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.

Pull out the ol’ calendar and schedule your family meals together for the rest of your month

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

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!

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 on Facebook.

Thanks for being awesome!

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 socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook.

Thanks for being awesome!

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.

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?

Episode #17 – Creating a Plan For Money & Allowance With Your Kids

Do guys or girls make better sound effects? Check out the video HERE

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!

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 on Facebook.

Thanks for being awesome!

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.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!

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 @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook.

Thanks for being awesome!