About 95% of everything I put on the internet is real life, not staged. The other 5% includes things like the photo in this post, because I generally don’t frolic in fields in pretty dresses. Today I am answering a question from a reader about how much of what I share with you is representative of my real life: my home, my parenting, and the activities I do with my children. The post SFP 138: Q&A – Is Your Social Media Actually Real Life? appeared first on Simple Families.
Dec 18, 2018•17 min
I don’t know about you–but my kids have the tendency to move slowly. They function on their own timeline. The result is that as parents, we often find ourselves “hurrying” them to speed up and get on our agenda. In today’s episode I am chatting with Janet Lansbury about hurrying our kids through their days and through their lives. Show Notes/Links: Simple Families: The Masterclass (30% off this week!) Janet’s Website/Blog Janet’s Podcast: Unruffled Janet’s Books: No Bad Kids + Elevating Child Ca...
Dec 12, 2018•40 min
Taking the road less traveled is not always simple. During the holiday season the list of obligations grow rapidly and saying “no” can seem out of reach. Today I am chatting with Rachel Rainbolt from Sage Parenting. Rachel and I are talking about the idea of “doing life differently”. Many of us are raising our own families in ways that are different from the way that we ourselves were raised–and it can lead to conflict. Show Notes/Links: More on parenting approaches: Authoritarian vs. Authoritat...
Dec 04, 2018•49 min
Buying new toys for our children can be exciting–but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many options out there and our children are inundated with marketing materials. Today I am chatting with Lizzie Assa from the Workspace for Children. She and her family buy toys outside of the mainstream options–that means they lean towards simple, open-ended toys made of more natural, non-plastic materials. We are chatting about buying toys that are durable and will hold the interest of children acros...
Nov 28, 2018•36 min
We all believe that the holiday season is the happiest time of the year. But is it really? Today I am chatting with Happiness Guru Gretchen Rubin about finding happiness in the holiday season. You may know Gretchen from one of her New York Times bestselling books, her top ranked podcast, or perhaps most importantly her legendary quote, “The days are long, but the years are short”. In our conversation today Gretchen and I are talking about seeking happiness in the midst of a complex season of exp...
Nov 19, 2018•1 hr
Welcome back to Part II of the Holiday Q&A (If you missed Part I, catch it here!). Rachelle Crawford from Abundant Life with Less and Zoë Kim from Raising Simple are joining me to answer the rest of your holiday questions. Today we will chat about minimal decorating, envy amongst children, simple holiday meals, and more. We will bring examples from our own lives and little bits of wisdom that I hope will carry you through the season. The post SFP 133: Holiday Q+A [Part II] appeared first on ...
Nov 14, 2018•24 min
The holidays are upon us. I am here to tell you that you don’t need to do or buy all.the.things. Today is the first of a two-part series focused on answering your questions about living a more intentional holiday season. I am joined by Rachelle Crawford from Abundant Life with Less and Zoë Kim from Raising Simple. Together we are moving through your questions and bringing examples from our own lives and small pieces of wisdom to take forth into the holiday season. Cheers! Show Notes/Links Shutte...
Nov 07, 2018•33 min
Dare I say that developing a gratitude practice is actually easy? I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly small acts of gratitude have changed my life. In today’s interview I am chatting with mother and gratitude expert Josie Robinson about her unlikely, yet transformative journey. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES Show Links/Notes: The Gratitude Jar book Give Thanks Gratitude Journal Josie’s Site Facebook page Instagram Pinterest The post SFP 131: Rewiring Our Brains for Gratitude [with Josie Ro...
Oct 31, 2018•36 min
Starting in the early days of pregnancy we set expectations for ourselves. Perhaps your kids won’t have screen time. You will breastfeed for one year or more. Your kids will only eat organic. In today’s episode Natalie Telyatnikov [from Better Postpartum] and I are sharing some of the unrealistic expectations of which we have let go and how we are taking better care of ourselves as a result. SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN ON ITUNES Show Notes/Links Visit Better Postpartum Follow Natalie on Instagram Learn...
Oct 24, 2018•34 min
Most of us feel like there’s no way we could add one more thing to our plate. But the truth is that starting a side-hustle (or part-time passion-driven work) can actually be a form of self-care. I know that for me, working helps to fill up my cup so I can be more calm and present in the time that I am with my kids. Today I am chatting with Meghan Fitzgerald, the founder of Tinkergarten. Meghan and I are chatting about balancing work with motherhood + the value of adding a side-hustle. Show Notes...
Oct 17, 2018•33 min
Sometimes there is so much to be done that we find ourselves needing coffee to wake up in the morning and wine to take the edge off and calm down in the evening. In today’s episode I am talking with Brooke Conley about alcohol + motherhood. If you have ever thought about cutting back on alcohol or felt like you wanted to give it up–tune in as Brooke and I talk more about our relationships with alcohol. Show Links/Notes Stay in touch with Brooke and see her recommended resources: Her website Inst...
Oct 10, 2018•42 min
Today on the podcast I am sharing a Q&A episode. That means I am taking your questions and giving you my honest, unfiltered answers. In this episode we are talking about how many gifts to give, how to manage sibling squabbles, minimalism in different regions, and mealtime struggles. The post SFP 127: Simple Q&A | Too many gifts, siblings quarrels, social media + kids appeared first on Simple Families.
Oct 03, 2018•27 min
As parents, we just want to give our kids the best. We want to give them opportunities and send them to the best colleges. Sometimes that means signing them up for all the classes and starting the resumé in the earliest years. In today’s episode I am chatting with author Bill Deresiewicz. We are discussing the disconnection between the pursuit of success and happiness. Show Notes/Links: The Book: Excellent Sheep Revisiting the Value of Elite Colleges How to Raise an Adult How to Raise Successful...
Sep 26, 2018•29 min
In today’s society we often feel like we need to be out and about, entertaining our children and staying busy. In this episode I am joined by author Rahima Dancy. We are discussing the educational value of just staying home with our children–because their most important learning experiences start right at home with us. Show Notes/Links: You are Your Child’s First Teacher [Rahima’s book] LifeWays North America Inspired Homemaking Course Celebrate the Rhythm of Life The post SFP 125: The Value of ...
Sep 18, 2018•35 min
[Heads up–there’s a wee bit of audio issues in the first part of the interview, but hang it there–it gets better!] This month we are going to be rethinking education. For anyone that has followed the podcast for sometime, you will know that I am an advocate for progressive forms of education. Namely child-led learning styles. In today’s episode, I am chatting with author and educator Aubrey Hargis of Child of the Redwoods. Aubrey is sharing her insight into the earliest of years of education–inf...
Sep 12, 2018•40 min
Back by popular demand, today’s episode is a Q&A format. I am answering a variety of your questions about positive parenting, minimalism, moving, homeschooling, and childcare [all rather unapologetically–because remember this is opinion and what works for my family]. Show Notes/Links Follow Simple Families on Instagram Simplify Child Behavior Program Preview App Oak Meadow Cultural Care Au Pair Program Coffee + Chat Meet up in Columbus, Ohio. The post SFP 123: Simple Q&A appeared first o...
Sep 05, 2018•28 min
Today is the first ever male guest on the podcast. While it’s long overdue, I am happy to welcome my friend Clark Davis. Clark is the final interview in the series ‘Journey to Simplicity’ this month. In today’s episode, Clark shares his insight on living small, intentional fatherhood, and minimalism. Not only is Clark on a journey to simplicity in his family life, but he’s also the founder of Sprout-Kids, a furniture company with a likeminded mission: To create sustainable and functional furnitu...
Aug 29, 2018•26 min
This is my favorite podcast episode yet. This month we are exploring the journey to simplicity in four real-life families. Because minimalism just makes good sense for families. Today I am chatting with Kristen Puzzo. Kristen is an active member of the Simple Families Community. I have been following her journey as she has been lightening the heavy load of motherhood for over a year. In this episode she shares an incredible amount of wisdom and insight for aspiring minimalists everywhere. Show L...
Aug 22, 2018•38 min
Some people make big life changes in search of simplicity–Lilly Neubauer is one of them. When the busyness in her life spiraled out of control, Lilly quit her job to get her family back on track. I look forward to sharing her story with you today. Lilly Neubauer Show Links: Trading my Job for Minimalism (Lilly’s Guest Post on SF) Keep in touch with Lilly Find Lilly on Instagram The post SFP 120: Trading my Job for Simplicity [with Lilly Neubauer] appeared first on Simple Families.
Aug 15, 2018•38 min
We are launching off a new 4-part series: Journey to Simplicity. I am interviewing four real families about moving towards minimalism and how it has impacted their lives. Today I am chatting with Rachelle Crawford. Rachelle and her family of 5 live in Michigan. She felt a sudden call to minimalism 18 months ago and hasn’t looked back. In this episode we chat about her journey and the positive impact it has had on her own well-being along with the well-being of her family. Show Notes/Links: Stay ...
Aug 08, 2018•40 min
We know the environment in which we live and the food we eat have an impact on the development of our children. In today’s episode I am speaking with author + science writer Jena Pincott about all-natural biohacks for parents. Biohacks involve making changes to diet and lifestyle that transform biological tendencies that exist in our bodies. I learned so much from Jena’s book, and I hope you enjoy our chat today! Jena’s Book: Wits Guts Grit: All-Natural Biohacks for Raising Smart, Resilient Kids...
Aug 01, 2018•34 min
The value of play in childhood is often underestimated. Our children need to play and when pushed into academics at a young age they miss vital opportunities to develop and grow. In today’s episode we are discussing the balance between work and play. I am chatting with Jeanne-Marie Paynel of Voila Montessori about understanding the connection between these concepts. Show Notes/Links Jeanne-Marie’s website About Jeanne-Marie The “Be the Best Parent You Can Be” Summit The post SFP 117: Finding the...
Jul 26, 2018•32 min
Children benefit from the opportunity to play in open-ended, unstructured environments. Today I am talking with Nicole Roccaro from Naturally Curious Children. We talk about finding a balance in play, leaning towards unstructured activities, and following our children’s lead. Nicole’s home and approach are inspired by something called Reggio-Emilia. In this episode, we are discussing more about what this means and how parents can nurture this type of play in our families. Show Notes/Links Nicole...
Jul 18, 2018•50 min
Horseplay is developmentally beneficial for our growing children. If you have a kid who plays rowdy, then you need to hear this. We need to find a way to encourage this behavior rather than discourage it. In today’s episode, I am chatting with Frances Carlson, the author of the book Big Body Play. I found Frances’ work to be eye opening and I think you will too. For some children, the need to move is just too much. They just have to let that energy out. And unfortunately they get labeled as misb...
Jul 11, 2018•43 min
Never underestimate what your children are learning through play. In the early years, play is the main vehicle for learning and education. In today’s episode, I will be introducing you to the importance of play. We chat about stages of play, types of play, and what role that adults may have in play. Show Notes/Links The Play’s the Thing The post SFP 114: The Importance of Play appeared first on Simple Families.
Jul 03, 2018•18 min
Child behavior is anything but straightforward. My children are well-behaved, but as humans–they have their “moments”. As parents, we can feel powerless when our kids aren’t cooperating or being respectful. Today on the podcast I am explaining how we blend positive parenting methods with some strategies and techniques. One technique in particular that we are discussing is “time-out”. Time-out is often overused and misused. I give you 5 tips for using it successfully, as well as 4 shame-free ways...
Jun 27, 2018•26 min
In today’s episode I am chatting with Hunter Clarke-Fields of Mindful Mama Mentor. Hunter specializes in mindful parenting and in this episode we are talking about control in parenting. As parents, we feel like we should have control over our children. But children have their own agendas and ideas about this. How much control do we really have—or is it all an illusion? Show Notes/Links: Mindful Mama Mentor Free Course/Resources The post SFP 112: Do we control our kids? [With Hunter from Mindful ...
Jun 20, 2018•46 min
The words that we speak to our children become their inner voice. And the average woman speaks 20,000 words per day. While we can’t always be intentional in the way we speak to our children, we can do better. In today’s episode, author Tracy Cutchlow and I are discussing how to speak to our children. We talk about the impact that our words have and strategies for improving our language to encourage a “growth mindset” (+all about what that means). Show Links: Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting ...
Jun 13, 2018•49 min
What does it mean to “raise successful kids”? Today I am chatting with Krista from A Life in Progress. I knew I could rely on Krista to bring some excellent perspective to this topic and she comes through in this episode. When it comes to life, Krista thinks outside the box and walks off the beaten path. She has raised three young adults and considers her kids to be her greatest teachers. Krista and I are diving deeper into the idea that there is more than one path to successful parenting and pe...
Jun 07, 2018•48 min
Parents spend a great deal of time and money baby-proofing the home. But how does this process impact our kids? Today, I am chatting with Nicole from The Kavanaugh Report. Nicole and I are both passionate about creating a home that is child-friendly rather than child-proof. That means that we are thoughtful to design our homes with both the children and adults in mind. How have you created a home that is child-friendly? Show Links: Case Against Childproofing (Article) The Kavanaugh Report (Nicol...
May 30, 2018•52 min
