In this episode, Connected Families staff discuss the scriptures and spiritual practices that have helped them stay connected to God in the past year. They also share their vision for the coming year and their commitment to providing “bite-sized” encouragement to overwhelmed parents. Listen in for a few simple ideas on staying centered on your Good Shepherd as you lead your family with grace.

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Tell me more about The Table
• Personal Retreat Guide
• Hosea 11:4
• 1 Peter 1:22
• 1 Peter 4:10
• 1 Peter 4:8
• Isaiah 30:21
• Psalm 91
• Silence and Solitude by Ruth Haley Barton

Lynne’s Scripture Card box

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting.

Your donation fuels the work to transform families. Give a gift to Connected Families today!

Take a moment to rate the podcast and help others find it.

The Quick Guide for Parenting

It’s parenting made clear with biblical wisdom to better equip you to lead your family with grace.

GET THE GUIDE

The Quick Guide for Parenting

It’s parenting made clear with biblical wisdom to better equip you to lead your family with grace.

GET THE GUIDE

In this episode on calming for kids, Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) and Lydia Rex (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) talk with Stacy about what role parents play in helping their kids calm down. This conversation especially has sensitive or intense kids in mind, and the principles shared are paired with practical examples and stories from parents who’ve tested the ideas. Plus, we’ve got a free PDF for you: 50 Calming Activities (with ideas for engaging each of the senses).

Mentioned in this podcast:

• 50 Calming Activities PDF

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting.

Did you find this episode helpful? Share it with a friend, and leave us a review!

Your donation fuels our work! Donate to Connected Families today.

Do you have a child with EXTRA needs?

Parenting isn’t easy, but when you’ve got an extra INTENSE or SENSITIVE child with big feelings… it’s even harder.

The Sensitive and Intense Kids online course will equip you to parent well, even with these unique kiddos.

LEARN MORE

In this podcast we chat with Danika Delello, who shares how desperate she was for help when dealing with her strong-willed child’s frequent, lengthy tantrums. She talks about switching her parenting mindset from an obedience-focused approach to one based on connection and grace through the Connected Families Framework. Danika relates how this shift allowed her to be present in a loving, affectionate way during her child’s difficult meltdowns and gave her insight into her own relation to God. We know you’ll relate to and feel encouraged by this mom’s journey to joy and connection.

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Give the gift of connection to other families through a year-end financial gift to Connected Families
• Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart book
• Consequences That Actually Work – free ebook
• Sensitive & Intense Kids online course
• Ep. 197 | The Flourishing Family: Don’t Settle for Merely Surviving

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

Rate the podcast! It just takes a second and it helps other parents discover the show.

Guest Bio:

Danika Delello and her husband Jared live in central Virginia, where she homeschools their three children. They love hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, playing board games, and reading copious amounts of books. They always seek to become more like Jesus and be a family that exemplifies him to others.

Give Connection this Year

Small connections create lasting love and trust. Your gift supports Christ-centered connection and transformation in families for generations to come.

DONATE NOW

If you imagine your most recent parenting fail, do you cringe or just laugh? Do you wallow in shame or regret? Today, we’re talking with Dijea Young about moving beyond regret into hope. She shares experiences as a mom to 8, grandmother, and Certified Connected Families Parent Coach and explains helpful strategies for transforming regrets into opportunities, particularly during the holidays.

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Episode 91 | How Can I Better Parent My Adult Children?
• Episode 119 | Grandparenting Through a New Lens
• Episode 184 | How to Be a Great Grandparent to Your Grandkids and Their Parents
• Episode 205: Holidays Boundaries & Expectations with Family
• Dan Pink: The Power of Regret

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

Your donation fuels our work. Make a donation to Connected Families today!

Take a moment to rate and review!

Guest Bio:

Dijea Young is a teacher, mother of eight, and grandma. For over 35 years, she has served children and families in a variety of roles. Now as a Certified Parent Coach, she combines her professional training and personal experience to help parents and grandparents nurture relationships across generations. For more information about Dijea or her services, visit www.Room4HopeCoaching.com or email [email protected]

Give Connection this Year

Small connections create lasting love and trust. Your gift supports Christ-centered connection and transformation in families for generations to come.

DONATE NOW

In today’s episode, Connected Families Co-Founder Jim Jackson interviews Stephen Freeman, a father of five, who shares how Connected Families impacted his parenting approach. Through coaching and practical tools, Stephen learned to see challenging behaviors differently and developed a deeper understanding of both parenting and God as Father.

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Parent Coaching
• Give the gift of connection this Christmas! Give to Connected Families today.

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

Guest Bio:

Stephen Freeman has been married to his wife Caroline for 13 years, and they have 3 biological kids and 2 bonus kids spanning from 15 to 1. They live in Jacksonville, Florida, and have been helped by the Connected Families framework for the last 5 years. Stephen is the founder of Kairos Digital, a marketing agency that helps good organizations do great things, and is a deacon and teacher at Awaken Church.

Give Connection this Year

Small connections create lasting love and trust. Your gift supports Christ-centered connection and transformation in families for generations to come.

DONATE NOW

If you’re not satisfied with what your parenting looks like today, maybe becoming a better mom or dad is more about reframing what you already do than finding new tips and tricks that “work” with your kids. In this episode, Connected Families Co-founders Jim and Lynne Jackson discuss the powerful practice of transforming discouraging mental “tapes” into grace-filled, constructive thoughts aligned with biblical truth. The Jacksons share practical examples of common negative thoughts like “This is just too much!” or “I shouldn’t have to deal with this!” and offer redemptive reframes that lead to greater connection with your kids and make room for God’s transforming work in your family.

Mentioned in this podcast:

• The Blessing by John Trent, Gary Smalley, and Kari Trent Stageberg
• John 10:10
• 2 Corinthians 10:5
• Romans 15:13
• Isaiah 62:2
• Ephesians 1 & 2

Check out the Connected Families website for more resources to support your parenting!

Become a Connected Families Donor today, and link arms with others who are passionate about building relational and spiritual health in every family and the future body of Christ.

Take a moment to rate the podcast and help other parents discover the Connected Families Framework.

Guest bio:

Jim and Lynne Jackson are the Co-Founders of Connected Families in Plymouth, MN. With over 50 combined years of professionally helping families and a love for working in the church, Jim and Lynne have been dedicated to bringing reliable, God-centered, research-based parenting resources to all families since 2002.

Give Connection this Year

Small connections create lasting love and trust. Your gift supports Christ-centered connection and transformation in families for generations to come.

DONATE NOW

Wondering how you can set holiday boundaries and expectations for family gatherings? Are you looking forward to celebrating Christmas with family but dreading unsolicited advice from well-meaning relatives? You are not alone. Changes in your daily routines, travel, lack of sleep, and large gatherings set the stage for parenting challenges. Sometimes, other adults in your family may scrutinize these difficult situations. This may lead to comments or questions that don’t feel supportive.

On today’s podcast, Chad Hayenga (Director of Education & Equipping) and Jenna Williams (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about navigating the holidays with relatives. They specifically address how you can respond when grandparents or other family members criticize you (or your children). Role-playing possible scenarios, Jenna and Chad bring humor and practical wisdom to you just in time for holiday gatherings.

In this podcast, you’ll discover:

• proactive strategies to intentionally prepare your family for upcoming gatherings, including evaluating your own expectations, having conversations with your children, and even having conversations with grandparents about their expectations
• roleplays to help you navigate criticism, unhelpful comments, or harsh discipline by grandparents or other relatives
• that you can model humility and the value of connection to your parents and kids during holiday gatherings and difficult situations

We hope you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth!

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Connected Christmas Bundle with your gift of $35
• Discipline That Connects in the Classroom Live Webinar – Register Today
• Connected Families Parent Coaching
• Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program
• Connected Families Framework
• Unsolicited Advice? 4 Ways to Respond (Connected Families FREE PDF)

Guest Bio:

Jenna Williams and her husband, Sam, have been married for ten years. They live in Colorado Springs, CO, and have three amazing children ages 3-7. Jenna is a registered nurse by trade and works in a postpartum unit. She is also a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and loves caring for and supporting families! Connected Families has been a true blessing for her and her family, and she is excited to share that blessing with others. You can find her on Instagram @jennawilliams0411.

Give Connection this Year

Small connections create lasting love and trust. Your gift supports Christ-centered connection and transformation in families for generations to come.

DONATE NOW

Today we chat with Leah Sutterlin, an adoptee, adoptive mom, and adoption advocate, about being an adoptee. Leah shares how early separation affected her later relationships and attachment style and discusses the identity struggles she experienced growing up. She also explains how her parents’ supportive approach allowed her to openly process grief and embrace her adoption story. Listen in to gain insight to support adoptees in your life!

Mentioned in this podcast:

• An Adoptee’s Perspective: What’s It’s Like to Be Adopted & How to Help
• Connected Christmas Bundle – New Resource available with your gift of $35 to Connected Families

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

Give a gift to Connected Families today and give the gift of connection to families looking for hope.

Rate the podcast–it only takes a second and helps other families find the show!

Guest Bio:

Leah Sutterlin has worked for several organizations in the adoption and foster care space, including the National Council For Adoption and the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO). She is an adult adoptee currently residing in Sunnyvale, California, who tries to raise awareness about the value adoption can bring to families.

Give Connection this Year

Small connections create lasting love and trust. Your gift supports Christ-centered connection and transformation in families for generations to come.

DONATE NOW

Listen in as Connected Families Co-Founder Lynne Jackson and Christina Spaeth-Harrer, pediatric occupational therapist, share their expert insights on improving family sleep. From managing bedtime routines to incorporating sensory-friendly activities, Christina and Lynne offer practical tools for common sleep challenges. They also discuss the importance of emotional connection and integrating faith to build healthy sleep habits. You’ll feel equipped and encouraged to help your family rest well.

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Transform Bedtime Struggles into Nighttime Snuggles (Sleep Ebook) – Free Download
• Psalm 46:10
• Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

We invite you to join the transforming work God is doing in families across the globe. Donate to Connected Families today!

Got a second? Rate the podcast on your favorite listening platform!

Guest Bio:

Christina Spaeth has over 20 years of experience providing sleep consultation, holistic, sensory integration, developmental, and aquatic occupational therapy. She has worked in a variety of settings, including clinics, schools, group homes, foster care and home care, and private practice with children and adults. Christina lives in Minnesota with her husband and three children. You can learn more about the services she provides on her website.

Are you a teacher working to create a nurturing classroom environment while managing behavior well? Whether you teach in a school or volunteer at church, this conversation is for you. Dr. Cindy Wilson, Partnership Program Manager at Connected Families, and Maggie Rocke, a kindergarten teacher, and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, join us to explore how to effectively apply the Connected Families Framework in the classroom. Maggie shares practical applications for the classroom while Dr. Wilson explains how the 4 messages of the Framework can build resilience in students and address underlying issues they may experience. We’re excited for you to hear how the Connected Families Framework can transform classrooms.

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Discipline That Connects in the Classroom LIVE webinar December 2nd – Register today–it’s FREE!
• Ministry Partnership Program – Register for a Discovery Session to learn more
• Framework Posters PDF (5 posters in all)
• ABCs of Affirmation
• Matthew 12:34
• Galatians 6:1

Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!

Give a gift to Connected Families and support transformation in families around the world.

Help others discover the Connected Families Podcast–take a second to rate the show on your favorite platform.

Guest Bio:

Cindy Wilson, PhD., CFLE, is a Certified Connected Families Parent Coach and a Certified Family Life Educator with 20+ years in ministry and academia. She helps churches and other organizations integrate the Connected Families Framework into their communities. Cindy lives in Florida with her husband of 31 years. They have three adult children, one son-in-law, one grandson, and a farm full of animals. Cindy’s specialties include leading parenting workshops on the Connected Families Framework and other topics, training children’s ministry volunteers, helping churches integrate trauma-informed practices into their ministries, and organizing church-based foster care ministries. You can find out more at http://www.familylifesolutions.org.

Maggie Rocke is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and teaches kindergarten at a Christian school. This is her 11th year in the classroom, having previously taught kindergarten, special education, and preschool. She loves utilizing the Connected Families Framework in the classroom and encouraging other teachers to do the same. She and her husband have an 8-year-old and a 6-year-old at home.

Dr. Nicole Wilke joins us to talk about what it takes to raise kids who can overcome everything from daily challenges to childhood trauma. Nicole discusses nurturing resilience by reframing challenges positively and the importance of fostering your child’s connection with God. She emphasizes modeling resilience for your kids and integrating resilience-building moments into your […]