more episodes, and connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Also, don't forget to leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser! 

Life has not been easy for many of us throughout the pandemic, and for parents it has brought many layers of challenges and complications. To mark the first year anniversary since the first lockdown, I reflect on some of the challenges I've faced resulting from the pandemic and share my overall experience of the past year. I also discuss some of the implications that have led to my family experiencing a third wave of this pandemic and point out some of the hurdles that others are facing in our communities.   Visit Vida With Christie for more episodes, and connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Also, don't forget to leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser! 

One year has flowed by since the launch (re-launch) of this podcast. I recorded a short episode to reflect on the last year and celebrate the things that I've achieved thanks to this podcast and y efforts. In addition, I encourage you to follow your goals and dreams witha few take-aways.  Visit Vida With Christie for more episodes, and connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Also, don't forget to leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser! 

Many of us do not give yourselves the credit and validation that we truly deserve; from undervaluing our skills and expertise to thinking twice about calling ourselves brilliant parents. In this episode, I share my journey from podcasting "as a hobby" to making my dreams come true in hope that it will encourage and empower you to give yourself the credit that you truly deserve. I also make an exciting announcement that podcasters, or those aspiring to launch a podcast, do not want to miss!  Visit Vida With Christie for more episodes, and connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Also, don't forget to leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser! 

Online learning has been a challenge for kids and parents, there is no doubt about it. In this episode, I discuss my experience as a working parent that has been supporting her child through online learning and my feelings about her going back to school for in-person classes. In addition, I discuss the lessons that I have learned throughout this journey, not only for me as a parent but also as a wife. Visit Vida With Christie for more episodes, and connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Also, don't forget to leave me a review on Podchaser! 

On this episode we review the start of 2021 and discuss the challenges and circumstances that many people are currently working through. Whether it relates to health, family, finances or all of the above, we are all going through a season. So how do we honour our feelings while working past these challenges?  To support, I've created a "Reflections & Intentions Worksheet" - you can find it at vidawithchristie.com/resources. We will get down to work to reflect on the past year and set our intentions for the near future. This exercise will support you in setting future goals while giving yourself credit for all that you have overcome thus far. You have so much to be proud of! Visit Vida With Christie for other episodes and content. Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

There is something so beautiful and magical about the holiday season and celebrating Christmas. But have you ever taken a second to question some of the traditions that may seem cute at top level but are so cringy when you "take the magic away"?  This year, my daughter came home from school with the Elf of the Shelf hype, and on this episode I break down a few thoughts that I've had brewing in my brain for the last few weeks concerning the message behind this tradition. It is worth the listen! Visit Vida With Christie for other episodes and content. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

On this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Natasha, who shares with us her experiences raising her non-binary child. We discuss family, culture, parenthood and more in order to break down some of the challenges she has faced throughout her journey. Her child also joined us and gave us some excellent advice for parents, as well as shared a little of their experience as a non-binary child.  It was an honour to speak with Natasha and her child, and I am so grateful they shared some of their time with us. My hopes for this episode is that it offers support for families on a similar journey and educates those who may be interested in learning more on this topic. Visit Vida With Christie for other episodes and content. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Self care has become a very trendy topic in the last few years. As a result, many of us are often striving for self care - but what does it really mean to take care of ourselves? Some of us have found ourselves struggling to figure out how to truly care for ourselves, especially since we have often been taught to put everything else but ourselves first. So how exactly can we teach our kids something that we often struggle with ourselves?  In this episode, we break down what self care means, how we can lead by example to teach our kids to practice self care and how we can support them on this journey. Self care is much more than going on vacation or getting our nails done, and the work is not easy but very much worth it. 

In this impromptu episode, I discuss how this pandemic has added another layer to the many things that we are all going through in our day to day lives. Regardless of what this pandemic has brought us, we need to continue to do the hard work within ourselves to recuperate and heal.  I share some of the work I do within myself, along with other methods that help me in my daily life. An Instagram picture is not the whole story, so if you are going through something when everything else seems so perfect remember that you are not alone. 

I had the pleasure of interviewing Janice Scholl of Money, Career & Motherhood podcast about speaking to children about money and personal finances. We tackle the importance of teaching kids about financial literacy from a young age, as well as the importance of having a good relationship with money so that we can pass down these lessons to our children. Janice has some great insights and tips that we can apply as parents so that our children are better prepared to handle their personal finances in a healthy way from an early age.  Visit Vida With Christie for more content. Also, connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Marie Fiebach of Feed Your Family Tonight about meal planning for busy families. For me, it is important that we get the most nutrition out of our meals; however I do not always have time on weekdays to make picture-perfect Gordon Ramsay approved meals for my family. How do you best manage to feed your family a delicious meal that they will all enjoy with a limited amount of time? Marie definitely has various tricks up her sleeve to make your meal preparations a much more positive and stress-free experience.  Marie Fiebach has also offered the listeners of the Vida With Christie podcast with a very special bonus; a Weekly Meal Plan Sheet to help you put her advice to practice.  Visit Vida With Christie for more content. Also, connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

"To love yourself unconditionally in a space that is consistantly reminding you of "your flaws" is radical." -- Christie Lazo Many of us struggle with doubts, insecurities, guilt and so much more that keep us from living our potential to the fullest. In this episode, I discuss the ways that parents, mothers in particular, face challenges with loving themselves in the unconditional manner that they deserve. In addition, we explore how the act of truly loving yourself is radical and even political. How can we change these habits and feelings within ourselves? How can we influence our children to love themselves unconditionally when we are not quite sure how to do that ourselves? Tune in to this episode as we break down these two questions and many more. 

Making the decision to officially not have any more children is not always an easy one. There are so many factors that contribute to this decision; such as financial circumstances, the number of children you already have, lifestyle choices, and so much more. Each family has their own unique set of elements to consider when arriving to this decision. Of course, the decision to not have any more children should be made between yourself and your partner only. It should be a private and intimate decision; however, this is not always the case. Many times you will find yourself with many external voices telling you how many children you should have, how you should have just one more, or how you should even have another in hopes you have children of male AND female gender (as if this is even something you can actually pick), and on and on. But those in our lives with those strong opinions are not the ones actually raising YOUR children, so how do you shut them out? Whether it is your mother or the neighbour down the street, someone will always have something to say about your body and your choices, so in this episode we discuss how challenging this can be. You're not alone. During this episode, I also included a segment en español at the very end. I recognize that it is a factor of our Latin American culture to have those strong opinions always happy to provide their two cents. Pero si esas voces no son las que van a criar a nuestros hijxs, entonces porque no mejor se quedan calladas? Si solo fuera tan facil! Aunque estas opiniones sobre el tema de si tener un bebe mas o no son "normal" en nuestra cultura, no se ignifica que las tenemos que aceptar. En este episodio hablamos de formas como tratar de silenciar a estas voces y enpoderarnos para vivir por si mismas (o mismos). Para escuchar el segmento en español, comienzen el episodio en 45:30.  Visit Vida With Christie for more content. Also, connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

There is no doubt that parenting through the COVID-19 pandemic has been a struggle to each and every one of us. Working parents, in particular working mothers, have especially suffered a hard hit as our governments and other systematic powers determine what the best approach is while Coronavirus continues to hit us, physically, emotionally and mentally. In this episode, I share with you my personal experience of the phases I have overcome, and am still overcoming, throughout this pandemic. Additionally, I also discuss the plans (or lack thereof) when it comes to our kids potentially going back to school in the fall and what this may look like for us working parents. I encourage you to visit Vida With Christie for more content. Also, connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

I had the pleasure of having Marycarmen Lara-Villanueva, a mother of two and a PhD student in Social Justice Education, on the podcast to speak with me about educating our children on the topic of race. Considering the ongoing, and most recent, events sorrounding the death of Black people in the hands of police brutality, it is crucial that we all do the work to dismantle racist and anti-Black systems. I strongly believe that by teaching our children about race we are building a foundation where they have the knowledge and awareness to speak up against racist circumstances and advocate for their racialized peers; as well as be aware of their own racial identity and even the privileges that may be tied to it. It is not easy work for parents, but it sure is necessary.  "Speaking to children about..." is a new series by the Vida With Christie podcast where we discuss topics that many parents may hesitate teaching to their children, or speaking about to their kids in general. These podcast episodes aim to encourage parents to be honest with their children, to not undermine how much they can understand and comprehend, remind you of how deserving kids are of this information, and most importantly communicate with your child in an open and trusting manner.  "Race is a social construct, but the consequences of race are very real" -- Marycarmen Lara-Villanueva  I encourage you to visit Vida With Christie for more content. Also, connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Parenting through Coronavirus (COVID-19) has proven to be a challenging time for many of us, and definitely one we never imagined as parents.  In the second episode of the Parenting Through Coronavirus mini series (you can listen to the first series episode at vidawithchristie.com), I discuss how family life has been since juggling working from home while keeping up with my daughter's school work, prioritizing yourself under the current COVID-19 circumstances and my top recommendation for overcoming the pandemic.  Feel free to visit Vida With Christie for more content. Also, connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Parenting through Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a challenge many of us had never imagined within our plans of what raising our children would be like; but here we are! In this part one of two episode, I share my experience speaking to my child about Coronavirus in a honest and caring manner, the new habits that my family has started or re-enforced in the name of our health, the recommendations I have for parents in order to take care of their mental health and well-being, and more. Feel free to visit Vida With Christie for more content. Also, connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Raising a child (or children) in a bi-cultural or multicultural household can be so exciting but it also poses a few challenges. On this episode, we dive into the Christmas season to discuss my experiences growing up as a first generation immigrant and how I am raising my Canadian-born daughter when it comes to blending North American culture with our Christmas-related practices and traditions from our home countries.

I had the honour and pleasure to be interviewed by Erica of My Immigrant Life Podcast. Today, we are sharing our interview with the world. We discussed my immigration story, stories and anecdotes about my experiences as an immigrant in Canada, how this shapes my parenting style, and so much more. I hope you enjoy learning a little more about me. You can find Erica on Instagram @MyImmigrantLifePodcast. 

Pressing the reset button on my podcast and starting again from scratch was not easy. However, I am proud of the work I have completed to provide my listeners with the best content possible. Tune in to this episode to learn about the direction I am taking the Vida With Christie Podcast on, and find out how I survived my daughter’s latest apocalyptic tantrum (because mom life!).