Parents Take Five

In today's episode, Jen welcomes special guests "Joseph" and "John" talk about authenticity and the support we need to stay authentic to others and to ourselves. 

Today, Jen recounts watching a child's conversation with an adult at a conference she attended recently. Watching this child's joy, wonder, love, and faith had thinking more and more about what our children can teach us too. 

Today's episode is part two to Jen and Dr. Tina's conversation on sex and sexuality. We're going back to children with this episode and discussing the "100 one minute conversations" parents need to be having with their kids as they grow into their bodies and this world. To learn more about Dr. Tina, check out the bio in Episode 85 or find her at https://www.tinaschermersellers.com.

Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers (a PhD in Clinical Sexology, an M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy, a B.S. in Education, a certified Sex Therapist and Sex Therapy Supervisor, as well as being a speaker, author, mother, and wife) wears a LOT of hats! In this episode, Dr. Tina and Jen talk openly about one thing parents often have a hard time talking about…their own sex lives. They ask if you and your partner are talking about what sex is worth having? Are you having connection and pleasure when you come together? What does sex look like for you now? And how can you make love in other ways? Our episodes in the Sexuality Series up until this point have largely focused on our kiddos. This episode challenges parents to redefine sex and sexuality within themselves and their relationship. Many anatomical terms will be used during this episode. Please be aware in case you often listen to Parents Take Five episodes with or around your children.

As we continue our series on faith, family, and sexuality, we are so happy to welcome Shannon Guse to the podcast! Shannon has served at Faith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, FL for 14 years doing youth and young adult ministry. She has a degree in health science education from the University of Florida and has her own experience with teaching faith and sexuality as she raised her, now 17 and 20 year old, children. 

We're so happy to welcome Sophie Maness back to the podcast! Sophie is the Director of Christian Education at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. She is a certified christian educator with a Masters in Christian Education and uses that knowledge to lead workshops centered on faith and sexuality with parents and children alike. Sophie joined us for episode seventeen back in the day to chat about sexuality and faith and today she comes bearing even more knowledge on what she finds to be the top five most important parts of conversation on faith and sexuality. 

Today, Jen introduces the sexuality series Parents Take Five will be covering over the next few episodes. Jen will bring a few different people on who are going to talk us through how sexuality, faith, and family intersect throughout different stages of our kiddo's development. These episodes will include language that you may not be comfortable with your children hearing so please be aware of that if you often listen with your little ones. 

Greg Allen-Pickett serves as the senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hastings, Nebraska. Greg has an amazing partner in ministry in his wife, Jessica, and a gregarious and compassionate daughter in elementary school. They are loving life in central Nebraska with their ridiculous beagador dog named Luna.Today, Greg and Jen talk about ways we can acknowledge trauma and big emotions in our kids. He talks through some of the ways he and his daughter have processed his father's death together and how that's helped them both grieve in a healthy way. 

Today, Jen sits in a bit of vulnerability. We all experience fear. Fear of not being good enough, smart enough, not doing things right. And, while we teach our kiddos they're good and smart and enough, sometimes we can forget what Scripture says to us adults about it as well. 

Paul J. Pastor is a writer, editor, and wilderness lover who lives in the woods near Portland, OR with his wife and three kids. His award-winning writing on Christian spirituality is widely recognized for its beauty and insight. He loves good questions (especially ones about God), big stories, and the holy wonder of living. There's a possibility that you got to hear a little bit of the behind-the-scenes moments from Paul and Jen's conversation last week. This week is the actual conversation that's here to help you take steps towards having real conversations about God with your kiddo. 

Today, Jen tells a story of a recent flight she was on and a struggling mom and son. This story, like so many that happen every day around us, reminded her of something the Bible tries to teach us about truly caring for those around us. 

Today's episode is part two of Jen's conversation with Jerusalem Greer. To see more about Jerusalem and her life, check out episode 76, "Happiness vs. Wholeness with Jerusalem Greer". 

In today's episode, Jen welcomes author, parent who's survived those kiddo and teen years, and Episcopal minister, Jerusalem Greer. Jerusalem provides some golden nuggets in this episode so make sure to turn that volume up! She reminds us that, while this pandemic is harsh, "generations upon generations upon generations have weathered worse" and we can do hard things. There are things we can't (and maybe shouldn't) get our kids out of but that doesn't make us bad parents. That makes us more concerned about their wholeness than their happiness. 

On today's episode we recognize International Women's Month with a conversation between Jen and her Gigi! This is such a special episode for Jen as she gets to talk parenting with one of the people who spent a ton of time helping to parent her growing up. 

In today's episode, Joelle Brummit-Yale joins Jen to talk about some of the more artistic resources she's making available to parents. These resources help parents find hands-on ways to get Bible stories into their kid's weekly lives. They also talk about the importance of a good children's Bible. 

Happy anniversary to Parents Take Five! It's been two whole years, 730 days, of editing podcasts, talking to guests, belly laughs, and deep recognition of our mistakes. Jen cannot thank you all enough for your support in this community so, as a token of her appreciation, here's a look back at some of the best moments and bloopers of the past two years.   Make sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode for a surprise addition that even our host, Rev. Jen, didn't know about. 

Due to the once-in-a-few-decades weather that Central Arkansas has been experiencing this week, we took a day to spend time out in the snow with our families and make sure our heaters weren't rattling in their boots.  In today's episode, Jen joins Ferncliff's Chaplain and Camp Director Jocelyn Wildhack to talk about the resources Ferncliff has been offering families so that overworked, pandemic-era parents aren't carrying the brunt of faith formation and entertainment of their kiddos all by themselves. Jocelyn spends her time at work sending worshippers on scavenger hunts, fills hundreds of boxes with sparkly pipe cleaners, and makes sure that no camper gets left behind. 

Life comes with a lot of interruptions. Interruptions as momentary and harmless as a kiddo who keeps asking what's for dinner in the middle of a grown-up conversation to interruptions as long-lasting and deeply impactful as the onset of an illness. In today's episode, Jen reminds us that scripture is full of these interruptions and gives us a deep hope in the midst of them.

Ryan Stallings (a.k.a. Coach Ryan) has been coaching youth sports for the past fifteen years, ranging from flag football and baseball to basketball and soccer. For more information on Ryan's background, check out the bio of Episode 69 or go to our website: www.parentstakefive.com In this second part to Coach Ryan and Rev. Jen's conversation, Ryan talks about ways he keeps the parents and players in a positive mindset and ​how he uses critical thinking to help his young players always look for growth. *This episode was recorded before COVID-19 hit home for the United States in March of 2020. 

Ryan Stallings (a.k.a. Coach Ryan) has been coaching youth sports for the past fifteen years, ranging from flag football and baseball to basketball and soccer. He’s trained age groups from pre-k to high school and he prioritizes creating a fun environment for the kids, training that promotes personal growth and life lessons, and fostering mutual respect between the players and the coach. When he’s not coaching, Ryan invests his free time in outdoor adventures, culinary pursuits, reading and sketching. Ryan and his wife, Leslie, their sons, Caiden & Conner, and their pups, Izzy & Nymeria love family adventures.    In today's episode, Coach Ryan talks about the one thing your kid truly wants to hear after a game and, oddly enough, it's the one thing us as parents need to hear sometimes as well. Ryan talks mostly about boys in this episode as its the most recent team he's coached but these words of wisdom are true for any kiddo. *This episode was also recorded before COVID-19 hit home for the United St