Blessing Not Stressing - Happy Parenting

Episode 017 The day I died.  One of my favorite stories of how life seems to pick us up and slap us down at the same time.  This is also a case where the silver lining (being alive) can easily be found in a dark cloud.     Subscribe on iTunes.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

The Art of War.  Sun Tzu’s book The Art of War has some great bits of wisdom for parents.  Today we look at some of the core principles he espoused and why I think they fit well in viewing the parental journey and challenges.     Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

Part 2 of the Stewart Day Interview.  We talk about that moment that you realize your child’s gifts, youth sports, travel programs, and whether you are helping your child focus on the things they should be focused on.     Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

Watch What They Watch.  It pays to keep up with the media your children are consuming.  This includes reading some of the books they read, watching shows with them, and occasionally riding shotgun while they surf the Internet.     Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

Whine until you need some wine.  We look at some activities to stave off boredom in your children during long holidays and vacations.  Some of these activities are thinly disguised chores, some are classics, and some may be new to you, but can eat up a lot of time when the days get long for your kids.     Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

Part 1 of the Interview wth Stewart Day.  Stewart’s son, Tucker, is a top prospect among college football kickers and punters but was not groomed for that role.  We look at how Tucker was raised to find his own way and how things changed once he stumbled into the business of youth and college sports.   Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

Yes, your children do watch and mimic your behavior.  Sometimes this is good, sometimes bad, it depends on the example you set for them.  In our case, we managed to teach our children some choice words to say at the proper time.  It is just that we thought there was no proper time for a toddler to use four letter words, particularly when grandmothers visit.   Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

Sometimes life gets complicated.  We drifted away from normal dinner times to later and later.  This was a gradual slip away from a norm and we decided to try to get our meal times back under control.     Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

In this final part of the Royce Earp interview, we explore life after homeschool.  We cover transitioning back into the work world and the incredible blessings that come from those homeschool years.   Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

Children learn from their parents.  You can rely on the education system, but that is not really raising your children.  They will ask questions, both easy and hard ones, that they need to have answered.  It is all part of learning and removing the clouds of ignorance.  Explain your actions to your children with a why as well as a how and watch them grow into incredible adults.   Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

It is easy to fall into the habit of using the words and phrases toddlers come up with in conversations with them.  Unfortunately, this can create bad habits for them.  As parents, we need to make sure they correct children in order to teach them, how else are they going to learn?   Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

In this second part of the Royce Earp interview, we discuss home-schooling and the pros and cons of that educational environment.  We also look at how it is a family activity that goes beyond simply being about the kids.   Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

Discipline can be a challenge, but it is easier when you think out of the box.  This time we look at authoritarian vs authoritative approaches and some ways to discipline children while teaching them other skills.   Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

It can be hard to find time for yourself and for your marriage.  When the kids are young they require constant care and attention, but as they grow you become a taxi service and cheer squad.  In this episode, we look at some ways to carve out a little time for you and your marriage.   Subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blessing-not-stressing-happy/id1186128287.  Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

Royce Earp is a father of two that became a stay-at-home dad and home schooled his boys through High School graduation.  He gained a lot of wisdom along the way and shares it with us in this interview series.  In Part 1 we start at the beginning and how he became a stay-at-home dad. Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

In this episode, we look at how family games and shared experiences can build memories that last a lifetime.  Happy times together can be a great way to bring family members together years later even when they live worlds apart.  We also note that games are not the only way to bond.  Inside jokes and memorable events can serve the same purpose. Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.

In this episode, we talk about how food travels, using flour for makeup and bears with no teeth.   We even cover the times when your kids make you want to laugh but you have to bite your lip and act like nothing about their situation is the slightest bit funny. Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.om

This is the launch episode where I talk about my background and the "Why" of this podcast. This is my introduction to you, the awesome audience member that you are.  Come join our discussions about parenting. Check out the latest episodes and bonus blog articles at https://blessingnotstressing.com.  It is a site for parents that helps provide tips, tricks, and support for all their challenges. This includes a touch of humor and real stories from a parent of eight.