Podcasts about playdates

 Bridge Engineering: Part 1Two broken, single parents find healing.Based on a post by Architect 23 94, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Connected.And so it began. The start of another school year. I pulled my Jeep into the school grounds and took my place in the waiting drop-off lane. Children scurried about the school grounds with crisp back-to-school clothes and brightly colored backpacks not yet soiled and tattered from use. I winced internally as numerous mothers hugged their little ones, sent them into the building, and tearfully departed.My Elizabeth unfastened her seatbelt and eagerly fidgeted on the edge of the seat as we crept forward in line. Upon arrival at the designated unloading zone, Lizzie contorted herself over the center console and gave me a tight, all-consuming hug. "I love you Daddy!" she shouted as a volunteer parent opened the car door. And with that, she was gone in a flash. The volunteer and I just smiled at each other and shrugged our shoulders.In a repeat of years past, I drove away with a feeling of emptiness. Lizzie and I spent every minute of the summer together and I grew accustomed to her as my constant companion. It seemed like just yesterday that I dropped her off for the first day of preschool. Today it's third grade. How fast will the remaining years fly by before she leaves me all alone?I spent the day in a nearby coffee shop distractedly conducting business via email on my laptop. It wasn't rational, but somehow it felt better knowing I was only a couple minutes from the school, and from Lizzie. Time passed excruciatingly slow and I struggled to resist going to the school and being one of 'those' helicopter parents. Well, school ends at 2:50. I held out until 2:15.I was third in the line of vehicles waiting for pick-up and my eyes anxiously scanned the mass of children emerging from the school doors. It wasn't long before I spotted Lizzie joyfully skipping hand-in-hand with a girl I didn't recognize. She was rail thin, had a very lightly tanned skin tone, and towered above Lizzie. That wasn't too surprising since Lizzie took after her very petite mother and also barely made the birthday cutoff for her grade, but this girl was quite a bit taller than the average third grader.The girls zig-zagged as they skipped down the sidewalk with swinging arms and bouncing hair. Lizzie's straight and amber brown, her friend's a loose mass of dark curls. Lizzie spotted my Jeep and pointed it out to her friend. They hugged goodbye with Lizzie's arms around her friend's waist, and her friend's arms around Lizzie's head. I smiled at the height contrast and felt a sense of relief as Lizzie ran toward the Jeep.She climbed in and frantically began telling me everything about her day, a flood of words pouring from her mouth as if a damn holding them back had burst, "My teacher is Mrs. Pierpont and she is really nice and she has red hair. A boy named Alex sits next to me and he has shiny shoes. I had a hot dog for lunch and; and; and;”My heart felt comfort as she sat next to me and I heard the happiness in her voice. I needed her near me and to know that everything was ok.Lizzie had talked non-stop for 10 minutes and was still going as we headed toward home. The small-town streets gave way to a rural two-lane road as we headed out of town, and eventually the tires crunched along the gravel road leading to our house in the woods. It was the tranquil setting that I needed when Lizzie and I moved here 8 years ago."; and I met a new friend. Her name is Toni, well it's really Antonia, but she wants to be called Toni. Kind of like my name is Elizabeth, but you call me Lizzie. She is really nice and really tall. She has a pet frog."I interrupted to ask, "Is that who you were skipping with after school?""Yes, she in my class but she doesn't sit next to me. I met her when we were in line for lunch and we sat together. She brought a salad from home and bought a milk in the lunch line. She just moved here from somewhere else. Can I bring lunch from home tomorrow?"I patted her knee with my hand and said, "Of course, you can sweetie." as we parked in front of the house.It wasn't a large house but was plenty of space for the two of us. There was a great room, kitchen and half bathroom on the main level; two bedroom-bathroom suites and a loft space on the second level; and a semi-finished basement that I had been slowly working on for several years. It had all the modern technology and conveniences but was built with a rustic charm complementing its setting in the woods.We kicked our shoes off in the mudroom and Lizzie discarded her backpack into the coat cubby by the door. Lizzie, or more accurately, I, survived the first day of the school year. Only 179 more to go.Getting In A Rhythm.Lizzie and I settled into the school year rhythm over the next couple weeks and I began to slowly let go of my separation anxiety. Every day, I dropped her off at school, worked from home, then picked her up from school. Evenings were filled with homework, dinner preparation, and some form of relaxing time together. Lizzie particularly enjoyed walking in the woods and making up imaginary games with sticks, leaves, rocks, or other things she would find along the way. The grand finale of her outdoor adventures was always spending some time on a rope swing that I had hung from a tall oak tree. Other nights we might occupy ourselves with board games, cards, or television as the mood struck us. At the end of every night, Lizzie would get ready for bed then we would spend about a half-hour talking and reading a book of her choice before turning off the lights.I also noticed another pattern forming in those first few weeks of school. Lizzie was talking more and more about her new friend, Toni. They waited for each other to arrive in the mornings before going into the school together and would always emerge side-by-side in the afternoons. They were quickly becoming inseparable and I was happy to see her form that kind of relationship. Like me, Lizzie had always been socially reserved with only a few limited friendships.I saw her reserved personality opening up more and more with Toni, so one evening when Lizzie asked if she could invite her to play at our house, I readily agreed. I wrote my name and cell phone number on a note pad before tearing it out and handing it to Lizzie, "Ask her to have her parents call me and we will see if we can setup a time to play."Lizzie squealed and bounced up and down in excitement. She continued bouncing all the way to the mudroom and safely deposited the note in her backpack.Introductions.It was a couple days later, mid-morning on Thursday, that I answered a call from a number I didn't recognize. Thinking it was likely a business call, I answered, "Hello, this is David."A friendly but hesitant female voice replied, "Hi, I'm Stefani, Toni's mom.""Hi Stefani. It's nice to meet you, well, over the phone at least. Lizzie has been so excited to play with Toni!""Yes, I've heard a lot about Lizzie over the last couple weeks. Toni is excited too."I got down to details and asked, "When is Toni available?""Would Saturday afternoon, maybe around 1:00, work for you?""Yes, that would be just fine." Not knowing how many facts about our home life found its way to Toni's parents, I tried to be understanding of the fact that people can be cautious of sending their children, especially girls, to a single father's house. I tentatively asked, "Where would Toni be most comfortable? Lizzie would love for her to come here, or we are happy to meet at Triangle Park. Whatever works best for you."Stefani thought for a brief second, then replied, "Would you be comfortable dropping Lizzie off at our house for a couple hours?"I noticed that she said, "drop her off for a couple hours," which clearly meant I was not invited to stay. However, I didn't think much of it since a dad hanging around during a play date in someone else's house would be awkward at best."Yes, I'm sure Lizzie would enjoy that."Stefani gave me the address, then we exchanged closing words and ended the call. I sat and reflected on the conversation for a few moments. It all seemed very normal. Stefani seemed "normal" and was pleasant enough, though I sensed a business-like tone in her voice. I shrugged it off thinking, "How much can you tell from a 2-minute phone call?"Getting Together.I told Lizzie the news when I picked her up from school. She shrieked with excitement, did a little dance in her seat, and began counting the hours until 1:00 Saturday. She definitely got that over-enjoyment of simple things in life, and the dancing talent, from her mother!Saturday eventually arrived, although much too slowly for Lizzie's liking. After lunch, we hopped into the Jeep and rode into town with Lizzie impatiently fidgeting in the passenger seat the whole way. We pulled onto Depot Street near downtown and Lizzie helped me scan for the mailbox with the correct house number. I saw it from a distance and slowed down so she could have the discovery."There it is! There it is! 2 1 5!" she screamed.I brought the Jeep to a stop in front of a small, well-kept bungalow style home with an impressive display of annual flowers by the front steps. As soon as we stopped, Toni burst out the front door and bounded down the porch steps in a single leap. Likewise, Lizzie unfastened her seatbelt and threw open the door in one fluid motion. They met midway across the yard in a full speed, shrieking embrace.I smiled at their innocent joy as I unbuckled my seatbelt and walked around the Jeep toward the house. As I did, the front door opened and a tall, slender lady stepped out onto the porch in bare feet, wearing fashionably weathered blue jeans and a buff color corded sweater. She appeared to be in her early 30s and looked like the identical, older version of Toni. She was maybe around 5 foot 10, tall and had the same slender build, with addition of modest womanly curves at her hips and chest. Her chiseled facial features and shoulder length dark curls were also a matured version of Toni's.I approached the porch and offered a cheery "Hello! I'm David, nice to meet you."She crossed her arms and somewhat coldly replied, "Hi David," then with a voice inflection that implied more of an assertion than a question said, "Would it be ok for you to pick Lizzie up at 3:00?"I sensed the invisible barrier she was erecting and halted my progress toward the porch."Yes, that would be fine. I'll see you then."As I turned away to walk back to the Jeep, she flatly said, "Please don't be late."I didn't reply to her, but turned my attention to Lizzie and said loudly enough for my demander to hear, "Have fun girls! I'll be back Before 3:00 to pick you up Lizzie."While the lady on the porch didn't introduce herself, the voice matched Stefani's from our phone call a few days ago, and was equally business-like in demeanor. It's difficult to describe. She didn't project a mean or nasty personality that would have made me wary of leaving Lizzie, but she was definitely keeping her distance. The mystery of it piqued my curiosity and made me realize that, as much as Lizzie talked about Toni, she hadn't told me anything about her family.I ran a couple errands around town and returned to Lizzie's house at 2:50, ten minutes early. When I pulled up I saw numerous toys strewn across the front yard and heard playing voices and squeals coming from behind the house. Since I was early, I leisurely wandered the front yard picking up hula-hoops, jump ropes, a bicycle, and a few balls. As I deposited the last couple items into a neat pile next to the driveway, I heard Stefani's voice behind me softly say, "Thank you, you didn't need to do that."I turned to face her as she stood on the porch in the same jeans and sweater she had on earlier, "No worries. I was a little early and didn't want to intrude."With her arms crossed in front of her, Stefani somewhat timidly said, "Thank you for that too; for being early."Just then, the girls came running around the corner of the house screaming, "Spider! Spider! Spider!"I looked at Stefani, smiled and shrugged my shoulders. I corralled Lizzie and said, "It's time to go, is there anything you need to clean up?"Toni answered for her, "No, we just had toys out in the front yard. I'll put them in the garage."The girls pleaded for another play date as they hugged. Stefani simply answered, "We'll see."I gave a quick wave goodbye as Lizzie and I climbed in the Jeep and pulled away.Drop-offs and Pick-ups.Over the next few days, the pattern of school drop-offs and pick-ups with Lizzie and Toni as an inseparable pair continued, and Lizzie begged me relentlessly for another out-of-school play date with Toni. Given Stefani's tepid response at the end of the last play date, I was hesitant to initiate. However, Lizzie's continued insistence eventually wore me down and I made the phone call that Thursday.Stefani answered the phone with a simple, "Hello.""Hi Stefani. This is Lizzie's dad, David. How are you today?"She answered somewhat suspiciously, "I'm fine."After a second of not receiving any more of a response, I stumbled a bit with my words and added, "Uh, Lizzie would really like to get together with Toni again. I; I was just calling to see if you would be open to that."Stefani questioned sharply, "Why are you asking if I'm open to it?"I stumbled some more, "Uh; well; you sounded a little hesitant at the end of the last play date and; and I didn't want to be presumptuous about them getting together again."She coldly answered, "I'm fine with it.""Okay, good. It seems Lizzie and Toni are becoming fast friends."In an ever-so-slightly warmer tone of voice, Stefani asked, "When and where are you thinking?""How about Saturday afternoon again? Wherever you would prefer is fine with us.""Yes, that works. Saturday afternoon at 3:00. How about our house again?"I replied, "Sounds good. We'll see you then." before we exchanged goodbyes. I ended the cell phone call and loudly exhaled my relief that the awkward conversation was over.Building Friendships.The beginning of the second play date went much like the first; screaming girls happy to see each other, a cold reception from Stefani, and a firm directive to be there on-time to pick up Lizzie. It also ended similarly to the first play date. I arrived early, exchanged a few short words with Stefani, and gently guided Lizzie to the Jeep as the girls begged for more time together. This same routine became standard procedure over the next several weeks and a half dozen more play dates.The only change to the pattern occurred after the first few play dates, when Stefani and I began texting each other to make arrangements rather than talking on the phone. The texting suited me just fine as it avoided the awkwardness of our previous telephone conversations.Eventually, Lizzie started asking if Toni could come to our house to play. I avoided the subject as long as possible since I wasn't sure how Stefani would feel about Toni coming to a single father's house or, for that matter, even how much she knew about our family situation. After an especially persuasive appeal from Lizzie one afternoon, I caved and picked up my phone to text Stefani.I wasn't sure how to best approach the question and, after several re-writes, settled on a minimal and factual approach, "Hi Stefani. Lizzie would like to invite Toni over to our house for a play date."A couple hours later my phone buzzed with the simple reply, "Okay. When?"After a few exchanges of date options, we settled on that Thursday after school. Stefani offered to drop her off and I sent her our address.I told Lizzie the plan and she immediately began formulating a list of all the things they would do. The two activities that kept rising to the top were to show Toni her bedroom and play on a bridge that she and I had built over a small creek in the woods.It was a simple bridge made by spanning a couple logs from bank to bank, then covering them with old rough sawn slab wood for a walking surface that was about 6-feet wide. It wasn't much, but it was sufficient to occasionally get my small tractor to the other side of the creek and it was one of Lizzie's favorite spots in the world; running over it, throwing stones into the water, looking for crayfish, watching the squirrels and chipmunks, sliding on the frozen stream in the winter, etc. If the weather was nice, she would sometimes do her homework laying belly down on the bridge with her elbows propping up her upper body.It was also her spot of solace when she was sad or upset. She would sit on the edge swinging her feet below her until the surrounding woods healed whatever was bothering her. Eventually, she would meander her way back to the house in a much better mood than she left.She and I were a lot alike in that respect. It was the very reason I bought the property when we moved here, to get away from life and let nature heal some wounds.Inseparable.Lizzie was positively giddy during the ride home from school on Thursday. She recapped the list of things she had planned to show and do with Toni. I reminded her to be a good host and do the things that Toni wants to do, though I suspected that would easily be worked out between the now inseparable friends.As Lizzie shed her backpack and shoes in the mudroom, she asked, "Can we make chocolate chip cookies before Toni gets here?""Sure, I think we have all the ingredients. Start getting everything out."We had made cookies together enough that Lizzie knew where everything was located. She rushed around pulling ingredients, mixing bowls, and baking sheets out of the pantry. After confirming everything needed was present, Lizzie started measuring ingredients into the mixing bowl. I stood by to lend assistance when needed and occasionally clarify a fractional measurement or the difference between teaspoons and tablespoons.Other than a little incident with the flour, Lizzie did a great job mixing the cookie dough. Together, we spooned balls of dough onto baking sheets and put the first tray into the oven. Lizzie set the timer and I suggested she go clean the flour off her arms and face while they were baking.I cleaned errant flour from the countertop and floor while Lizzie washed up. Just as I finished and began to load the dirty bowls and mixing utensils into the dishwasher, the oven timer chimed and there was a knock at the front door almost simultaneously.Lizzie heard it and ran full speed to the door. I quickly dried my hands and hit the button to silenc

 Bridge Engineering: Part 1Two broken, single parents find healing.Based on a post by Architect 23 94, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Connected.And so it began. The start of another school year. I pulled my Jeep into the school grounds and took my place in the waiting drop-off lane. Children scurried about the school grounds with crisp back-to-school clothes and brightly colored backpacks not yet soiled and tattered from use. I winced internally as numerous mothers hugged their little ones, sent them into the building, and tearfully departed.My Elizabeth unfastened her seatbelt and eagerly fidgeted on the edge of the seat as we crept forward in line. Upon arrival at the designated unloading zone, Lizzie contorted herself over the center console and gave me a tight, all-consuming hug. "I love you Daddy!" she shouted as a volunteer parent opened the car door. And with that, she was gone in a flash. The volunteer and I just smiled at each other and shrugged our shoulders.In a repeat of years past, I drove away with a feeling of emptiness. Lizzie and I spent every minute of the summer together and I grew accustomed to her as my constant companion. It seemed like just yesterday that I dropped her off for the first day of preschool. Today it's third grade. How fast will the remaining years fly by before she leaves me all alone?I spent the day in a nearby coffee shop distractedly conducting business via email on my laptop. It wasn't rational, but somehow it felt better knowing I was only a couple minutes from the school, and from Lizzie. Time passed excruciatingly slow and I struggled to resist going to the school and being one of 'those' helicopter parents. Well, school ends at 2:50. I held out until 2:15.I was third in the line of vehicles waiting for pick-up and my eyes anxiously scanned the mass of children emerging from the school doors. It wasn't long before I spotted Lizzie joyfully skipping hand-in-hand with a girl I didn't recognize. She was rail thin, had a very lightly tanned skin tone, and towered above Lizzie. That wasn't too surprising since Lizzie took after her very petite mother and also barely made the birthday cutoff for her grade, but this girl was quite a bit taller than the average third grader.The girls zig-zagged as they skipped down the sidewalk with swinging arms and bouncing hair. Lizzie's straight and amber brown, her friend's a loose mass of dark curls. Lizzie spotted my Jeep and pointed it out to her friend. They hugged goodbye with Lizzie's arms around her friend's waist, and her friend's arms around Lizzie's head. I smiled at the height contrast and felt a sense of relief as Lizzie ran toward the Jeep.She climbed in and frantically began telling me everything about her day, a flood of words pouring from her mouth as if a damn holding them back had burst, "My teacher is Mrs. Pierpont and she is really nice and she has red hair. A boy named Alex sits next to me and he has shiny shoes. I had a hot dog for lunch and; and; and;”My heart felt comfort as she sat next to me and I heard the happiness in her voice. I needed her near me and to know that everything was ok.Lizzie had talked non-stop for 10 minutes and was still going as we headed toward home. The small-town streets gave way to a rural two-lane road as we headed out of town, and eventually the tires crunched along the gravel road leading to our house in the woods. It was the tranquil setting that I needed when Lizzie and I moved here 8 years ago."; and I met a new friend. Her name is Toni, well it's really Antonia, but she wants to be called Toni. Kind of like my name is Elizabeth, but you call me Lizzie. She is really nice and really tall. She has a pet frog."I interrupted to ask, "Is that who you were skipping with after school?""Yes, she in my class but she doesn't sit next to me. I met her when we were in line for lunch and we sat together. She brought a salad from home and bought a milk in the lunch line. She just moved here from somewhere else. Can I bring lunch from home tomorrow?"I patted her knee with my hand and said, "Of course, you can sweetie." as we parked in front of the house.It wasn't a large house but was plenty of space for the two of us. There was a great room, kitchen and half bathroom on the main level; two bedroom-bathroom suites and a loft space on the second level; and a semi-finished basement that I had been slowly working on for several years. It had all the modern technology and conveniences but was built with a rustic charm complementing its setting in the woods.We kicked our shoes off in the mudroom and Lizzie discarded her backpack into the coat cubby by the door. Lizzie, or more accurately, I, survived the first day of the school year. Only 179 more to go.Getting In A Rhythm.Lizzie and I settled into the school year rhythm over the next couple weeks and I began to slowly let go of my separation anxiety. Every day, I dropped her off at school, worked from home, then picked her up from school. Evenings were filled with homework, dinner preparation, and some form of relaxing time together. Lizzie particularly enjoyed walking in the woods and making up imaginary games with sticks, leaves, rocks, or other things she would find along the way. The grand finale of her outdoor adventures was always spending some time on a rope swing that I had hung from a tall oak tree. Other nights we might occupy ourselves with board games, cards, or television as the mood struck us. At the end of every night, Lizzie would get ready for bed then we would spend about a half-hour talking and reading a book of her choice before turning off the lights.I also noticed another pattern forming in those first few weeks of school. Lizzie was talking more and more about her new friend, Toni. They waited for each other to arrive in the mornings before going into the school together and would always emerge side-by-side in the afternoons. They were quickly becoming inseparable and I was happy to see her form that kind of relationship. Like me, Lizzie had always been socially reserved with only a few limited friendships.I saw her reserved personality opening up more and more with Toni, so one evening when Lizzie asked if she could invite her to play at our house, I readily agreed. I wrote my name and cell phone number on a note pad before tearing it out and handing it to Lizzie, "Ask her to have her parents call me and we will see if we can setup a time to play."Lizzie squealed and bounced up and down in excitement. She continued bouncing all the way to the mudroom and safely deposited the note in her backpack.Introductions.It was a couple days later, mid-morning on Thursday, that I answered a call from a number I didn't recognize. Thinking it was likely a business call, I answered, "Hello, this is David."A friendly but hesitant female voice replied, "Hi, I'm Stefani, Toni's mom.""Hi Stefani. It's nice to meet you, well, over the phone at least. Lizzie has been so excited to play with Toni!""Yes, I've heard a lot about Lizzie over the last couple weeks. Toni is excited too."I got down to details and asked, "When is Toni available?""Would Saturday afternoon, maybe around 1:00, work for you?""Yes, that would be just fine." Not knowing how many facts about our home life found its way to Toni's parents, I tried to be understanding of the fact that people can be cautious of sending their children, especially girls, to a single father's house. I tentatively asked, "Where would Toni be most comfortable? Lizzie would love for her to come here, or we are happy to meet at Triangle Park. Whatever works best for you."Stefani thought for a brief second, then replied, "Would you be comfortable dropping Lizzie off at our house for a couple hours?"I noticed that she said, "drop her off for a couple hours," which clearly meant I was not invited to stay. However, I didn't think much of it since a dad hanging around during a play date in someone else's house would be awkward at best."Yes, I'm sure Lizzie would enjoy that."Stefani gave me the address, then we exchanged closing words and ended the call. I sat and reflected on the conversation for a few moments. It all seemed very normal. Stefani seemed "normal" and was pleasant enough, though I sensed a business-like tone in her voice. I shrugged it off thinking, "How much can you tell from a 2-minute phone call?"Getting Together.I told Lizzie the news when I picked her up from school. She shrieked with excitement, did a little dance in her seat, and began counting the hours until 1:00 Saturday. She definitely got that over-enjoyment of simple things in life, and the dancing talent, from her mother!Saturday eventually arrived, although much too slowly for Lizzie's liking. After lunch, we hopped into the Jeep and rode into town with Lizzie impatiently fidgeting in the passenger seat the whole way. We pulled onto Depot Street near downtown and Lizzie helped me scan for the mailbox with the correct house number. I saw it from a distance and slowed down so she could have the discovery."There it is! There it is! 2 1 5!" she screamed.I brought the Jeep to a stop in front of a small, well-kept bungalow style home with an impressive display of annual flowers by the front steps. As soon as we stopped, Toni burst out the front door and bounded down the porch steps in a single leap. Likewise, Lizzie unfastened her seatbelt and threw open the door in one fluid motion. They met midway across the yard in a full speed, shrieking embrace.I smiled at their innocent joy as I unbuckled my seatbelt and walked around the Jeep toward the house. As I did, the front door opened and a tall, slender lady stepped out onto the porch in bare feet, wearing fashionably weathered blue jeans and a buff color corded sweater. She appeared to be in her early 30s and looked like the identical, older version of Toni. She was maybe around 5 foot 10, tall and had the same slender build, with addition of modest womanly curves at her hips and chest. Her chiseled facial features and shoulder length dark curls were also a matured version of Toni's.I approached the porch and offered a cheery "Hello! I'm David, nice to meet you."She crossed her arms and somewhat coldly replied, "Hi David," then with a voice inflection that implied more of an assertion than a question said, "Would it be ok for you to pick Lizzie up at 3:00?"I sensed the invisible barrier she was erecting and halted my progress toward the porch."Yes, that would be fine. I'll see you then."As I turned away to walk back to the Jeep, she flatly said, "Please don't be late."I didn't reply to her, but turned my attention to Lizzie and said loudly enough for my demander to hear, "Have fun girls! I'll be back Before 3:00 to pick you up Lizzie."While the lady on the porch didn't introduce herself, the voice matched Stefani's from our phone call a few days ago, and was equally business-like in demeanor. It's difficult to describe. She didn't project a mean or nasty personality that would have made me wary of leaving Lizzie, but she was definitely keeping her distance. The mystery of it piqued my curiosity and made me realize that, as much as Lizzie talked about Toni, she hadn't told me anything about her family.I ran a couple errands around town and returned to Lizzie's house at 2:50, ten minutes early. When I pulled up I saw numerous toys strewn across the front yard and heard playing voices and squeals coming from behind the house. Since I was early, I leisurely wandered the front yard picking up hula-hoops, jump ropes, a bicycle, and a few balls. As I deposited the last couple items into a neat pile next to the driveway, I heard Stefani's voice behind me softly say, "Thank you, you didn't need to do that."I turned to face her as she stood on the porch in the same jeans and sweater she had on earlier, "No worries. I was a little early and didn't want to intrude."With her arms crossed in front of her, Stefani somewhat timidly said, "Thank you for that too; for being early."Just then, the girls came running around the corner of the house screaming, "Spider! Spider! Spider!"I looked at Stefani, smiled and shrugged my shoulders. I corralled Lizzie and said, "It's time to go, is there anything you need to clean up?"Toni answered for her, "No, we just had toys out in the front yard. I'll put them in the garage."The girls pleaded for another play date as they hugged. Stefani simply answered, "We'll see."I gave a quick wave goodbye as Lizzie and I climbed in the Jeep and pulled away.Drop-offs and Pick-ups.Over the next few days, the pattern of school drop-offs and pick-ups with Lizzie and Toni as an inseparable pair continued, and Lizzie begged me relentlessly for another out-of-school play date with Toni. Given Stefani's tepid response at the end of the last play date, I was hesitant to initiate. However, Lizzie's continued insistence eventually wore me down and I made the phone call that Thursday.Stefani answered the phone with a simple, "Hello.""Hi Stefani. This is Lizzie's dad, David. How are you today?"She answered somewhat suspiciously, "I'm fine."After a second of not receiving any more of a response, I stumbled a bit with my words and added, "Uh, Lizzie would really like to get together with Toni again. I; I was just calling to see if you would be open to that."Stefani questioned sharply, "Why are you asking if I'm open to it?"I stumbled some more, "Uh; well; you sounded a little hesitant at the end of the last play date and; and I didn't want to be presumptuous about them getting together again."She coldly answered, "I'm fine with it.""Okay, good. It seems Lizzie and Toni are becoming fast friends."In an ever-so-slightly warmer tone of voice, Stefani asked, "When and where are you thinking?""How about Saturday afternoon again? Wherever you would prefer is fine with us.""Yes, that works. Saturday afternoon at 3:00. How about our house again?"I replied, "Sounds good. We'll see you then." before we exchanged goodbyes. I ended the cell phone call and loudly exhaled my relief that the awkward conversation was over.Building Friendships.The beginning of the second play date went much like the first; screaming girls happy to see each other, a cold reception from Stefani, and a firm directive to be there on-time to pick up Lizzie. It also ended similarly to the first play date. I arrived early, exchanged a few short words with Stefani, and gently guided Lizzie to the Jeep as the girls begged for more time together. This same routine became standard procedure over the next several weeks and a half dozen more play dates.The only change to the pattern occurred after the first few play dates, when Stefani and I began texting each other to make arrangements rather than talking on the phone. The texting suited me just fine as it avoided the awkwardness of our previous telephone conversations.Eventually, Lizzie started asking if Toni could come to our house to play. I avoided the subject as long as possible since I wasn't sure how Stefani would feel about Toni coming to a single father's house or, for that matter, even how much she knew about our family situation. After an especially persuasive appeal from Lizzie one afternoon, I caved and picked up my phone to text Stefani.I wasn't sure how to best approach the question and, after several re-writes, settled on a minimal and factual approach, "Hi Stefani. Lizzie would like to invite Toni over to our house for a play date."A couple hours later my phone buzzed with the simple reply, "Okay. When?"After a few exchanges of date options, we settled on that Thursday after school. Stefani offered to drop her off and I sent her our address.I told Lizzie the plan and she immediately began formulating a list of all the things they would do. The two activities that kept rising to the top were to show Toni her bedroom and play on a bridge that she and I had built over a small creek in the woods.It was a simple bridge made by spanning a couple logs from bank to bank, then covering them with old rough sawn slab wood for a walking surface that was about 6-feet wide. It wasn't much, but it was sufficient to occasionally get my small tractor to the other side of the creek and it was one of Lizzie's favorite spots in the world; running over it, throwing stones into the water, looking for crayfish, watching the squirrels and chipmunks, sliding on the frozen stream in the winter, etc. If the weather was nice, she would sometimes do her homework laying belly down on the bridge with her elbows propping up her upper body.It was also her spot of solace when she was sad or upset. She would sit on the edge swinging her feet below her until the surrounding woods healed whatever was bothering her. Eventually, she would meander her way back to the house in a much better mood than she left.She and I were a lot alike in that respect. It was the very reason I bought the property when we moved here, to get away from life and let nature heal some wounds.Inseparable.Lizzie was positively giddy during the ride home from school on Thursday. She recapped the list of things she had planned to show and do with Toni. I reminded her to be a good host and do the things that Toni wants to do, though I suspected that would easily be worked out between the now inseparable friends.As Lizzie shed her backpack and shoes in the mudroom, she asked, "Can we make chocolate chip cookies before Toni gets here?""Sure, I think we have all the ingredients. Start getting everything out."We had made cookies together enough that Lizzie knew where everything was located. She rushed around pulling ingredients, mixing bowls, and baking sheets out of the pantry. After confirming everything needed was present, Lizzie started measuring ingredients into the mixing bowl. I stood by to lend assistance when needed and occasionally clarify a fractional measurement or the difference between teaspoons and tablespoons.Other than a little incident with the flour, Lizzie did a great job mixing the cookie dough. Together, we spooned balls of dough onto baking sheets and put the first tray into the oven. Lizzie set the timer and I suggested she go clean the flour off her arms and face while they were baking.I cleaned errant flour from the countertop and floor while Lizzie washed up. Just as I finished and began to load the dirty bowls and mixing utensils into the dishwasher, the oven timer chimed and there was a knock at the front door almost simultaneously.Lizzie heard it and ran full speed to the door. I quickly dried my hands and hit the button to silenc

Welcome to the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast! In today's episode, we're helping create a life you love.Rae Majors is an award-winning business and corporate strategist, best-selling author, and one of the rare coaches trusted by industry giants like Tony Robbins, John Assaraf, and Brian Buffini. For more than 20 years, she has helped thousands of entrepreneurs grow, scale, and transform their businesses and lives.But Rae's most powerful transformation happened in her late 50s, when she walked away from a 20-year marriage, rebuilt her life from the ground up, and redefined who she wanted to be as a woman and a leader. That journey inspired her newest work: Playdates for the Soul™ — a movement for high-achieving women 50+ who are ready to unplug, reconnect with themselves, and build their next chapter with intention.Today, Rae is known as The Next Chapter Mentor. She helps women entrepreneurs redefine success on their own terms and create a next chapter that feels aligned, purposeful, and fully their own.Connect with Rae Here: https://www.instagram.com/the_coach_rae/https://www.facebook.com/raemajorswildmanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/raemajorswildman/wwww.whatsyournextchapter.comGrab the freebie here: www.whatsyournextchapter.com===================================If you enjoyed this episode, remember to hit the like button and subscribe. Then share this episode with your friends.Thanks for watching the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast. This podcast is part of the Digital Trailblazer family of podcasts. To learn more about Digital Trailblazer and what we do to help entrepreneurs, go to DigitalTrailblazer.com.Are you a coach, consultant, expert, or online course creator? Then we'd love to invite you to our FREE Facebook Group where you can learn the best strategies to land more high-ticket clients and customers. QUICK LINKS: APPLY TO BE FEATURED: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/podcast-guest-applicationDIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: https://digitaltrailblazer.com/

We explore why toddlers hit, bite, and grab at playdates and how to respond without shame or panic. Did you know - these behaviors are VERY common stage in the early years of development?! Research shows that these behaviors are actually very common in early childhood. Studies find that between 26% and 70% of toddlers show some form of physical aggression — hitting, biting, pushing, or scratching — depending on how it's measured.  And in real-life parent reports, around 50–60% of children ages 1-3 hit or lash out at least occasionally when frustrated.So first off.. not need to think you are failing or raising a psychopath. When your child hits, spits, or scratches at a playdate, it can feel mortifying — but these moments are actually powerful teaching opportunities. In this episode, I'll share 3 Playdate Reset Tips, including:How to remember what really matters, How to teach your child the new behaviors in a way that will finally STICK.How to get the end results of more FUN and EASY playdates, without any amount of panic.Don't forget, we'd be honored to have you share this episode with a friend. Give a five star review, or subscribe - so that you don't miss anything in the future.✨Want more? ✨ Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have. Together, we'll make a plan for your best next steps to have more calm & confidence in parenting - while having kids that listen!:)✨ Download the FREE pdf. on getting kids to listen, for strategies that take you out of the "gentle mom - monster mom" cycle, with effective positive parenting strategies. ✨ Sign up for an upcoming LIVE ONLINE workshop with Flora, or purchase a past replay: https://sustainableparenting.com/workshop where you get 30 min. of learning and 30 min. of LIVE Q & A time, with replays sent afterwards.✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast.

We explore the awkwardness of parenting friendships, the emotional walls of teens, and the eternal debate: stay-at-home mom or working parent? Plus, what happens when your child's passion doesn't match their talent?

Online dating is tough for most men. But when you're a single dad, it's hard to find the energy and motivation. In this live coaching session, dating coach and bestselling author Connell Barrett helps his client Zach—a single dad re-entering the dating world—improve both his online dating profile and his mindset. Don't miss Zach's breakthrough moment (at the 42-minute mark) when he realizes the real reason he's not meeting the kinds of women he's into. Listen now!Episode Highlights:13:36: The Funny ‘DILF' Prompt that Gets Women Laughing and Writing You Back26:02: How to Navigate Your Busy Schedule and Still Get Dates43:10: Zach's “Aha!” Moment: “This is Why I Haven't Had more Dates!”59:25: Zach Unlocks the Power of Fearless Flirting1:08:09: The Secret to Motivation, Action… and a Date by this WeekendDO YOU WANT TO ATTRACT YOUR DREAM GIRLFRIEND? BOOK A FREE CALL WITH CONNELL TO SEE IF 1-ON-1 DATING COACHING IS RIGHT FOR YOU:http://www.DatingTransformation.com

Dein Kind haut, beißt oder kratzt dich? In dieser Podcastfolge erfährst du, warum Kinder ihre Eltern schlagen, was wirklich hinter den Wutausbrüchen steckt und wie du ohne Schimpfen oder Strafen reagieren kannst. Mit konkreten Tipps für mehr Gelassenheit, Co-Regulation und eine starke Eltern-Kind-Bindung. Das erfährst du in der Folge: - Warum Kinder ihre Eltern hauen - Welche Reaktionen nicht hilfreich sind - Wie du mit deiner eigenen Wut umgehen kannst Übrigens: Falls ihr gerade eher besondere Schwierigkeiten mit Streitereien und Konflikten unter euren Kindern oder bei Playdates habt, dann kommt doch gern zu meinem Know-Wow-Abend am 08.10.2025. Du kannst dich hier direkt unter der Folge auf den Link klicken und dich anmelden: Wenn die Fetzen fliegen: Streit unter Kindern begleiten Weniger Konflikte, mehr Miteinander? Wir starten eine neue Runde: “Kleine Menschen mit großen Gefühlen - Gefühlsstürme gemeinsam meistern” Schreib dich hier auf die Warteliste: https://deinefamilienbande.net/kleine-menschen-grosse-gefuehle/ 1 x im Monat beantworte ich Fragen von euch ausführlich im Podcast. Hast du auch eine konkrete Frage, um dein Kind besser zu verstehen? Schick sie mir per Mail oder per Whatsapp: 015259079969 Es gibt wieder freie Kapazitäten für meine Beratung. Hast du also ein konkretes Anliegen oder eine Herausforderung mit deinem Kind, dann vereinbare ein kostenfreies Erstgespräch, damit ich dich unterstützen kann: Familienberatung EINE BITTE AN DICH Dir gefällt mein Podcast und Du findest die Inhalte hilfreich? Dann hinterlasse eine 5-Sterne-Bewertung sowie eine Rezension und abonniere ihn. Vielen lieben Dank Dir für deine Hilfe! ► Hier kannst du den Podcast bei Apple Podcasts bewerten & abonnieren ► Hier kannst du den Podcast bei Spotify bewerten & abonnieren -> Folge mir auf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deine_familienbande/ Der „Deine Familienbande - Podcast“ ist der Podcast für junge Eltern und Familien, die sich einen gelassenen und bedürfnisorientierten Umgang ohne dogmatischen Idealvorstellungen mit ihrem Kleinkind wünschen. Hier bekommst du wertvolles Know-How und Impulse für Deine eigene Haltung, um dein Kleinkind entspannt durch die Autonomieentwicklung, Eingewöhnung & Co. zu begleiten.

Today, we're talking about a transition many women face as their children grow: when the playdates, sports practices, and school events that naturally connected you to other parents end, and suddenly your social circle feels smaller. It's a season that can feel lonely, disorienting, or even intimidating, but it's also a unique opportunity. With intention and courage, you can cultivate meaningful friendships that last well beyond the schoolyard. The end of playdates doesn't mean the end of friendship; it's the beginning of a season where you can build connections rooted in choice, shared values, and God's guidance. Schedule Your 30-Minute FREE Coaching Discovery Call What's Next Game Plan Instagram Facebook  Baseball Family Book billie@billiejauss.com www.billiejauss.com  

Send us a textIn this heart-warming episode, Louise is joined by friend, Laura McRae, to discuss how everyday manners shape confident, curious children. Fresh from a family trip abroad, Laura shares the simple practices that helped her daughters (ages 7 and 10) move from “shy at the table” to ordering for themselves, conversing with adults, and even reminding Mum where the napkin belongs. Beyond knives and forks, Louise shows why conversation, courtesy, and cultural awareness are confidence builders for life; and how small rituals like phones-off dinners create big impact. You'll hear practical tips for parents, candid reflections on screens and school norms, and easy ways to help kids say “please,” “thank you,” and “terima kasih” with ease. Listen in for gentle structure, real-world wins, and a joyful reminder: good manners make children feel capable.SHOW NOTES: https://thepercyinstitute.com/episode-51-from-playdates-to-politeness/I'd love to hear from you. Please leave your comments, or ask me any questions here: https://thepercyinstitute.com/contact/Join Louise in the pursuit of a more elegant life, and be sure to visit her website thepercyinstitute.com for more ideas and inspiration. Follow @thepercyinstitute on Instagram and Facebook, and join the Facebook Group, The Elegance Club for exclusive offers and insights.Resources and links: The Percy Institute website: https://thepercyinstitute.com/ The Elegance Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepercyinstitute The Percy Institute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepercyinstitute/ The Percy Institute Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePercyInstitute Louise Percy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-percy-01866510/ Music by Josep Monter Martinez via ...

It's something he noticed about his wife lately...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we have Odette. She's 37 years old, lives in San Diego, CA and she took her last drink 486 days ago.   This episode brought to you by: Better Help – 10% off of your first month #sponsored Exact Nature – 20% off your order with code RE20   Registration is open for our next retreat in Costa Rica. That's February 21st – 28th, 2026 in Guanacaste, a Blue Zone. We are over halfway full, but we have seven spots left.   [03:09] Thoughts from Paul:   When 17 people send Paul an article in the span of 2-3 days, he knows it means something big just came out… and this one is big because it disarms one of the biggest reasons why it's so hard to quit drinking: everyone else is drinking. Which is no longer true. Several publication released this article and here's the link for the CBS article.   It says - only 54% of U.S. adults say they drink alcohol, a record low. There is a growing belief that even moderate alcohol consumption is a health risk which is 100% correct. In 2015 28% of Americans though this but now in 2025, that percentage has almost doubled to 53%.   While mostly younger Americans are driving this trend, but older Americans are getting on board as well and the alcohol industry is tanking. Paul says that he can't help but feel that we all have had a part in this. That we, including you, the listener, have saved lives by doing our part getting the proper messaging out about alcohol, and people are listening.   So, you're not the only one who doesn't drink. Paul doesn't drink, Odette doesn't drink and 46% of Americans don't drink either.   [07:57] Paul introduces Odette:   In addition to being interviewed on episodes 128 and 231, Odette was the podcast host from episode 277 to 378.   Odette is from Guadalajara, Mexico but has been living in San Diego, CA with her husband, two kids and a variety of pets. She works in operations for a company called Chosen Foods. Around a year ago, she began teaching breathwork as well. For fun, she and her family enjoy being outside, especially at the beach.   Odette shares that addiction runs in her family, her father, who recently hit 16 years sober, went into rehab when Odette was 18. At the time she was struggling with an eating disorder and clinical depression. She never expected alcohol to be a problem for her.   Odette moved to the US with her husband after she graduated college. She kept her eating, and depression issues a secret for about a year after they got married but ended up going into treatment for it because she knew she needed to be healthy in order to have kids.   After having their first child, Odette says that she fell into the “mommy wine culture” pretty quickly. Playdates included toys for the kids and wine for the moms. Over time she began to look forward to drinking but there was always a knowing that this wasn't her authentic self, she says. The drinking helped her feel like she fit in.   The drinking and her eating disorder didn't play well together. She found the lines getting blurry and she wasn't listening to her body as well as before. Since she didn't drink much, she wasn't sure she really had a problem, but it was all taking a toll mentally.   During the time Odette was hosting the RE podcast, her grandmother got sick. She lives far from her family and the uncertainty of the situation and pain of not being there was too much for her. Even with all of her tools, Odette found herself relapsing. She struggled with the shame of it and felt a little lost but leaning into the community and learning how to accept herself has been important to getting her footing back.   Odette says recovery isn't about fixing yourself, it's about accepting all of the things that you are.  Breathwork has been helpful for Odette to learn how to get back in touch with her body and be present.   The Harmony House Odette Cressler   Recovery Elevator You took the elevator down, you gotta take the stairs back up. I love you guys.       RE on Instagram Recovery Elevator YouTube Sobriety Tracker iTunes  Café RE    

Wenn zwei Erwachsene sich wie im Kindergarten verhalten, spielen meist ihre inneren Kinder miteinander.Und genau darüber spreche ich in der heutigen Folge.Ich erzähle über meine eigenen Erfahrungen auf dem Spielplatz und wie ich immer besser erkenne, dass ich gerade in mein inneres Kind zurückfalle und als erwachsene Frau erstmal scheinbar nur die Möglichkeit habe, mein Gegenüber mit Sand zu bewerfen oder ihn von der Schaukel zu schubsen.

Best friends, moms, and total travel addicts—Bri and Liz have turned family adventures into an art form. In this episode, they're sharing with the Whine Mama's their top tips, must-know hacks, and hilarious stories to help make your next trip smoother, smarter, and way more fun. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a big family vacation, you won't want to miss this one! Wine of the Week: Boen Pinot Noir. Honorable mentions: ChatGPT, indivisible, travel stroller, Peppa Pig

"Creativity gives us the opportunity to look at things from a more playful perspective.” — Cecilia TementThis episode of Behind the Scenes is an exploration on how creativity opens a direct line to your higher self. I'm joined by Cecilia Tement, soul life and business awakening mentor, divine channel, and song healer.Cecilia walks us through a Guided Higher Self Practice you'll want to return to again and again. She also reminds you that you don't need to force it, fix it, or prove anything to anyone. You just need to return to yourself.Cecilia & I are both doing live Playdates inside Deb D.'s REPlay Summer Podcast Party, running August 1st through 10th.Join Cecilia live at 12:00 pm EST on Wednesday 8/6 for, Whispers from Within and join me on Saturday 8/9 at 12:00 pm EST for the Creative Moon Planner Workshop (replays available).xo CarlaPS: Head to Substack to receive the show notes, journal prompts, resources, and more!Join My Community:WebsiteInstagramSubstackDisclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. Note: Save this mediation practice for when it's safe to close your eyes. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

Playdates are supposed to be fun, but there are also some unwritten rules that might help you. Such as, how do you initiate a playdate? What should you bring with you? And how do you handle disputes between kids? Learn how the parents in our studio have handled rules of etiquette when it comes to playdates.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Put down your Playdates, it's time for another action-packed thrill-ride with your Worst Pals! Fourhman reports on his not-at-all-creepy visit to the Cartoon Network Hotel, Haygood reviews Fantastic Four, and Tony talks Happy Gilmore 2! PLUS:– SOON IN COLOR: Blippo+– MOVIES NOWHERE: Microsoft gets out of TV & movie distribution– WIN: A free code for a game on Steam!This episode was mixed by Tony Sadowski and includes Joe Haygood, Joe Fourhman, and Tony Sadowski on vocals. You can download the podcast directly from here or click on one of the links below to subscribe. This episode features “Arcade Puzzler,” “Arcade Heroes,” and “Coin Op Chaos” by Eric Matyas, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.soundimage.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sam and Vincent are struggling with the rigidity and bossiness of their six-year-old daughter, Jody. They've made great strides with her separation anxiety, but during playdates (and many other times, as well) Jody needs things to go her way. Mom's discomfort with Jody's distress and Dad's similar temperament are targets we need to address! WE'VE MADE PLAYLISTS OF OUR EPISODES TO HELP YOU FIND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC TOPICS. Here is our first: Parents of Anxious Kids, Start Here⁠ For those brand new to the podcast, we suggest starting with this playlist featuring Lynn Lyons and the 7-part anxiety disruptor series as well as a 3-part series on the skills most helpful in managing anxious kids: flexibility, problem solving, and autonomy. Consult our Spotify profile for the most up-to-date selection.   WIN A COPY OF THE ANXIETY AUDIT COURSE! We will select two listeners who complete our ⁠⁠listener survey⁠⁠. We hope it is you! FOLLOW US Join the Facebook group to get news on the upcoming courses for parents, teens, and kids. Follow Flusterclux on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Lynn Lyons on Twitter and Youtube. VISIT OUR SPONSORS FOR SPECIAL OFFERS JUST FOR YOU: Go to Quince.com/fluster for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Right now, our listeners get at least an additional 15% off any annual membership at MASTER CLASS.com/FLUSTER . Head to lumen.me/FLUSTERCLUX for 15% off your purchase. Visit Carawayhome.com/FLUSTER and you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're diving into one of the trickiest—and most talked-about—topics in modern motherhood: snacks. In this episode, we unpack the cultural obsession with constant snacking, how it impacts our kids' health (and appetites), and why we've made it a priority to rethink the way we snack in our homes.   We share what's actually working in our families, how we set snack boundaries without shame, the importance of protein and fat in between meals, and why saying “no” to endless snacks isn't mean—it's loving. If you've ever felt stuck between feeding your kids something or fighting a snack battle every afternoon, this conversation will meet you right where you are.  

The details and organizing of play dates are a chore that Mia hopes to help with PlayDayz available on Google Play and Apple App Store Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Playdates or childminding - now there's an app for that....BBC didn't show Kneecap - but Helen got 2 million hits on her TikTok live stream...Graham wants an all out strike by teachers to make the government fix education issues & lots more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While being a mom can be incredibly rewarding, it can also be exhausting mentally, physically, and emotionally, and sometimes you just want to connect with other mothers to get a boost. Boston Moms, a spinoff of Wicked Good Mom Media, says it's got just the thing for local moms this summer: "Wicked Good Playdates" at shopping centers around Greater Boston. Meghan Block, Owner of Wicked Good Mom Media, joins Nichole this week to discuss the importance of connection for mothers, no matter the age, and share details about the upcoming events.

What do you get when two deeply reflective educators who love math — and love teachers — show up with vulnerability, humor, and a whole lot of heart?In this episode, Zak Champagne (Chief Content Officer at Flynn Education and co-author of enVision Mathematics) and Dr. Mike Flynn (former second-grade teacher and Director of Math Leadership Programs at Mount Holyoke College, and now CEO of Flynn Education) join Pam for a conversation that feels like a warm invitation into the kinds of spaces we wish every teacher had.Together, they explore:The power of vulnerability in teaching and learningWhy teachers need Math Playdates — and what happens when we do math together as adultsHow their own journeys (and mistakes) have reshaped their beliefs and perspectivesThe joy of learning from 7- and 8-year-oldsWhat it means to build math spaces that are brave, not perfectWhether you've been to a Math Playdate or you're hearing about them for the first time, this episode will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and maybe a little more ready to take a math risk — alongside your students.

Part 2 of our making friends series, LenEll, Trisha and Chad talk about the line of humor vs sarcasm.  Humor is anything that makes people laugh.  It can be light-hearted or dark, slapstick or witty.  Humor includes jokes, puns, funny stories!  Sarcasm is more biting and intended to mock or convey contempt.  Its often used to criticize or insult.  An important part of making friends is knowing the difference.  Where is the line?  When does an emerging skill such as appropriate humor cross over into bullying?  When our kids are online, how do they know the difference and how can parents help our kids navigate true relationships from those that are potentially harmful?  How can parents help with an emerging sense of humor and how do our kids mirror their parents' personality?   When does a joke go too far and when it does how can we help our kids learn to pull it back?  When is kidding truly kidding or when is it not kidding?Send us a textfinding-moments.com or Etsy Shop

In this episode we realize we're inching closer to episode 100 fast, and feeling the excitement… as long as we can figure out how to publish episode 101 we'll be fine. We're telling our story of toddler playdate mayhem, an unexpected marsh fire emergency, 100% accurate and also uneducated how-to on prepping your family for emergencies, with a toddler, dog and cat in tow; also super helpful tips on getting toddlers to share and kick their pacifier habit with the tool of comparison… just kidding, we don't do that, and we're sharing why. 100% real mom life, enjoy!

Episode 289 is loaded with opinions regarding the 0.2.0f patch and the upcoming 0.2.0g patch. GGG has been pumping out patches like crazy. So much so, that it's tough to keep up! Path of Exile's Early Access keeps playing games with us, but we know it's ways. We know it's games. It'll get there. Hopefully you're enjoying, or looking forward to enjoying, Path of Exile 2. Thank you for your listens and support each week! We greatly appreciate it!(00:00:00) Playdates and Pro-D Days(00:03:36) Flooring, Furniture, and Squirrel Wars(00:10:13) Path of Exile Hosting Hopes(00:16:00) POE Patch F Recap(00:22:00) Xbox Key Sharing Drama(00:27:45) Ascendancy Respec Thoughts(00:34:30) PoE Community Tools and Discord Stuff(00:42:10) Patch G Preview and UI Thoughts(00:50:00) Patch Speed and Bug Fixes(00:59:30) Passive Tree Design Philosophy(01:06:30) Crafting Expectations and Feedback(01:13:00) Final PoE Impressions and OutroForever Exiled Info:www.foreverexiled.comPatreonTwitter @ForeverExiled82Path of Exile WebsiteWrecker of Days Builds ListDiscord...FE Merch StoreFE Nexus Store

Part 1 of a 3 part series is focused on making friends and the importance playdates.  Helping our kids build friendships base on common interests and a good friend fit is only the beginning.  Helping them understand the importance of perspective taking, empathy, flexible thinking and expandable interests will help them find those long-lasting friendships that will be there for them when they need them!  Pro-tips are included in our discussion for conversational skills, as well as setting up home court advantage in early play dates that will build confidence and connection.  Early development of these skills will set your child up for success in more complex social situations in their later years.  Recommended books:Bubble Gum Brain by Julia CookElvin and Brayden Friends Forever by Sandra MorrisonBe a Friend by Salina YoonTeach Your Dragon to Make Friends by Steve HermanBetter Together by Dr. Melissa Munro BoydOther Resources:Together TokensWhat Makes Your Child Tick - Play Preference QuizSend us a textfinding-moments.com or Etsy Shop

A Los Angeles-based artist, writer, poet and actor whose art is full of vibrant texture and layers, exploring the depth and beauty of imperfection. As the third female solo dating game show host in television history, she brought her signature wit and charm to the nationally syndicated dating game show, BZZZ!, which reran on BUZZR TV in 2020. Annie is the author of three books: Just a Girl in the Whirl, Dandy Day, and A Quantum Love Adventure. Whether crafting paintings with loose figures and impressionist flowers, penning and performing evocative poetry, or breathing life into characters, Annie inspires others to explore freely, feel deeply, and create unapologetically.

Kinder zusammenbringen = entspannte Zeit? Eher nicht! Rieke und Katharina haben da so ihre Erfahrungen gemacht. Von süßen Spielmomenten bis zur totalen Eskalation – sie erzählen, wie Playdates wirklich laufen und wie man sich das Chaos danach erleichtert. Dazu sprechen sie über ein sensibles Thema: Gewicht in der Schwangerschaft und nach der Geburt. Was ist wirklich normal? Wie geht man mit dem Druck um? Und warum es okay ist auf seinen Körper zu hören und seinen eigenen Weg zu gehen. Viel Spaß beim Zuhören, deine MamAcademy

Hey Food Allergy Mom, This episode is a little different than usual, but oh so valuable!  Today I'm sharing an interview I did with Heather Schalk Parenting on HER podcast, called The Toddler Toolkit.  After the interview, I immediately asked Heather if I could share the audio with you on my podcast because it's PACKED with valuable information that I know you'll love. In this eye-opening chat, Heather and I talk about everything from food allergy awareness, navigating the playground, social events, and some surprising tips for school and playdates. Yes, it's a little longer than my usual episode, but stick with it until the end for a surprising tip about navigating birthday celebrations at school! Grab your favorite drink and a pen and paper and… let's get to it! I'm cheering for you! Corinna Food Allergy Mentor at Friendly Pantry Consulting Inc. NEXT STEPS: Subscribe to this podcast, and give it a review.  Your review makes the podcast easier to find for families that need it. Choose the food allergy help you need today: Join the Food Allergy Travel Workshop Join the Get Over The Fear of Trying New Foods Workshop. Grab the School Food Allergy Template & School Success Pack Grab the 90-Minute Variety Booster. Join the Dining Out With Food Allergies Workshop Grab the Social Event Survival Pack Get The Free Resources: Newly Diagnosed Checklist: https://www.friendlypantry.com/new Food Allergy Kids Empowerment Guide(for kids aged 2-7): https://www.friendlypantry.com/empowerment   Listen to Related Episodes: 2| 7 Food Allergy Myths & Errors I've Made, And What To Do Instead 11| Navigating Birthday Parties With Food Allergies Like a Pro: Your 3-Step Guide 19| Kindergarten Readiness: A Food Allergy Parent's Essential Guide 35|10 Powerful Tips to Simplify Food Allergy Management   Check out the Resources Mentioned in this Show: Toddler Toolkit Podcast    

Episode 25 is an honest conversation surrounding The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.  We highly recommend this book for parents of teens and tweens even though it completely scared the bleep out of us! Also check out the author's companion video Smartphones vs Kids.  Jonathan Haidt does an amazing job breaking down why we are where we are.  The 90's gave us personal computers and the internet.  2010 gave us the first iPhone.  In 2012, Facebook acquired Instagram.  The front facing camera then led to the selfie craze.  These pivotal moments opened the door to losing real face to face moments with screens as well as adding a level of stress, unrealistic expectations and ultimately depression for a significant percentage of our youth population.  Then the pandemic shattered our sense of reality and has now created a generation of IPAD / YouTube kids (skibidi toilet?).  Social media providers know how to keep our kids locked in to the screen using algorithms and gamification.  How can parents deal with this when we are also locked in?  Time to look up and recognize the importance of social interaction in the real world, not our screens.  Not to say they are a bad tool ... they are a great tool with endless possibilities.  Teaching our kids how to turn them off is ballgame.  For us, it really comes down to REAL social experiences.Send us a textfinding-moments.com or Etsy Shop

Panic Gifts - Playdates for Partners - Extreme Christmas 12/26/24 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Panic Gifts - Playdates for Partners - Extreme Christmas 12/26/24 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the special segment "Gripe Water," Shanna and Laura share the hilariously petty parenting problems that have been bothering them lately, diving into the topics of troublesome toys and sloppy surfaces. Also, Shanna talks about taking "drop-off playdates" to a whole new level, and Laura reports on managing work and parenting when a deadline is looming. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 5.5 and 8.5 years old, and Laura's kids are 5.5 years old and 3.5 years old.Topics discussed in this episode:-How to manage drop-off playdates-Should I let my child ride in someone else's car?-Laura and Gia's potty training book-Managing work and parenting simultaneously-Why are kids' toys so loud?-How to keep surfaces uncluttered when you have kids-Revamping your backyard to make it more kid-friendly-Instilling house rules about toysThis episode's full show notes can be found here.Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcastJoin our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.Visit our website!Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the special segment "Gripe Water," Shanna and Laura share the hilariously petty parenting problems that have been bothering them lately, diving into the topics of troublesome toys and sloppy surfaces. Also, Shanna talks about taking "drop-off playdates" to a whole new level, and Laura reports on managing work and parenting when a deadline is looming. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 5.5 and 8.5 years old, and Laura's kids are 5.5 years old and 3.5 years old. Topics discussed in this episode: -How to manage drop-off playdates -Should I let my child ride in someone else's car? -Laura and Gia's potty training book -Managing work and parenting simultaneously -Why are kids' toys so loud? -How to keep surfaces uncluttered when you have kids -Revamping your backyard to make it more kid-friendly -Instilling house rules about toys This episode's full show notes can be found here. Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcast Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey. Visit our website! Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Playdates are a great way for kids to have fun and develop social skills.. But before parents send their kids over to a friend's house, it's important to make sure that the environment they are playing in is safe by checking in with the parents. But this can be a tricky conversation to navigate.Host Jessica Stewart Gonzalez sits down with Yomy Castillo, Injury Prevention Program Manager at the Arizona Department of Health Services. Together, they go through some methods for approaching these conversations with other parents. Host:Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez is the Chief of the Office of Children's Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is married, has two young children, and loves reading (anything except parenting books!) and watching movies and TV.  She enjoys spending time with her kids (when they aren't driving her crazy) and celebrating all of their little, and big, accomplishments. Jessica has been in the field of family and child development for over 20 years, focused on normalizing the hard work of parenting and making it easier to ask the hard questions.Links: Strong Families AZHost: Jessica Stewart-GonzalezGuest: Yomy CastilloAZ Dept. of Health Services- Prevention

I Will Do Better: A Father's Memoir of Heartbreak, Parenting, and Love by Charles Bock Amazon.com By turns comical and heartbreaking, I Will Do Better is the remarkable journey of two defiant and wounded people, and their personal growth in the name of love. Named one of the Best Books of Fall by Oprah Daily and People "A uniquely forthright and powerful addition to the literature of fatherhood.” (Kirkus) The novelist Charles Bock was a reluctant parent, tagging along for the ride of fatherhood, obsessed primarily with his dream of a writing career. But when his daughter Lily was six months old, his wife, Diana, was diagnosed with a complex form of leukemia. Two and half years later, when all treatments and therapies had been exhausted, Bock found himself a widower—devastated, drowning in medical bills, and saddled with a daunting responsibility. He had to nurture Lily, and, somehow, maybe even heal himself. I Will Do Better is Charles's pull-no-punches account of what happened next. Playdates, music classes, temper tantrums, oh-so-cool babysitters, first days at school, family reunions, single-parent dating, and a citywide crippling natural disaster—were minefields especially treacherous for Charles and Lily because of their preexisting vulnerability: their grief. Charles sought help from friends, family, and therapists, but this overgrown, middle-aged boy-man and his plucky child became, foremost, a duo—they found their way together. This frank and tender memoir of parenting his infant daughter in the wake of of his wife's untimely death is "bracingly honest [and] tender," commented Publshers Weekly. "Single parents will find much to identify with in this warts-and-all account.”

Another parent is charged in the connection to a school shooting. This time the father of the suspected Georgia school shooter is facing several serious charges because investigators believe he knew his son had access to a weapon. Will charging parents serve as a deterrent for future gun violence or are prosecutors over stepping? Gen Z and millennial workers are burnt out and unhappy. Why studies show managers are missing the mark. And a new frontier for playdates. Parents are handing out business cards to arrange get together. Too much or too clever? The AnchorMoms weigh in. Find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to FOLLOW, rate and review!Want more mommy talk? Find us HERE on Facebook!AnchorMoms: The Podcast is a product of WLOS News 13 of Asheville, N.C.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was exhausting and she was insulted many times! How and Why did this all go down? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was exhausting and she was insulted many times! How and Why did this all go down? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They wanted to suck us in, and boy did they! Did you even know "rage bait" was a thing?? We did not until this episode and honestly, it worked. They got us, but they also got some good conversations going. So although it's unanimous that NO ONE will be paying for playdates anytime soon, it is good to just be aware of the kind people hosting our kids. Let's make sure our village knows how much we appreciate them. And watch out for that rage bait!

08 - 15 - 24 HOW DO YOU TELL THE NEIGHBOR NO TO PLAYDATES by Maine's Coast 93.1

In today's episode, you will learn a series of vocabulary words that are connected to a specific topic. This lesson will help you improve your ability to speak English fluently about a specific topic. It will also help you feel more confident in your English abilities.5 Vocabulary Words Related to the topicDiscipline (noun): The act of teaching a child proper behavior through guidance and consequences. Example Sentences:Positive discipline focuses on rewarding good behavior.Setting clear expectations is important for effective discipline.Effective discipline helps children learn from their mistakes and become responsible individuals.Tantrum (noun): A burst of anger or frustration in a young child, often accompanied by crying and screaming. Example Sentences:Toddlers are prone to throwing tantrums when they don't get their way.Staying calm during a tantrum is key to managing the situation effectively.There are different approaches to handling tantrums, depending on the child and the situation.Wholesome (adj.): Healthy and beneficial, promoting well-being. Example Sentences:Providing a wholesome environment for your child is important for their development.Spending quality time with your child is a wholesome activity.A balanced diet and regular exercise are essential for a wholesome lifestyle.Teething (noun): The process of a baby's teeth erupting through the gums.Example Sentences:Teething can be a painful and uncomfortable experience for babies.There are several strategies to soothe a teething baby, such as using a teething ring.Teething usually starts around 6 months of age.Playdate (noun): A planned social gathering for children to play together.Example Sentences:Playdates are a great way for children to develop social skills.We arranged a playdate with our neighbor's child.Playdates can be beneficial for both children and parents, providing opportunities for socialization and connection.A Paragraph using the 5 vocabulary wordsParenting is a rollercoaster of emotions! One minute your little one is giggling during a playdate, the next they might be throwing a full-blown tantrum. Then you have the early years that are filled with milestones like teething, which can cause discomfort and crankiness. Not just for the baby either, for both parent and baby! However, navigating these challenges is part of the journey. By establishing clear expectations and using positive discipline techniques, you can help your child learn and grow. Remember, creating a wholesome environment filled with love, play, and support is key to fostering a strong parent-child bond. So, take a deep breath, embrace the mess, and enjoy this special time in your life!If you want to sign up for the free daily English vocabulary newsletter, go towww.dailyenglishvocabulary.com

In this episode, we tackle a listener's question on play dates at non-Christian homes and concerns about worldly exposure. We discuss balancing exposure with wisdom, the importance of biblical hospitality, and how to ground children in the biblical worldview. Join us for practical advice on navigating these situations with faith and discernment. Resource mentioned: Biblical Worldview Curriculum - https://foundationworldview.com/curriculum/early-childhood-worldview Comparative Worldview Curriculum - https://foundationworldview.com/curriculum/comparative-worldview

The lengths some Olympic athletes are going to to both compete AND parent and how things have changed over the decades. And the new research showing families are drowning in debt just to buy groceries. How the statistics are impacting motherhood. Plus, one mom is charging for playdates. Why some say her tab is outrageous and others say it's a fair price. MUMS the Word: Rare Beauty Eye Brightener Find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, rate and review!Want more mommy talk? Find us HERE on Facebook!AnchorMOMS: The Podcast is a product of WLOS News 13 of Asheville, N.C.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is the secret to a happier, less stressful, more connected life actually play? A lot of the research is telling us so! As we get older sometimes we lose a bit of our joy, awe and wonder, and the time we have for our friendships becomes more restricted by work, obligations, distance, commitment and seriousness. In today's episode, let's talk about why the solution to that may be to bring back adult playdates, including:  The psychology behind why play is important The loneliness epidemic  Why our sense of connection has become disrupted  Our 8 play personalities  The power of parallel play  Microhabits for creating playfulness and fun, and so much more!  Listen now! And don't forget to schedule your playdate!! Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast For business enquiries: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we are talking PLAYDATES and would/should we be able to CHARGE for them?! Then we are giving you a #SWAGBAG Summer picks whole segement. It's hot and here's what we think should be selling like hotcakes As always we have your #TITSANDSHITS and #SWAGBAG.Don't forget to LEAVE US A REVIEW!  For more info on: Money for Playdates #SWAGBAG Ashley:Ashley Reusable water balloons Portable fan Stanley carrier Stanley Snack tray Splash pad Folding Chair with Top Beis Weekender Bag Air pump bottles Hypochlorous Acid Keri Puracy Stain Remover Sunflow Beach Chair Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Chafe stick Corlap Women's Crew Ankle socks. Hearts Venty Portable Fan for Travel Epicuren Discovery- Defend and Balance Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50- $106.70 Nantucket Spider Full Insect Repellant ASK US ANYTHING! HAPPY TO GIVE ADVICE. Email us at hello@momtouragepodcast.com For more Momtourage:  iTunes: https://tinyurl.com/y6xrpx8e Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/y5f6ahn4 Instagram: www.instagram.com/momtouragepodcast  Facebook: www.facebook.com/MomtouragePodcast  YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/y4re9sca Website: www.MomtouragePodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim and Greg chat about Astro Bot and Concord trailer reception, Metal Gear Solid Delta's possible delay, and Toys For Bob is officially partnering with Xbox. Run of Show - 00:00:00 - Start 00:04:00 - Housekeeping Today after, KFGD, you'll get: GAMESCAST is Blessing's interview with Xalavier Nelson Following that is Game Showdown The STREAM is Fallout 76 If you're a Kinda Funny Member: You can get today's Gregway. And you can also get Kinda Funny Happy Hour this afternoon if you're at the $25 tier. Thank you to our Patreon Producers:Karl Jacobs, Fargo Brady, & Delaney Twining The Roper Report  - 00:08:20 - Astro Bot trailer gets 99% likes on YouTube, Concord gets 18% - Chris Scullion @ VGC 00:39:50 - Ad 00:36:55 - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater might not release until 2025, it's claimed - Tom Ivan @ VGC 00:41:17 - Toys For Bob is officially partnering with Xbox for their next game 00:43:40 - There Are ‘Hours' Of Official Recordings Of Shadow The Hedgehog Saying ‘F***' - Kenneth Shepard @ Kotaku 00:47:44 - Panic recovers stolen Playdates worth $400,000 - Chris Kerr @ Game Developer 00:50:00 - Wee News! 00:54:10 - SuperChats 00:57:03 - You‘re Wrong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 When one mom charges another mom for a playdate, that definitely qualifies for Kristin's bad take of the week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The MinnMax Show, Ben Hanson is joined by Kelsey Lewin, Jeff Marchiafava, and Kyle Hilliard to talk about Unicorn Overlord from Vanillaware, get JeffM's take on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, dust off our Playdates for Mars After Midnight, go back in time and celebrate another interactive documentary with Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, and then we talk about the impact of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama's impact on the game industry. Then we answer questions submitted on Patreon by the community and award the iam8bit question of the week! You can win a prize and help make the show better by supporting us on Patreon and leaving a question! https://www.patreon.com/minnmax Watch and share the video version - https://youtu.be/koZn-XoasjY Help support MinnMax's supporters! https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: THINMINTS Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at https://www.stamps.com/minnmax. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Break the bad habit at https://tryfum.com/MINNMAX to save 10% off the Journey Pack today. To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below... 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:48 - Unicorn Overlord 00:15:53 - Final Fantasy VII Remake vs. Rebirth 00:35:03 - Mars After Midnight 00:43:23 - Miyamoto's small projects 00:49:21 - Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story 01:04:19 - Remembering Akira Toriyama 01:18:03 - Star Wars: Dark Forces 01:25:59 - Contra: Operation Galuga 01:31:55 - Thanking MinnMax's biggest supporters 01:38:00 - Community questions 02:13:42 - Get A Load Of This JeffM's GALOT - https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/stardew-valley-players-finally-learn-the-truth-eric-barone-confirms-that-for-the-past-8-years-left-to-right-harvesting-has-been-100ms-faster-than-right-to-left-harvesting/ Kelsey's GALOT - https://x.com/captpan6/status/1766194533698568634?s=46&t=wlHcJFH6Wov4aCAEAJX5Qw Hanson's GALOT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDKHFT_ltRQ Kyle's GALOT - https://bsky.app/profile/johntv.bsky.social/post/3kl5msnmtev27 Community GALOT - https://youtu.be/SmcsediT3hs?si=OeElaK9KgWfANzEn Disclosure - Games discussed on MinnMax content are most often provided for free by the publisher or developer. Follow us on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/minnmax Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/minnmax Buy MinnMax merch here - https://minnmax.com/merch Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/minnmaxshow Follow us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/minnmaxshow Go behind the scenes on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow Become a Game Champion by supporting MinnMax at the $50 tier on Patreon and lock in the game of your choice! https://www.patreon.com/minnmax Microsoft Flight Simulator - hypeperformancegroup.com Twisted - Michael Berry Balatro - Joshua Ayers Scarlet Hollow - ManifestEcho Odin Sphere Leifthrasir - Malcolm Holliday Skies of Arcadia - Joel Hulseman Ghost of Tsushima - ProcyonNumber6 Final Fantasy X - Andres Silva Luck be a Landlord- TrampolineTales Helldivers 2 - Patrick Polk QWOP - Pretty Good Printing This podcast is powered by Pinecast.