Between Parents

During this time of quarantine, we’re all having LOTS of family meals. As great as sitting around the dinner table sounds, sometimes it’s challenging to make it meaningful. We get it! We’re living the same life. This week we thought we’d pull this episode from our vault to remind us of the difference sitting around the table makes in connecting as a family. Next Steps: Pull out the ol’ calendar and schedule your family meals together for the rest of your month Related-ish Link: We have RESEARCH! National Health Institute Review HERE Family Meals & Social Engagement Study HERE Family Meals & Overall Health insight HERE The Family Dinner Project Website HERE Also remember: Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you’re there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content!  Finally, if you don’t know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcas

As we all adjust to the impact of a world with homeschooling, social distancing, and quarantines, the struggle for a new normal is real. On today’s podcast we discuss 8-9 strategies that help make the transition smoother. Related Links: Matthew Walker Why We Sleep Process This: What are your observations on how each person is wired and how that impacts their response to being quarantined. Talk about what you do well and what you'd like to do differently Also remember: Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. Thanks for being awesome!  

The world is a crazy place! Like every generation before, today’s parents have to process difficult news with their kids. But where do we start? What do we say? How can we explain events we don’t fully understand? In today’s podcast, Billy and Joy talk about principles parents should consider as they process current events with their kids. How do we lead our family well - and wisely - when we are emotionally charged ourselves? Talk about this: Are there any "general rules" we violate? How well do we process current events as a family? How can we improve? WHAT seems like it needs processing these days? Also remember: Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast

Whether we like it or not, every kid faces challenges. Sometimes these difficulties are intense, painful, or life-altering. Does that make the challenges necessary or even bad? What do we do when adversity takes over? How should we respond? Join us for today’s conversation.  Related Links: Lisa D’amour in the NY Times Also check out her books: Untangled Under Pressure Process This: - Share the stories of your "worst childhood/teenager days" with your spouse- what did you learn through the hard times? - What tension do you feel when you think about your kids having bad days? - What is a good way for you to prepare for the evitable, but NOT drift into worry? Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socia

Like a vine growing without the steady hand of a gardener, every marriage has the potential of getting out of control. On today’s podcast we’ll discuss four stages that help both the newly and “oldy” weds make sure they are growing closer. Related Links: Check out the book - Boundaries for Marriage Process This: Of the four steps where are you most likely to fall short? –  Creating a structure (boundaries) - Paying Attention - Doing the work/ climbing the ladder - Committing to growth What is ONE new habit you could create to do better on that missing step? Also remember: Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. Thanks for being awesome!  

Have you ever felt like your kids aren’t grateful for what they have or what they experience? Do you ever feel like they live with a distasteful attitude of demandingness? Perhaps you see this tendency in yourself? In this replay episode Billy and Joy discuss the benefits of having an attitude of gratitude and some practical ways to build the habit of thankfulness in your family. TALK ABOUT THIS: How well do I (personally) communicate gratitude? and how well is our family overall at cultivating attitudes of gratitude? Where are your family "pinch points?" What parts of our family environment need to look different and what habits do we need to cultivate? RELATED-ISH LINKS Episode #17 – Creating a Plan For Money & Allowance With Your Kids Do guys or girls make better sound effects? Check out the video HERE ALSO REMEMBER: Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from

As long as there have been families, children have misunderstood their parents and parents have misunderstood their kids. No one enjoys this reality, but it is a fact of life. How do you process the frustration that comes along with this truth? How do you build connections? That’s this week’s discussion. Related Links: Episode # 84 – Getting To The Bottom Of Disagreements Process This: How much do you struggle with being misunderstood? What's the best way to address and care for those feelings? Where do you need to focus your mental energies? What "mutual understanding" ideas can you apply this week? Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast

Life is difficult. This is a universal truth. However, some people seem particularly well-equipped when facing struggles. How does that happen? Are there secrets to enduring (or even thriving?) during challenges? On today’s podcast we’ll discuss a handful of approaches for doing some prework. Related Links: Episode # 163 – The First, Best Response To Any Conflict Episode # 158 – Creating Intentional Habits Episode # 7 – Don’t Do Life Alone Process This: In which of these areas do you feel most deficient? Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. Thanks for being awesome!  

Time to clear out the question bag except THIS time we have a theme! Join us as we process some wildly specific newlywed queries with universal answers. Related Links: Episode # 9 – Five Tips On Making In-Law Relationships Work  Episode # 60 - What to do when spouses annoy Episode # 119 – Improving Your Relationships With Better Systems Process This: Which of these are you most likely to struggle with? Where do you need to establish new habits? Who would benefit by hearing these reminders? (share!) Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. Thanks for being awesome!

Have you noticed (or felt) a low-level of parent fatigue? Are you familiar with the dazed expression of someone who is feeling overwhelmed? Well, now is as good a time as any to remember things we can do to encourage our community. Today’s podcast offers nine practical ways to lighten up the load of others and find a little encouragement yourself. Related Links: Episode # 89 – Why Married Couples Need Single Friends (and Vise Versa) Episode # 42 – The Most Powerful Question in Marriage Practice This: Identify 2-3 parents that you can invest in for the next few weeks - then make a plan to use your words of encouragement If you have someone in mind who could use some presence - either in the form of listening - or actually helping with life's logistics, make a plan to SHOW UP! Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast

So your kid has made a mistake – not an accident or “oops” – but a bad decision, a willful rebellion, or a knowing infraction. How do you address the problem? What’s your reflex and what’s your strategy? Where do your emotions land in the equation. There’s a bunch of thoughts to process and today’s podcast will get you started! Talk about this: Discuss your default mode when your kid's do something wrong? In what ways are you most likely to mishandle the situation? What ideas resonated with you on correcting your kid's mistakes? What are some steps you can take OR reinforce for making your approach as healthy as possible? Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @b

There’s a principle in medicine to “First, do no harm.” This wisdom is surprisingly relevant to all relationships, particularly in a family setting. However, if you’re like us, sometimes our actions do, in fact, make things worse. Why does this happen? How can we do better? That’s today’s discussion! Talk about this: We have all "made things worse" before - think about some specific examples for you. Consider a current conflict and list out responses that could make things worse (and think about how likely you are to respond that way). Brainstorm ways you can respond in a healthy way! Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. Than

When this happens, guilt creeps into our heads and clouds our hearts. How do you shed guilt in a healthy way? That’s today’s conversation. Talk about this: Are you more likely to feel overly guilty or not guilty at all in your parenting? How does this impact your family life? Are you more likely to accept or deflect blame? What habits would help you to step out of the blame game altogether? How can you practice making amends with your kids THIS week? Where would your home life benefit from developing new plans? Related Link Episode #119 – Improving Your Marriage Through Better Systems – HERE Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebo

Here’s a fact that made us say “wow”:  according to Pew Research, sharing household chores ranks as a top three issue associated with having a successful marriage (third only to faithfulness and good sex). This seems like something we can all master, right? That’s today’s podcast conversation! Talk about this: Go out of your way to express gratitude to your spouse this week. Compare notes to clarify and synchronize your household priorities Discuss which tasks you hate the most and then plan on doing the chores together. Related Link In case you REALLY want to know, the mascot for the University of Waterloo is the King Warrior. Check it out HERE Article about couples thinking they do all the work HERE Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Wa

How is your pace around the holidays? Do you feel like you are absorbing the joys? Or does it all feel like it’s a blur? In this episode we cover four reminders that will help your family make the season more meaningful. Talk About This: Are we comfortable with our pace? What are our favorite traditions? Are there some we need to ditch? Related Link: Episode #78– The Best Way to Destress Your Family Also remember: Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you’re there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content!  Finally, if you don’t know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com Thanks for being awesome!  

Even though we know it’s important to have dinner together, after hustling the family to the table, it’s exhausting to guide a meaningful conversation. Where do you start? Who has the energy to form a strategy? In this episode (and JUST in time for the holidays!) Billy and Joy jump-start the process with a structure and 60 questions (pdf attached) so you can make your time around the table meaningful. Take a listen! RELATED LINKS: GET PDF OF QUESTIONS HERE 8 Strategies For Getting Your Family Around The Table Family Stories That Bind Us - NYT The Secrets of Happy Families ALSO REMEMBER: We love hearing from you. Reach out on the socials @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you’re there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content! Thanks for being awesome…

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”  So says James Clear – and, we agree. But where do you start new habits in your family? We have a few VERY specific ideas for you on today’s podcast! Talk about this: Discuss where your family would benefit from establishing new habits then pick a small, SUSTAINABLE next step. Practice for the next 30 days! Related Links Episode #38 – Keystone Habits Atomic Habits by James Clear Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. Thanks for being awesome!  

For a host of reasons, the holidays can be rough on our schedule, our health, and particularly our relationships. Wouldn’t it be nice to make the upcoming holiday season a little smoother? In today’s podcast we tackle a few ways to let out the pressure!  Talk about this: What are our priorities? Do our traditions serve our priorities or do our priorities serve the tradition? What expectations am I carrying? What exactly am I expecting of others? How can I celebrate others? Is this ___________ (whatever I’m about to consume) a wise decision? Bonus question for others: “Tell me about why you believe what you do." (then listen!) Related Link Episode #116 - Four reminders to make the holidays meaningful Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want

Have you ever told your kids they aren’t normal? Have you ever even THOUGHT it? Today we kick around the idea of “normalness” and that there may be a better and/or more precise word to use. Take a listen! Talk about this: - In what areas of our parenting might we be pushing an agenda under the guise of NORMAL when it might just be OUR agenda or the POPULAR agenda? - In what ways can we begin a conversation with our kids to better understand THEIR desires, affinities, and wants as they grow? - In what ways do you see your kids becoming HEALTHIER versions of themselves? Also remember…  Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. Thanks for being awe

No one likes to be picked at…but criticism is especially deadly in marriage. In this episode Billy & Joy challenge you to try and see your critical habits in the mirror and to consider the impact they have on your marriage. Talk about this: What critique hurts more than others? What critiques feel like personal preferences? What criticisms are good advice, but delivered poorly? What topic/issue is most important to you? How does your wiring impact the way you communicate? Also remember… Sharing is caring!!  If you’ve enjoyed this episode please share! You can leave a review on Apple Podcasts. This is SUPER helpful in helping others find our show. OR cut/paste a link from our website betweenparentspodcast.com (this is also where you can find helpful packages of back episodes!) Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. Thanks for being awesome!