We've Been Reynoldsed

*SPOILER ALERT* If you have not watched Adolescence on Netflix, you are officially warned that this podcast episode contains spoilers! This show is incredible and raw and sometimes difficult to watch but it covers some really important topics especially surrounding children with access to devices and social media. We are watching it with Cooper right now and we pause episodes so many times so we can chat, address a topic, see where he is at. We also have some very strict rules around phones and social media in our home and we are proud of that. What are some of the rules in your home when it comes to devices and social media?

In true Reynolds fashion, we don't let a holiday slip by without some amazing traditions! We love our traditions...big and small and have the most wonderful time during the holidays and Easter is no exception. With all our children home and our house bursting with love, fun and chaos, listen as we chat about our holidays! What are some of your family Easter traditions?

18. We have had 18 snow days so far this school year! It has been a pretty wild winter and since I am weather obsessed I don't mind it too much but it does mean that school busses are getting cancelled way more than normal! How are you feeling about it? We do not mind it at all! I love snow days! I love having the kids home! I love having those lazier days with them especially as we prepare for another Reynolds kid to leave for university. 

While in the presence of a double master, we are chatting about what we're watching on TV right now (and a bit from the past) and how we get involved with our kids through their TV shows. Do you let your kids control the remote? Do you sit and watch TV with them? Do you shove 16 chips in your mouth at once and also cannot stand the sound of a chip bag??

*SPOILER ALERT*Have you seen Wicked yet? We have seen it several times and every single time we each notice something new! We share our favourite moments and definitely a few spoilers so if you haven't seen it yet, consider yourself warned. Let us know what you thought of Wicked! Connect with us through our Instagram page @wevebeenreynoldsedpodcast

Our kids are home! It is my favourite thing when we are all home and have so much time to spend together! Guest stars of this episode are all the Reynolds kids and they are sharing memories and favourite holiday things!

Christmas came early for the Reynolds family!! We were in desperate need of a reliable vehicle! We have never purchased a brand new car but it was time. We are so excited. Have you ever bought a brand new car? Did you have any rules around it like no eating in it or no teens driving it? 

Am I the only person that hates grocery shopping? It is exhausting! From wet carts to forgotten produce, cashiers squishing my food on the conveyor belt, forgetting my bags then forgetting to price match ( sorry Todd). Then the whole process of getting groceries home and unpacking them and putting them away. It's such a process and takes forever! What household chore do you hate doing?

Cooper is our youngest at 15 years old and he is obsessed with Halloween. We all are really but Cooper wanted to take it to another level! Almost a year ago he brought up this idea and we let him run with it! We had to reign it in a little bit but we are so proud of all he accomplished! Did you visit his Haunted House? 

What does September mean to you? For us, it is about getting back to routines and structure, organizing our house and our lives. Its such a busy time for all of us and Todd's slightly sad for the loss of peanut butter lava english muffins. You'll have to listen to figure that one out. Happy listening!

Do you ever go into something with a plan (maybe... what you're going to talk about on a podcast episode) and then it very quickly dissolves into random topics and hilarious conversation? That's what happened to Todd and I! Listen and laugh along with us and let me know if this happens to you too!

Livy is here! She is our super special guest for this episode. Catch up with our 3rd, Oliva, as we check in with her! She is an entrepreneur, a teenager going into grade 12, and she is absolutely phenomenal! 

Picture it...it's March 2004 and Todd is in Florida. Well, we all are but Todd is at the golf course in Florida getting ready to play a round with my dad. He walks around the car to get his golf clubs and steps on something! Listen to hear what it was and was happened to it!

We are back for season 2 of We've Been Reynoldsed! Have you missed us?? May and June are exhausting for us! Is it the same for you and your family? It is never ending for 2 months straight... add in some tornado warnings and we are just about at the end of the proverbial rope! Let us know how May and June are going for you!

Todd and I have been teachers for decades and we have seen it all! We've seen the trends and the cliques and the exhaustion and we have noticed some changes in this generation of teens. Have you noticed them too??

Todd's gift giving history is pretty epic...Toddles, a giant bear, an even more giant metal outdoor wall hanging. There are a lot of memories wrapped up in the gifts Todd has given me over the years and I'll cherish the memories but the actual gifts?Is your spouse a great gift giver? 

We don't drive the fanciest cars and Todd loves a good minivan but wow did we get Reynoldsed with our 'good car" the other day! Car problems drive me crazy but they happen sometimes but of course this happened right before we really needed our good car to function properly! 

We try so hard not to project our fears and our opinions onto our kids! It can be hard sometimes...catching ourselves before we say something and realizing that what we might have said could've forced a fear onto them or changed their opinion of something or someone. Do you avoid projecting fears and opinions onto your kids? 

Going to Florida is a huge trip for us that we love! We have been driving to Florida yearly for so long and we have flown (or tried to fly) a couple times. We love this trip! We have so many incredible memories from these trips and so many things have happened to us during these travels and trips! Scary things, hilarious things, things that maybe weren't hilarious until after we got home...listen along to all the fun and excitement!

Oh my goodness! Kids parties and friends parties are the best! We absolutely love hosting parties with our friends, with our kids and our kid's friends! Whether it's at a super awesome venue or in our own backyard, we tend to go all out but with an eye on the bottom line too so our parties don't get too expensive! Don't love birthday cake? Listen to hear my favourite celebration food hack!

If there is one thing we are really used to- it's the newborn stage! Man, that part of parenthood can be exhilarating and exhausting and there is one thing that worked so well for us. Eat, play, sleep! 

Our amazing hometown is like our own slice of Stars Hallow! We're sittin' & spittin' about our beloved town of Penetanguishene. Winterama. World Famous Dock Lunch. The waterfront. The people. Oh my gosh, I am obsessed! 

Did you watch the Super Bowl? Everyone is talking about it in some way or another. We never usually tune into the Super Bowl like we did this year but we're seeing lots of opinions and controversy and wanted to add in some of our own. 

Do you know what petrifies me? The smells. The sounds. It's awful. We are chatting about our fears (some irrational, some not) and phobias. Listen to my out of body experience and how it ties into my biggest fear! What are your fears? Your biggest phobia? Send us a message on our Instagram page!https://www.instagram.com/wevebeenreynoldsedpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

We traveled to Portugal! All 6 of us headed overseas. We had an amazing time! Listen as we chat about our phenomenal trip and share some hilarious stories! 

Todd and I love each other endlessly and with that love and a long marriage comes little things that make us laugh and cringe and maybe bicker a little. We know we aren't the only couple!

Spencer has been dancing his whole life! He has been met with incredible support but also some assumptions and unkindness. However, nothing stops Spencer from exploring his passion for dance! 

If there is one thing we have learned over 21 years of raising kids and a combined 50+ years of teaching kids, it's to not sweat the little things. To let go of stuff that isn't actually that important. It wasn't easy sometimes but it made our lives a little easier! 

Christmas is a Reynolds holiday favourite! We have so many traditions surrounding the holidays and we cannot wait to share some of them with you! From our family to yours, have a safe, happy and health holiday season!

Spencer is home from his first semester at university and we can't wait to hear all about what he has been up to! First year is hard! So many new things to explore; new struggles and triumphs. First time being an independent adult! Did he do his dishes? His laundry? Go to class?!? Listen along as we chat about 1st semester with Spence!

Why did our phone albums sync?How many notifications does Melissa have on her phone?Why does Mad Todd make an appearance?Our latest episode might be one of the most hilarious so listen along for chance to laugh with us!

We love watching TV series as a family! We love using situations in shows as teaching opportunities for our kids and a way to open lines of communication! Listen along as we chat about one of our favourites! 

Have you been to see the Barbie movie? Did it blow your mind and exceed all your expectations? That is exactly what it did to us! Listen as Todd and I chat about our experience and thoughts on it. *Just consider this a spoilers heads up if you haven't seen it!*

As a mom, I feel like I rarely, if ever, prioritize my health and well being. I'm sure most moms don't prioritize themselves. All that changes starting now! I am putting my health first and we will see where the next year takes me! Listen as we chat about what changes I plan to make and how I am going to put me first!

1 back to college. 1 off to university. 1 back to high school. 1 starting high school.Back to school has been busy here! With both of us being teachers as well, it's been even busier! We almost haven't had time to sit back and process all the change back to school brings. 

Who knew a fishing lure could start a chain reaction to a hilarious, inconvenient day!  

Listen as we chat with Emma, our amazing first born who chats about childhood, being the oldest sibling, post secondary school and family! 

We are so beyond excited to welcome our very first guest to the podcast! Our kids are desperate to get on here but we gave the honour of first guest to... amazing Uncle Gavy! 

Is it just us or is June a ridiculously busy month? Banquets. Sports. Grad. Report cards. Teacher gifts. Field trips...it's all so much extra piled onto already busy schedules! How do you navigate and deal with it in your house?

Have you ever felt left out or excluded? A once great friend stops talking to you suddenly and you don't know why but your friend group just follows along? It can hurt! Listen along as we chat about how we help our kids maneuver this and advice we share for everyone! 

Do you have stuff on your stairs? To bring upstairs or downstairs or that just needs to get put away by someone? Us too! It drives me wild! Listen to our stair complaints and how that plays into our family meeting! We are long overdue for a family meeting so click play to hear all about what we'll be talking about and why they are so necessary to keep our family functioning well!Follow us on Instagram @thereynoldsfamily6 and send me a message if your family leaves stuff on your stairs!

Phones! Social Media! All the fun things our kids want but we as parents have to navigate when and how to introduce these things to our kids to make sure they aren't missing out on being social with friends but also being safe and understanding proper use and that Mom and Dad get full access anytime we want. 

Sometimes adults think that they get a pass on showing kindness to kids and we are never okay with that! Kids are deserving of kindness and being given the benefit of the doubt. Listen along while Todd and I chat about showing kindness to our kids and all kids!

Life is expensive! 4 kids are expensive! We always say we are rich in love but listen along as we chat about how we navigated finances throughout the years!

Oh the animals in our lives! Some intentional, like our cats and others not so much! Have you seen the Bird Raccoon story on my Instagram? If not, check it out under highlights @TheReynoldsFamily6

4 Kids! We have 4 kids and sometimes we needed to discipline our kids! Listen to our discipline strategies and how we made it work over the years! We aren't pros but it worked for us! 

We talk about being Reynoldsed and how we chose this name for our podcast!

We are so excited to start sharing all about our life, love, parenting, chaos and more!