Connected Families Podcast

Are you tired of your kids constantly asking for screen time? Would you like to feel better equipped to navigate the use of media in your home? Perhaps you need tools to help you in developing a screen plan for your family and reset expectations around screen use. You certainly aren’t alone! Many parents in this hyper-digital age feel the same way. In today’s podcast, Arlene Pellicane, author of Screen Kids, joins Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about being intentional and wise with technology in your home. You’ll hear the research and the heart behind Arlene’s desire to help parents develop a comprehensive plan for screens. In this podcast you’ll discover: the effects of screens on emotional health and brain development in children and young adults positive ways your family can engage with technology the difference between digital vegetables and digital candy how to develop a detailed technology plan for your family proactive ways to be intentional about tech as your children grow ideas to consider as you think about allowing your child to have a phone We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Gabb Wireless Phone for Kids – referral link from Arlene for a $25 coupon Screen Kids book Grandparenting Screen Kids The Social Dilemma documentary 60 Creative Ways to Get Kids Moving and Laughing (Free Resource) Social media contest on Instagram and Facebook Covenant Eyes web browser Arlene’s interview with John Foubert about protecting kids from pornography We are a listener-supported podcast. Make a donation today! Guest Bio: Arlene Pellicane is a speaker, host of the Happy Home podcast, and author of several books, including Parents Rising, 31 Days to a Happy Husband, and Screen Kids. Arlene has been featured on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, the Wall Street Journal, and Focus on the Family. Arlene lives in San Diego with her husband, James, and their three children.To learn more, visit her website at ArlenePellicane.com and check out her masterclasses at HappyHomeUniversity.com .stk-zku9nna-container{border-radius:9px !important;overflow:hidden !important;box-shadow:0px 2px 20px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.2) !important}.stk-zku9nna .stk-block-card__image img{object-position:75% 44% !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-zku9nna .stk-block-card__image{width:100% !important;height:250px !important}} 60 Ways to Get Kids Moving and Laughing .stk-30ohp69 .stk-block-subtitle__text{font-size:21px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-30ohp69 .stk-block-subtitle__text{font-size:21px !important}}Fun movement helps keep everyone sane! This list of over 60 ideas includes activities to calm angsty kids, as they also gain strength, balance, and coordination… all with a good dose of learning and laughter. .stk-c04x1bs .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-c04x1bs .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-c04x1bs .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-c04x1bs .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}GET THE FREE GUIDE Related Posts7 Activities to Teach Patience to the Child Who Wants It NOWHow to Set Boundaries with Screens | Ep. 66I Just Can’t Get My Kids Off the Screen!What Do You Do with a Minecraft Addiction?

There’s nothing like your child telling a blatant lie to trigger a strong reaction in you. You may want to focus your energy on shutting down the deception, but what if you responded with curiosity instead? Or maybe your child is more skilled with lying, and it’s hard to discern whether they are telling the truth. Either way, you are probably wondering about how to guide your child to love honesty. In today’s podcast, Jim Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) and Chad Hayenga (Connected Families Director of Education & Equipping) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about how to guide your child to love honesty. With candid stories, Jim and Chad share a fresh perspective and practical ideas to grow a culture of truth-telling in your home. In this podcast you’ll discover: reasons kids lie (it’s not always obvious) ways to engage your child in a curious and compassionate way how to shift your energy so truthfulness becomes the focus in your home ideas to grow your child’s identity as a truth-teller  ways to teach the skill of truth-telling in everyday moments the importance of modeling honesty even when it’s tough (including the story of a mom who killed the family cat!) We hope you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart book or audiobook John 14:6 – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – talk about God’s commands in everyday life “I killed the cat” blogpost – modeling truth-telling to your kids We are a listener-supported podcast. Donate to Connected Families today!

Are healthy mealtimes at your house often a place of struggle? Have you ever thought, “My child won’t eat anything but junk food”? So many families experience these issues, and there is hope to move from “picky, picky” to peace around food. The way may be simpler than you expect through consistency, effort, and flexibility. In today’s episode, Christina Jax (Registered Dietician and Nutritionist) joins Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss mealtimes, food choices, and supporting kids to eat a variety of healthy foods. Christina brings her experience as a mom to a child with sensory issues and her professional background to offer practical ideas for improving a child’s experiences with food. In this podcast, you’ll discover: factors that may contribute to a child’s selective food choices the difference between sensory issues and preferences when it comes to food why consistency and flexibility are effective tools for offering new foods at the table the importance of involving a child in meal planning and preparation that an awareness of your own relationship with food can help keep your issues from influencing your child’s experiences with food We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Picky Picky ebook – Free Connected Families Resource Guest Bio: Christina is the Co-Founder of A4 Health, whose professional mission is fueling fun lives and supporting individuals and organizations to achieve optimized health. Combining 20+ years in behavioral and nutrition science, Christina’s approach is to make healthy “easy” and prove the Return on Investment (ROI) for each individual or group she serves! Christina currently serves as Program Director and Assistant Professor of Nutrition at Northwestern Health Sciences University. She is a team dietitian for the Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks. She also has a podcast. Check her out on Spotify and iTunes at Connect the Dots with Christina Jax.Christina’s website https://www.a4.health/On Instagram: @‌a4healthcoach .stk-1aa02ee-container{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important}.stk-1aa02ee-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important}.stk-1aa02ee-container:hover{box-shadow:0px 2px 20px rgba(153,153,153,0.2) !important}.stk-1aa02ee .stk-block-card__image img{object-fit:contain !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-1aa02ee .stk-block-card__image{width:100% !important;height:250px !important}} .stk-0544715 .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}Got a very selective eater in the home? Maybe they only eat the color white, or just can’t sit at the table long enough to eat anything. Whatever the challenge, we want to help you. .stk-4d223d8 .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}Read our FREE ebook, Picky Picky! My Child Won’t Eat Anything But Junk Food. .stk-0238d50 .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-0238d50 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-0238d50 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}GET THE BOOK Related PostsAre We Raising Animals?From Power Struggles to Peace at MealsStruggling at the Family Dinner Table? How to Come Together & Enjoy

Do you have a child in the middle years, or are those years just a few steps away? (Keep in mind, puberty can begin as early as nine years old!) The middle years can be a tumultuous time for a child. Their body makes significant changes, and so does their brain! So, what does a child need from their parents during this season, and how do parents guide a child who seems to suddenly have lots of new attitudes and opinions? In today’s episode, Cynthia Tobias (co-author of Middle School: The Inside Story) joins Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss parenting through the middle years. Cynthia brings her professional and personal experiences to offer practical tools for speaking to, guiding, and supporting a child in the middle years with grace and connection. In this podcast, you’ll discover: the middle schooler’s biggest fear…and how to help them how to change your parenting to adapt to your child’s changing needs ways to shift responsibility and decision-making to the child while still offering accountability and a safety net why it’s okay and important to let a child fail how to encourage and connect with the heart of your middle schooler We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Middle School: The Inside Story by Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuna Do You Know What I Like About You? YouTube Video by Cynthia Cynthia’s Facebook page Cynthia’s website – free PDF about middle school Donate to Connected Families CF Facebook CF Instagram Guest Bio: Cynthia Tobias has a successful background that includes over 30 years of private practice, eight years of teaching high school, and six years in law enforcement. She has authored 13 books and is a featured guest on radio and television, a popular presenter for businesses, government agencies, churches, and schools throughout the U.S. and the world. Cynthia received her B.A. at Northwest Nazarene University, her Master’s Degree at Seattle Pacific University, and an Honorary Doctorate from Northwest Nazarene University in 2015. She is the mother of twin sons, now adults, and she and her husband, Jack, live in the Seattle area. Learn more about Cynthia by visiting her website, www.cynthiatobias.com. .stk-dnt2ri2-container:hover{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;}.stk-dnt2ri2-container:hover:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;} Learn more about the Framework Want to dig deeper into Connected Families’ Parenting Framework? Get our FREE ebook, What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity. Related Posts5 Powerful Ways to Connect with a Teen Who LiesWhat Do Kids Really Need From Us? | Ep. 95What To Do When You Think Your Child Is Doomed

What if underneath your child’s misbehavior was a good gift? Sound too good to be true? It’s not! Connected Families teaches this idea as a “Gift Gone Awry.” This gift may not always come out in a helpful way, but it could be shaped and guided to be a blessing to others. In this podcast, Connected Families Co-Founder Lynne Jackson and Lydia Rex (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about the amazing gifts that might be hidden in your child’s misbehavior. In this podcast, you’ll discover: how your thoughts about your child can become their identity the biblical basis for seeing gifts in misbehavior, including references examples of how to find a gift gone awry and coach a child to be a blessing ways to bring your child’s struggle before God and shift your perspective that focus is fertilizer–what you pay attention to grows! We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: John 14:26-27 Ephesians 2:10 Mark 8:32 Luke 16 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 Hebrews 11:1 Acts 20 Weekly Parenting Tips Email…link to share with a friend Nurture Shock book Donate to Connected Families CF Facebook CF Instagram connectedfamilies.org Guest Bio: Lynne Jackson​ has over 25 years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist working with children with sensory processing disorder, ADHD (including her own kids!), OCD, ODD, and autism spectrum disorders. As a speaker, certified life coach, podcaster, and author, Lynne has helped thousands of parents learn to be peaceful, purposeful, and confident. In 2002, she and her husband, Jim, founded Connected Families, a ministry that helps parents learn to embody God’s grace in the midst of family life. .stk-4c52f18{margin-bottom:25px !important}Lydia Rex is a registered nurse turned TBRI practitioner and parent coach to families with young kids, especially those who have sensory needs or developmental trauma. No stranger to challenges in the parenting journey, Lydia offers empathy, encouragement, and a deep commitment to walking alongside parents with the Connected Families framework. It’s her joy to see God’s grace healing the hearts of parents and children. Lydia, her husband Kyle, and their two kids live in Iowa, where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor activities, and reading lots of books. .stk-e19fc8u-container:hover{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;}.stk-e19fc8u-container:hover:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;} Learn more about the Framework Want to dig deeper into Connected Families’ Parenting Framework? Get our FREE ebook, What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity. Related PostsIs Your Child Intense and Impulsive?Want To Know Your Child’s Strengths?What to Do When Your Child Has a Hard Time Losing

In some Christian traditions, it can feel like Easter sneaks up on you. It can even seem like the holiday doesn’t get the same attention and preparation as Christmas, but it is actually the most important day on the Christian calendar. So, how can you help your family prepare and truly celebrate Christ’s resurrection this year? In today’s podcast, Laurie Christine (author and podcast host at Redeeming the Chaos) joins Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about discipleship at home and, more specifically, preparing for Easter. Laurie shares her favorite resources and ideas to create engaging discipleship opportunities with your kids and talks about her free Easter resource for families. In this podcast, you’ll discover: what the Bible says about discipling your children ideas to overcome challenges you may encounter when you try to connect with God as a family practical ways to make family discipleship engaging for your kids ways to change your approach to family times as your children get older the powerful message of Easter and ways you can share that with your children a FREE resource to help your family connect and prepare for Easter (also available in the audiobook version) We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – Register Now! 30 Family Bible Stories for Easter by Laurie Christine Judges 2:10 Psalm 78:4 Nancy Gutherie books The Very Best Hands On Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions by Tim Shoemaker Hands-on family activities for different age groups by Kirk Weaver 1 Corinthians 15:17 Philippians 2:13 Laurie’s podcast: Redeeming the Chaos Laurie’s favorite resources for family devotions and bible study How to make family devotions more engaging for your kids Guest Bio: Laurie Christine is an author, podcast host, Certified Biblical Parenting Coach, wife, and mom of four wild, loud, adventurous boys. Her podcast, Redeeming the Chaos, invites moms of boys to join her in the wild, wonderful adventure of raising courageous boys and connecting them with Christ. Laurie also writes devotionals and Bible stories for middle-grade boys. As a mom of four young boys, she understands how important it is for parents to connect with their children while communicating the truth of God’s Word to them in a way they can understand. With degrees in Creative Writing, Biblical Studies, and Education, Laurie has more than fourteen years of experience in teaching the Bible to young children as well as writing the Sunday School curriculum for her local church. Laurie also serves as the administrator for the Christian Writers Institute and the producer for the Christian Publishing Show and Novel Marketing Podcasts. You can find her at: www.LaurieChristine.com. .stk-fumhkkq{margin-bottom:39px !important}.stk-fumhkkq-container{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important}.stk-fumhkkq-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important}.stk-fumhkkq-container:hover{box-shadow:0px 2px 20px rgba(153,153,153,0.2) !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-fumhkkq .stk-block-card__image{width:100% !important;height:250px !important}} .stk-fgj8uqx .stk-block-heading__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-6,#e4eff5) !important}Do you have a child with EXTRA needs? .stk-ze4exhr{margin-bottom:12px !important}.stk-ze4exhr .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}Parenting isn’t easy, but when you’ve got an extra INTENSE or SENSITIVE child with big feelings… it’s even harder. .stk-bzj3p8e .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}The Sensitive and Intense Kids online course will equip you to parent well, even with these unique kiddos. .stk-v1d0d9l .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-v1d0d9l .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-v1d0d9l .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-v1d0d9l .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}LEARN MORE Related PostsFour Simple Ways to Teach Your Child About GodThe Most Effective Way To Teach Kids To PrayUPDATED: How To Pray With Your Child | Ep. 113

Are you trying to understand your child’s frequent frustration or angry eruptions? Do you find yourself turning to the internet to ask, “Why is my son so angry with me?” or “Why is my daughter so angry all the time?” The truth is, there is usually more going under the surface of anger. Likely, that anger is protecting some softer emotions, such as feeling anxious, alone, or discouraged, to name a few. You can have compassion and come alongside them with loving support when you seek to understand what is really going on. But how do you get started? In this podcast, Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder and Occupational Therapist) and Lydia Rex (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and RN) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about anger and anxiety in children. Drawing on their experience supporting families, Lynne and Lydia share how you can look beneath your child’s anger to get out of a stress cycle and into a healing pattern. In this podcast you’ll discover: underlying stress factors that influence angry behavior the relationship between anger and anxiety when to use an “I wonder if…” question to help build emotional intelligence and understanding how you can move to compassion and connection when your child erupts in anger trauma’s role in anger, including its effects on a child’s developing brain and nervous system activities to do with your child to grow their emotional awareness and build skills to unpack what’s going on under the surface We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – Register Today! Paper plate activity Iceberg illustration for older kids Proverbs 29:11: Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. Guest Bio: Lynne Jackson​ has over 25 years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist working with children with sensory processing disorder, ADHD (including her own kids!), OCD, ODD, and autism spectrum disorders. As a speaker, certified life coach, podcaster, and author, Lynne has helped thousands of parents learn to be peaceful, purposeful, and confident. In 2002, she and her husband, Jim, founded Connected Families, a ministry that helps parents learn to embody God’s grace in the midst of family life. Lydia Rex is a registered nurse turned TBRI practitioner and parent coach to families with young kids, especially those who have sensory needs or developmental trauma. No stranger to challenges in the parenting journey, Lydia offers empathy, encouragement, and a deep commitment to walking alongside parents with the Connected Families Framework. It’s her joy to see God’s grace healing the hearts of parents and children. Lydia, her husband Kyle, and their two kids live in Iowa, where they enjoy homeschooling, outdoor activities, and reading lots of books. .stk-x4un6a1{margin-bottom:39px !important}.stk-x4un6a1-container{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important}.stk-x4un6a1-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important}.stk-x4un6a1-container:hover{box-shadow:0px 2px 20px rgba(153,153,153,0.2) !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-x4un6a1 .stk-block-card__image{width:100% !important;height:250px !important}} .stk-4bs8c5x .stk-block-heading__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-6,#e4eff5) !important}Do you have a child with EXTRA needs? .stk-6zqko3w{margin-bottom:12px !important}.stk-6zqko3w .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}Parenting isn’t easy, but when you’ve got an extra INTENSE or SENSITIVE child with big feelings… it’s even harder. .stk-k35mcd7 .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}The Sensitive and Intense Kids online course will equip you to parent well, even with these unique kiddos. .stk-qv60bga .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-qv60bga .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-qv60bga .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-qv60bga .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}LEARN MORE Related PostsI Resent My ChildWhy Punching a Pillow When Angry Doesn’t Really Help Your ChildWhy Safety Is Crucial for Adoptive FamiliesYou Really Want To Show Loving Discipline? Start With Your Face.

If your child is sensitive or intense, you might ask, “Is it worth getting a diagnosis?” or “Will the information from a diagnosis help or hinder my child and our family?” You may fear that a diagnosis will label your child in a negative way, or you may feel overwhelmed about what happens after a diagnosis. In today’s episode, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) and Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) continue a conversation about diagnoses with Mandy Cuda, MD. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it worth getting an ADHD diagnosis for my child?” or “Is it worth getting an autism spectrum diagnosis?” this podcast is for you. Mandy and Lynne share the insights and support that can come from a diagnosis and discuss the next steps for parents. In this podcast, you’ll learn: to consider your own feelings after a child’s diagnosis–everything from grief to gratitude how to talk with your child about a diagnosis at any age questions you can ask your child to gain insight into their experience and how you can better support them when the phrase “Tell me more” can open up opportunities with your child and their care providers how to build a support system for yourself and your child the importance of the brain-body connection and when to ask, “What might be aggravating this child’s system?” how to navigate a conversation about medication with your child’s doctor We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Sensitive & Intense Kids: Navigating Challenge With Purpose and Hope: Registration is open! Ep 122: How To Know If Your Child Needs A Diagnosis or Extra Support Two Powerful Strategies to Help Your Highly Sensitive Child Thrive (includes sensory checklist) Sensory Checklist/Questionnaire James 1:2-4 (verse about trials bringing us to maturity) Ecclesiastes 4:12 Child Advocacy page by Taylor Irby Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program Guest Bio: Dr. Amanda “Mandy” Cuda is a family physician and Connected Families Parent Coach-in-training. She lives in Washington with her husband, a military pediatric urologist, and four amazing kids. Her connection with Connected Families began more than 20 years ago when, as a new Wheaton college grad, she worked with Jim and Chad in Minnesota. She went on to earn her MD from the Uniformed Services University and an MPH from the University of Washington. She served in the military for most of her healthcare career but has also served in community primary care and virtual care delivery. .stk-n84tak3{margin-bottom:39px !important}.stk-n84tak3-container{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important}.stk-n84tak3-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important}.stk-n84tak3-container:hover{box-shadow:0px 2px 20px rgba(153,153,153,0.2) !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-n84tak3 .stk-block-card__image{width:100% !important;height:250px !important}} .stk-16jykju .stk-block-heading__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-6,#e4eff5) !important}Do you have a child with EXTRA needs? .stk-ju83yq0{margin-bottom:12px !important}.stk-ju83yq0 .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}Parenting isn’t easy, but when you’ve got an extra INTENSE or SENSITIVE child with big feelings… it’s even harder. .stk-530p3za .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}The Sensitive and Intense Kids online course will equip you to parent well, even with these unique kiddos. .stk-4zlwb0v .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-4zlwb0v .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-4zlwb0v .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-4zlwb0v .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}LEARN MORE Related Posts4 Ideas to Build a Growth Mindset as a FamilyAdvocating for Your Sensitive or Neurodiverse Child | Ep. 123Empowering Your Differently Wired Child | Ep. 124Morning Sensory Dysregulation

Do you have a child who is wired differently? You’ve probably felt frustrated or discouraged at times about how to support your child through daily routines or going to school. It may be challenging to know what your child needs and offer that at the right time.   In today’s podcast, Katie Wetsell and Corrie Thetford (Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about empowering your uniquely and wonderfully wired child.     In this podcast, you’ll discover: How to evaluate what’s going on in your heart about your child. Do you need to “fix” your child? Or better understand your child?  The opportunity therapy presents for you to learn with your child and as well as keep the momentum from therapy going at home Ideas for supporting your child in a learning environment at school or home and how to help your child discover and accept what they need to be successful Ways to talk about and celebrate differences in your family How one 13-year-old has felt supported and empowered by his parents We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – Register Now! Treasure Tree: Helping Kids Understand Their Personality by John Trent John 9:1-3 Ecclesiastes 3:11 Guest Bio: Corrie Thetford and her husband Alan have four children and are Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches as well as instructors for CF coaches-in-training. They are passionate about multiplying the gospel by helping families transform power struggles and conflicts into opportunities for gospel messages.   Katie Wetsell is our online course moderator. She is also a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, pediatric nurse, and mom of four through birth and adoption. She is passionate about encouraging and empowering parents to love their family with confidence and connection. Building on her bedside experience, she has also been trained in SPACE treatment (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to help parents support their children in overcoming anxiety. Her website is www.parentwithhope.org. Rylan Wetsell is Katie’s 13-year-old, bright, witty son who is overcoming the challenges associated with being differently wired to grow in wisdom and courage. He is an advocate, with his mom, for himself and others affected by stuttering, Tourette’s Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and learning disabilities. .stk-yrx2it6 {margin-bottom:39px !important;}.stk-yrx2it6-container{background-color:#e2f4f8 !important;}.stk-yrx2it6-container:before{background-color:#e2f4f8 !important;}.stk-yrx2it6-container:hover{box-shadow:0px 2px 20px #99999933 !important;}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-yrx2it6 .stk-block-card__image{width:100% !important;height:250px !important;}} Do you have a child with BIG feelings and BIG needs? The Sensitive & Intense Kids online course is a game changer. It’s for YOU. .stk-az0pdrq .stk-button-group{flex-direction:row !important;}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-az0pdrq .stk-button-group{flex-direction:row !important;}}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-az0pdrq .stk-button-group{flex-direction:row !important;}} .stk-0heutnq .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1, #ee6c4d) !important;}.stk-0heutnq .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2, #98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important;}.stk-0heutnq .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;font-weight:600 !important;}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-0heutnq .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;}}LEARN MORE Related PostsA Simple Way to Teach Kids PerseveranceAdvocating for Your Sensitive or Neurodiverse Child | Ep. 123Daily Sensory Rhythms To Bring Peace to Your Home | Ep 112How To Know If Your Child Needs a Diagnosis or Extra Support | Ep. 122

Maybe you’ve received a message from your child’s teacher about his behavior at school, or you want to set your child up for a good experience as she begins a new activity. Communicating with teachers, coaches, and other adults about how to support your sensitive or neurodiverse child may feel difficult to navigate, but thankfully other parents have also walked that journey and have some practical wisdom to share.     In today’s podcast, Marni Love (former public school teacher, home educator, and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) and Taylor Irby (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to share their experiences about advocating for a sensitive child. Taylor and Marni offer practical ideas to empower you so your child can receive the support they need in any environment. In this podcast, you’ll discover: that a diagnosis can unlock the doors to help you understand and advocate for your neurodiverse child how to flip the script of negative complaints from teachers and other adults to positive feedback ways to support your child in making and keeping friends how you can be firm and kind with other adults in order to help your child thrive (and keep your sanity!) how to create an advocacy sheet about your child for teachers (downloadable link) where to get a medical diagnosis and how that impacts an IEP/504 plan at school steps that can help you and your spouse get on the same page how to gather a professional team and personal support for the journey with your child We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Last week’s podcast: How To Know If Your Child Needs a Diagnosis or Extra Support | Episode 122 Advocacy page by Taylor Irby Sensitive & Intense online course – Register now!  Connected Families Parent Coaching ABC’s of Affirmation Focus is Fertilizer Guest Bios:  Marni Love is a former public school teacher and has been a home educator for the past 13 years.  She is a Homeschool Mentor and Certified Connected Families Parent Coach.  Marni enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric, and their three sons in the beautiful mountains and beaches of Northern California.  You can connect with her through her website: marnilove.com Taylor Irby is a mother to 5 kids, and she understands the struggles parents face. Every day she faces ADHD, autism, anxiety, developmental delays, and adoption trauma. She, too, has sat in the midst of challenges and searched the world for answers. Taylor read book after book and got excited over methods that were short-lived. That is when she hit the wall of desperation and sought parent coaching through Connected Families. Taylor ultimately became a coach through their training program to help others like her. She has seen transformation in her home through working with a framework that not only has changed her children’s behavior but their hearts as well. You are not alone on this parenting journey. There is hope, and you can enjoy your children, build that relationship you have wanted and see behavior change. You can learn more about Taylor at taylorirbycoaching.com, and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/taylor.irby.5 and Instagram @taylorirbycoaching .stk-02534a6-container{box-shadow:0px 5px 30px -10px rgba(30,63,82,0.3) !important} .stk-bb2f47f .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-bb2f47f .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}}Does your child need help calming down? Would a free course presenting you 7 sensory strategies to calm your child be useful? If yes, take our FREE online course 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids. .stk-9295f85 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-9295f85 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}TELL ME MORE Related PostsHow To Know If Your Child Needs a Diagnosis or Extra Support | Ep. 122Is Your Child Exhausted and Cranky After School?Morning Sensory Dysregulation

Have you ever wondered, “What’s going on with my child? Is this ‘normal’ behavior, or is there something more going on?”  If you’ve asked these questions, you may be wondering if it’s worth seeking a diagnosis for your struggling child.  All children go through more challenging developmental seasons, but some children are wired differently altogether, also known as neurodiverse. These kids often benefit from the understanding and support of professionals.   In today’s episode, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) and Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) are joined by Mandy Cuda, MD. Listen in on a profound conversation to help parents navigate the choice to seek a diagnosis or support for a child who is struggling.   Through this conversation, you’ll learn: to reflect on your motivations for seeking a diagnosis how to know when to seek help and what to do if/when it is time how you can include your child in the process of seeking support and normalizing differences the power of your curiosity and observations over time to guide you that you know your child best that your child may have incredible potential masked in the struggle the importance of prioritizing sleep, activity, and nutrition to help find your child’s baseline current information about genetic and environmental impacts on neurodiversity about the complexity of overlapping diagnoses in neurodivergent people We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Submit your own Welcome for the CF podcast Psalm 139 Isaiah 40:25-31 Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program Share the Connected Families Podcast with a friend 7 Calming Strategies free online course Guest Bio:  Dr. Amanda “Mandy” Cuda is a family physician and Connected Families Parent Coach-in-training. She lives in Washington with her husband, a military pediatric urologist, and four amazing kids. Her connection with Connected Families began more than 20 years ago when, as a new Wheaton college grad, she worked with Jim and Chad in Minnesota. She went on to earn her MD from the Uniformed Services University and an MPH from the University of Washington. She served in the military for most of her healthcare career but has also served in community primary care and virtual care delivery. .stk-3frxryq-container{box-shadow:0px 5px 30px -10px rgba(30,63,82,0.3) !important} .stk-9dr6v74 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-9dr6v74 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}}Does your child need help calming down? Would a free course presenting you 7 sensory strategies to calm your child be useful? If yes, take our FREE online course 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids. .stk-yv2d87b .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-yv2d87b .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}TELL ME MORE Related Posts3 Unexpected Parenting Strategies to Help Your Highly Sensitive Child ThriveMorning Sensory DysregulationMy Child Freaks Out Easily | Ep. 106

If you’re reading this, you probably hope to bring more connection, grace, and unconditional love into your parenting this year. And maybe you’re wondering how you can get your whole family on the same page. The Connected Families Framework can help you become the parent you want to be, and teaching the principles to your kids might be simpler than you expect.     On today’s podcast, Jim and Lynne Jackson (co-founders of Connected Families) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss ways parents can model and teach each principle of the Framework: Foundation, Connect, Coach, Correct. This podcast includes a downloadable, 5-session mini curriculum developed by Jim and Lynne to help teach the Framework to children in interactive and hands-on ways.   Get your FREE Family Activity Guide This 5-session activity guide will help you introduce your kids to the Connected Families Framework in a fun and inviting way! In this podcast, you’ll discover: practical ways to model each area of the Framework for your children how talking out loud about the whys of your parenting can serve as a powerful teacher to your children (and a source of accountability for you!)  ideas for strengthening the connection between your children and supporting their reconnection after conflict ways you can engage with scripture as a family and help your children learn to listen for what God may be teaching them how you can guide your family to value reconciliation in all relationships We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Teaching Kids the Framework PDF – 5-session mini curriculum  Connected Families Framework Podcast Episode 113: How to Pray With Your Child Ephesians 2:10 NIV and ESV CF Certified Parent Coaching Program Sensitive & Intense Kids online course (coming soon!) Affiliate Program .stk-9t52phc-container:hover{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;}.stk-9t52phc-container:hover:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;} Learn more about the Framework Want to dig deeper into Connected Families’ Parenting Framework? Get our FREE ebook, What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity. Related PostsConsequences vs Punishment: What’s the Difference?Introduce Your Kids to the Connected Families FrameworkUnconditional Love: 15 Reasons to Show Love-No-Matter-What to Your Kids

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash The Connected Families Podcast continues to encourage and equip parents all over the world. Did you know we recently exceeded 1 million listens? THANK YOU! As we head into another year of podcasting, we thought it would be fun to share our most listened-to podcast of 2022. If you have already enjoyed our top podcast, we are including links to the next four most popular podcasts of 2022. It’s time to pop in your headphones, grab a few baskets of laundry to fold or take the dog for a long walk. What podcast most encouraged you in 2022? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you! Our Top Podcast of 2022 Ep. 101: Does Attachment Style Matter? Your relationship with your child might feel “off,” but you’re not sure why. Could it be that the way you were parented impacts the way you parent? Your attachment style affects all your most important relationships – from spouse to children to close friends. So, what is “attachment style” anyway? And does attachment style really matter? On this episode, we welcome guests Milan and Kay Yerkovich, the authors of How We Love. Together we discuss how we bring the attachment style from our parents to our own relationships, especially to our kids.  Four more amazing podcasts from 2022 Ep. 100: Ending the Shame Cycle Are you hard on yourself as a parent? As a person? It’s so easy to get caught up in what feels like failure to us. We want so much to be good parents! Though it’s unintentional, we can project our own feelings of shame onto our kids. Then we feel even worse. Shame can be so destructive to us and to our relationships. What does ending the shame cycle look like? If you have ever felt stuck in this kind of a cycle, please listen to this podcast. In this milestone podcast (our 100th episode!) we talk about a prevalent and powerful concept that has resounded with our Connected Families community for nearly 20 years: Moving forward from shame to the freedom of living in God’s grace and truth. Ep. 102: How To Be a More Playful Parent Sometimes parenting can feel like one big list of things you have to get done. It can be so hard to switch gears from the many demands of being a parent to having a joyful and playful time with your children! Yet research shows that playfulness brings connection and communicates in a language that helps kids learn! This podcast, with guest Joy Wendling, has great ideas to help you: calm your child’s brain and yours, provide opportunities to teach skills, enable problem-solving capability, reach kids who are struggling, and communicate to your child, “I enjoy you!” Ep. 103: Should Dads Demand Respect? When our “respect buttons” get pushed, it’s tempting to grasp for control and command obedience. But in doing so, we might find ourselves sacrificing connection and true, heartfelt respect with our kids. You want to build connection and respect. So what can you do? How can you respond? This podcast is a heartfelt conversation about respect. When we engage with our kids in humility and curiosity instead of control, we model what respect looks like and safely earn their respect and trust. Treating our children with respect helps us diffuse a tense situation and paves the way for connection, conversation, and understanding. Ep 111: Coaching Kids to “Make It Right” Do you sometimes struggle to think of an appropriate consequence for your child’s misbehavior?  Or dole out punishment only to have your child refuse to accept the punishment? Sigh.  Offering consistent and effective discipline can feel like an ongoing and overwhelming challenge. Listen in as the conversation on this podcast explores the messages we send through discipline and how to coach children to be responsible for their actions. .stk-a75b7bf-container{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important}.stk-a75b7bf-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important}.stk-a75b7bf .stk-block-hero__content{min-height:500px !important;display:flex !important}.stk-a75b7bf .stk-block-hero__content{align-items:center !important} Share your contact info and we’ll send an email each week we release a new podcast.

Photo by Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash Grandparents, we have something specifically for you today!  (If you’re a parent, listen and then consider sharing this episode with a grandparent in your life.) You long to build more connection into your relationships with your grandchildren or to be more supportive of your adult children as they learn to parent.  The Connected Families Framework can help you build connection and be the supportive grandparent you long to be.    In today’s episode, two Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches, Cindy Stonestreet (Grandmother and CRNA) and Dijea Young (Grandmother and homeschool mentor), join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for an encouraging conversation. Cindy and Dijea share their hearts about the powerful impact the Connected Families Framework has had in their daily interactions with their grandchildren.   In this podcast, you’ll discover: it’s never too late to change your approach to discipline practical ways to infuse the interactions with both your adult children and grandchildren with safety, connection, and unconditional love   how you can respond to your grandchild’s meltdown or defiance with a fresh approach examples of how you can support and respect your adult children in their parenting  We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families Framework  Connected Families Parent Coaching Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program Request a meeting with Connected Families Executive Director, Anna Braasch Give a year-end gift to Connected Families Guest Bios:  Cindy Stonestreet is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and grandmother of five lively grandchildren.  She has worked as a registered nurse for 39 years: 18 years in the NICU and 15 years as a CRNA at Women and Children’s Hospital.  She seeks to guide parents and grandparents to develop skills and wisdom in their children and grandchildren. Dijea Young has served children and families most of her adult life as a credentialed teacher, homeschool accrediting consultant, and now as a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach.  For 29 years, she home-educated her own 8 children and now enjoys her ever-growing number of grandchildren…Number 10 is expected any day! .stk-naf8lsi-container{background-color:#431c3b !important}.stk-naf8lsi-container:before{background-color:#431c3b !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-naf8lsi .stk-block-card__image{width:100% !important;height:250px !important}} .stk-wmpqgn7 .stk-block-heading__text{color:#ede5ea !important}Spread the “aha” moments of grace .stk-m4pkt7g .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}Connected Families relies on your generosity so more families can experience “aha” moments of grace. .stk-ncb5a3j .stk-button{background:#ede5ea !important}.stk-ncb5a3j .stk-button:hover:after{background:#95848f !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-ncb5a3j .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:#160e0d !important;font-weight:600 !important}.stk-ncb5a3j .stk-button:hover .stk-button__inner-text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-ncb5a3j .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}DONATE & MAKE CHANGE TODAY!

Are you looking forward to celebrating Christmas with family but dreading unsolicited advice from well-meaning relatives?  You are not alone.  Changes in your daily routines, travel, lack of sleep, and large gatherings set the stage for parenting challenges.  Sometimes these difficult situations may be scrutinized by other adults in your family. This may lead to comments or questions that don’t feel supportive.  Navigating family gatherings can be tricky! On today’s podcast, Chad Hayenga (Director of Education & Equipping) and Jenna Williams (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) for a conversation about navigating the holidays with relatives.  Specifically, how you can respond when grandparents or other family members criticize you (or your children).  Role-playing possible scenarios, Jenna and Chad bring humor and practical wisdom to you just in time for holiday gatherings. In this podcast, you’ll discover: proactive strategies to intentionally prepare your family for upcoming gatherings, including evaluating your own expectations, having conversations with your children, and even having conversations with grandparents about their expectations roleplays to help you navigate criticism, unhelpful comments, or harsh discipline by grandparents or other relatives that you can model humility and the value of connection to your parents and kids during holiday gatherings and difficult situations We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families Parent Coaching Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program Connected Families Framework Unsolicited Advice? 4 Ways to Respond (Connected Families PDF) Guest Bio: Jenna Williams and her husband, Sam, have been married for ten years. They live in Colorado Springs, CO, and have three amazing children ages 3-7.  Jenna is a registered nurse by trade and works in a postpartum unit.  She is also a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and loves caring for and supporting families! Connected Families has been a true blessing for her and her family, and she is excited to share that blessing with others.  You can find her on Instagram: jennawilliams0411. .stk-kdca32b-container{background-color:#431c3b !important}.stk-kdca32b-container:before{background-color:#431c3b !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-kdca32b .stk-block-card__image{width:100% !important;height:250px !important}} .stk-qphg8qs .stk-block-heading__text{color:#ede5ea !important}Spread the “aha” moments of grace .stk-421x8o5 .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}Connected Families relies on your generosity so more families can experience “aha” moments of grace. .stk-kqh3b8b .stk-button{background:#ede5ea !important}.stk-kqh3b8b .stk-button:hover:after{background:#95848f !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-kqh3b8b .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:#160e0d !important;font-weight:600 !important}.stk-kqh3b8b .stk-button:hover .stk-button__inner-text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-kqh3b8b .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}DONATE & MAKE CHANGE TODAY! Related PostsHealthy Conflict Resolution in Adult RelationshipsHow to Handle Unsolicited Parenting Advice from Family (4 Grace-Filled Tips)How to Stop Attention-Seeking Behavior Before It Starts

Today’s podcast is part two of a series on how the gospel informs the Connected Families Framework.  Part one explored the gospel in the first three layers of the Framework. Today’s conversation will unpack how the gospel is woven into the final level of the Framework: Correct: “You are RESPONSIBLE for your actions.”  Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Connected Families Co-Founders Jim and Lynne Jackson for a conversation that is rich with scripture and reflection. Together, they dig into the true goal of discipline as you seek to correct your children when they misbehave. In this podcast you’ll discover: how your approach to correction can have a powerful impact in-the-moment, and a lasting impact on your child’s openness to the Holy Spirit and discipleship to Christ ideas for modeling restoration and reconciliation in your home how the fruit of the Spirit can guide you to gently restore your child ways you can set the example of humility for your family that correction is ultimately about you becoming more like Jesus in a way that attracts your child to a life with Jesus We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! The Gospel in Our Parenting, Part 1 | Ep. 107 Check out the first part of this podcast where we dig into how The Gospel informs the first three levels of the Framework. .stk-219f4cc,.stk-219f4cc .stk-button{width:100% !important}.stk-219f4cc{flex:1 1 0 !important}CLICK HERE TO LISTEN Mentioned in this podcast: The Gospel In Our Parenting, Part 1 – Episode 107 Sensitive & Intense Kids online course (Coming Soon!) Donate to Connected Families Request a meeting with CF Executive Director Romans 6:23 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Galatians 6:1 Galatians 5:22-23 (Fruit of the Spirit) Hebrews 12:11 Matthew 5:23-24 Matthew 18 Acts 3:19 2 Corinthians 7:1 .stk-e2wj2u8-container:hover{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;}.stk-e2wj2u8-container:hover:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;} Learn more about the Framework Want to dig deeper into Connected Families’ Parenting Framework? Get our FREE ebook, What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity. Related PostsLegalism vs Grace: How to Let Go of Perfectionism & Grab Hold of GraceMy Child Doesn’t Care About ConsequencesThe Gospel in Our Parenting, Part 1 | Ep. 107

As 2022 winds down and we head into the holiday season, we have so much to be grateful for.   You’ve probably heard about the benefits of practicing gratitude, but do you know what goes on inside of your body when you experience gratitude?  The brain science and physiological impacts are fascinating.  So what exactly IS the impact of gratitude on the brain? In today’s episode, Dr. Troy Spurrill, DC (Founder & CEO, Synapse Center for Health & Healing) joins Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss the positive impact that practicing gratitude can have on families. Dr. Troy draws on his experiences as a scientist, father, and follower of Jesus to explain how gratitude impacts your heart and health.    In this podcast you’ll discover: how giving and receiving gratitude build your brain the chemical difference between intentional gratitude and quick, robotic expressions the powerful connection between receiving God’s grace and gratitude aspects of daily life that block our ability to express and receive gratitude practical solutions to support kids (or adults) experiencing anxiety or despair  We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families 20th Anniversary Celebration Video Sensitive & Intense Kids: Navigating Challenges with Purpose & Hope (coming soon!) Synapse Center for Health & Healing 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Join the Connected Families Donor Team  Guest Bio:  Dr. Troy Spurrill is the founder and CEO of Synapse Center for Health and Healing. He started Synapse over 26 years ago with a vision to bring an integrative approach to healthcare through functional medicine, making Synapse an internationally known center for true health. He received a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from the University of Manitoba, and a Doctorate of Chiropractic from Northwestern Health Sciences University. He has extensive training in Functional Neurology, Nutrition, and Applied Kinesiology. Dr. Troy is an author and international lecturer on wellness and brain-based healing. Dr. Troy and his wife Christine have 10 children together. When he’s not at the clinic, Dr. Troy enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, and attending sporting events. .stk-yi4m58u-container{background-color:#431c3b !important}.stk-yi4m58u-container:before{background-color:#431c3b !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-yi4m58u .stk-block-card__image{width:100% !important;height:250px !important}} .stk-nslv94w .stk-block-heading__text{color:#ede5ea !important}Spread the “aha” moments of grace .stk-72icr9p .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}Connected Families relies on your generosity so more families can experience “aha” moments of grace. .stk-qvl5or7 .stk-button{background:#ede5ea !important}.stk-qvl5or7 .stk-button:hover:after{background:#95848f !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-qvl5or7 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:#160e0d !important;font-weight:600 !important}.stk-qvl5or7 .stk-button:hover .stk-button__inner-text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-qvl5or7 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}DONATE & MAKE CHANGE TODAY! Related PostsGive Your Family a THANKS-filled ThanksgivingQuestions to Put the THANKS Back in ThanksgivingThanksgiving GreetingsThe 3 Most Important (and Most Overlooked) Reasons to Be Thankful to God

Before you had children you may have held idealistic visions of what family life and parenting would be like someday.  For some parents, as their hopes and expectations meet the realities of daily life, they begin to feel disillusioned. Insecurities and anxiety around parenting may surface, and they may ask, “Am I enough? Am I the right parent for this child?” In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Taylor Irby (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) for a conversation exploring how to move past our own expectations and into the security God has for us as parents.  Both Stacy and Taylor have children through birth as well as adoption.  In this podcast you’ll discover: messages you can use to challenge insecurities you experience in parenting ways control can show up in your behavior toward yourself and your children steps to help you move from anxiety and control to Truth in the moment what happens in our minds, hearts, and behavior when we trust that God is taking care of us We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Episode 98 – Can you parent well when you’re anxious – Guest Taylor Irby  Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Connected Families Framework Sensitive & Intense Kids online course (Coming soon!) Slow, low, and listen  Romans 5:8 Guest Bio:  Taylor Irby is a mother to 5 kids, and she understands the struggles parents face. Every day she faces ADHD, autism, anxiety, developmental delays, and adoption trauma. She too has sat in the trenches and searched the world for answers. Taylor read book after book and got excited over methods that were short-lived. That is when she hit the wall of desperation and sought parent coaching through Connected Families. Taylor ultimately became a coach through their training program to help others like her. She has seen transformation in her home through working with a framework that not only has changed her children’s behavior but their hearts as well. You are not alone on this parenting journey. There is hope and you can enjoy your children, build that relationship you have wanted and see behavior change. You can learn more about Taylor at taylorirbycoaching.com, and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/taylor.irby.5 and Instagram @taylorirbycoaching 

If you’re here, your parenting goal is likely to have a connected family. But what do you do when you have a child who is pulling away from you? A child who does not seem to want connection? Feelings of disconnection from a child can be painful and challenging for a parent. Even in the most “connected” families, this can happen. You are not alone. In today’s podcast, Chad Hayenga (Connected Families Director of Education & Equipping), and Jim Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) have a conversation about pursuing kids who push away. They share stories from their own parenting journey as they explore practical ideas to pursue a child when connection feels out of reach.   In this podcast you’ll discover: possible reasons why a child may push awayhow a parent’s beliefs and thoughts may influence what’s going on simple questions that can create opportunities for connectionhow to become a student of your child and let them guide you towards connection We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: My Child Wants Nothing To Do With Me. Is There Hope?Matthew 12:342 Corinthians 10:5Ephesians 1Ephesians 2Colossians 3Donate to Connected FamiliesConnected Families Parent Coaching .stk-hw2ml0o-inner-blocks{justify-content:center !important}.stk-hw2ml0o{background-image:url(https://connectedfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/BW-father-and-daughter-questions-scaled.jpg) !important;padding-top:64px !important;padding-right:64px !important;padding-bottom:64px !important;padding-left:64px !important}.stk-hw2ml0o-container{background-color:#00000080 !important}.stk-hw2ml0o-container:before{background-color:#00000080 !important}.stk-hw2ml0o .stk-block-hero__content{min-height:500px !important;max-width:80% !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-left:auto !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-hw2ml0o .stk-block-hero__content{max-width:100% !important}} .stk-v7d8e2t .stk-block-heading__text{color:#FFFFFF !important}Less arguing. More wisdom. .stk-ovex3h7 .stk-block-text__text{color:#FFFFFF !important}That’s what you get with the Power of Questions online course. .stk-23k84h9 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-23k84h9 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}}$35 .stk-fzi9qs0 .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-fzi9qs0 .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-fzi9qs0 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-fzi9qs0 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}LEARN MORE

Prayer is a meaningful faith practice that you probably want to pass on to your kids, but teaching your kids to pray may feel overwhelming. You may feel unsure how to answer your kid’s questions about prayer or how to incorporate regular prayer times with them into your daily life. In today’s podcast, Stephanie Thurling (author and co-founder of Raising Prayerful Kids) joins Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to talk about teaching children to pray in meaningful ways.  Stephanie’s experience working with youth and families inspired her to start her ministry equipping parents to pray with their children.   In this podcast you’ll discover: practical tools you can use for how to pray with your child how to create moments of connection through blessing prayersways to use the Bible to guide prayer with your kidscommon pitfalls parents experience when they try to teach their kids to pray (and what to do about them!) We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families Parenting Strengths AssessmentLectio DivinaRaising Prayerful Kids BookRaising Prayerful Kids Ministry Guest Bio:  Steph Thurling is co-founder of Raising Prayerful Kids, a ministry that equips parents to pray with their kids in meaningful ways. She has her master’s degree in youth, family, and culture from Fuller Theological Seminary and worked in youth ministry for several years before deciding to stay home with her kids. .stk-llzrgrv-container{box-shadow:0px 5px 30px -10px rgba(30,63,82,0.3) !important} .stk-2deafez .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-2deafez .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}}Does your child need help calming down? Would a free course presenting you 7 sensory strategies to calm your child be useful? If yes, take our FREE online course 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids. .stk-xwhbgiz .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-xwhbgiz .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}TELL ME MORE

Your child is done with school (or preschool) for the day and instead of relaxing, you’re now navigating meltdown after meltdown.  Why do the strategies that worked with one child fall flat with another?  Do you find yourself wondering, “Will it always be this way?” In today’s podcast, Lynne Jackson (Occupational Therapist and Connected Families Co-Founder), and Amy Nyvall (seasoned mom and past coaching client) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to share ideas on how daily sensory rhythms can bring down the chaos and cultivate more peace in your home.  Through Amy’s story, you’ll learn how daily rhythms that incorporate sensory activities will often help your child avoid meltdowns and reestablish calm in moments of chaos. In this podcast you’ll discover: how to find calm and clarity as a parent to guide your family to take the next step ideas to schedule your day to create a culture of peace in your home ideas to help equip your family through the challenges of mornings, dinner time, and quiet time activities to try when everybody feels off (one even includes chocolate!) We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Sensitive & Intense Kids online course – Coming Early 2023! 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids-FREE online course (this includes the video of Amy’s husband doing the burrito roll with kids) Guest Bio:  Amy and her husband Andrew have been married for 16 years and live among the fir trees outside Portland, Oregon. They enjoy outdoor adventures as much as possible and have a blast homeschooling their three intensely creative, adventurous, and active children. In her spare time, you’ll find Amy encouraging moms and homeschoolers, learning alongside the kids, or slipping away to read from a stack of her own books. Amy is passionate about creating a family culture that equips our children to be prepared to serve the Lord in the days ahead. .stk-aj2l13h{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important}.stk-aj2l13h:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important}.stk-aj2l13h > .stk-separator__bottom{transform:scaleX(-1) !important} .stk-nien5hf{align-self:center !important} Take the course that was made for your family. Got a child with extra big emotions? We get it. And we want to support and equip you. Raising an intense and sensitive child isn’t easy, but it can be filled with hope. .stk-d5t92v3 .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-d5t92v3 .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-4,#1e3f52) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-d5t92v3 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-d5t92v3 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}LEARN MORE .stk-ivow046{align-self:center !important}

Do you sometimes struggle to think of an appropriate consequence for your child’s misbehavior?  Or dole out punishment only to have your child refuse to accept the punishment? Sigh.  Offering consistent and effective discipline can feel like an ongoing and overwhelming challenge.  In today’s episode, Chad Hayenga (Connected Families Director of Education & Equipping), and Katie Wetsell (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss what effective discipline can look like. (It IS possible!) The conversation explores the messages we send through discipline and how to coach children to be responsible for their actions. In this podcast you’ll discover: 3 key questions to ask in any discipline situationhow to work with your child as a team for more effective disciplinethe opportunity in discipline to offer and receive God’s grace and forgivenesshow to help your child see the natural impacts of their behaviorhow to guide your child to “make it right” how “paused privileges” can help motivate a child  We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart online course registration Connected Families Parent Coach CertificationConnected Families Parent CoachingConnected Families PodcastGalatians 6:7  Guest Bio:  Katie Wetsell is our Discipline That Connects online course moderator. She is also a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, pediatric nurse, and mom of four through birth and adoption. She is passionate about encouraging and empowering parents to love their families with confidence and connection. Building on her bedside experience, she has also been trained in SPACE treatment (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to help parents support their children in overcoming anxiety. Her website is www.parentwithhope.org. .stk-7d53211{background-color:#FFFFFF !important;padding-top:0px !important;padding-right:0px !important;padding-bottom:0px !important;padding-left:0px !important}.stk-7d53211:before{background-color:#FFFFFF !important}.stk-7d53211-container{background-color:#ea8c75 !important}.stk-7d53211-container:before{background-color:#ea8c75 !important}.stk-7d53211 .stk-block-hero__content{min-height:500px !important;align-items:center !important;display:flex !important} .stk-8ef0492{margin-bottom:0px !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-8ef0492-column{--stk-col-order-1:2 !important;--stk-col-order-2:1 !important}} .stk-1f619eb{align-self:center !important}.stk-1f619eb-container{max-width:450px !important} .stk-3ba9f2f .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:55px !important;color:#ffffff !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-3ba9f2f .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}}You can help your child with their anger. .stk-57d8075 .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-3,#293241) !important;font-weight:600 !important}Learn how to break the addictive anger cycle. Get the FREE ebook, Helping Kids With Anger. .stk-61a9653-container{margin-top:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-bottom:0px !important;margin-left:0px !important} .stk-ef22c6e .stk-img-wrapper{height:750px !important}.stk-ef22c6e .stk-img-wrapper img{object-fit:contain !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-ef22c6e .stk-img-wrapper{width:100% !important;height:500px !important}.stk-ef22c6e .stk-img-wrapper img{object-fit:contain !important}}

In today’s episode, Corrie and Alan Thetford (founders of Building Wise Families and Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to discuss how to help our children want to calm down when they are experiencing big emotions. The conversation explores what’s going on in us as parents when we try to make our child calm down, the role of empathy in supporting our child’s big emotions, and what’s going on beneath the surface of our child’s big outburst.   In this podcast, you’ll discover: what’s happening in your child’s brain and body that makes them not want to calm downhow your good intentions to make your child stop or take a break during a meltdown can actually escalate emotionsempathy’s role in helping your child feel understood and able to move through big emotions so they want to calmwhy something small is often the trigger for your child’s cascade of emotion We hope that you have been encouraged by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth! Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart online course  Connected Families Parent CoachingConnected Families Coaching Certification programCorrie & Alan Thetford’s Podcast – Building Wise Families Guest Bio:  Alan and Corrie have four children and are Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches as well as instructors for CF coaches-in-training. They are passionate about multiplying the gospel by helping families transform power struggles and conflicts into opportunities for gospel messages.   .stk-h5im9qv{background-color:#FFFFFF !important;padding-top:0px !important;padding-right:0px !important;padding-bottom:0px !important;padding-left:0px !important}.stk-h5im9qv:before{background-color:#FFFFFF !important}.stk-h5im9qv-container{background-color:#ea8c75 !important}.stk-h5im9qv-container:before{background-color:#ea8c75 !important}.stk-h5im9qv .stk-block-hero__content{min-height:500px !important;align-items:center !important;display:flex !important} .stk-ujxef42{margin-bottom:0px !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-ujxef42-column{--stk-col-order-1:2 !important;--stk-col-order-2:1 !important}} .stk-caip6zr{align-self:center !important}.stk-caip6zr-container{max-width:450px !important} .stk-fx3ba5e .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:55px !important;color:#ffffff !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-fx3ba5e .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}}You can help your child with their anger. .stk-ub25olg .stk-block-text__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-3,#293241) !important;font-weight:600 !important}Learn how to break the addictive anger cycle. Get the FREE ebook, Helping Kids With Anger. .stk-r2adph5-container{margin-top:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-bottom:0px !important;margin-left:0px !important} .stk-netbqxw .stk-img-wrapper{height:750px !important}.stk-netbqxw .stk-img-wrapper img{object-fit:contain !important}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-netbqxw .stk-img-wrapper{width:100% !important;height:500px !important}.stk-netbqxw .stk-img-wrapper img{object-fit:contain !important}}

“Why are you so mad all the time?” Do you ever hear this from your child? You probably don’t intend to look mad. You may not even be aware of your furrowed brow or irritated expression. And it’s especially hard to keep your cool in the heat of the moment when your child pushes your buttons. But what message does your expression send to your child? Sure, you could try to put on a happy face and force a polite smile, but it’s not the most effective or long-term solution. So what can you do to keep things truly calm? In today’s podcast, Jim and Lynne Jackson (Co-Founders of Connected Families) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to dig deep into an important principle of the Connected Families Framework. At the foundation level of the framework, you learn to move from “fast, large, and loud” to “slow, low, and listen.” This helps kids feel safe during discipline. Often, parents leverage fear and intensity to “change” kids’ behavior. But kids read facial expressions more than anything else. Have you ever noticed your child looking at your face and listening to the tone of your voice to discern if they are truly safe? So how do you show up safe for your kids? At Connected Families, we start with the question, “What’s going on in me?” and “What does my child see on my face in times of discipline?” When you are able to do this inner work, your calm demeanor toward your kids can be a true reflection of a peaceful heart, not just a contrived calm. Then you can have the emotional capacity to help your struggling child. This will help guide them toward wisdom, connection, and grace, with true compassion.  In this podcast, you’ll learn: how to work toward becoming truly calm on the inside, not just on the outsidepractical tools for the heat of the moment to help you regulate your nervous system (and then help your child regulate too!)the science of creating brain pathways that can help you respond better in future discipline situationsthe transforming power of the principles in the Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart online course, and the beautiful testimony of one mom’s parenting journey through the course We hope that you have been helped by today’s podcast, and we look forward to getting to know you. Please check out our website, and don’t forget to reach out if you need help. It is a joy to be able to walk with you as you parent your kids in God’s grace and truth!  Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart online courseFramework magnetConnected Families FrameworkMichael McKnightDo-oversBible verses: 2 Corinthians 10:5, Ephesians 2:10, Mark 6:34 In the Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart online course, you’ll learn 4 key messages that all kids long to hear. You’ll be equipped to move into frustrating moments of misbehavior to lead with grace, not fear or anger. Register today! The course begins on October 4th. .stk-ff19205-container{box-shadow:7px 5px 30px rgba(72,73,121,0.15) !important}.stk-ff19205 > .stk-separator__bottom{transform:scaleX(-1) !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-ff19205-column{--stk-col-order-1:2 !important;--stk-col-order-2:1 !important}}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-ff19205-column{--stk-col-order-1:2 !important;--stk-col-order-2:1 !important}} .stk-4bc716e{align-self:center !important} .stk-d485067{align-self:center !important} .stk-85db8e2 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-85db8e2 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:50px !important}}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-85db8e2 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:30px !important}}4 simple messages.1 simple framework. .stk-837ad59 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:19px !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-837ad59 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:19px !important}}Get the FREE ebook, and start your journey toward better, more connective discipline in your home. Related PostsChildhood Wounds: What They Are & How To Free Your Parenting of ThemKids and Misbehavior: Is It Sin? Or Something Else? | Ep. 108Power Struggles: Why We Get Stuck In Them & How to Move Toward Problem Solving

Is it sin when my child misbehaves? Or is there something else going on under the surface? What is gentle parenting? What is biblical parenting? This topic is definitely making the rounds right now on social media, in churches, and in our homes. It can be overwhelming and confusing. What is true? What does the Bible really say about all of this? If you are struggling with all the controversy around this topic, you are in good company with so many other parents, and you will not want to miss this episode! In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward is joined by Lynne Jackson (Occupational Therapist and Connected Families Co-Founder) and Amanda Erickson (Co-Founder of Flourishing Homes and Families) to sift through and decipher the many messages we get as parents about the topic of sin and misbehavior. They discuss the importance of understanding underlying issues, being able to connect with your child, and seeing the opportunity to set your child up for success in the moment and for the future.            Our best parenting leaves our kids eager to receive the guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit, as we model the grace and reconciliation we all receive from Jesus. When you prioritize this kind of connection, you equip your child to grow in wisdom and in their God-given purpose. In this podcast, you’ll learn about: teaching the beauty of repentance without the shame, celebrating the growing process, and leaving the job of conviction to the Holy Spirit             Ancient Hebrew culture, and how their understanding of childhood can bring context to the biblical wisdom that informs your parentinghow aspects of brain science align with biblical parenting, and how it can bring a tender perspective to your parenting as you disciple your growing childpractical and biblical ways you can respond with love in misbehavior to help calm and guide your child toward wisdom and connection Has this podcast been helpful to you today? If so, would you mind taking a minute to share it with other parents who need some encouragement too? You can also subscribe to this podcast. We want to share God’s grace and truth with more parents just like you. Have questions? Please reach out, we are here to help! Mentioned in this podcast: 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids: The FREE Online CourseFlourishing Homes and FamiliesPerspectives on Spanking FREE ebook Doctrine of Grace in Parenting podcast Ep.96Dr. John TaylorConnected Families FrameworkConnected Families FREE ResourcesDiscipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart Online CourseScripture verses: Romans 7,8, Ezekiel 18:20, Jeremiah 19:4,5, Deuteronomy 1:39, Isaiah 7:16, Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 22:15 (NKJV), Prov 22:15 (HCSB), Philippians 2:4, Romans 7:15, Exodus 4:11-17, 1 Kings19:1-9, John 11:17-44, Luke 22:7-62, John 21:15-17, Luke 6:37 Guest bio: Amanda Erickson is passionate about helping moms be less stressed and angry so they can flourish in their motherhood. This passion is born out of her own experience with postpartum anxiety, rage, and anger. She delights in linking arms with other mamas so they know that gentle, peaceful, grace-based parenting isn’t only Scripturally sound—it’s actually possible! An artist and free spirit, she is most in her element when she is speaking or creating. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from BMA Theological Seminary. Amanda and her husband David have been married for 17 years, have two boys, and currently reside in East Texas. .stk-w9gp7sh-container:hover{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;}.stk-w9gp7sh-container:hover:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-6, #e4eff5) !important;} Learn more about the Framework Want to dig deeper into Connected Families’ Parenting Framework? Get our FREE ebook, What Kids Need: 4 Messages That Build Identity.

What difference does the gospel make in our lives? In our parenting?  The message of God’s love communicates the unconditional truth that each of us has been made in the image of God. Our connection with Jesus brings hope and transformation to every area of our lives.  The love and grace of God is the source of everything we do at Connected Families. One of the things that sets us apart is that we work to make scripture practical for parents. The Bible is our sure foundation and the first resource we consider in our teaching. Today’s podcast is the first of two podcasts about how the gospel informs the Connected Families Framework. Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Connected Families Co-Founders Jim and Lynne Jackson to discuss how being a new creation in Christ can bring change into every part of our lives–including the everyday trials of parenting!  We can live rooted and grounded in Jesus and put our trust in Him instead of the outcomes we’re looking for with our children. We can build our identity as redeemed children of God, bestowed with every spiritual blessing and created for God’s purpose and design. This abundant life in Christ then pours out and blesses those around us, especially our children!     In this podcast: In today’s podcast, you will discover how the gospel is infused into the first three levels of our Framework: “You are SAFE with me.” Jesus is there to help you when you feel anxious or overwhelmed. He can help you explore, “What’s going on in me?” In Christ, you have the ability to be ok, even when your kids are not ok, because your identity is in Jesus.  “You are LOVED no matter what.” Neither you nor your child has to do something or change before Jesus loves you. Misbehavior is the golden opportunity to show unconditional love to your kids. “You are CALLED and CAPABLE.” The deeper you are able to receive God’s grace and truth for yourself, the more peace and confidence you can embrace as you coach your kids. God will partner with you as you help them grow in His purpose for their life.  Stay tuned for the second part of this podcast, “Kids and Misbehavior: Is it sin? Or something else?” as we continue the conversation about the gospel and the Connected Families Framework. You won’t want to miss the eye-opening discussion about the last level of the Framework, “You are RESPONSIBLE for your actions.” In the meantime check out our FREE resources! Helpful resources mentioned in this podcast: 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids: The FREE Online Course Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart Online Course Connected Families Framework Scripture verses: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 1 and 2, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 3:16-18, Psalm 139, Galatians 4:4-6, James 1, Romans 5:8, Luke 15:11-32 .stk-8bbe0f0{margin-bottom:0px !important}.stk-8bbe0f0-container{background-color:rgba(232,232,232,0.3) !important;box-shadow:0px 5px 30px -10px rgba(238,108,77,0.3) !important}.stk-8bbe0f0-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-5,#e8e8e8) !important} What are your parenting strengths? You’ve got them. Knowing your strengths will help you become the best parent you can be. Knowing your parenting challenges is useful information too. Take our FREE ASSESSMENT. (function() {var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = "https://paperform.co/__embed.min.js"; document.body.appendChild(script); })()

“These clothes are itchy!” “I can’t eat this, it’s mushy!” Meltdowns at bedtime. High energy at mealtime. Lots of big feelings about everything! There is usually at least one child like this in every family! If your child freaks out easily and you can relate, it is very possible that you are parenting a sensitive and intense child. What do we mean by sensitive and intense? It’s not an official medical term or a diagnosis. It’s simply a descriptive way to guide how we look at the kiddos that become easily overwhelmed with everyday life. These kids are more sensitive to the world around them and struggle to become calm and regulated. They often think more deeply, react more loudly, and probably consume a lot of your energy as a parent! On today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward is joined by Lynne Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families and Occupational Therapist) and Lydia Rex (RN and Connected Families Parent Coach) to bring you compelling information that will transform how you see your sensitive and intense kids. You will feel equipped to care for your child by approaching their challenges through the lens of their nervous system, and not just from a behavioral standpoint.  When you meet the sensory needs of your child, it enables you to focus on forming deep bonds of connection instead of just striving for conflict management. Parenting a sensitive and intense child is actually an amazing gift when we see their potential and build their identity around God’s grace and truth in their lives. In this podcast, you’ll discover: what sensory challenges may look like in your child, and how to look beneath the surface of their misbehaviorthe brain science: What is happening in your child’s brain and body when they struggle with sensory overload?how to cultivate a mindset of connection as you meet your child’s sensory needspractical strategies (from years of experience!) to help your child regulate their nervous system and feel more calm Do you have a sensitive and intense child? You are not alone and God’s grace abounds for you and your family. If you need further help we offer Parent Coaching and would love to work with you as you seek to parent in God’s grace and truth. Mentioned in this podcast: 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids: The Free Online CourseEpisode 89: A Powerful New Perspective for ParentingEpisode 93: Help! Homeschooling is OverwhelmingEphesians 2:10Isaiah 40:11Connected Families Framework Guest bio: Lydia Rex is a registered nurse, wife, and mother of two and has worked with families in many capacities throughout her career and personal life. She’s been a student of Connected Families since 2014 and continues to find it incredibly life-giving for her own family. Areas of her experience/special interest include foster care and adoption, attachment difficulties, developmental and learning disabilities including FASD. She brings a trauma-informed perspective to the Connected Families framework, and the desire to see families find peace and healing even in the midst of challenges! Use our “Contact Us” form to connect with Lydia. You can also follow Lydia on Instagram @lydia.cfcoach Do you have one really intense child? Or a couple? Almost every family in the Connected Families community has at least one child who is more sensitive and more intense than most other kids. Often what “worked” for your other kids doesn’t seem to “work” for this intense child! It’s a game-changer when you learn some new skills and can truly understand and empathize with that sensitive and intense child. Check out our newest FREE online mini-course, “7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids.” You’ll be equipped with skills to help your sensitive and intense child navigate life. Register today!

Not all families who have been formed through adoption have experienced what is discussed on this podcast. Regardless of how your family was formed, or the challenges you have in your home, there is a wide range of experiences when it comes to compassion fatigue. If you’re struggling to feel joy and hope in your relationship with your child you might be feeling compassion fatigue. Especially if, for a variety of reasons, your child needs extra care and support. You love your child so much, but it can be hard to see the needs of your child when you feel emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted from trying to help them. Compassion fatigue is real, and it is more common than you might think. In our decades of interacting with families, we have seen an increase in parents in need of hope and help in the midst of daily struggles. You can find hope today from a place of faith, instead of gritting, exhausting, self-effort. Whether your child is struggling with trauma, sensory issues, attachment, abuse, shame, or just the daily struggles of life, this episode is for you! In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward is joined by Lynne Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) and special guests David and Colleen Little, TBRI practitioners and founders of Imago Hearts. David and Colleen have extensive experience, both in the US and internationally, helping parents who are raising children with histories of abandonment, abuse, and neglect. They dig deep with us today and talk about the importance of understanding attachment, and of doing our own inner work as parents. Then, the grace and mercy of Jesus in our lives can overflow into our relationship with our child in safety, connection, and compassion. You can experience hope and healing in your own heart, and bring that same hope to your struggling child as well. With God’s grace and help, you can look within to understand how your own history, wounds, and attachment have shown up in your life and in your parenting. Healing those wounds can lead to insight about yourself, and that leads to a deeper capacity to offer mercy and compassion to your child.     In today’s podcast, you’ll discover: symptoms of compassion fatigue, and why you might be struggling with this the vital role that attachment plays in the relational stress you’re experiencing with your child practical steps to work through compassion fatigue and the importance of self-care how to work through the first level of the Connected Families Framework  (“You are SAFE with me.”) to gain insight into your own needs, and then to better meet the needs of your child Resources mentioned in this podcast: 7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids online mini-course (free!) Imago Hearts ministry  Does Attachment Style Matter? (podcast with Milan and Kay Yerkovich) Connected Families Framework Connected Families free resources Are you struggling with compassion fatigue? Perhaps feeling isolated? You were never meant to travel this path alone! Please reach out to us and let us know how we can help. We also have Certified Parent Coaches who are ready to help you one-on-one in your parenting journey. We look forward to connecting with you! Guest Bio: David and Colleen Little live in Prior Lake, Minnesota. They are qualified practitioner trainers of the Trust-Based Relational Intervention model taught by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Childhood Development at Texas Christian University. David and Colleen are also registered trainers of the Circle of Security Parenting intervention. Colleen has a master’s degree in Speech Therapy from Mankato State and David has a master’s degree in Early Childhood and Infant Mental Health from The University of Minnesota. Their ministry, imago hearts, focuses on helping parents who are raising children with histories of abandonment, abuse, and neglect. In addition to training and coaching parents in Minnesota, they have partnerships with NGOs in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, and Poland. You can find more information about David and Colleen on their website: imagohearts.org. Do you have one really intense child? Or a couple? Almost every family in the Connected Families community has at least one child who is more sensitive and more intense than most other kids. Often what “worked” for your other kids doesn’t seem to “work” for this intense child! It’s a game-changer when you learn some new skills and can truly understand and empathize with that sensitive and intense child. Check out our newest FREE online mini-course, “7 Practical Calming Strategies for Kids”. You’ll be equipped with skills to help your sensitive and intense child navigate life. Register today! Related Posts100 Truth Phrases to Keep You GoingAnna’s Story: When Traditional Parenting Just Doesn’t Cut ItDoes Attachment Style Matter? | Ep. 101My Misconceptions About Adoption—And, Well, All ParentingParenting Kids from Hard Places with Unique Needs | Ep. 45

.stk-e5359fc{margin-bottom:19px !important}Do you sometimes worry about your child who is a rule follower? Wait, what?! Don’t we want kids who follow the rules? Parents often express their concerns about their defiant child. But rule-following? That doesn’t seem like a bad thing! And yet, we would suggest that these types of children come with their own set of challenges. Compliance can be viewed on a scale, from healthy to unhealthy. A child who is “easy” may actually be emotionally unhealthy and struggling to “speak the truth in love“. In this podcast, we are focusing on the more unhealthy end of the spectrum. No matter where your child lands on this scale, you’ll find super helpful guidance here to build connection with your child. In today’s podcast, Lynne Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) joins our host, Stacy Bellward, to peel back the layers of what might be going on under the surface of our rule-following children. These kids often give us a “break,” which seems to make things easier. But there is the risk of their identity being built around people-pleasing and suppressing their own needs. Over time and into adulthood, they might miss out on how to navigate conflict, and difficult emotions, and struggle with perfectionism as well. When you get curious and patiently work to draw out your child’s true feelings, you can help them get to the bottom of underlying struggles, and teach them to recognize their own needs and emotions. You can help them find their voice in the world, and communicate to them that they are loved and valued. In this podcast, you’ll learn: what healthy and unhealthy compliance looks like, and how to get in touch with what is going on under the surface in your childpractical ways to help you draw out your child and help them express their needs in a healthy wayhow the  Connected Families Framework can help you navigate this process as you consider, “What’s going on in me as a parent?” and “What’s going on in my child?”the healing power of God’s grace to break cycles and overcome shame-based parenting Mentioned in this podcast: Got an Easy-Going, Compliant Child? Here’s What You Need to Know.Sibling Conflict online courseDiscipline That Connects online course12 Misbehaviors and the Gifts-Gone-Awry Behind ThemConnected Families FrameworkParent Coaching Certification Program In our online course, Sibling Conflict: From Bickering to Bonding, we teach parents how to teach kids The Peace Process. This process equips kids to work through their arguments without your constant supervision and refereeing. Join us! Your kids will thank you.

Should dads demand respect? Maybe this sounds familiar: “No, I don’t want to!” “This is dumb, you’re unfair!” “Who cares if my homework isn’t done?!”  Hey dads, have you experienced this kind of pushback from your kids? It can push ALL your buttons when your child is disrespectful. This can make it especially hard to keep calm and respond with calm authority. Although this is a struggle for almost all parents, it seems to be an especially challenging scenario for dads.   When our “respect buttons” get pushed, it’s tempting to grasp for control and command obedience. But in doing so, we might find ourselves sacrificing connection and true, heartfelt respect with our kids. You want to build connection and respect. So what can you do? How can you respond? In today’s episode, Jim Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) and Chad Hayenga (Marriage and Family Therapist and Connected Families Parent Coach) have a heartfelt conversation about respect. When we engage with our kids in humility and curiosity instead of control, we model what respect looks like, and safely earn their respect and trust. Treating our children with respect helps us diffuse a tense situation, and paves the way for connection, conversation, and understanding. In this podcast, you’ll learn: how you can initiate and model respect to your child–even when they are being disrespectful to youways you can unintentionally frustrate or exasperate your kids, and how to encourage your child towards true heart change–not just compliance practical ways to teach respect both in and outside of the moment or situationthe importance of asking foundational questions such as: “What’s going on in me as a parent?” “What lessons are my kids really learning by my actions?” If you’ve struggled with teaching your child to be respectful we hope you’ve found practical wisdom in this podcast to guide you and your family in God’s grace and truth. Please check out our resources, and as always, your questions and thoughts are important to us. We would love to connect with you! Mentioned in this podcast: Ephesians 6:1-4Connected Families FrameworkDonate to Connected FamiliesSibling Conflict online courseWycliffe Hawai‘i Pidgin Bible translation In our online course, Sibling Conflict: From Bickering to Bonding, we teach parents how to teach kids The Peace Process. This process equips kids to work through their arguments without your constant supervision and refereeing. Join us! Your kids will thank you.

Sometimes parenting can feel like one big list of things you have to get done. It can be so hard to switch gears from the many demands of being a parent to having joyful and playful time with your kiddos! Yet research shows that playfulness brings connection and communicates in a language that helps kids learn! Playful parenting is an important part of every level of the Connected Families Framework. Intentional parent/child play can: calm your child’s brain and yoursprovide opportunities to teach skillsenable problem-solving capabilityreach kids who are struggling communicate to your child, “I enjoy you!” Sounds great, right? So how do we get there? In this podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Lynne Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families, Occupational Therapist) and Joy Wendling (Connected Families Certified Parent Coach) to discuss the vital role that play contributes to a connected relationship between you and your kids. Tune in as they talk about how you can invite your kids to cooperate through play, and keep the long-term goal of connection, while also teaching important skills for the moment. From both a scientific and a biblical standpoint, play is a vital part of speaking your child’s language. It is a pivotal way kids learn! The language of play creates an atmosphere of emotional safety where you can diffuse conflict and invite joy and connection. In this podcast, you’ll learn: what the Bible says about play–it might surprise you!the brain science of why playful parenting creates connection and invites cooperationpractical ways to make it happen in everyday routines (like trying to get your kids out the door!)how to tune into your family’s unique personalities to discover what playful connection looks like  Has this podcast been helpful to you? If so, could you please rate and review so others can find us more easily? We want to share the message of hope and connection with as many parents as possible!  Mentioned in this podcast: Joy Wendling: Created to PlayConnected Families FrameworkSibling Conflict online courseThe “Just Right Challenge”Bible verses: Ecclesiastes 11:8, Matthew 19:14, 2 Samuel 6, Zephaniah 3:17, John 15:15 Guest Bio Joy Wendling is a wife, mama to 5 girls ages 1 – 9, and play advocate. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where she has served in children’s, youth, and family ministries and in Christian Early Childhood Education. In 2016, she earned her Master’s in Youth, Family, and Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary. Though her primary ministry is to her family now, she loves to serve other families through Connected Families Certified Parent Coaching, and her podcast Playfully Faithful Parenting. You can connect with Joy on her website createdtoplay.com, and on Instagram instagram.com/createdtoplay, and Facebook facebook.com/created2play. Or you can email her at [email protected].  Sign up below to receive a weekly dose of encouragement straight to your inbox:

Your relationship with your child might feel “off,” but you’re not sure why. Could it be that the way you were parented impacts the way you parent? Your attachment style affects all your most important relationships – from spouse to children to close friends. So, what is “attachment style” anyway? And does attachment style really matter? Attachment tends to be a buzzword in parenting circles. Attachment Theory comes from scientific research about different ways that children securely bond (or lack bonding) with their parents in the child’s early years. Also, it shouldn’t be confused with Attachment Parenting. In a perfect world, a child experiences secure attachment when the parent-child relationship is built around emotional safety and stability from the parent.  But we don’t live in a perfect world.  Sometimes we (and our children) do not experience this kind of secure attachment. When we explore our family of origin, we learn how our own style of attachment affects how we respond in relationships, and it definitely affects how we parent our children!  On today’s episode, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) and Jim Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) welcome guests Milan and Kay Yerkovich. Together, they dive into the significance of, and styles of, attachment and how we model them in our parenting. They are the authors of How We Love, and they discuss how we bring the attachment style from our parents to our own relationships, especially with our kids. Learning about your attachment style is a key component of the first level of the Connected Families Framework and can help you understand, “What’s going on in me?”. Parents who have not experienced a secure connection — don’t lose hope! The good news is that attachment wounds from your past can be identified, and you can grow along with your kids. You can cultivate a secure, deep connection with your kids and transform your family for generations to come.  In this podcast, you’ll discover: the six attachment styles and how you can identify your own attachment style how your attachment style passes on to your kids, and affects emotional regulation, sense of safety, and predictability in your home the specific challenges of cultivating a secure attachment with kids who have experienced trauma, particularly kids who join your family through foster care or adoption the importance of understanding your own attachment history without shame, and adopting a growth mindset to change the trajectory of your family’s legacy We are so glad you’re here! Has this podcast been helpful? Could you please take a moment to rate and review this podcast, so others can find us more easily? Here’s what others are saying about our podcast!  Resources mentioned in this podcast: How We Love by Milan and Kay Yerkovich How We Love Our Kids by Milan and Kay Yerkovich (includes “Seven gifts you can give your kids.”) What is Your Love Style? Online quiz Free resources from Milan and Kay Yerkovich: Comfort Circle: Guide for the Listener, Understanding Your Quiz Results Grace and Truth for Moms online course Connected Families Framework ACEs scoring system  Bible verses: Psalm 139, James 1:19, 2 Cor 1:3-7, Psalm 23 Guest bios: KAY YERKOVICH, M.S., M.F.T. Kay is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She has a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and has been counseling people for over 30 years.  She is a popular speaker and lecturer in the areas of parenting and marriage relationships.  In her free time, Kay enjoys creative hobbies, ceramics, painting, and sewing. Taking a swim in the ocean is her favorite way to renew her energy.  REV. MILAN YERKOVICH, M.A. Milan specializes in couples’ marriage counseling and is the founder and president of Relationship 180, a non-profit Christian counseling center specializing in the application of attachment research (www.relationship180.com).  He has a master’s degree in Biblical Studies and has worked with marriages and families for over 40 years and is a Bible teacher and lecturer in the areas of relational theology, marriage, family, and parenting. He is a Co-Host of New Life Live! a nationally syndicated counseling show heard on over 180 radio stations, which can be seen on the NRB television network (www.newlife.com). He loves to row crew, swims and is a martial arts instructor.    TOGETHER: They are the creators of Attachment Core Pattern Therapy (ACPT™), co-authored How We Love, How We Love Workbook, and How We Love Our Kids, and travel and speak extensively on relationships (www.howwelove.com).    They were married in 1972 and have four grown children, two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, and ten grandchildren.  .stk-kgcz74l-inner-blocks{justify-content:center !important;}.stk-kgcz74l {background-color:#FFFFFF !important;padding-top:0px !important;padding-right:0px !important;padding-bottom:0px !important;padding-left:0px !impo

Are you hard on yourself as a parent? As a person? It’s so easy to get caught up in what feels like failure to us. We want so much to be good parents! Though it’s unintentional, we can project our own feelings of shame onto our kids. Then we feel even worse. Shame can be so destructive to us and to our relationships. What does ending the shame cycle look like? If you have ever felt stuck in this kind of a cycle, please listen to this podcast. In this milestone podcast (our 100th episode!) we talk about a prevalent and powerful concept that has resounded with our Connected Families community for nearly 20 years: Moving forward from shame to the freedom of living in God’s grace and truth. In this episode, Stacy Bellward is joined by Connected Families Co-Founders, Jim and Lynne Jackson.  Together, they share the message that has transformed the lives of thousands of parents and families, and has provided the foundation for an enduring parenting framework. Modeling God’s grace and truth to our kids communicates that we are human, and that when we mess up there’s an opportunity to bring God’s very real mercy into any situation.  In this podcast: Listen in today to learn about how to embrace and incorporate truth phrases into the messiness of daily life. Phrases such as: “This is a moment for compassion for me, and for my kids.” “Jesus gives me courage to face adversity and I will grow from this!” “Everyone is still learning.” “I can respond without ‘freaking out’.” “Hope is the fuel for a growth mindset.” Was there an encouraging statement in this podcast that resonated with you? Do you have your own hopeful-truth statement that has helped you? We’d love to hear it! Post it on your social media and tag us! FB: @ConnectedFamilies Insta: @connectedfams  You will encourage other parents too!  Mentioned in this podcast: Grace and Truth for Moms online course Connected Families Framework Bible verses: Psalm 3:3, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Ephesians 1,2, Romans 15:13, Philippians 4:8, 2 Peter 1:3 100 Truth Phrases To Keep You Going Want a handy list of Truth Phrases to hang onto when life gets messy? Click HERE for a downloadable/printable PDF! .stk-ca3392e,.stk-ca3392e .stk-button{width:100% !important}.stk-ca3392e{flex:1 1 0 !important}DOWNLOAD FREE PDF .stk-pqnas84-inner-blocks{justify-content:center !important;}.stk-pqnas84 {background-color:#FFFFFF !important;padding-top:0px !important;padding-right:0px !important;padding-bottom:0px !important;padding-left:0px !important;}.stk-pqnas84:before{background-color:#FFFFFF !important;}.stk-pqnas84 .stk-block-hero__content{min-height:500px !important;} .stk-59c0iul {box-shadow:0px 2px 20px #99999933 !important;margin-bottom:0px !important;} .stk-2c0n9tw-container{margin-top:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-bottom:0px !important;margin-left:0px !important;} .stk-43i129o .stk-img-wrapper{width:100% !important;height:635px !important;}.stk-43i129o .stk-img-wrapper img{transform:scale(0.96) !important;object-fit:contain !important;}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-43i129o .stk-img-wrapper{height:300px !important;}} .stk-tnrvsm0 {align-self:center !important;}.stk-tnrvsm0-container{max-width:549px !important;min-width:auto !important;} .stk-nazkc3x {align-items:flex-start !important;max-width:1500px !important;min-width:auto !important;padding-top:0px !important;padding-right:0px !important;padding-bottom:0px !important;padding-left:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-bottom:0px !important;display:flex !important;}.stk-nazkc3x .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:47px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-4, #1e3f52) !important;}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-nazkc3x .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:47px !important;}}Transform Your Next Group Gathering What if your next gathering left parents feeling equipped, encouraged, and hopeful? That’s exactly what Connected Families workshops do. Led by CF Certified Parent Coaches, these sessions bring practical, biblical wisdom on topics like discipline and sibling conflict straight to your community. Learn more and book a speaker today. .stk-hs14qub .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1, #ee6c4d) !important;}.stk-hs14qub .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2, #98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important;}.stk-hs14qub .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;font-weight:600 !important;}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-hs14qub .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;}}Bring Hope To Your Community

Do you have a child who struggles with anxiety? It can be really hard to know how to help them! Anxiety can be a powerless feeling for both kids and adults. Kids especially do not have all the same tools or brain development as adults to know how to manage it well. They need help. Add to this challenge that sometimes anxiety doesn’t even look like anxiety. Anxiety can be masked by a variety of emotions and behaviors. It can even present itself as defiance! What do you do then? As a parent, your heart is for your child. They need your help and you want to help, but what can you do? Listen in, because this episode has insight and helpful tools you can use today. Today’s episode is the second part in a two-part series about identifying and navigating anxiety. Last week we discussed how to identify anxiety in us as parents. (If you missed it, listen here!) Today we are diving into how to help our kids with their anxiety. Stacy Bellward is again joined by three experienced Connected Families Parent Coaches, Katie Wetsell, Marni Love, and Taylor Irby. Together they talk about the science of anxiety, how to distinguish it from other emotions, and how you can support your child through their anxious feelings.  As adults, we can be advocates and coaches for anxious children whether in our home, school, church, or the community around us.  We can get curious about what is going on in kids to determine if they are experiencing anxiety, and come alongside them with empathy, compassion, and helpful tools that bring connection. In today’s podcast, you’ll discover: insights to help you discern between your child’s anxiety, defiance, and other difficult emotionspractical ways you can partner with (coach) your kids to bring lasting transformation from a place of safety and connectiona tool called OARS to help you communicate using empathy and support the importance of your own foundational work as a parent to avoid bringing your own anxiety into tense situations We are so glad you’re here! Has this podcast been helpful? Could you please take a moment to rate and review this podcast, so others can find us more easily? Simply click on this link, and click “Listen on Apple Podcasts,” then click on “Ratings and Reviews” in the itunes pop-up. Or, use your Apple Podcast app on your phone! We love to bring you practical insights and biblical wisdom to help you in your parenting journey. Let us know how we can help! Resources mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families FrameworkGrace and Truth for Moms online courseWindow of Tolerance: Dr Dan Siegel4 Steps to Change Your Child’s Behavior and the “Just Right Challenge”OARS techniquePsalm 73 Guest bios: Katie Wetsell has always had a calling on her heart to care for children. She has worked as a pediatric oncology nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner. After experiencing the benefits of parent coaching through Connected Families herself, Katie later resigned from nursing and became a Certified Parent Coach as well. She and her husband have four children (three boys and a girl) through birth and adoption. Katie is also trained in SPACE treatment to help parents learn how to support their children struggling with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. You can learn more about Katie at parentwithhope.org, and on Facebook @parentwithhopecoach and Instagram @parentwithhopecoach Marni Love is a wife, homeschool mom to three growing boys, tutor, and parenting coach. After teaching in public school for many years she felt called to home educate. She started in preschool and has continued through the high school years. She has a heart for helping families enjoy their journey and parent with grace while also preparing their children for the future God has for them. She has experience with adoption, ADHD, sensory processing, primitive reflex integration and highly sensitive children. It would be her great pleasure to support you in bringing peace and connection to your home. You can connect with Marni at www.marnilove.com and on Instagram @journeywithlovehomeschool Taylor Irby is a mother to 5 kids, and she understands the struggles parents face. Every day she faces ADHD, autism, anxiety, developmental delays and adoption trauma. She too has sat in the trenches and searched the world for answers. Taylor read book after book and got excited over methods that were short lived. That is where she hit the wall of desperation and sought parent coaching through Connected Families. Taylor ultimately became a coach through their training program to help others like her. She has seen transformation in her home through working with a framework that not only has changed her children’s behavior, but their hearts as well. You are not alone on this parenting journey. There is hope and you can enjoy your children, building that relationship you have wanted and see behavior change. And I’m here to help. You can learn more about Taylor at taylorirbycoaching.com, and on Facebook https

You can feel the rising tension in your shoulders and the knots in your stomach again. So much going on around you, and inside you. There is no shortage of things to feel anxious about in our world right now! Current data reveals a huge spike in anxiety in recent years, for both parents and kids. We all face anxiety at some point and it can cause a range of emotions, from mild frustration to feeling really helpless. But can you parent well when you’re anxious? Anxiety can show up in big ways in our lives and in our family, but it can also show up in subtle ways that are masked by other emotions and behaviors. This is why it is SO important to routinely pay attention to the most foundational question, “What is going on in ME?” Today’s podcast episode is absolutely packed with thoughtful and real-life guidance for how we can understand and navigate parental anxiety. Stacy Bellward (podcast host) invites three Connected Families Parent Coaches to an honest and insightful conversation about how they have encountered and managed anxiety in many different forms and situations in their own lives and in their kids’ lives as well: Marni Love, is a homeschool mom of three boys and a regular guest in our Clubhouse Community. Marni has experience with adoption, ADHD, sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, and highly sensitive children Taylor Irby, is a speaker, marriage and parenting coach, and mom of five children. Taylor is familiar with the challenges of ADHD, autism, anxiety, developmental delays, and adoption trauma Katie Wetsell, is a mom of four kids and a pediatric nurse who has personally navigated issues related to adoption, mental illness, and learning disabilities. Katie is also certified in SPACE Treatment, a parent-based approach for helping children with anxiety, anxiety disorders, and OCD Join these fellow moms and learn how anxiety can actually be an opportunity to grow in our faith, to better understand ourselves and our kids, and to love each other well as a family. We can be proactive in taking care of ourselves and staying grounded in God’s grace and truth so that we can flourish as God’s dearly beloved children. What you’ll discover in today’s podcast: how anxiety might show up in your home masked as different emotions, behavior, and actions  a clinical definition of anxiety, and how it functions to alert us in both healthy and unhealthy ways the difference between anxiety and fear, and how we can discern and respond  practical strategies and important truths to help you work through anxious feelings Do you or your kids struggle with anxiety? Is there something in today’s podcast you found helpful? We would really love to hear from you and help you navigate these challenges. We invite you to check out the valuable resources on our website, and share them with a friend who needs them too! Mentioned in this podcast: Bible verses: Psalm 23, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Deuteronomy 6:5  Grace and Truth for Moms online course Trash, Truth, Treasure (podcast) Hurtful Comments: Teach Your Child How to Process and Grow Window of Tolerance: Dr. Dan Siegel Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown Guest Bios: Katie Wetsell has always had a calling on her heart to care for children. She has worked as a pediatric oncology nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner. After experiencing the benefits of parent coaching through Connected Families herself, Katie later resigned from nursing and became a Certified Parent Coach as well. She and her husband have four children (three boys and a girl) through birth and adoption. Katie is also trained in SPACE treatment to help parents learn how to support their children struggling with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. You can learn more about Katie at parentwithhope.org, and on Facebook @parentwithhopecoach and Instagram @parentwithhopecoach Marni Love is a wife, homeschool mom to three growing boys, tutor, and parenting coach. After teaching in public school for many years she felt called to home educate. She started in preschool and has continued through the high school years. She has a heart for helping families enjoy their journey and parent with grace while also preparing their children for the future God has for them. She has experience with adoption, ADHD, sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, and highly sensitive children. It would be her great pleasure to support you in bringing peace and connection to your home. You can connect with Marni at www.marnilove.com and on Instagram @journeywithlovehomeschool Taylor Irby is a mother to 5 kids, and she understands the struggles parents face. Every day she faces ADHD, autism, anxiety, developmental delays, and adoption trauma. She too has sat in the trenches and searched the world for answers. Taylor read book after book and got excited over methods that were short-lived. That is when she hit the wall of desperation and sought parent coaching through Connected Families. Taylo

“He called me stupid!” “She said she doesn’t want to play with me!” It’s so hard when your child comes to you feeling hurt by someone else’s words. Words matter. And they hurt! You want to comfort your kids and protect them from bullying and being hurt again, but unfortunately, that isn’t realistic. How can you teach your child to navigate life when kids say things that are mean? Or when there may be bullying involved? The truth is, we (both our kids and we as parents) are bombarded with all kinds of negative messages that can be hurtful, and bruise our identity and sense of self-worth. Whether it’s from other people, the culture around us, or even our own inner critic, we hear things that hurt. Sometimes it’s hard to work through it all. We can feel tempted to ruminate and rehearse in our mind the unkind or critical words we hear.  So what can we do to help ourselves and our kids?  In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward is joined by Lynne Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) to share with us a super helpful tool Lynne developed to combat the damage of hurtful words and messages. It’s called Trash, Truth, Treasure, and like all of our Connected Families resources, this tool is grounded in biblical truth and based on brain science.  The principles of Trash, Truth, Treasure can help us in tough moments to discern what we believe about ourselves, about God, and about our kids. It will allow God’s encouragement to flood us with truth and love. Using this tool as a helpful guide, you can learn to untangle negative, critical messages in your own heart, and help your children to do the same. .stk-f4f491c {background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4, #1e3f52) !important;}.stk-f4f491c:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4, #1e3f52) !important;}Download this helpful PDF “Trash, Truth, Treasure” In today’s podcast, you’ll learn: practical ways to identify: What messages are coming into my mind, and how are they affecting me and informing my identity? how you can renew your mind, and do the inner Foundational work by asking, “What’s going on in me?” the science of how your brain processes negative messages, and what you can do to work through these messages with objectivity and grace practical examples of how to help both young kids and older ones work through the tool of Trash, Truth, Treasure How have you applied this tool in your family? Has it been helpful to you? We’d love to hear more about your experience, and how we can come alongside you to help you parent with truth and grace. Please check out and share our resources with a friend, and if you have any questions, we’d love to hear from you!  Resources mentioned in this podcast: Hurtful Comments: Teach Your Child How to Process and Grow (article by Lynne Jackson) I Was a Critical Parent: 7 Steps I Took to Find a More Loving Way Grace and Truth for Moms online course Connected Families Framework Dr. Caroline Leaf Bible verses: Philippians 1:9-10, Romans 12:2, John 8:42-44, John 10:10, Proverbs 26:2 Related PostsBullying: Challenge or Opportunity?Know a Child Who Gives Up Easily? Teach Them the Source of ResilienceRaising Overcomers: How to Model Resiliency to Your Kids | Ep. 56Resilient Children: 15 Little Opportunities to Grow Overcomers at Home

What does the Bible really say about parenting? Is there such a thing as a Doctrine of Grace in Parenting? As Christian parents, we depend on the Bible as a necessary guide to help us understand God’s direction in both discipling and disciplining our kids. And yet, there’s not a significant number of verses in the Bible that give specific parenting instructions. What we do know is that the Bible tells us that God calls us to love our children the way He loves us, to live out the Fruit of the Spirit, and to pour out the same grace to our kids that we receive from Him. God can empower us through His Spirit to parent with the same gentleness and peace He offers to us. In today’s episode, Jim Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) is joined by Dr. David Erickson to discuss the Doctrine of Grace in Parenting. Or, more specifically, a biblical foundation for gentle, grace-filled parenting. Dr. Erickson is a theology professor, and has also served as a preacher and pastor for over 25 years. He and his wife Amanda are the founders of Flourishing Homes and Families, a ministry dedicated to cultivating peace-filled and healthy homes.  You’ll want to listen in as Dr. Erickson discusses how the work of God in us can produce gentleness and a renewed mind, so that we can love others–especially our children–as God loves us. We can live out Jesus’ grace-filled spirit in all areas of our life, including our parenting.  In this podcast, you’ll learn: how important biblical principles and teachings can apply to your parenting the big picture goal of obedience, based on trust and connectionthe empowering messages of the Connected Families Frameworka clear and powerful pathway of how we can live out the embodied work of Jesus with our children Want to learn more about grace-filled parenting? Please go to our Connected Families website, and check out great free resources and helpful podcasts with hope-filled wisdom for your parenting journey. Have questions or want to connect? You can contact us, we look forward to hearing from you! Mentioned in this podcast: Flourishing Homes and FamiliesHelping Kids with Anger (FREE ebook)Connected Families FrameworkBible verses: Sermon on the Mount, Ephesians 4, Ephesians 6:4, Galatians 5 Guest Bio: Dr. David Erickson is currently a Professor of Theological-Historical Studies, and is passionate about helping people fall radically and deeply in love with God and His word. He also pursued that calling for more than 25 years as a preacher and pastor. David is committed to helping parents understand what God says about parenting and how parenting practices reflect a person’s underlying beliefs about God. David and Amanda teach parents all over the world through their ministry, Flourishing Homes and Families. With practical parenting advice and regular theology applied to parenting, they are working to equip and empower parents to live out in parenting the very real grace they’ve been given by Jesus. David and Amanda have been married 17 years, have two boys, and currently reside in East Texas.

Sometimes parenting can seem hopeless. What do kids really need from us? Maybe your kids are struggling and you’re not sure how to get through to them. (This can feel especially hard with teens!) You feel frustrated and your relationship can begin to feel tense. You want to understand them, but you don’t know where to begin. Sometimes we get anxious about our kids’ challenges and focus more on their behavior, which can cause further strain on the relationship. Consider this: What we see on the surface in our kids and teens doesn’t always reflect what’s really going on in their hearts. Today’s episode is a special and unique conversation. Join Jim Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) as he interviews Michelle Livingston Thorstad (speaker, mentor, and biblical counselor). Learn about Michelle’s work with at-risk youth, the trials in her own parenting, and the hope that gave her a renewed sense of God’s love and grace for her and her kids. This conversation is about the relational transformation that takes place in a connected relationship. Sharing hope with your kids is relational. It’s hearing and understanding what your kids need, whether they express it with or without words.  Keeping the hope alive in your relationship with your child means doing your own inner work, seeing beyond their stubborn exterior, and understanding the pain they may feel and the love they need.  In this episode… …you’ll learn about what our kids really need from us. Things like:  relationship over behavior management. You’re more likely to have influence and to be able speak into your kids’ lives when they feel a safe and connected relationship with you. a safe place to land when they share things with you (body language is important too!). The way you respond can either invite more conversation and influence, or cause hesitancy in your kids about future conversations.        your humility. Your mistakes can be a beautiful opportunity for them to learn that you struggle too. Kids don’t feel so alone when they know they are not the only ones who make mistakes.        your physical presence. Being in physical proximity provides a space where organic, meaningful conversations can happen.  These are just a few of the valuable insights you’ll hear in today’s podcast! Listen in and let us know what has been helpful to you. And check out these Connected Families resources to help you take steps forward in your journey of peaceful parenting. Need further help? Contact us, we’d love to hear from you! Mentioned in this podcast: Michelle Livingston Thorstad: https://michellelivingston.org/TreeHouse Center for Transformation and TrainingConnected Families FREE ebook: Helping Kids with AngerEd StetzerProverbs 22:6 Guest bio: A native of Minnesota, Michelle Livingston Thorstad grew up in a loving family, but often struggled feeling fully accepted by her peers. As the product of an inter-racial marriage, Michelle frequently felt misunderstood and discouraged to embrace her identity as a bi-racial individual. Ten years after graduating from the U of MN Carlson School of Management with a business degree, Michelle found TreeHouse, who’s mission and vision aligned perfectly with her calling to help struggling youth and their families. Today Michelle has mentored hundreds of teens, spoken both locally & internationally to youth, parents, youth workers, school administrators, churches, community organizations & business professionals. She is currently working at the Center for Transformation and Training as a Biblical Counselor and Spiritual Director. In her downtime you will find Michelle raising teenagers of her own, singing off-beat with her husband, and continuing to grow & enjoy each new season of life. Take 15 minutes to learn how to give consequences that teach, rather than simply punish, by downloading our free ebook Consequences That Actually Work. Related Posts4 Simple Ways to Bridge the Mother-Son DivideAn Honest Conversation About Adoption | Ep. 81Child Looking at Porn? Here’s Where to Start.Got a Smart Teenager (or Child) With Bad Grades?How God Created Us for Community…and Science Agrees!

“WHY do I feel so angry?” “I’m just an angry parent with an angry kid!” Do you ever find yourself saying or thinking these statements? Anger can be a difficult emotion to navigate. We can feel so defeated when we lose control. We don’t want to react this way, and neither do our kids. It doesn’t help that our society seems more angry than ever. And our kids feel that!  If you or your child are struggling with anger, you are not alone! A recent Connected Families survey revealed a significant number of parents reported angry feelings affecting their day-to-day life. Like many other parents, you want to be responsible in your reactions and teach your kids to be responsible too. On today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Jim and Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founders) to address how parents handle their own anger, and how we can model this in a healthy way to our kids. We discuss brain science relating to anger, a biblical perspective and, as always, practical tools to help you and your kids. You can learn an approach to anger that leaves shame behind, brings connection with your child, and becomes an opportunity for grace and growth. You can break generational cycles of unhealthy anger and bring life and healing to your relationship with your child. In this podcast, you’ll discover: the brain science of anger as a default reaction and a reactive coping mechanism, and how you can respond in faith instead of feartriggers and thought patterns that affect behavior, and how anger can sometimes diminish what may be underlying anxiety or even traumathe importance of knowing your identity as a child of God, and looking beneath the surface of anger by asking, “What’s going on in me?”the top three things that push parents’ buttons, and some practical ways of responding in these situations Mentioned in this podcast: Helping Kids with Anger FREE ebookWhat It Really Means to Be Triggered (Healthline article)Connected Families FrameworkBible verses: Matthew 16:22-24, Philippians 4:6-7, Philippians 1:4-6, Galatians 5:22-23 Want to learn more? Helping Kids with Their AngerAnger: Is it Good, Bad, or Ugly? Do you or your kids struggle with anger? We hope you found some encouraging and useful tools on our podcast today. We’d love to hear what helped! And if you or your child are struggling with anger and you feel like you need further help, Connected Families offers certified Parent Coaching. Please reach out and let us know how we can help! Related Posts11 Ideas to Help You Stop Yelling at Your Kids6 Practical Tips to Tame Your TemperEncouraging Kids Who “Just Don’t Care!” | Ep. 88Helping Kids with Their AngerMy Child Doesn’t Care About Consequences

Do you feel overwhelmed as a homeschool parent? Many parents in the Connected Families community homeschool. That number has grown even more since 2020. Homeschooling can bring some unique parenting challenges! From sibling conflict to curriculum choices to intense learning needs, how do you stay connected to your kids, accomplish schoolwork, and maintain sanity? (Even if you are not currently homeschooling, you’ll find helpful parenting guidance in this episode!)  Whether or not you are a homeschool parent, you want to: provide a safe and encouraging learning environment understand each child’s learning needshelp your kids grow in their learning intereststeach your kids to get along with each other That can all feel really heavy! Maybe you also have sensitive and intense kids, or you just feel inadequate as a homeschool parent. If so, you’ll want to listen in, because the moms in this conversation can relate! On today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by three homeschooling moms with a wide range of perspectives and experiences. They each share a different story and various challenges they have encountered in their homeschooling journey. They also share the common thread of approaching life through the powerful lens of the Connected Families Framework. You can face the overwhelm of homeschool challenges (and even help your kids resolve conflict!) when you do the foundational work as a parent of exploring, “What’s going on in me?” You can show up for your kids and your school day as the best parent you can be, with loads of God’s grace for yourself and your kids! In this podcast, you’ll learn about: what homeschool overwhelm can look like in different situations, and helpful ways you can approach ithow to help kids learn to resolve sibling conflict, especially when they are with each other all dayhealthy ways to step back and ask, “What’s going on in me? In my child?” and move forward with your child as a teamthe joy of embracing your child’s individual gifts and learning interests, and how you can help them grow in these areas Mentioned in this podcast:  Helping Kids with Anger (FREE ebook)Sibling Conflict online courseVerses mentioned: Romans 8:28, Philippians 1:4-6 Want to learn more? 60 Creative Ways to Get Kids Moving and LaughingHow to Create a Simple Sensory Diet for Restless, Homebound Kids Guest Bios: Lydia Rex is a registered nurse, wife, and mother of two and has worked with families in many capacities throughout her career and personal life. She’s been a student of Connected Families since 2014 and continues to find it incredibly life-giving for her own family. Areas of her experience/special interest include foster care and adoption, attachment difficulties, developmental and learning disabilities including FASD. She brings a trauma-informed perspective to the Connected Families framework, and the desire to see families find peace and healing – not just on the other side, but in the midst of challenges! Use our “Contact Us” form to connect with Lydia.  Marni Love is a wife, homeschool mom to three growing boys, tutor, and parenting coach. After teaching in public school for many years she felt called to home educate. She started in preschool and has continued through the high school years. She has a heart for helping families enjoy their journey and parent with grace while also preparing their children for the future God has for them. She has experience with adoption, ADHD, sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, and highly sensitive children. It would be her great pleasure to support you in bringing peace and connection to your home. https://www.marnilove.com/ Nichole Summers is a mom to six children, 4 girls, and 2 boys, adopted and biological. She has contributed to one article (“I Aimed for Perfection as a Mom and It Just Slayed Me.”) and one podcast (Communicating Love in the Midst of Misbehavior) for us here at Connected Families. She is a mom who is learning to take God at His word concerning her children and can often be found resting in Romans 8:28. Have you used the Connected Families Framework in your homeschooling journey? We would love to hear about it! Looking for more parenting help? Check out these great resources on our website. And as always, feel free to contact us, we love hearing from you! Download our FREE in-depth ebook Helping Kids With Anger. It will provide thoughtful insights and creative ideas to help your struggling child. Related PostsI Feel Overwhelmed and Hopeless | Ep. 3I Lost My Temper With My Child; Can I Make It Better?My Child Says He Hates Himself: 3 Life-Giving Steps to Change the Shame CycleYour Child’s Grades Don’t Matter (To You)

Building a connected marriage is hard work and it doesn’t always come easily. You want to bring better alignment between you and your spouse and create an environment of love, grace, and emotional safety. But you also might feel stuck in a cycle of negative thinking about your spouse or your marriage. Or maybe you are struggling to find a way to navigate disagreements. Connecting in your marriage can be challenging! The Connected Families Framework equips parents to become more safe and connected, but this Framework is not just for parenting! There are many similarities in the parenting framework that are a natural crossover in marriage. It’s a framework you can successfully apply to all of your relationships, including marriage. In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by special guests and marriage experts Jeff and Stacy Kemp. Jeff and his wife Stacy are speakers with the Family Life Today Weekend to Remember marriage conference. Jeff is also a former NFL player and author of Facing the Blitz. Join them in this honest and encouraging conversation about the value of celebrating each other’s strengths. You’ll enjoy learning from real life examples what emotional safety in marriage can look like, and the daily living out of the Foundational question, “What’s going on in me?” When you bring unconditional love and safety to your marriage, you can find the best in each other, receive and offer grace, and find lasting and meaningful connection.* In this episode, you’ll discover: practical and powerful ways to apply the Connected Families Framework in your marriage relationshipan approach that helps you focus on the positives and strengths in your spouse, and how it can bring change in your own heart and connection in your marriagethe power of being able to repair relationships after emotionally hurtful conversationshow to create an environment where it is safe to be transparent, so you can share your thoughts, feelings, and hurts with your spouse *Connected Families believes that commitment to your marriage is an important aspect of emotional safety and connection, but when physical or emotional abuse is present, then help is needed and different options may need to be considered. Mentioned in this podcast: Jeff Kemp TeamFacing the Blitz by Jeff KempFamily Life–Weekend to Remember

How do you parent your child who is now an adult? What does parenting look like when your child is preparing to launch into adulthood, living away from home, or getting married? You want to remain connected and continue to build trust, but it can also feel scary to watch your adult children make bigger decisions that might have bigger consequences. You wonder if you did enough, if you taught them enough. Maybe you are even struggling with regret over what you wish could have been done differently. We get SO many requests to tackle this topic, and we are doing that today! Read on and listen in. You will be equipped with solid guidance and practical tips to help you navigate this changing season of parenting.  Chad Hayenga (Marriage and Family Therapist and Connected Families Parent Coach) and Connected Families Certified Coaches Becky Wood and Dijea Young join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) on today’s podcast. These guests bring years of rich parenting experiences to the conversation, and offer real life insights into the changes, challenges, and blessings of parenting an adult child.  Whether your child is 8, 18, or 28, the Connected Families Framework offers a relevant and thoughtful approach to keep you growing in a connected relationship with your adult child. When you step back and offer a supportive and mentoring role in your adult child’s life, you can communicate enduring messages of emotional safety, unconditional love, and meaningful connection that build strong relationships. In this episode, you’ll learn:  how to apply the Connected Families Framework and communicate the four messages with adult children ways to maintain connection with an adult child that nurture their independence while gaining trust and influence (Luke 2:52)the enduring legacy of the foundational question, “What’s going on in me as a parent?” even through your child’s adult yearshow to graciously build trust and connection with your adult child while working through the pain of your own past regrets Want to learn more? Connected Families FrameworkKeep Calm and Stay Connected (to your teen!) (blog post)Scared to Launch Your Child Into the “Real World”? (blog post) We’re so glad you’re here! We would love to continue to reach as many people as possible with the message of God’s love and connection. Would you help us? You can rate this podcast, write a review, and subscribe! You are an integral part of the Connected Families community, and you make this all possible. Need help? Please contact us, we are here to walk alongside you. Sign up below to receive a weekly dose of encouragement straight to your inbox:

What do you think of when you hear the word discipline? Maybe it’s just to get your child to behave. Or bring peace to the chaos and gain some control as a parent. This is a totally natural parenting impulse! But what if there is a powerful new perspective for parenting to consider? A different way of viewing your parenting goals during moments of misbehavior that will open the door to connection and wisdom? Oftentimes, as parents, we want the short-term fix that brings order to the situation. But in doing so, we might actually miss the opportunity to build something deeper and lasting. In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Lynne Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) and Lydia Rex (Connected Families Parent Coach) to share with you a few practical shifts that could change not only your parenting perspective but, ultimately, your relationship with your child.  When you lean into connection and mentoring opportunities during discipline, you can build strength, connection, and respect between you and your child in those difficult moments. You can shift from managing behavior to building something intentional and purposeful for both you and your child. And in every step of the process, Jesus provides the grace and safety that you can receive and then pass on to your child. In this podcast, you’ll discover: 4 main shifts you can make to turn discipline situations into opportunities for growth and connectionhow the shift from managing to mentoring empowers your struggling childwhy meaningful discipline always begins with the foundation of: “What’s going on in me as a parent?”practical ways to highlight and nurture your child’s identity, and focus on the gifts God is growing in their life Mentioned in this podcast: Scriptures mentioned: Peter’s denial of Jesus, Peter jumping out of the boat, Jesus’ statement to Peter about building the church, Hebrews 12:11Connected Families Framework4 Ideas to Build a Growth Mindset as a Family (blog post)What Is the Goal of Your Discipline? (blog post)Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart online course What are your parenting goals? Did you find something helpful in this podcast? Looking for more great resources to help you with your parenting goals? Check out our blog, it’s packed with great information and parenting tips. As always, feel free to contact us, we’d love to hear from you! Frustrated by constant discipline challenges? Take 15 minutes to read our free ebook 4 Messages Every Child Longs to Hear: A Discipline That Connects Overview.

Does it feel like your child just doesn’t care? Maybe even saying the words, “I just don’t care!” Does your child seem unmotivated in school, defensive about doing chores, maybe even withdrawn and depressed? It is so hard to know what to do when your child is discouraged. You may feel frustrated and hopeless. And a kid who doesn’t seem to care can really push all your buttons, which can cause even more anxiety in both you and your child. You want to know what is going on with your discouraged child! And you especially want to know how you can help (or, let’s be honest, “fix”) them. If this resonates, we have some fresh perspective and direction for you here today. On today’s podcast, Jim and Lynne Jackson (Co-founders of Connected Families) join Stacy Bellward (podcast host) to help you see this behavior through a different lens. A lens that offers hope, and practical ways to support your struggling child.  Did you know that when your child feels pressure or discouragement, it can surface as misbehavior? But with the power of connection, and a gentle,non-judgmental spirit, this can be an opportunity to help your child grow in resilience and wisdom. Using the Connected Families Framework, you can help your discouraged child feel loved and understood. You can come alongside them with encouragement and gentle questions to help them feel called and capable, and build an identity of wisdom and responsibility. In this podcast, you’ll learn: what might be going on under the surface of a kid who doesn’t seem to carea practical and gentle approach to asking your child the kinds of questions that help them connect to what’s going on insidethe importance of replacing panic about your child’s future with empathy and solution-focused conversationshow to build your child’s God-given identity, and a value for responsibility, by instilling the confidence that God and you are with them, and for them.  Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families FrameworkRomans 15:13Applying the ABC’s of AffirmationDiscipline The Connects Online Course Are you struggling to help your discouraged child? What tips from today’s podcast helped you? We’d love to hear your comments! As always, we are here if you need further help. Please contact us, and in the meantime, check out our helpful resources on our new website. We are in this together! Download our FREE in-depth ebook Helping Kids With Anger. It will provide thoughtful insights and creative ideas to help your struggling child.

What do you do when you know you want something to be different in your family this year? Do you ever wonder if there is a more gracious and meaningful way to approach the new year, for you and your kids? How can you be more intentional in your parenting in the new year? If you are overwhelmed with all that hasn’t worked, and are looking for something different for your family, this is the podcast to help you gently usher in 2022 with hope for real and meaningful growth. In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) and Chad Hayenga (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Connected Families Coach) share a super practical tool, and a new perspective on creating goals and intentions for the new year. Not just worn-out resolutions, but a broader vision that could transform both you and your family one step and one day at a time. You can help your kids steward their time and their capabilities to create a growth mindset* with gracious questions such as:    What is your goal?Why is it important to you?What will it take to achieve your goal?To achieve your goal, what steps can you control?  You can create a safe and connected atmosphere to have a vision-casting conversation with your kids, and invite God to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine! *Growth mindset is a term originally coined by Child Psychologist Carol Dweck and popularized by numerous authors. Our use of the term is most closely informed by her work. In this podcast, you’ll also discover: how to use a “life/growth wheel” (mentioned by Stacy) in practical ways, with kids of all ages, to coach and support your kids in building wisdom and responsibilitythe importance of assessing your (and your child’s) connection to God, to each other, and to your purpose in this world as you explore: What do I want life to look like a year from now?the power of celebration in connecting with your child and building momentum for their successhelpful steps to avoid the pitfalls that can bring shame and tension in conversations with your kids about their goals Mentioned in this podcast: Ephesians 3:14-21Susie Larson (Author, Speaker)The Entitlement Fix (online course)The Power of Questions (online course)Discipline That Connects (online course)Is There “Miracle Grow” for Good Behavior? (the ABC’s of Affirmation) Do you and your family have goals for the new year? What did you find helpful in this podcast? We’d love to hear from you and connect with you as we all start a new year together! Leave a comment and let us know. Or contact us, we are here to help! .stk-jnxa0tx{margin-bottom:0px !important}.stk-jnxa0tx-container{background-color:rgba(232,232,232,0.3) !important;box-shadow:0px 5px 30px -10px rgba(238,108,77,0.3) !important}.stk-jnxa0tx-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-5,#e8e8e8) !important} What are your parenting strengths? You’ve got them. Knowing your strengths will help you become the best parent you can be. Knowing your parenting challenges is useful information too. Take our FREE ASSESSMENT. (function() {var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = "https://paperform.co/__embed.min.js"; document.body.appendChild(script); })()

As 2021 soon comes to a close, we hope you will find good things–even something seemingly small!–to be grateful for this past year. And we pray you find encouragement and grace for the new year ahead. This year-end wrap-up will give you an exciting vision of what God might have for Connected Families in the future! In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Jim Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) and Anna Braasch (Connected Families Executive Director) to talk about the many ways God has blessed the Connected Families community this past year. Listen in to hear all the ways God is growing and multiplying the powerful message of Connected Families, and an exciting look at the goals and vision for the future as well. Standing firm on the foundation of God’s love, and building on the Connected Families Framework, we look forward with anticipation to all the ways our community will continue to bring hope to parents and families around the world. None of this would be possible without you and your dedication to continue sharing the grace-filled message of Connected Families in your community and beyond. Did you know? As we reflect on this past year, here are some fascinating things you might not know about us: Connected Families launched a new website this year, making it even easier to find all the fantastic resources you need to lead your family with confidence and grace!Connected Families was founded nearly 20 years ago, when Jim and Lynne Jackson realized that parents were in need of a more connected parenting approach.We are currently building relationships within the Chinese community, and working to make our resources available in this community.Connected Families began implementing a successful business tool called EOS in 2015. This keeps our ministry running with efficiency and accountability. (We believe this tool is an important part of serving you!)The Connected Families Framework uniquely combines brain science, child development, and scripture.We have a coaching certification program, and parent coaches from multiple countries around the globe. Connected Families is here to bring you God’s grace and truth, so you can pass on God’s grace and truth to your children. Who do you know who needs to hear more about this? Please consider telling your story of how Connected Families has impacted you, and let them know about our helpful resources! In each step of your journey, we are here for you. Contact us and let us know how we can help! Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families websiteConnected Families FrameworkBecome a Parent CoachChad Hayenga, head of Connected Families coaching certification programHow to Grow a Connected FamilyDiscipline That Connects online courseDONATE to Connected FamiliesEOS: Entrepreneurial Operating SystemJoel Swanson: EOS ImplementerBlessings for the Morning by Susie Larson (Isaiah 43:19) Sign up below to receive a weekly dose of encouragement straight to your inbox: Related PostsConnected Families Is Building Community in SCHOOLSConnected Families is Building Community in EXTENDED FAMILIESConnected Families is Building Community in SMALL GROUPSGiving Gifts at Christmas: Help Kids Discover the Joy of GivingThankful for the Connected Families Community

“My child never sleeps!” Bedtime struggles can feel like a losing battle. Does bedtime leave you feeling completely drained? Your child wants another glass of water or another bedtime story. They’re afraid of the dark. Or overflowing with wound-up energy from the day.  You are exhausted. Frustrated. And if your child is struggling to sleep, you are struggling to sleep!  Sleep is so important! Kids not going to sleep (or staying asleep) is a frequent concern we hear from parents during coaching sessions. If you feel like you have tried everything and wonder why nothing is working, you’re in the same boat as so many other sleep-deprived families!  As parents we sometimes want to push through this time to bring some peace to the end of our day. But what if bedtime could be a way to tap into your child’s heart in a way that makes them feel safe, understood, and loved? What if you change your mindset to see that when your child is struggling to sleep this could be an opportunity for deep connection? It really can be! You can transform difficult bedtime routines into an opportunity for a deep and lasting connection with your child. How? In this podcast, we’ll introduce you to a unique and holistic approach that gets to the heart of your child. We’ll give practical, science-based tips that you can use today. Listen in as Stacy Bellward (podcast host) talks with Lynne Jackson, co-founder of Connected Families, Occupational Therapist, and author of Transform Bedtime Struggles into Nighttime Snuggles. Together they discuss ways to help prepare both you and your child for a peaceful night of rest. This conversation is loaded with brain science and helpful tools and you won’t want to miss it! This podcast dives deep into: obstacles that can hinder your kids from a good night’s sleep (some of them might surprise you!)the science of sleep and specific ways lack of sleep can affect your kidspractical and holistic sleep solutions that really workways to calm your child’s body, mind, heart, and spirit to help them sleephow a connected approach to bedtime can bring peace to your evenings Mentioned in this podcast: Transforming Bedtime Struggles into Nighttime Snuggles by Lynne Jackson, OTRWhy We Sleep by Matthew Walker, PhDThe Opposite of Worry by Lawrence Cohen, PhDDr. Roberto Olivardia Talks About Kids With ADHD and Sleep Challenges (podcast)Psalm 4:8Isaiah 41:13 The sweet bedtime cuddles you dream of deteriorate far too often into mayhem. You’ve got this! Bring peace to your child’s body, mind, heart, and spirit. So they (and you!) can sleep well. Download and read our FREE in-depth ebook Transform Bedtime Struggles into Nighttime Snuggles. Related PostsDear Exhausted Mom, Here’s Why You Might Say “Yes” When Your Child Begs You to PlayHow I Helped My Baby Sleep When Sleep Training Was Not WorkingHow to Create a Simple Sensory Diet for Restless, Homebound Kids | Ep. 30One Way to Turn Bedtime Routines AroundTransform Bedtime Struggles Into Nighttime Snuggles

As parents we long to build a connected family. Connection. We all long for genuine, connected relationships. It’s how God wired us. It makes sense that, when this element is lacking in our relationships, it can cause us to feel so many difficult and discouraged emotions. Especially in the relationships we value most. You want to feel connected to your kids and to the people you care about, but that can be really hard.  Is there a secret to authentic connection? A tool to help build a connected family? Your family can experience this! Co-Founders Jim and Lynne Jackson wrestled and prayed about these very questions, and in the process laid an important foundation for the heart of Connected Families. They discovered that connection is intentional and it exists in three key areas: connection to Godconnection to each otherconnection to our purpose in this world In today’s podcast, Jim and Lynne join Stacy Belward (podcast host) to uncover what these three areas of connection mean, and how we can live them out with love and intention to build a connected family.  Connection doesn’t come from a magic wand; it happens in intentional and thoughtful relationships as we give and receive in meaningful ways. We connect by knowing, loving, and enjoying God and each other. God created you for connection. His love and grace can pour in and through you to purposefully build a connected family. In this podcast, you’ll discover: intentional, meaningful, and practical ways to connect to God, each other, and your (and your kids!) purpose in this worldthe power of thoughtful and curious questions to connect to your child and help them grow in wisdomhow to help your kids connect with each other as siblingseffective ways to call out your child’s gifting, and help them find ways of using those gifts to be a blessing to others Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families FrameworkThe Big 5 Bible StudyThe Power of Questions online courseSibling Conflict online courseDonate to Connected FamiliesThe Love Language QuizMatthew 25:34-40 Looking for ways to connect more with your kids? Check out these fantastic resources to help you feel encouraged and equipped in your parenting! Feeling stuck? As always, please contact us to let us know how we can help you and walk alongside you in your parenting journey. We are here to help! Frustrated by constant discipline challenges? Take 15 minutes to read our free ebook 4 Messages Every Child Longs to Hear: A Discipline That Connects Overview. Related PostsChristian Discipline: The Story Behind Connected Families Unique Framework for Parenting | Ep. 68Families on Purpose | Ep. 21How to Leave a Legacy | Ep. 65

Does your child get discouraged? Does it feel like your child’s misbehavior seems to drown out the positive things you might notice? And the more you notice misbehavior, the more it seems to happen. We tend to gravitate toward the things we feel need “fixing” in our kids, because our brains prioritize attending to anything wrong or threatening. This is normal!  As a parent you care deeply about your child and want them to grow in wisdom and responsibility, which doesn’t always come naturally! But you can learn to shine a bright spot in a really effective way, on the small things that go well, and begin to unravel this cycle of discouragement in your child. And it will bring encouragement to you as a parent, too! In today’s podcast, Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Lynne Jackson (Co-Founder of Connected Families) to share a powerful and practical tool to encourage both you and your child!  Lynne struggled with being hard on herself for being negative and critical. The negative self-talk was spilling over as a critical spirit in her parenting, and it was a challenging but rich journey to become more positive and affirming toward her kids. To speak encouraging truth into her kids Lynne developed a simple, useful, and memorable tool called the ABCs of Affirmation. It’s not a performance based, pat-on-the-back method. But it IS a Spirit-filled, life-giving tool that builds wisdom and affirms your child’s identity as a precious and beloved child of God. The ABC’s of Affirmation provide a way for you to receive God’s grace, and then to pour out that grace to your children. When your kids see you receive encouragement from God and others, you can model and pass on the power of genuine, loving affirmation to them.  In this podcast, you’ll discover: the ABC’s of Affirmation: What they are, and how to incorporate this tool in everyday life in practical wayshow brain science matches and supports this biblical toolthe negative impacts of too much “shallow” praise for your childways to grow momentum (and even boost dopamine!) by encouraging yourself as a parenthow to ask  your child thoughtful questions that lead them to self-encourage too! Mentioned in this podcast: I Was a Critical Parent: 7 Steps I Took to Find a More Loving WayIs There “Miracle Grow” for Good Behavior? (The ABC’s of Affirmation) Grace and Truth For Moms (online course) Connected Families FrameworkHow Your Thoughts Change Your Brain, Cells and GenesCorrie Thetford, Lydia Rex (Certified Connected FamiliesParent Coaches)Dr. Alan KazdinConnected Families Insiders TeamBible verses in this podcast: Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:11 How have you used the ABC’s of Affirmation with your kids? We’d love to hear your stories! And don’t forget to check out our new website to encourage yourself and your family with these great resources! Need more encouragement or help? Please contact us, we are here for you! .stk-169se2j{margin-bottom:0px !important}.stk-169se2j-container{background-color:rgba(232,232,232,0.3) !important;box-shadow:0px 5px 30px -10px rgba(238,108,77,0.3) !important}.stk-169se2j-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-5,#e8e8e8) !important} What are your parenting strengths? You’ve got them. Knowing your strengths will help you become the best parent you can be. Knowing your parenting challenges is useful information too. Take our FREE ASSESSMENT. (function() {var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = "https://paperform.co/__embed.min.js"; document.body.appendChild(script); })() Related PostsAre You Unintentionally Encouraging Bad Behavior? Here’s How to Switch ThatBuild Kids Up with Nourishing Affirmation in 30 SecondsBuilding the Family Team: A Solution to Chore WarsTeach Your Child to Have a Growth Mindset with These Four Steps | Ep. 70

Ever feel like you’ve read all the parenting books and yet still feel overwhelmed? Or perhaps you struggle because so much parenting advice out there just doesn’t seem to fit your family situation. And you’ve discovered that traditional parenting just isn’t cutting it!  This can be especially true for parents who have children through adoption or foster care. In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, we bring you another fantastic conversation with a family formed through adoption. Today’s podcast brings first-hand stories that demonstrate the practical and meaningful way the Connected Families Framework applies to unique family situations across the board. Stacy Bellward (podcast host) is joined by Chad Hayenga (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Connected Families Coach) and special parent guests, Joe and Becky. Joe and Becky are the parents of three children through adoption.  When they hit a bumpy patch in their parenting journey, they reached out to Chad for parent coaching. As they learned about and applied the parenting Framework, they found a long-term vision for building solid relationships with their children. Not only did they see a change in their kids, but Joe and Becky experienced a change in themselves as well. You can experience this too!  The Connected Families Framework provides an approach to parenting that is:  gospel-centered attachment-focused trauma-informed Connected Families offers a path to a parent-child connection that reveals and expresses the same safety, love, and connection to our children that God gives to us. With the power of God’s love, we can confront old patterns and ways of thinking about parenting, and embrace a new mindset that builds connected relationships. In this podcast, you’ll learn about: overcoming your internal struggles to be a more calm and peaceful parent how the Framework helps you navigate different parenting styles, and offers both a practical and empathetic approach to parenting the power of affirmation in your child’s life (and your spouse’s!)  filling the “reservoir of connection” to sustain your family through the tough times of correction  Mentioned in this podcast: Connected Families Framework TBRI Be a part of the Insiders Team The Peace Process (Sibling Conflict Course) Want to learn more? What I Misunderstood About Adoption–And, Well, All Parenting What Is “Attachment Style”? Podcast: Parenting Kids from Hard Places with Unique Needs Interested in hearing more about Connected Families? Check out our website and these fantastic resources to help you lead your family with confidence and grace. Questions? Need help? Please contact us, we would love to hear from you! Related PostsAn Honest Conversation About Adoption | Ep. 81How to Be Safe for Your Kids | Ep. 76My Misconceptions About Adoption—And, Well, All ParentingParenting Kids from Hard Places with Unique Needs | Ep. 45 .stk-qvspb8u{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-3,#293241) !important;background-image:url(https://connectedfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/tuan-anh-tran-M74UY3ozHPY-unsplash-scaled.jpg) !important}.stk-qvspb8u:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-3,#293241) !important;opacity:0.1 !important}.stk-qvspb8u{padding-top:64px !important;padding-right:64px !important;padding-bottom:64px !important;padding-left:64px !important}.stk-qvspb8u-container{background-color:rgba(41,50,65,0.5) !important}.stk-qvspb8u-container:before{background-color:var(--theme-palette-color-3,#293241) !important}.stk-qvspb8u .stk-block-hero__content{max-width:400px !important;min-width:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-left:0px !important;display:flex !important}.stk-qvspb8u .stk-block-hero__content{align-items:center !important} .stk-5yg154p .stk-block-heading__text{color:#FFFFFF !important}Dare to dream of peace again. .stk-ip0bc68 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:18px !important;color:#FFFFFF !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-ip0bc68 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:18px !important}}It’s not hopeless. You can ENJOY YOUR KIDS AGAIN. .stk-4jnd73z .stk-button{background:var(--theme-palette-color-1,#ee6c4d) !important}.stk-4jnd73z .stk-button:hover:after{background:var(--theme-palette-color-2,#98c1d9) !important;opacity:1 !important}.stk-4jnd73z .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-8,#ffffff) !important;font-weight:600 !important}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-4jnd73z .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important}}CONNECT WITH A PARENT COACH