Art Creativity & Wellbeing

My wellness coach is here for YOU today! "Linda," who's going incognito for our conversation, shares about so much: – Her own wellness journey – What it was like for her to raise a child with special needs – How to get what you want out of life Hope you enjoy this conversation and find it helpful! Here is the link to the show notes for this episode : ) PS One place where you can get help with your own challenges while raising little kids is the online community that I run, NPC. During January 2020 you can spend your whole first month in the community for just $1! Click here for details.) Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos. I've written newsletters on everything from remaining calm when they are throwing dirt at each other, to what to do when you feel like a failure. Useful stuff. Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week! Key Links Click here for the VIA Character Institute website. Linda and I have used their Character Strength Tool and talk about it in today's conversation. Click here for the We Turned Out Okay Facebook group. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

Happy New Year!! In 2019 I had two goals: 1. To fit into my ski pants 2. To be in control of my food intake If my ski pants fit, that meant I could go skiing and spend wonderful, exhilarating time with loved ones! And if I could be in control of my food intake, that meant I wouldn't inadvertently hijack other goals that I had about health and weight loss. Today I share about how I met those goals, through a 5-step process that I hope will be helpful as you work to achieve your goals! Links and other stuff I share in this episode are located at weturnedoutokay.com/312 Join us! Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos. We're doing a series right now on what to do when you feel like a failure, and who among us hasn't felt like that at some point? Useful stuff. Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week! Cheat sheet of the 5 steps to get what you want out of life: 1. Declare yourself worthy. This is a tough one! I do it with something that I call "mirror chats." 2. Decide what you want. This one feels deceptively easy, but sometimes it can take a while to figure out what we actually want. 3. Decide where you want to be with that goal… By a certain date. 4. Take one small step most days, or weeks. 5. Assess how it's going once a week. Also, as part of this, find something to celebrate each week. My One Word is: ENOUGH this was such a tough one, I had to choose between two words and the people in my email newsgroup were so helpful as I made my choice! If that was you, thank you so much! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

Continuing in this end-of-year "big idea" line of thinking, one of our beloved Ninja Parenting Community members recently asked a huge, and great question: "How can I relax and enjoy our relationship more and not feel like I'm always on the edge of discipline mode or like I should have handled things differently [with my 3-year-old]?" Effectively she's asking: do I have to control my young child's behavior all the time, or is there anything else besides that? Today's episode is my response. Video, the notes I posted in NPC, and links to everything we talk about are located at weturnedoutokay.com/311 Join us! Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos. We're doing a series right now on what to do when you feel like a failure, and who among us hasn't felt like that at some point? Useful stuff. Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

"He asked me tonight who God was…" When Ninja Parenting Community member Mama Llama shared about this conversation with her three-year-old, I knew you were going to want to hear about it too. This is a short-and-sweet episode (and it's topsy-turvy, with the other stuff coming after the main part of the show, rather than before.) But don't be fooled by its brevity. We talk about something big! So big, maybe it can only be glimpsed at by us. I am excited to share, somewhat different, episode with you. Plus in Parenting News: I read from a recent Miss Conduct column on in-laws, and parents, and boundaries – and how you can feel good about yours. (Ninja parents: click here for the live, members-only call which comes up in today's Parenting News! If you're not yet a member, but you would like to become one, click here.) PS If this is a holiday celebration time of year for you, I hope it's wonderful! Join us! Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos. We're doing a series right now on what to do when you feel like a failure, and who among us hasn't felt like that at some point? Useful stuff. Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week! Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough! Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks. Link to this post: weturnedoutokay.com/310 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

I love this conversation. It's different from many of the others I've done, a little less focused on children and family… And more focused on how today's guest, Sunny Gault, found fulfillment within herself and built a career in helping other parents find fulfillment. Consequently Sunny is able to love and support her family, as they love and support her. Come with me on a deep dive into one mom's journey. You may, as I did, recognize yourself in Sunny's choices, thoughts, and actions. You may also, as I did, learn a good deal about how you might build that fulfilling life yourself! Join us! Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos. We're doing a series right now on what to do when you feel like a failure, and who among us hasn't felt like that at some point? Useful stuff. Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week! Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created some great resources to help your child handle it when the going gets tough! Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks and activity books. Link to this post: weturnedoutokay.com/309 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

This question came directly from a ninja parent with this problem: "I can't identify a trigger but [my three-year-old] wakes up sometime around 1 to 3 AM and is just wide-awake and mad that it's not morning yet. Any tips on sleep stuff?" In this episode we talk about what to do when your child wakes up in the middle of the night and doesn't want to go back to sleep. Join us! Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos. Past editions have included how to make it so your child wins the parent lottery (even if you did not), and helping when your child is frightened. Useful stuff. Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week! Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough! Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks. Link to this post: weturnedoutokay.com/308 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the fourth and final installment in our series about school, and how it can screw up your child, and how to make sure that that does not happen! Today we discuss the dangers that come with someone feeling continually assessed, judged, and evaluated. I work really hard to give you ideas to overcome this challenge. Plus in Parenting News: I share about this documentary that I first watched in college as a human development major. (Based on this documentary… Some of what's in the other is also here, but there is more here that is not covered in the other. I recommend watching them both!) Recently it came up again, and I'm excited because I get to share with you today! Also! If you can be at the Bancroft Memorial Library in Hopedale, Massachusetts this coming Saturday 12/7 between noon and 3 PM, come say hi - I'll be there as an author in their local authors book fair : ) Join us! Sign up for my Weekly Parenting Newsletter Each Wednesday I send out a Parenting Newsletter, to help you stay sane while raising your kiddos. Past editions have included how to make it so your child wins the parent lottery (even if you did not), and helping when your child is frightened. Useful stuff. Click weturnedoutokay.com/weekly so it zooms right into your inbox each week! Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough! Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks. Link to this post: weturnedoutokay.com/307 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

It's almost time! -- NPC Cyber Monday special: 30% off of annual Ninja Parenting Community membership… Get on the waiting list (and get 7 of my best parenting resources – for free) by clicking weturnedoutokay.com/cybermonday! In this episode find out: – What's the right age for starting soccer – What to do with your three-year-old's tantrums – How to handle night terrors in your young child – How to deal with disrespect We're bringing you some GREAT questions from the parents I work closely with in our private, online community! (If you're not a member, but you would like to become one, click here.) I hope it's helpful as you head into this Thanksgiving week! Link to this post: weturnedoutokay.com/306  Plus in Parenting News: Since Max and Jay were very small, we have made Arlo Guthrie's 18-minute, recorded-live song Alice's Restaurant part of our Thanksgiving tradition. Today I explain why. (FYI – You may want to listen on your own before introducing this song to your children, as it does get into some themes you may not deem them ready for yet.) Join us! Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough! Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

Surprise! Bonus episode on how to have a happy Thanksgiving! Special thanks to Graham Smith and Kirsten Dunlap of the Welcome Home podcast, and Desirae Endres of Minimal-ish, for sharing in this edition of We Turned Out Okay… We are connecting our shows, each of us with a "Best Thanksgiving Day Ever" in a pod hop, similar to the blog hops of old! FYI: NPC Cyber Monday special: 30% off of annual Ninja Parenting Community membership… Get on the waiting list (and get 7 of my best parenting resources – for free) by clicking weturnedoutokay.com/cybermonday! (I literally don't even mention this in today's episode, but I wanted you to be aware of it in case you were interested : ) To have your best Thanksgiving day ever, you must deliberately focus in – choose – what you want more of. How do you have a happy Thanksgiving? It'll depend on your focus. Today I share 4 ways I'm thinking about, 4 things I'm choosing. Maybe you'll want to focus on them too! Links to the Welcome Home and Minimal-ish versions of how to have the best Thanksgiving Day ever, as well as all the links I talk about today, are available at: weturnedoutokay.com/bestThanksgiving ! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe

NPC Cyber Monday special: 30% off of annual Ninja Parenting Community membership… Get on the waiting list (and get 7 of my best parenting resources – for free) by clicking weturnedoutokay.com/cybermonday! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a preschool teacher I used to get asked all the time about when we would be teaching reading. Or writing. I could see the stunned disbelief on parents' faces when we'd tell them "we don't teach formal academics, children learn everything they need through play." It's patently awful, and damaging, to force kids into academic learning too soon. And yet it's done all the time. In this episode we discuss why, and what to do about it. Plus in Parenting News: I have been getting a lot out of the Live Above the Noise podcast, and so I want to highlight that for parenting news this week! Join us! (Links to everything talked about in this episode, plus a cheat sheet about the ideas we discussed, at weturnedoutokay.com/305 : ) Today's episode is sponsored by the amazing Janine Halloran, expert in teaching kids coping skills, who has created a great resource to help your child handle it when the going gets tough! Listen to today's show to find out how to get 15% off your order, and then Click copingskillsforkids.com/okay to check out Janine's Coping Skills for Kids Cue Card Decks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kaylockkolp.substack.com/subscribe