Libby Ward, Founder of Diary of an Honest Mom, joins for a heartfelt discussion on holiday grief. She shares her personal journey of losing her father during Christmas, shedding light on the complexities of mourning amidst festive cheer. The conversation highlights coping strategies like fully embracing emotions and leaning on trusted friends. They delve into the importance of supporting those in grief, providing insights on what to say—and what to avoid. It's a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of loss, especially during the holiday season.

Scott and Jess tackle the pressing issue of entitled children by highlighting the benefits of natural disappointments. They emphasize the importance of building resilience through coping skills while setting appropriate boundaries in parenting. Real-life anecdotes showcase how mild discomfort can lead to emotional growth. The hosts also discuss the balance between nurturing and risk in child play, challenging societal perceptions of entitlement in today's kids. Ultimately, nurturing understanding over judgment is key to developing well-rounded children.

The hosts delve into the age-old debate of whether to tell kids Santa is real or not. They explore various ways to approach the topic, balancing imagination and truth while nurturing trust. Insights on managing children's expectations during the holidays are shared, along with the potential pitfalls of using Santa for behavior management. Listeners are encouraged to foster gratitude and create magical traditions that align with family values, regardless of differing beliefs. Personal anecdotes enrich the conversation, making it relatable and engaging.

Scott and Jess dive into the significance of creativity and play for children and adults alike. They discuss the decline of childhood creativity since the 1990s, emphasizing the impact of structured education. Unstructured play is highlighted as vital for emotional development. The hosts share personal reflections on balancing responsibilities with creativity. They conclude with a soothing mindfulness exercise, promoting self-care for busy parents while encouraging a playful spirit in their children.

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, hosts Scott and Jess explore the complex relationship between food, parenting, and childhood development. Inspired by a viral social media post about body image and food messaging, they explore how parents can foster healthy relationships with food by focusing on family rituals, mindful eating, and meaningful connection rather than restriction.Jess and Scott share personal experiences, including their own family dinner traditions and weekend donut rituals. They reveal how food struggles often point to unmet relational needs and offer practical ways to approach these challenges with empathy and understanding.Some important topics discussed in the episode include: Food as Connection: Discover how food issues often reflect underlying relationship dynamics. Positive Memories: Learn how to create meaningful rituals that build healthy associations with food. Mindful Eating: Equip your children with tools to develop a balanced and intuitive approach to eating.This episode offers valuable insights for parents looking to nurture a happy, healthy attitude toward food in their families.If you want to hear more from Jess and Scott about food and eating, listen to “Is It Healthy Eating, Or Is It Trauma? Unpacking Scott’s Relationship With Food”. Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: podcast@robotunicorn.net.Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.Credits:Editing by The Pod CabinArtwork by Wallflower StudioProduction by Nurtured First Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.

In this episode, Jess and Scott answer a listener's question about sharing the mental load of parenting. Jess talks about times when she felt like she carried most of the mental load and how Scott and her now split the work of parenting. They discuss the challenges of balancing roles, especially when one parent feels like the default decision-maker, educator, and emotional support.Key takeaways for listeners include: How to approach conversations about mental load in a way that strengthens your partnership. Strategies to encourage reluctant partners to engage more fully in the parenting journey. Ideas for setting boundaries and creating shared responsibilities so neither parent feels solely responsible.Whether you feel overwhelmed as the default parent or want to be a more engaged partner, this episode offers practical wisdom for creating a united parenting team. Don't miss Jess and Scott's candid discussion of their own parenting journey and struggles!During the episode, Jess mentions an episode with Josh, a skeptical dad. You can listen to his episode here.Want more support on your parenting journey? Check out our incredible blog full of articles & advice here. Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: podcast@robotunicorn.net.Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.Credits:Editing by The Pod CabinArtwork by Wallflower StudioProduction by Nurtured First Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.

In this laughter-filled episode, Scott and Jess dive into the delicate balance of teasing and playfulness with kids. They discuss how to be playful without going too far, share hilarious stories about their family's creative characters like "Sean" the hand puppet, and provide practical tips for connecting with children through humour.Some important topics discussed in the episode include: Recognizing how a child's understanding of humour develops with age Respecting boundaries around teasing Using playfulness as a tool to connect with kids and diffuse tense situationsListeners will gain valuable strategies for bringing more fun and laughter into their parenting while avoiding potentially hurtful teasing.Do you want to be a more playful parent but aren’t sure where to start? The Playful Parent Toolkit is full of easy games and playful tools to do with your kids. Learn more about The Playful Parent Toolkit here.Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: podcast@robotunicorn.net.Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.Credits:Editing by The Pod CabinArtwork by Wallflower StudioProduction by Nurtured First Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.

In this episode, Jess and Scott dive into the challenges of parenting multiple children and giving each child the love and attention they need.Inspired by a viral social media post, they explore topics like balancing attention between babies and older kids, feelings of guilt and defensiveness as parents, and how children crave connection at all ages.They provide helpful tips for recognizing children's bids for quality time, healing past parenting missteps, and finding small moments to connect amidst the chaos of family life.This heartfelt discussion offers both validation and practical tips for parents in the thick of raising multiple kids.Check out the Instagram post Jess reads here. Get 10% OFF parenting courses and kids' printable activities at Nurtured First using the code ROBOTUNICORN.We’d love to hear from you! Have questions you want us to answer on Robot Unicorn? Send us an email: podcast@robotunicorn.net.Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.Credits:Editing by The Pod CabinArtwork by Wallflower StudioProduction by Nurtured First Learn more about the Solving Bedtime Battles course here.

Addressing sensitive topics can be daunting, but it’s crucial for keeping kids safe. The discussion emphasizes the importance of using anatomically correct language and engaging in ongoing conversations about body safety and consent. Parents are encouraged to create a 'safe team' of trusted adults for their children. Tips on setting boundaries and the significance of open dialogue are provided, helping to empower children without instilling fear. The conversation navigates the delicate balance of safeguarding innocence while preparing kids for real-world scenarios.

Samir Mourani, the host of Jen's Talk and a passionate advocate for men's mental health, shares his journey through anxiety and depression. He emphasizes the need for close male friendships to foster vulnerability and discusses how bottling emotions can lead to anger. The conversation touches on redefining masculinity and the healing powers of therapy and supportive partners. Samir inspires hope, showing that even in the darkest times, meaningful connections and emotional expression pave the way towards healing.