

Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Casey O'Roarty
Welcome to the Joyful Courage Podcast - a place where parents of tweens and teens come to find inspiration, information and encouragement in the messy terrain of adolescenceThis season of parenting is no joke - and while the details of what we are all moving through might be slightly different, we are having a collective experience.This is a space where we center building relationship, nurturing life skills, and leaning into our own personal growth.My name is Casey O’Roarty, I am a parent coach, Positive Discipline LEad Trainer, and captain of the adolescent ship over at Sproutable. I am also a speaker and published author. I have been working with parents and families for over 20 years and continue to navigate being a mom with my own two young adult kids.I am honored that you are here… Please give back to the pod by sharing it with friends, or on social media, and rate and review on Apple or Spotify - work of mouth is how we grow!Thanks - enjoy the show!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 11, 2017 • 54min
Eps 87: Lisa Fuller is on Supporting us With Shame Resilience
Today’s guest is Lisa Fuller. Lisa Fuller, M.S.W., Certified Positive Discipline Trainer, Certified Professional Coach and a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, has been working with parents since 2005 to help them find joy and moment of peace even in the midst of chaos. Lisa’s a compassionate listener whose committed to empowering parents through Positive Discipline’s common sense principles. Having three children ages 21, 17 and 10, Lisa’s steeped in the challenges and joys of parenting. Lisa also offers one on one coaching for parenting and life! She believes the world is a better place when we—adults and children—strive to treat each other with respect and love.Today we are talking about developing shame resilience.“Shame is something that we all have. It’s universal. Every human being experiences shame – those who don’t usually have some significant problems. It’s not a bad thing. That’s one good thing about shame – it means you are a caring human being.” What you’ll hear in this episode:
What is shame and why should we talk about it?
How positive discipline relates to shame
Shame and guilt – what’s the difference? How do they connect to humiliation and embarrassment?
The physical sensations of shame
The individual personal nature of shame
Practicing critical awareness – how to reality check the messages that are driving your shame
The value of having someone to talk through shame with
What makes a good person to talk shame with
How to encourage shame resilience in children
Reducing shame by normalizing experiences
Creating opportunities for belonging
What it means to lead with the message with love
How to connect without trying to fix
Empathy and shame – how to support when you can’t relate to the experience
Cultivating relationships that allow us to speak to our shame
How to show up in your relationships that shows you are a safe place to talk shame
Doing vs Being – their roles in building shame resilience
Personal practices for finding joy within instead of looking to our children to complete us
What does Joyful Courage mean to you?Taking risks with heart. The courage is taking the risks and moving ahead and doing it but doing it with your full being. The last couple years I’ve had some very significant deaths in my life and I think in so many ways it’s been a gift – it does highlight joy, the simple joy of being alive and how I’m able to be more grateful that I have this gift of life which isn’t going to last forever. Losing people who are close to us that’s the upside is that we go “Wow, this is temporary, this life, it really is.” I think when we get caught in the swirl of parenting we can ‘beam in’ – these other, bigger issues help us beam out. Joy helps with shame and getting perspective. Resources: The Daring Way Daring GreatlyMonthly Support Group (With Marcillie Smith Boyle and Lisa Fuller) Where to find Lisa:Website l Twitter l Facebook l LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 4, 2017 • 51min
Eps 86: Cheryl Erwin Discusses the Challenges and Joy of Single Parenting with Positive Discipline
Today’s guest is Cheryl Erwin, a therapist and parenting educator who began teaching parenting after her marriage broke down. We are discussing single parenting today. Join us! What you’ll hear in this episode:
The biggest challenges facing single parenting – finances, housing, misconceptions/stereotypes
Asking for help as a single parent
Making time for special time and relationship building when you’re outnumbered
Using connection to build resilience
Self-care and self-compassion after divorce and separation
Finding joy vs creating joy – finding happy after separation
The blessings and gifts of being a single parent
The two kinds of special time
The power of routine in single parenthood
The value of spontaneity and choosing into lightness
Lessons in delayed gratification, hard work and problem solving
Learning to grow from mistakes
Positive discipline as a single parenting tool
Learning to let go after raising kids as a single parent
Strength that comes from adversity – a gift of single parenthood
Choosing to go high when others go low – child-centered co-parenting
Being honest about co-parenting challenge while still being respectful and giving space for relationships to be maintained
Single parenting by numbers – 70% of American kids spend some of their time in a single parent household
Step parents as blessings to your children
The importance of facilitating communication between parents and children during the other parent’s parenting times
What does Joyful Courage mean to you?To take each day as it comes and look for what’s right about it not what’s wrong with it and to not be afraid of risk – I’ve never been a good risk taker but as a single mom I learned I have to take some. As someone who now travels the world teaching positive discipline I’ve gotten comfortable with getting on planes and flying off to Egypt by myself when I don’t know anybody there and some of the greatest joy and blessings of my life have been when I found the joy and courage to take an appropriate risk. You don’t have to fly to China or Egypt to do that. You can do it right in your own backyard. Certainly the single parents who are listening know that life can be risky on a pretty regular basis and being able to embrace that and learn the skills you need to be able to do that well will bring you joy in your kids, joy in your grandparents and joy in your own life. At the end of it, my son goes off into the horizon and I’m left with my life and what I make of it and I’m trying to do something with my life that I can be proud of and that’s what joyful courage means to me. It’s taken me all of these 60 years to figure that out.Resources: Positive Discipline for Single Parents Where to find Cheryl:Website l Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 31, 2017 • 31min
0-5 Mini Summit with Julietta Skoog: The Importance of Self Care
Yipee - one more day of the 0-5 Mini Summit with Julietta!! Today Julie and I dig into questions from the community surrounding self care. We KNOW it is important, and yet so many of us struggle to get it in! Listen in as Jules and I discuss chores, having the courage to seek out mental health, and how self care tips that help us keep calm during those epic meltdowns.Julietta is the cofounder of Sproutable, an online learning experience for parents, focused on development and years 0-5. She has a Masters Degree in School Counseling and Ed.S Degree in School Psychology from Seattle University. As a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer, she teaches Positive Discipline parenting classes and provides Positive Discipline trainings for teachers and parent educators.Julietta led the Seattle Public Schools Childfind preschool assessment screening team from 2007-2014. She is currently the school counselor at Queen Anne Elementary. She is the proud mother of two daughters ages 7 and 4. She understands the parenting challenges as well as the importance of early intervention and child development.Find more about Sproutable at:http://www.besproutable.com/ Facebook l Twitter l Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 30, 2017 • 27min
0-5 Mini Summit with Julietta Skoog: Questions from the community
Julietta is BACK ON to dig into the challenges brought to us by the Joyful Courage community. Julietta is the cofounder of Sproutable, an online learning experience for parents, focused on development and years 0-5.Julietta has a Masters Degree in School Counseling and Ed.S Degree in School Psychology from Seattle University. As a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer, she teaches Positive Discipline parenting classes and provides Positive Discipline trainings for teachers and parent educators.Julietta led the Seattle Public Schools Childfind preschool assessment screening team from 2007-2014. She is currently the school counselor at Queen Anne Elementary. She is the proud mother of two daughters ages 7 and 4. She understands the parenting challenges as well as the importance of early intervention and child development.Find Sproutable at:http://www.besproutable.com/ Facebook l Twitter l Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 29, 2017 • 25min
0-5 Mini Summit with Julietta Skoog: Development
You all know that I love me some Julietta Skoog! She is a dear friend and a WEALTH of information. Julietta is the cofounder of Sproutable, an online learning experience for parents, focused on development and years 0-5.Julietta has a Masters Degree in School Counseling and Ed.S Degree in School Psychology from Seattle University. As a Certified Positive Discipline Trainer, she teaches Positive Discipline parenting classes and provides Positive Discipline trainings for teachers and parent educators. Julietta led the Seattle Public Schools Childfind preschool assessment screening team from 2007-2014. She is currently the school counselor at Queen Anne Elementary. She is the proud mother of two daughters ages 7 and 4. She understands the parenting challenges as well as the importance of early intervention and child development.Yup. She's amazing.Listen in to todays show as we break down Eric Ericksons model of psychosocial development and what WE as parents can do to ensure that our children are developing trust, autonomy, initiative and industry during their early years.Join us tomorrow as Julie and I dig into challenges sent in from the Joyful Courage community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 28, 2017 • 39min
Eps 85: Free Range Parenting with Kim Estes
Today’s guest is Kim Estes, a speaker and coach who talks to parents of kids from pre-school to adolescents about safety concerns. We are discussing free-range parenting. Join us!“Our kids are wanting to explore their world and it’s our job to teach them to do it safely.” What you’ll hear in this episode:
Misconceptions about free-range parenting
Boundaries in free-range parenting: subject to change based on individual children and age-level
Assessing age and individual capacity specific boundaries – the value of checking in for safety
Free-range parenting as giving kids space to practice intuition
Fear of judgment and free-range parenting
Risk assessment and safety – likelihood of concerns relating to traffic safety and abduction
Assessing risk tolerance as parents
Stranger safety vs Stranger danger
Free-range parenting as freedom within structure
Finding the happy medium: learning new skills with appropriate boundaries
Being consistent about expectations and boundaries
Mistakes as learning experiences – handling situations where things don’t go as planned
Being available and non-judgmental when negotiating boundaries – dropping into curiosity to keep communication lines open
No questions asked, do-overs on both sides and owning failure
Exercising self-compassion and forgiveness when you don’t realize you’re being called to “the big show”
What does Joyful Courage mean to you?Joyful courage means to me to be able to parent courageously even if it’s uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, having something that feels good for everybody even if it’s the smallest success.Where to find Kim:Website l Facebook l Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 21, 2017 • 53min
Eps 84: Oh Crap Potty Trainer, Jamie Glowacki
Today’s guest is Jamie Glowacki, a social worker who worked with dual diagnosis moms, transitioned to owning a children’s store and then became a potty trainer. We are discussing potty training. Join us! “I don’t really have a method. You have to take off the diapers.” What you’ll hear in this episode:
The elimination communication movement
Timing of potty training readiness
“Pull-ups” and potty training – mixing old and new behaviors.
Potty training and instant gratification – the role of patience in the process
The myths of potty training
Gender and potty training
The role of social learning and praise
Potty location and using the tool for the task
The influence of Dr. Spock and the history of potty training
Developmental milestones – should they be child-led?
The myth of “readiness” - potty training as a skill that needs to be attended to rather than something that happens naturally in time without intervention
The “magic window” of potty training – prior to individuation
Potty training as a power struggle
“Fear of release” – how to overcome it
Managing expectations around developmental milestones and the danger of comparison
How potty training challenges vary based on the age of the child
Performance anxiety and potty training
The best potty and ergonomic angle for potty training specifically for encouraging poop
How to modify your potty or reposition your child to improve poop likelihood
Rewards and consequences – their role in potty training
Potty training power struggles as relationship challenges
Potty training regressions – change in routines, the honeymoon period
Using blocks of learning to solve regressions
“Baby love” as a tool to help kids adjust to new siblings
Location specific potty training challenges – how to unpack them
Night time training strategies
Developmental phases of bladder development
Resources:Squatty potty unicorn ice cream videoIs Night Training Really Necessary – blog post Oh Crap Potty Training BookOh Crap Potty Training video conferences Where to find Jamie:WebsiteTwitterFacebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 16, 2017 • 41min
March World Changer: Tamara Azar and Momentum Education
Join the Joyful CourageTribe in our community Facebook group - Live and Love with Joyful Courage. Raising our children while growing ourselves...:::::So totally honored to have my friend and mentor, Tamara Azar, trainer and coach from Momentum Education on to talk about the important work that Momentum is doing to change the world.Listen in to the very end to hear about the incredibly generous offer to all the Joyful Courage Tribe!Find out more about Momentum Education, including upcoming trainings in Seattle, LA, Washington DC and NYC, by visiting www.momentumeducation.com.:::::March GIVEAWAY!The last few months I have been encouraging you all to share the shows by holding giveaways - everything from mantra bracelets to coaching has gone out to members of the community who have been willing to join in the work of #impact1millionkids - this month is no exception!!Simply by posting a podcast link, and tagging me (Casey O'Roarty) or Joyful Courage, you are entered to win!! This month I am giving away a spot in the Living Joyful Courage Membership program - WOOHOO!! AND, you can enter as many times as you WANT! Yes!:::::Weekly FB Lives are happening!!Join me every Tuesday at 10am pst on the Joyful Courage FB page to hear about a new Positive Discipline tool that you can begin using ASAP. Even if you are well versed in parenting with PD, you will take a way a renewed commitment and perhaps a deeper understanding of the tool.:::::Living Joyful Courage Membership ProgramJoin the LIVING JOYFUL COURAGE information list TODAY and enjoy freebies and reminders for when it is time to REGISTER for the membership program!!:::::Join the Joyful CourageTribe in our community Facebook group - Live and Love with Joyful Courage. Raising our children while growing ourselves...:::::Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Joyful Courage Podcast on iTunes to get the latest shows STRAIGHT to your device!! AND PLEASE rate and review the Joyful Courage Parenting Podcast on iTunes to help me spread the show to an ever larger audience!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 14, 2017 • 43min
Eps 83: Finding our Inner Abundant Mama with Shawn Fink
Today’s guest is Shawn Fink, also known as Abundant Mama. She is a mom of eleven-year-old twin girls. We are discussing living a life of abundance in our parenting. Join us! “For me, being awake is being engaged, being thoughtful, being very purposeful, living my values but also being present.”“Mistakes are opportunities to learn.”“Abundance is looking at your life and being grateful that you have enough, that you are enough and you do enough – but it’s much more than that. It’s become a lifestyle.”“There is enough happiness, joy and love in the world for everybody.” What you’ll hear in this episode:
Moving from scarcity to abundance mindsets – from jealousy to gratitude
Abundance as a way to mother yourself, be authentic and be aware of what’s around and within you
Being awesomely awake: paying attention to your life, being mindful and living intentionally
Self-care vs Soul-care – what’s the difference and how can it change your life and the way you see it?
Being present and discomfort – learning to navigate it vs as being a way to eliminate it
How to exercise self-compassion when you haven’t showed up in the way that you’ve hoped to
Modelling asking for forgiveness for your kids
The joys and challenges of raising tweens
Motherhood as self-invention
Learning to connect with your children as they grow – navigating relationship change
The value in letting kids fail when they need to – leaving room for life lessons and learning how to handle discomfort
The power of injecting playfulness into your routine and how it can be productive
Finding joy in obligation
Building habits for effectiveness in your parenting life
What does Joyful Courage mean to you?Joyful Courage is the joyful ability to completely show up as yourself and be you, as a mom, it’s really hard because we are trying so hard to keep everyone else happy. There is nothing better for our kids than for them to see us being fully ourselves. Resources:Insight timerThe Playful Family E-bookThe Abundant Mama online program10 Habits of Highly Effective Mamas Where to find Shawn:FacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestWebsite Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 7, 2017 • 50min
Eps 82: A Conversation about Parenting in the Age of Smart Phones (ugh) with Kim Muench
Today’s guest is Kim Muench, a mother of five, parenting writer, a certified parenting coach and lover of parents of adolescents. We are discussing navigating decisions around technology with our kids. Join us! “Instead of looking at it as a tool of potential destruction, we are looking at it as a vehicle for us to build a circle of trust and communicate even better.”“Conscious parenting: being mindful and walking the tight rope between giving them autonomy and knowing when to step in and help them see the potential consequences of choices” What you’ll hear in this episode:
Balancing your need for control and desire to protect your kids with providing access to benefits of smart phones
Building trust, letting go of our own experiences and not projecting our own mischief (which can lead to friction)
Navigating the tightrope: being honest, open and self-aware as you work through technology use with your kids
Negotiating smart phone boundaries within your family
Scaffolding social media communication – building progressively
Adolescent boundary pushing as learning
Falling off the tight rope – learning as a practice and getting back up
Creating an agreement around technology usage – a collaborative approach subject to revision as needed initiated by either party
Limits as helping
Why you need open conversation about social media including topics such as safeguards and kindness
Technology as distraction and disconnection
Reassessing agreements on technology without blame and shame
The value of eye contact and being fully present in resolving conflict
How to address reigning in technology use under the umbrella of conscious parenting – identifying the source
Working collaboratively vs exerting control – what are the outcomes of these approaches?
What does Joyful Courage mean to you?Joyful Courage is embracing your authentic self with enthusiasm and being brave enough to share that with the world – it is an every day practice.Resources:Screenagers documentary Where to find Kim:WebsiteTwitterFacebookLinkedInFacebook Group Real Life Parenting Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices