Loneliness is one of the biggest issues facing our society and it has the power to exacerbate feelings of depression and isolation in our kids and teenagers. In our crazy current world, it’s something we need to be watching for with our kids. Our kids are also logging record amounts of screen time, which can be even more isolating. But it’s not all bad news. There are many things you can do to support your child and help encourage connection. In Episode 22, we will talk with board certified ther...
Jul 28, 2020•20 min•Ep. 22
Parenting is rewarding. It’s often fun—but it isn’t easy. Feeling tired, overwhelmed, and stressed can easily become part of your everyday, but it doesn’t have to. In this episode, best selling author, Rebekah Lyons, shares practical information on how to get better sleep, the impact of technology on our stress levels, and the importance of play. This interview and her book, Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose are full of habits and rhythms that you can...
Jul 16, 2020•35 min•Ep. 21
Being a parent is a tough but important job. Whether you’re a single parent, married, or co-parenting, it’s crucial that you aren’t the only influence for your child as they are learning and growing. In Episode 20, Kendra Fleming and Karen Stubbs talk about the importance of not parenting alone. Karen shares her story as it pertains to this topic as well as some of the best ways she’s found to involve others in parenting her children. In 2011, Karen founded Birds on a Wire, a ministry for moms. ...
Jan 16, 2020•27 min•Ep. 20
Christmas is coming! It’s the time of year when you’re shopping for the perfect gifts, baking treats, prepping for parties, and trying to create the most magical memories with your family. In the midst of it all, you also want your preschooler to be learning about the true meaning of Christmas. You want them to know that we are celebrating the birthday of Jesus! In Episode 19, Kendra Fleming shares some great ideas to help you create super fun and meaningful experiences for your preschooler this...
Nov 26, 2019•19 min•Ep. 19
Divorce or separation is never easy on families, especially when children are involved. And changes that involve transitioning between two homes can be especially difficult. Preschoolers are wired to crave consistency and routine, so it’s normal for them to face challenges as they navigate a new normal. We know parents want to get this right, but it’s hard to know where to start! In Episode 18, Kendra Fleming and Erin Nicolas discuss what it looks like to help your preschooler ease through the t...
Nov 15, 2019•18 min•Ep. 18
Conflict in marriage is inevitable, but learning how to best communicate with your spouse can help you manage it in a healthy way. The key to effective communication is understanding your temperament as well as your spouse’s. In Episode 17, Kendra Fleming talks with Kathleen Edelman about what temperaments are, the strengths and weaknesses of each, and how you can become a communication expert in your marriage. Kathleen is a Christian life coach and author. She has one goal in life: to help peop...
Oct 29, 2019•29 min•Ep. 17
Being a parent is the most important job anyone will ever have, and being a new mom in today’s world can bring lots of challenges and struggles. In Episode 16, Kendra Fleming and Karen Stubbs talk about some of the top struggles of young moms and share practical advice on how to overcome these challenges. Karen Stubbs is the founder of Birds on a Wire, a ministry for moms that was created in 2011. Birds on a Wire has reached hundreds of moms all over the world and aims to help moms parent with c...
Oct 16, 2019•33 min•Ep. 16
The toddler years are hard and, as a parent, it may seem impossible to find time to be intentional with your little one. It’s a crazy time when they are testing boundaries, running all over the place, and learning so much about the world around them. But it’s so important to slow down and create intentional connection times when you can speak truth to your child’s heart. In Episode 15, Kendra Fleming and Jennifer Walker talk about bedtime being an ideal time to help set foundations in your child...
Oct 01, 2019•28 min•Ep. 15
We are all different, and understanding how your child is wired is so helpful as you parent them! In Episode 14, Kendra Fleming talks to Kathleen Edelman about temperaments and how you can become a communication expert as you parent your child. Kathleen provides great advice that will help you discover your child’s temperament and how best to parent them. Kathleen is a Christian Life Coach and Author. She has one goal in life: to help people learn to speak kindly to each other. She has spent 25 ...
Aug 27, 2019•32 min•Ep. 14
Having a newborn in your home is difficult! They require constant attention and sometimes it seems like the crying and sleepless nights will never end. It’s easy for parents of newborns to feel pressure to get it right as they try to figure out their new normal—especially with limitless voices that tell them the right and wrong way to parent. In Episode 13, Kendra Fleming talks to Jennifer Walker about how to take the pressure off when you bring a newborn into your home. Jennifer provides great ...
Aug 23, 2019•39 min•Ep. 13
As parents, we don’t want our kids to feel stressed or sad. But, the reality is that they are guaranteed to experience things that cause them anxiety—and it can actually be good for them! We also know that sometimes preschoolers need extra help if they really start to struggle in these areas. What are the things that cause them stress? How can you tell if your child is really struggling? And how can you help? In Episode 12, Kendra Fleming and Erin Nicolas discuss four great ways you can help you...
Jul 31, 2019•34 min•Ep. 12
Congratulations—you have a rising kindergartner! This season can be overwhelming for many reasons, but we don’t want the transition from Waumba Land to UpStreet to be one of them! We want to help make it as seamless as possible by equipping you with everything you need to know before it’s time to bring your child to their new environment on Sunday morning. In Episode 11, Kendra Fleming and Gina Ragsdale talk about exactly what you can expect in UpStreet, and Gina shares all of the great ways our...
Jul 17, 2019•23 min•Ep. 11
Did you know that play is one of the best ways preschoolers experience relationships with others? It’s a super important part of their development! But between cooking, cleaning, laundry, work, etc., playing with your kids can be hard to fit into your day. Good news! There are moments that already happen in your everyday life where you can easily prioritize fun and play. In Episode 10, Kendra Fleming and Sara Dickens talk about great ways to have fun with your kids. From a variety of fine motor ...
Jan 08, 2019•24 min•Ep. 10
Making your marriage a priority when you are parenting young kiddos is tough! There’s always someone who needs your attention, you’re typically running on lack of sleep, and it’s easy to put your relationship on the backburner. It’s countercultural, but the best parenting you will ever do is to build a home where your marriage comes before your children. In Episode 9, Kendra Fleming and Matt Hayes talk about what it looks like to be intentional about pouring into your marriage. They highlight fo...
Nov 01, 2018•27 min•Ep. 9
One of the most amazing things about the world is that every person is created differently with unique strengths, weaknesses, and personalities. So why, when our kids are young, do we tend to have the expectation that there’s only one right way to behave (follow the rules, sit still, etc.)? As parents, we often expect children to all be motivated by the same things rather than leaning into their individual wirings. In Episode 8, Kendra Fleming talks to Jennifer Walker about how to parent your ch...
Nov 01, 2018•26 min•Ep. 8
Have you ever wished your child was more grateful? It’s never too early to start teaching them about gratitude and, in fact, it’s a great thing in these early years! Andy Stanley once said, “Unexpressed gratitude is ingratitude,” and we want to help you teach your child simple prayers and habits that will instill in them practices of expressing gratitude that they will carry with them the rest of their life. In this episode, Kendra Fleming shares five simple ideas that will help you begin to wea...
Nov 01, 2018•15 min•Ep. 7
Life with preschoolers is busy, and it can be difficult to find time to talk with your kids about God. Sometimes it seems impossible to fit one more thing into your day! We want to encourage you to simply lean into the moments that are already happening in your day-to-day life and and use those as a springboard to create habits in your home that will help establish a strong spiritual foundation in the heart of your preschooler. In Episode 6, Kendra Fleming and Emily Knox talk about three times o...
Nov 01, 2018•17 min•Ep. 6
Every parent wants their child to know they are loved and accepted no matter who they become, what they accomplish, or how they mess up. The expression of unconditional love is one of the greatest things you can provide. But how do you know if you’re communicating it well? In this episode, Kendra Fleming shares three great practices for communicating unconditional love to your child. We hope these ideas will help you lean in your child’s direction relationally and cultivate influence in their li...
Nov 01, 2018•22 min•Ep. 5
The greatest parents don’t strive to be perfect, but they are intentional about their personal growth. And as the most important influence in your child’s life, how you grow in spite of your failures and weaknesses will be more important than any attempt at perfection. But where do you start? In this episode, Kendra Fleming and Tim Cooper talk about the value of having a personal growth plan and offer practical tips and advice on how to create a plan for yourself. Tim shares the strategy for his...
Aug 30, 2018•28 min•Ep. 4
Establishing traditions and creating memorable moments for your family are great things to start in the preschool years. But as parents of preschoolers, we know that your time is limited and creating over-the-top, Pinterest-worthy moments is almost impossible! So instead of trying to attain the unattainable, we want to encourage you to think about the everyday, in-between moments where you can celebrate little things in a big way. In Episode 3, Kendra Fleming and Mandee Young talk about why this...
Aug 02, 2018•17 min•Ep. 3
Does teaching your preschooler how to pray feel overwhelming? Whether talking to God is a regular part of your life or you’re learning to pray, too, we want to take the pressure off! Prayer is simply talking to God as if he’s your best friend. We want to encourage and equip you to teach your preschooler that they can talk to him anytime, anywhere, about anything. It’s all part of your child growing, developing, and learning more about who God is. In this episode, Kendra Fleming shares the “why” ...
Aug 02, 2018•16 min•Ep. 2
Do you ever wonder if your preschooler is prepared for the next stage of life? Big next steps, like kindergarten, are coming their way. We know you want them to be ready, and we’re here to help! Every parent wants their kids to be confident, independent, and capable, but sometimes it’s hard to know when to let them do more on their own and when to step in to help. In this episode, Kendra Fleming and Natalie Kitchen talk about practical tips for helping your preschooler gain confidence as they gr...
Aug 02, 2018•23 min•Ep. 1
