Zen Pop

We discuss Dr. Daniel Siegel’s new book titled “Brainstorm- The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain”. Dr. Siegel explains that adolescence has an ESSENCE that is often overlooked. ESSENCE stands for: ES: An Emotional Spark is revealed in the enhanced way emotion generated from sub-cortical areas washes over the cortical circuits of reasoning. The downsides are emotional storms and moodiness; the upside is a powerful passion to live life fully, to capture life being on fire. SE: Social Engagement emerges as teens turn more toward peers than parents, the downside being falling prey to peer pressure simply to gain membership in a group, the upside being the central importance of supportive relationships in our lives. Relationships are the key factor associated with medical and mental health, longevity, and even happiness. N: Novelty-seeking emerges from shifts in the brain’s dopamine system with the downside of risk-taking behavior and injury, and the upside of having the courage to leave the familiar, certain, and safe home nest for the unfamiliar, uncertain, potentially unsafe world beyond. CE: And our Creative Exploration of adolescence is found as we push against the status quo, imagining how things could be, not simply accepting them for what they are. The downside? Not just conforming to life as usual can be disorienting and stressful. The upside? The thrill and passion of discovery—and the reality that most innovations in art, music, science and technology emerge from the adolescent mind. Dr. Siegel reminds us to be conscious of adolescent ESSENCE so we can better relate to our children and respect this important time of development. Resources: Daniel’s book can be found here Click the following links to purchase Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent Part 1 & and Part 2 Click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

Casserly had always been on the top tier soccer team only to find out from her coach that she was being moved down to the next level. Her reaction to this gut punch might surprise you. Casserly is going into 6th grade and graduated from our first “Be U Girls Club” in the fall of 2013. We asked Casserly and her mom Rita to share this story in an effort to remind us that children are here to teach us as much as we are here to teach them. From a parent’s perspective – how would have handled this situation? Would you have tried to fix it? Would you have reacted with anger or thought it unfair? From a preteen’s perspective – do you feel you have the tools and the self understanding to react in such a compassionate and authentic way? Other Resources: For more information on Rita’s Coaching business go to http://www.ritahyland.com/ Click the following links to purchase Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent Part 1 & and Part 2 Click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

How do we introduce cell phones to our kids? It’s a big step into an adult world, and concerns such as these are common: Will they abuse it?, Will they turn into “phoneheads”?, What kind of phone is appropriate?, What are the expectations around use of the phone? A few years ago Janelle Hoffman wrote a blog about phone expectations that went viral. We used her blog as “bones” for a list we created called “Jacey’s Phone Smarts”: We own the phone, but it’s yours to use. We will know all phone passwords. Answer calls/texts from your parents, and answer the phone politely when it rings. Phone stays plugged in downstairs at night. Listen to your instincts and call and text only at appropriate times during the day. During the day the phone is for safety – (specifically so we can communicate). Talk to people during the day, do not become a “phone head”. If it breaks or get lost, you will cover the cost. Use technology only for good. Do not use it to harm or lie. Do not involve yourself in group texts, phone calls, or games that are intended to harm or lie. Use the phone to be a good friend. Do not text anything that you would not say in person Phone is to be silenced and put away in public. Family events are for family, not phone time. You are a kind and respectful person, so don’t let the phone change that part of you. Do not take pictures of yourself or anybody else that you would not show to your parents or your grandparents. Sharing pictures of your body or anything inappropriate could harm your friendships, your life, your future. Just be your smart self. Be present for experiences and don’t think you have to take a million pictures. Leave your phone at home sometimes and know that it’s OK, you are not missing anything. Listen to lots of different music and enjoy! Be conscious of explicit lyrics – don’t fill your brain with negative or violent language, it only hurts you. Just be your smart self. Keep your eyes up and see the world and BE with people! Use the phone to connect, not disconnect. Before downloading any apps, get our OK first. We are in this together – we can always discuss all of this. You have shown tremendous responsibility and that’s why you are getting a phone. ENJOY! We also answer a listener’s question regarding the lack of attention that his parents pay to their own grandchildren. We expand on what he could do to help and how to go about it. Cathy discusses her experience with reading the book “Gone Girl” and why she may not finish reading it. We’ll give you a hint- it’s about filling your life with negative stories and how it will affect your your perception of everything else. Other Resources: Scratch Wireless is th phone and plan they got for the their daughter. Click the following links to purchase Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent Part 1 & and Part 2 Click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

In the second half of this 2 part interview, we continue the conversation between Aaron Krueger and Erin Kuhn-Krueger about their experience with multiple miscarriages and stillbirth. In this moving and inspiring interview they share their challenges, coping tools, and their strength and determination to become parents. This show is a must if you have experienced pregnancy or infant loss, or if you know someone who is trying to navigate the grief associated with baby loss. This is Part 2 of a two part interview with the Krueger family – Part 1 was aired on Friday, June 6th. Part 1 can be found here. Erin has a website and blog called “Will Carry On“. She shares her experiences and insights and offers resources and tools for other families in need. Click here to hear an episode about Cathy and Todd’s experience with miscarriage. Click here to watch the movie “Return to Zero” about a couple’s experience with stillbirth. Other Resources: Click the following links to purchase Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent Part 1 & and Part 2 Click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

Of course there are plenty of men who are not misogynists, but that doesn’t mean that women are not subjected to misognystic behavior. We have to take responsibility for ourselves and also recognize what we tolerate- our friends inappropriate jokes or behavior, the song lyrics we listen to, the movies we love, the people we idolize. And it’s not just men, women need to recognize how they contribute – gossiping, judging, and disrespecting other women can add to the overall problem. Todd gets on his soap box. There are numerous youtube clips, blogs, books articles helping and supporting the girls, but he is seeking more support for the boys. If we are going to make change, it can’t be one sided. Girl empowerment is essential, but so is supporting boys in expressing their emotion. If we focused on both simultaneously, real change could occur. They also discuss The Fault in our Stars and Malificient, two great summer movies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=642lKXC97c4 Other Resources: Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk5qsmRyVcE How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Don’t forget about the webinar for Assessing the Risk Factors For Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children. Register here. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

We speak with Aaron Krueger and Erin Kuhn-Krueger about their experience with multiple miscarriages and stillbirth. In this moving and inspiring interview they share their challenges, coping tools, and their strength and determination to become parents. This show is a must if you have experienced pregnancy or infant loss, or if you know someone who is trying to navigate the grief associated with baby loss. This is Part 1 of a two part interview with the Krueger family – Part 2 will air Friday, June 13th. Erin has a website and blog called “Will Carry On“. She shares her experiences and insights and offers resources and tools for other families in need. Click here to hear an episode about Cathy and Todd’s experience with miscarriage. Click here to watch the movie “Return to Zero” about a couple’s experience with stillbirth. Other Resources: Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk5qsmRyVcE How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Don’t forget about the webinar for Assessing the Risk Factors For Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children. Register here. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.    

Of course you are the parent and your role is important, but can you sometimes just drop the role and relate to your child as an individual? We break down the the role of parent to redefine what it means to support your child. When your child comes to you with a problem, do you deal with the internal or the external? Most of us deal with the external – focus on how it looks and how to fix it. But do we consider what our child is feeling and experiencing? Instead of trying to “fix” the problem immediately, can we first: Listen Validate Normalize If we initially put more attention on the internal, our children we will be better able to hear our opinion and probable solutions. Other Resources: Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk5qsmRyVcE How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Don’t forget about the webinar for Assessing the Risk Factors For Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children. Register here. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

Do you want to be happy? Guess what, you’ve got the tools to do it! Happiness can be cultivated regardless of your childhood or genes – you just need to make it a daily priority! Shawn Achor is a Harvard Professor who teaches a class on how to be happy – research shows it comes from the INSIDE and has little to do with the external experiences. It’s not about waiting to be happy until you find success, it’s about being happy and then achieving success due to your happiness. Happiness comes from striving for something that has value, not the attainment. Genes and environment can play a role in your everyday feelings, so you need to strengthen your happy muscles, you have the power! Here are a few specific steps you can take right now to make yourself more happy. Pick a few and practice for 21 days – see if it makes a difference: Spend two minutes each day expressing gratitude either verbally or written. Write about one meaningful thing that happened to you in the last 24 hours and provide as much detail as possible. Exercise Take two minutes a day and breath mindfully If you do this, it will not only will you feel good, you will create a ripple effect of happiness all around you! Other Resources: Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

Did you know that May is Williams Syndrome Awareness Month? Williams syndrome is a genetic condition characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. People with Williams Syndrome also tend to have enhanced verbal abilities, highly social personalities and an affinity for music. It effects 1 in 10,000 people worldwide – an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people in the United States. We interview Amy Connell-Donohue, the mother of 11 year old Emerson who was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome when she was 1. Amy shares her road to diagnosis and the challenges of finding out that your child is not typical. She also shares lessons from Emerson and says that she’s the glue that holds the family together. Amy’s article about her family is in the May issue of Chicago Parent, it’s titled Having it All. We know Emerson personally and she is dear to our heart! Learn more about Williams Syndrome here: http://williams-syndrome.org/ Whispering Trails Music Therapy Camp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF4DiqEdN3w Other Resources: Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

Todd and Cathy discuss their disagreement over how “active” their kids should be in extracurricular activities. Keeping kids “busy” is connected to our past experiences and our need for constant productivity. It is essential that we see ourselves and our motives clearly when creating expectations for our children. We also talk about some conscious parent foundational elements including self-awareness, mindfulness, and kindness. Conscious parenting is not a “technique”, it’s actually a way of living and relating to yourself and others. Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.  

Mother do you think they’ll drop the bomb? That’s the first line in this epic song. We disect the lyrics and use it to help understand conscious parenting. Roger Water’s song (on the show we use the Natalie Maines version) points out that parents can have the best intentions when “protecting” their children, but if done unconsciously, or with lack of self awareness, it can backfire. Full Lyrics to Mother: Mother do you think they’ll drop the bomb Mother do you think they’ll like the song Mother do you think they’ll try to break my balls Ooooh aah, Mother should I build a wall Mother should I run for president Mother should I trust the government Mother will they put me in the firing line Ooooh aah, is it just a waste of time Hush now baby, baby don’t you cry Mama’s gonna make all of your Nightmares come true Mama’s gonna put all of her fears into you Mama’s gonna keep you right here Under her wing she won’t let you fly but she might let you sing Mama will keep baby cosy and warm Ooooh Babe Ooooh Babe Ooooh Babe Of course Mama’s gonna help build the wall Mother do think she’s good enough for me Mother do think she’s dangerous to me Mother will she tear your little boy apart Oooh aah, mother will she break my heart Hush now baby, baby don’t you cry Mama’s gonna check out all your girl friends for you Mama won’t let anyone dirty get through Mama’s gonna wait up till you get in Mama will always find out where You’ve been Mamma’s gonna keep baby healthy and clean Ooooh Babe Ooooh Babe Ooooh Babe You’ll always be a baby to me Mother, did it need to be so high…. Our guest Dr. Shefali Tsabary is about to rocket into the Oprah stratosphere. She’ll be on Oprah’s Soul Series and Life Class on Sunday, May 18th. Time to set your DVR’s. Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.  

In honor of Mother’s Day, we invited our moms to talk about what we were like as kids. We also talk about the changes that have taken place from the time they were kids (a.k.a. the olden days) to raising us in the 70’s – we also discuss how their grandchildren are being raised. We get nostalgic and we have a lot of laughs. We love our moms! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUkE9qaVgmo&list=PLyfsVoKpa6Y3LqyDbc04-6M6V9rJETgt- Our guest Dr. Shefali Tsabary is about to rocket into the Oprah stratosphere. She’ll be on Oprah’s Soul Series and Life Class on Sunday, May 18th. Time to set your DVR’s. Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

What’s the difference between punishment, discipline, and natural consequences? We discuss a few different events that happened in our house that allowed for natural consequences. Rather than using fear to punish, natural consequences help children understand and integrate a teaching. We also discuss cell phone usage – specifically: What is the correct age to give your access to a phone? What conditions should be put on it? Are we telling our children that we don’t trust them if we ask them to look through all their messages? There was a story in the Chicago Tribune about a middle school that had to deal with sexting. We discuss the different technologies surrounding kids and their phones. Our guest Dr. Shefali Tsabary is about to rocket into the Oprah stratosphere. She’ll be on Oprah’s Soul Series and Life Class on Sunday, May 18th. Time to set your DVR’s. Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. 630-631-6844 Looking for a chirporactor? Give Dr. Kelly and the Tree of Life team a call to schedule an appt. 630-941-8733 Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

Most of us do. Why do we sometimes feel like fakes at work, at home, in the world? Why are we afraid that someone is going to figure out that we really don’t know what we are doing? We discuss how this feeling plays into our parenting and how we can practice feeling as “real” as possible. We play a clip (below) from Amy Cudder’s Ted Talk on self doubt and how to deal with it. We also discuss our upcoming “The Good Life Virtual Retreat” . What does it mean to live a good life? It means to “shed the veils over our souls” (a quote from Elizabeth Lesser) and learn to live in love. Our retreat starts next week and we will practice “letting go” so we can actually notice all the goodness around us! You don’t want to miss it, click here to register. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4xYENd02_E Other notes: Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting How important is a good smile? Just ask our new partner John J Kelly DDS. They are located on the northwest side of Chicago and will meet all of your family’s dental needs. Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

Do we want our kids to be popular? How important is this? What makes our kids popular? Is it athletic ability and physical stature or is it physical attractiveness and attention from the opposite sex? We share our perspective and discuss why parents play a role in how their children are perceived. We also use great 80’s movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, & Revenge of the Nerds to make our “popular” points. We are facilitating our next virtual retreat! It’s called “The Good Life” and it’s in celebration of Mother’s Day. Register and gift the retreat to someone for FREE! Other notes: Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care have some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

Typically pessimists respond to problems by believing these three things: It’s Personal– They blame themselves for an event that has occurred. It’s Permanent– They think it will never get better. It’s Pervasive– They assume failure in one area of life means failure in life as a whole and that failure is happening everywhere and can’t be stopped. Do we carry some of these traits? Does it affect our parenting? We discuss this and offer options for turning these thoughts around. We also discuss a few scenes from The Shawshank Redemption and Terms of Endearment. We answer a listener’s question regarding a rivalry between her two sons- (ages 8 and 10) and how we almost lost Goldie the goldfish. We are facilitating our next virtual retreat! It’s called “The Good Life” and it’s in celebration of Mother’s Day. Youtube clips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4xYENd02_E&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw Other resources discussed on the show- The 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz Other notes: Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care has some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

In this compelling interview, our friend Katie Weiss shares her breast cancer experience, starting with the fact that she was diagnosed at 35. Due to her age she is told her lump is probably nothing, but she walks us through the series of incidents that lead to the mind-numbing news that she indeed had breast cancer. Recently separated and with a three-year-old daughter at home, Katie takes us from diagnosis, to chemotherapy and finally recovery. Katie’s storytelling is vulnerable, raw, and full of humor – we were laughing and crying a the same time! There is so much to learn from her amazing story, this podcast is a must listen! Other notes: Click here to find Cathy’s books The Self-Aware Parent 1 & 2, click here to find her blog, and click here to find her Chicago Parent column. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care has some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.  

Is it manly to take paternity leave? When Daniel Murphy’s (a player on the New York Mets) wife had a baby, he utilized the paternity leave that is allowed under the collective bargaining agreement set forth by Major League Baseball. But why is he being criticized? Is it “man code” to get back to work as soon as the birth is over? If we are a nation of family values, why do we place work over family? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbMFHX5iq We also discuss Todd’s blod titled, Am I a Bad Dad? Am I a Bad Husband? where he discusses “traditional” father/mother roles and whether it’s nature, nurture, or gender (or all three?) that influence our ability to parent. Lastly we review some previous podcasts titled Grieving a Miscarriage and The Business of Being Born and Honey, it’s time! Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care has some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.  

We discuss 8 different ways to help your children be more mindful: 1. Mindful breathing 2. Past/present/future 3. Take in the joy 4. Quiet time 5. Practice listening 6. Emotional awareness – feeling – asking questions about feelings 7. Gratitude – don’t judge what they are grateful for – role model 8. Do it yourself We also discuss the idea of creeping separateness. This is when we “ignore the cracks” in a marriage. The little things that are done (or sometimes not done) which create distance between couples. We come up with a few practical ideas on how to fill those cracks. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care has some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.  

Our friends and neighbors Jeanne and Jeff Plaisted walk the walk. They decided that on their 15th anniversary they were going to do something special. Massages on the beach in Hawaii? Nope. A cruise through the Caribbean? Try again. They decided to make a difference. They stepped away from their day to day life and packed up for a two-week trip to Nicaragua. They were inspired by Spark Ventures, a Chicago-based nonprofit that partners with grassroots organizations to help children in developing countries. They told us about their experience and how it changed their perception of our world. They also wanted to lead by example and teach their sons (3rd grade and 6th grade) what it means to be a global citizen. Their story is truly inspiring! Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care has some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.  

We all know that most of us are overwhelmed. The question is- what do we do about it? Like most things- it begins with awareness. We get into a discussion based on a book by Brigid Schulte titled –Overwhelmed- Work, Love, & Play When No One Has The Time. We play some clips from an amazing interview she did with NPR’s Terry Gross. Some of the highlights include: The idea of “contaminated time” Is there a different set of expectations between men and women when it comes to parenting? We claim to be a culture of family values- Is this in alignment with the behaviors and policies we currently have? Balancing the responsibilities of parenting between mom and dad The dangers of being “fun dad” The biology that men have in regards to being a nurturer. Resources Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh A New Earth weekly interview with Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle Hunteryoga.com has created another Daily Practice that begins on March 24th!!! The first week is free. Click the link for more details. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care has some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting Painting or remodeling? Don’t forget about our parnter Avid Co.

In this compelling interview, our friend Katie Weiss shares her breast cancer experience, starting with the fact that she was diagnosed at 35. Due to her age she is told her lump is probably nothing, but she walks us through the series of incidents that lead to the mind-numbing news that she indeed had breast cancer. Recently separated and with a three-year-old daughter at home, Katie takes us from diagnosis, to chemotherapy and finally recovery. Katie’s storytelling is vulnerable, raw, and full of humor – we were laughing and crying a the same time! There is so much to learn from her amazing story, this podcast is a must listen!

Todd confesses that he still feels intimidated by powerful women in our society, and he uses Oprah and Hillary Clinton as examples. This leads to a discussion about the campaign created by Sheryl Sandberg called “Banning Bossy” The campaign is designed to empower female leadership by making us more conscious of the words we use to describe young girls as they assert themselves. The confidence gap starts early– Between elementary and high school, girls’ self–esteem drops 3.5 times more than boys’. Bossy holds girls back– Girls are twice as likely as boys to worry that leadership roles will make them seem “bossy.” Girls get less airtime in class- They are called on less and interrupted more. They also discuss Cathy’s blog- “Banning Bossy: It’s not about the word, it’s about the conversation” and why this campaign (which has been ridiculed by bloggers and the media) is worth another look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dynbzMlCcw Other topics include the value of partner vacations and why being away can bring you back to center. Hunteryoga.com has created another Daily Practice that begins on March 24th!!! The first week is free. Click the link for more details. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care has some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

Why do we get “triggered” by certain people or circumstances? You could call it a “trigger”, or you could call it a “thorn”. A thorn is when you are disturbed because something you are experiencing feels similar to a negative (or uncomfortable, or unresolved, or painful) experience from the past. Instead of feeling/responding to something in present time, the experience can trigger old pain from the past. That makes the present experience feel like too much to bear, and you may respond in an inappropriate or over the top way. An example is when you are driving and somebody cuts you off – you go from being calm to out of control very quickly, and most likely you are having a response based on old thoughts or experiences (that person thinks he’s better than me, that person doesn’t respect me, that person is a jerk driver just like that guy who hit me 10 years ago….). When we pull up all of that pain into a present-time situation, it’s understandable why we go from 0-60 so quickly. We played a few clips from an interview between Oprah Winfrey and Michael Singer who authored “The Untethered Soul” We discuss what our thorns are, why it’s best to acknowledge them, and how best to remove them. We also talk about one of the best guys in the world. Hunteryoga.com has created another Daily Practice that begins on March 24th!!! The first week is free. Click the link for more details. Todd has a few spots opening for his Men’s Group. Email me @ [email protected] Tree of Life Chiropractic Care has some interesting workshops planned. An outline can be found here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting Resources links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKDPBt2m_iE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuqemytQ5QA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xdDOPx2D8Y

“Leukemia messed with the wrong girl in November 2011 – my then almost two year old daughter, Maddy. That was when my family’s journey with leukemia began….”~Erin and Dan McCarthy Last month, Maddy became a SURVIVOR, after 2+ years of treatment. It was brutal – Maddy had 3 surgeries, over 50 rounds of outpatient chemotherapy (as well as hundreds of chemo meds at home), 10 spinal tap chemo injections, 4 blood transfusions, 12 ER visits, hair loss, 16 body scans, numerous inpatient admissions, and on and on.. Dan & Erin share their 2-year experience with their daughter’s Leukemia and take us through all of the ups and downs of diagnosis, chemo, and what it means to be a survivor. Dan has also been nominated as a person of the year by the Leukemia Society. Please consider donating (click here to find his page.) Every dollar counts as a vote, and we would love to see Dan receive this tremendous honor (not to mention raise a ton of $$ for cancer research)! Erin is a professional photographer and if a listener books a session during the ten-week voting period, she will donate all costs to LLS. Find her website here. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

There are 5 attributes Google, Inc. currently looks for when hiring an employee and guess what? The school you came from and your G.P.A. don’t mean that much. In a New York Times article titled “How to Get a Job at Google” Thomas Friedman interviewed Laszlo Bock, the Senior Vice President of People Operations for Google and asks what they look for when hiring employees. Google determined that “G.P.A.’s are worthless as a criteria for hiring, and test scores are worthless. … We found that they don’t predict anything.” What does count? General cognitive ability- and it’s not I.Q., it’s learning ability. Leadership — in particular emergent leadership as opposed to traditional leadership. Emergent leadership is described as “understanding when to assert your leadership qualities and just as importantly, when to step back and allow others to lead.” Humility and ownership- “It’s feeling the sense of responsibility, the sense of ownership, to step in,” he said, to try to solve any problem — and the humility to step back and embrace the better ideas of others. Expertise Be U, Inc.- Kids and Grownups Living from the Inside Out- We discuss the similarities between what Google is looking for and what our consciousness development system is all about. What do you do when your kids are “fighting” and they’re both right? We share a story of our two daughters having a serious disagreement, how they were both right, and how we navigated through the experience. We also give our Oscar ballot results. Here’s a clue- Todd was the runaway winner, but did some interesting “research” to get ready for the evening. We also play this ultra-funny Saturday Night Live Commercial. Listen and enjoy. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men’s Group has a few openings. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting  

How do we react when our children have an emotional response? Yes, there needs to be some boundaries on how our children treat us, but we must also be aware of our own triggers and take responsibility for the energy we bring. We share a recent experience when our daughter had an emotional response (let’s just say it wasn’t handled perfectly). We also use the ocean as a metaphor to distinguish between fear and respect. The easier and quicker lesson is to teach fear, but is there a more effective way to communicate without passing fear down from one generation to the next? Do you want your kids to like you more? Ask them to teach you something you don’t know. I did this last weekend when I asked my girls to tell me about “Frozen”. They lit up because they loved sharing a part of themselves (and teaching me in the process). We also answer a few questions from some listeners whose partners have different parenting styles. We also talked about this in podcast our podcas titled “Are You On The Same Page As Your Spouse?” Want to win a $20.00 Amazon gift card? The Oscars are this weekend and we want you to “Play the Oscars with ZPR”courtesy of Be U, Inc. Simply subscribe to our podcast by clicking this link and we’ll get you the instructions to play ASAP. Invite your friends to join!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCjWMFXdk-Y&feature=youtu.be If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men’s Group as a few openings. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting    

Our friend Jenny Zabrocki shares her personal stories about her modern family. Jenny and her husband Jon had three biological children and then decided to adopt. They adopted a son, Mesfin, from Ethipoia and a daughter, Iris, from China. She helps us understand the challenges and celebrations surrounding the adoption process. Jenny’s very honest and grounded way of sharing her story is an inspiration, and a reminder of how much each of us has to give. Click here to read Jenny’s “Live by Family” blog. Resources: If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting  

Do you forget names or what you are going to say next? Do you walk into a room and forget why you are there? Don’t fear- we can relate, and we also have some ideas to make your brain less mushy. There is a book called “Keep Your Brain Alive” that discusses Neurobics – these are ways to train your brain to stay alert and sharp. Cathy just returned from a vacation and discusses its importance and how we put “fake” importance on our day to day activities. If we can all step back and re-prioritize we’d be in a much better place. Lastly we discuss boys and the stigma against physical affection. A question came in from a listener about her 10 year old son being one way during the day and another way at night. Along the same lines, we discuss a blog written by Shannan Younger titled, “Thank you, Shaun White, for not medaling in the Olympics” Shaun White (famous snow-boarding Olympian) asks for a hug from another man in his moment of defeat. Resources: Mom Translator Skit– SNL Keep Your Brain Alive by Lawrence Katz & Manning Rubin Thank you, Shaun White, for not medaling in the Olympics Lumosity– a simple online tool to improve cognitive function in various populations. Jill Bolte Taylor’s Ted Talk- A Stroke of Insight If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

Last Friday night was “pizza & ice cream night” in our house. Nowhere to go, nothing to do other than watch the Olympics, eat some unhealthy but yummy food and spend some quality time together. At least that was the picture I had in my head for the evening. The problem was one of my daughters was not on board with MY plan and instead told me how bored she was and how she wanted to watch “Merlin”. I instantly went to a place of judgement thinking- this kid has no idea how good she has it- pizza, ice cream, Olympics. I think about Slum Dog Millionaire when the children are looking through the trash heaps for something edible to eat. Cathy and I discuss this experience at length and give some ideas on how best to navigate through such a situation. What would you do if your kid decided to switch from Spanish over to French? Well that’s what mine did even though I view it as less practical. It was a test to my overly-logical view point as well as my parenting. How would you react? We also discuss the book All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood by Jennifer Senior. The research now shows that we are busier than ever and how that can affect our psyche. We distinguish between helicopter parenting and being a “super” parent. Last we discuss how joy is one of the more difficult emotions to own. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

We sit down with Amy Rodgers Duffin as she explains her tactics for striking that elusive balance of career/mom/wife. Some of the things she explains in this conversation… I am not sure who came up with this term, but to most women, it’s something we dream about, but find it difficult to have. As valuable as a winning lottery ticket, achieving work life balance means that we would actually have the time to meet the expectations of our career AND have enough quality time for ourselves, our families and our hobbies so that we feel “balanced”. The demands of work in this electronic, 24-7 iphone world are intense. Many jobs are not just 8-5 anymore, but open for business whenever our phones are turned on. Whether your career is managing a household or a role in Corporate America, achieving balance is more challenging than ever. However, there are ways that we can work to have a more balanced life so that we feel satisfied. Here are some tips to help: 1. Identify your Balance Activities Identify the activities that you need to spend time doing to feel satisfied. This could be quality time with your kids, working out, time for crafts or a visit to the book store. Establish a targeted amount of time to spend on these activities that will make you feel good. It could be 30 minutes of special reading time with the kids, two workouts a week or a one hour trip to the bookstore. Be realistic with the amount of time that is feasible so that you can make it happen. 2. Plan a Schedule Plan your week to include time for your balance activities. We schedule meetings, kid’s activities, business trips and dinner reservations and don’t think twice because it is a necessity to ensure it gets done. Scheduling time for balance activities will help to ensure that time is budgeted and available for you. Be protective of this time just as you would with your work or parenting activities. 3. Choose Quality over Quantity Start with small and realistic timeframes for your targeted balance activity and ensure that the time you have is well spent and focused. You can feel immensely satisfied getting in one good workout or having special time with your kids where you are fully engaged. Learn to value the quality of the time you have over the quantity. 4. Leave the guilt behind It’s important to recognize that having activities that “balance” us is a necessity to our mental health. Feeling guilty for taking the time away from work or your family to do things you enjoy is normal. Taking time out for your balance activities can greatly refresh you and ultimately make you better when you return to your work or family. Learning to give yourself permission for balance activities will help to replace guilt and frustration with satisfaction. 5. Own It! I am a big believer that we have a large role in our own happiness, balance and success. Once you have a plan, you have to own it to make it successful. It takes discipline, conscious decision making and assertiveness to manage your plan. Work to develop this highly valuable skill –you can do it! Ultimately, it takes a lot of “work” to manage your balance, but every step you take will make for a happier you. Please send your best tips on how you work your work life balance to Amy at [email protected]. Lastly- we discussed a “wifes chart” from the 1930’s. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

When was the last time you asked somebody for feedback? Maybe from your partner, your work, or your kids? We discuss the importance of feedback, specifically how to give it, and how to receive it. We also discuss Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s tragic death and how these real life situations can be discussed in the home (for children who are old enough to understand). We end by talking to Kelly Pietrangeli from MyProjectMe.com Her website and Facebook page is for busy moms, and it’s all about self care. The website is a toolbox for motivation, inspiration and solutions – it’s a place to ‘check in’ with yourself and get back on the right track. REMINDERS: Virtual Relationship Retreat starts this Wednesday, Feb 5th 2014- For individuals, couples, friends, or the workplace. Practice self awareness, develop communication skills, and discover ways to create peaceful and more harmonious relationships. Click here for more details. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

We talk about personal responsibility as well as Kathy Caprino’s blog titled “7 Crippling Parenting Behaviors That Keep Children From Growing Into Leaders” A link to the blog is listed under “resources” below. The 7 beahaviors are: 1. We don’t let our children experience risk 2. We rescue too quickly 3. We rave too easily 4. We let guilt get in the way of leading well 5. We don’t share our past mistakes 6. We mistake intelligence, giftedness and influence for maturity 7. We don’t practice what we preach We also answer a listener’s question on how to not feel like a drill sargeant when she’s getting her kids ready for school. Resources Kathy Caprino’s blog- 7 Crippling Parenting Behaviors That Keep Children From Growing Into Leaders Josh Becker’s Podcast- I Simply Am Podcast Po Bronson’s Book- Nurture Shock ZPR’s archived podcast-Why Failure is a Good Thing Asia’s “Heat of the Moment” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDpPoytXVvo REMINDERS: Virtual Relationship Retreat- For individuals, couples, friends, or the workplace. Practice self awareness, develop communication skills, and discover ways to create peaceful and more harmonious relationships. Click here for more details. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting    

Help is on the way! We interview a truly inspirational person- Jonny Immerman. At 26 years old, Jonny was diagnosed with testicular cancer and began his fight against the disease. Throughout his experience, Jonny was lucky enough to have loving support from his family and friends but had never met anyone his age who was a cancer survivor. He wanted to talk to someone just like him, someone who truly understood, and was intimately familiar with his experience. In short, he was looking for someone who had already beaten the same type of cancer. This was the beginning of Jonny’s vision and in 2003, it became a reality when he founded Imerman Angels. Imerman Angels provides personalized connections that enable 1-on-1 support among cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers. Listen in and become inspired.   REMINDERS: Virtual Relationship Retreat- For individuals, couples, friends, or the workplace. Practice self awareness, develop communication skills, and discover ways to create peaceful and more harmonious relationships. Click here for more details. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting  

We discuss the importance of the inner world, specifically how this relates to preadolescent/teenage boys. They generally don’t ask for help, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need support. We offer tips and guidance in how to understand and relate to “boy world”. We also discuss the “innerscape” and “outerscape” of a person and why “remembering and forgetting” are part of the consciousness process. REMINDERS: Virtual Relationship Retreat- For individuals, couples, friends, or the workplace. Practice self awareness, develop communication skills, and discover ways to create peaceful and more harmonious relationships. Click here for more details. If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

In the first half of the show we discuss ideas a blog written by Dr. Mark Goulston on how to increase the happiness of your “couplehood” The 10 habits discussed: 1. Go to bed at the same time 2. Cultivate common interests 3. Walk hand in hand or side by side 4. Make trust and forgiveness your default 5. Focus more on what your partner does right than what he or she does wrong 6. Hug each other as soon as you see each other after work 7. Say “I love you” and “Have a good day” every morning 8. Say “Good night” every night, regardless of how you feel 9. Do a “weather” check during the day 10. Be proud to be seen with your partner The second half of the show we discuss a blog written by Kate Hunter titled ” The Age Your Kids Need You Around The Most” Many times parents tend to take a less active role of parenting during the pre-adolecent stage as children begin to spread their wings. Many experts believe this is the time when they need us the most. Todd also submits two entries into the Tournament of Bad- Golden Globes & the phrase “Happy Wife, Happy Life” Resources discussed in this week’s show: Dr. Mark Goulston’s blog 10 Habits of Happy Couples Kate Hunter’s blog “The Age Your Kids Need You Around The Most” Hunter Clark’s interview with Cathy on her “Yoga Stories” podcast Todd’s first blog “11 Mistakes Your marriage Needs You To Stop Making” HeartMath’s Power Of The Heart’s Electromagnetic Field Previous ZPR podcast which discussed the relationship b/w the heart and the brain “Respect for The Scarecrow & The Tin Man”   REMINDERS: If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets, they are going quickly. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

We interview Dr. Shefali Tsabary the author of the The Conscious Parent (with a forward written by the Dalai Lama) and her new book Out of Control which questions why and how we discipline children. Some of the issues we discuss with Dr. Shefali: – What are the first steps we can take to become a more conscious parent? – What prevents us from being the parent that we want to be? – Why most discipline strategies don’t work. How parenting our children can help us heal our past wounds. – How to release guilt when we recognize our parenting challenges are less about our children issues and more about our issues. – Can our children be an instrument for our own personal growth? – How do we release the power of natural consequences? REMINDERS: If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR. We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets, they are going quickly. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

It’s Cathy’s turn to share what she learned after 11 years of marriage. Her mistakes: 1. Being a martyr 2. Pretending to like things I didn’t like 3. Not trying things I haven’t tried (paradox) 4. Worrying about the small stuff (and not seeing the big stuff)5.Not trusting Todd’s ability to parent 5. Wanting Todd to read my mind 6. Shutting down instead of saying what I felt 7. Not saying thank you and sorry 8. Not admitting to my mistakes 9. Not recognizing that letting go is the best way to love In the second half of our show, we interview our new Partner, Hunter Clark from hunteryoga.com/zen. In our continual effort to provide resources to our listeners, we introduced Hunter’s 28 day Daily Practice Immersion. This program will help our listeners develop a home yoga practice that will fit into your day; help you form the new, positive habit of self-care; and teach you practical ways to relieve stress and relax the body and mind. The first 7 days are free so we encourage you to signup by going to hunteryoga.com/zen REMINDERS: If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets as there going quickly. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

When I do the annual job of washing the windows in my house, I always say without exception, “I never realized they were that dirty.” I can now see how green the trees are, how blue the sky is. We see the world through our own filter. Our soul needs to to be cleaned as well by doing things such as reading books, working with a therapist, meditating, taking a mindful walk, etc. These are all actions that can give us a better perception of the world. Conversely—if you are filling your thoughts/heart with negative things, that is the world that you will see. If we can all make this shift, our lives will be happier because of it. We share some resources that may help including Mark Nope’s “Book of Awakening” , Gary Chapman’s “5 Love Languages” and the documentary Man on Wire (trailer is below). In the second half of our show (22:48 mark) – I go over 11 mistakes I have made in my 11 years of being a husband. We discuss each one and share some stories. They are (in no particular order): I made up for my ineptitude with grand gestures. I spoke a different language. I fixed her problems. I thought we were the same. I let her pass me by. I did not put her on the calendar I thought we were supposed to grow together. I let things roll off my back. I talked down to her in the presence of others. I made a big deal when I did something nice. I didn’t fight fair. Don’t forget to: If you shop Amazon by going through our website first (there is an amazon link on the bottom right hand of our home page), a portion of your sale will help fund our Be U program. Thanks for supporting us! Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets as there going quickly. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIawNRm9NWM

We interview Josh Becker, a teacher for Breakthrough for Men and host of the I Simply Am podcast. Breakthrough for Men is dedicated to making real change in the quality of men’s lives. We discuss why it’s much more difficult to gather a group of men (vs. women) for the purpose of self exploration. Josh helps redefine the definition of manhood – society encourages men to be strong and not vulnerable, intelligent and not thoughtful, powerful and not beautiful. And men are using unhealthy coping mechanisms (alcohol, drugs, sex, gaming, gambling) to to deal with their unrecognized feelings and challenges. Josh can be found here and information on Breakthrough for Men can be found here. How can women help men open up? If and when your husband shows any sense of vulnerability, do not use it against them or make fun of them in any way, and create a safe and trusting environment for your husband to express emotions. Men need to know they’re safe before opening up. How can men open up? Take a look at the people you surround yourself with. Is it based soley upon alcohol and sports? If you find that it’s less fulfilling than it used to be, it might be time to find a group of men that have some other interest. Can’t find one? Check this out – I Simply Am blog/podcast by Josh Becker Todd, Cathy, & Josh play a random question game – find out their answers to these questions: What is one thing you wish you knew 20 years ago that you know now? Who is your favorite teacher? How do you practice self-love? Don’t forget to: Check out our new website & be sure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets as there going quickly. The trailer is below. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

We interview blogger/editor Ben Martin of The Good Men Project. We discuss his blog which asks the question Why is it socially acceptable to speak down to children when we would rarely (if ever) speak to another adult in the same way? Cathy also shares her thoughts on the lessons from the movie Frozen (the trailer can be found @ the bottom of this blog). This movie is all about self acceptance, shining as brightly as we can, and how to utilize our gifts. Cathy and Todd shares some personal experience with feeling freedom after a personal breakup, miscarriages, and forgiveness. We also preview Friday’s Conversations With People We Love with Josh Becker. Ben’s blog can be found here. We also discuss smaller items like google calendar, sleeping in movies, & walking out of movies, the poower of empathy (Brene Brown video clip below) Don’t forget to: Check out our new website & besure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR Vote for us for the Best Health & Lifestyle podcast @ Stitcher We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets as there going quickly. The trailer is below. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQm5doF_Uc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsvklXhYaE

Among the topics of todays podcast: We discuss a blog title “Is Disney TV poisoning our kids”? Some people thinks so. Some shows are OK, whereas others are just not good for your kids to be watching. Where’s the balance between prohibiting certain shows for your kids and letting them figure out for themselves what is good/bad and then having a discussion about the shows. We contrast the “perfection” of the female actresses of Disney TV vs. what was popular in our day such as the girls on Facts of Life or even current shows such as Modern Family. The blog can be found here The badness of the cartoon “Might Mouse” and the goodness of Captain Caveman. See clips below- Lastly Santa pays a visit to ZPR. What can I say, it’s one of the more interesting interviews we have done. Santa shows up @ the 34:37 mark in the show. Don’t forget to: Check out our new website & besure to sign up to get all new podcast sent direct to your inbox @ ZPR Vote for us for the Best Health & Lifestyle podcast @ Stitcher We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets as there going quickly. The trailer is below. Todd’s Men Adventure Retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUHShcWlkE8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiw4b0bl8lc&list=PLE63EB85A58406047 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsvklXhYaE  

We talk with Annie Burnside, author, blogger, and teacher who focuses on spiritual development for individuals and families. In this podcast we discuss the problem with parenting books, why personal growth is the key to parenting, and how to infuse spiritual language and lessons into digestible bites. Annie also talks about raising teenagers and the true definition of success. Towards the end of the show, we talk about the YouTube clip included below. Annie is the author of Soul to Soul Parenting and she offers Soul Circles in the Chicago area. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIsCs9_-LP8 We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets as there going quickly. Todd’s men retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

The theme for this week is forgiveness (big and small) and heroes. Cathy and Todd talk about a mugger who apologized to his victim on facebook…35 years later. In the spirit of the holiday season they discuss other forms of forgiveness – to ourselves and others. They illustrate this with the story of the two monks. and they also talk a lot about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. As we age, our heroes evolve – Todd’s hero growing up was Walter Payton, but now he is in awe of others such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and a man named Chuck Feeney. The story about their philanthropic efforts can be found here. We also discuss Nelson Mandela and Malala. » Read more about the apologetic mugger here. » Read more about the two monks here. The documentary called The One percent is mentioned in which Jamie Johnson exposes the life of an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELodtbfqBCA We also dedicate the show to the life and memory of Nelson Mandela. He is honored in part in this music video from U2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC3ahd6Di3M We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets as there going quickly. The trailer is below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsvklXhYaE Todd’s men retreat is February 28th through March 2nd. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting

We discuss 4 ways to reduce your holiday stress: Dealing with family, How to cope with a case of the “shoulds”, Setting an intention for the holidays, Register for the 8 days of Holiday Calm Virtual Retreat. Todd features the first of four weekly shout outs to a a holiday movie. This week we feature National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. The Tournament of Bad is in full force as we debate delaying the gratification by listening to holiday music after Thanksgiving – Cathy listens whenever she wants, Todd waits – what do you do? We also play a touching clip that brings Cathy to tears

We talk with Nancy Mullen, social worker, author, pastry chef, and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. Nancy worked for several years in the HIV/AIDS field and shifted to her work with LGBT youth in 1998 as the executive director of a small, grassroots agency. She is a sought after public speaker on topics such as LGBT Youth and Adolescent Development and Current Trends in Working with LGBT Youth. She is a blogger and author of Urban Tidepool, a memoir that Nancy describes as “Reminiscent of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” with a gay twist, a helping of The Glass Castle and a hint of Erma Bombeck.” Cathy’s virtual Holiday Retreat begins on December 9th. Click the link for more info. We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets as there going quickly. Todd’s men retreat is March 7th thru March 9th. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting   Thank you for listening!!!

What is Thanksgiving about? Being with family or finding the best deal? Many retailers moved Black Friday deals up a day and now people are expected to work on Thanksgiving or they feel the need to shop instead of relax. We subscribe to not feeding into the frenzy – will you join us? We also discuss a book titled Triumphs of Experience by George Vaillant. The book is the longest longitudinal study of human development. Among the surprising findings: people who do well in old age did not necessarily do so well in midlife, and vice versa. We discuss more from the book and share a clip from the author. We learn a new idea from the author in which he states that the ability to take love in and metabolize it is the key to a successful life. Other random stuff: The Safety Dance, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Todd’s disdain for shopping and receving clothes as gifts. Cathy’s virtual Holiday Retreat begins on December 9th. Click the link for more info. We have arranged for a screening of the documentary “Girl Rising” in Lombard. Click here to purchase your tickets as there going quickly. Todd’s men retreat is March 7th thru March 9th. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting You can subscribe to Cathy’s blog by going to http://www.chicagonow.com/self-aware-parent/ Thank you for listening!!!  

We were inspired by a 60 Minutes segment about a group of billionaires who took “The Giving Pledge”. It’s headed up by Bill/Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet, and the only requirement is to give away at least half of your fortune. Sometimes it’s easy to look at the super rich and say, “Well if I was that rich, I would do the same thing.” The bottom line is that most people in the U.S. are rich compared to other people around the world. We must ask ourselves, are we doing everything we can to help others? The 60 Minutes is below. One of the billionaires is a man named Jeffrey Skoll. He produces documentaries with the hopes to bring about social change. This led to a discussion about our own favorite documentaries with a link to the trailers below: Girl Rising– The movie tells the stories of nine girls from nine countries. Their stories reflect their struggles to overcome societal or cultural barriers. Register to view the “Girl Rising” screening in Lombard IL on January 21st here I Am– In the film, Shadyac conducts interviews with scientists, religious leaders, environmentalists and philosophers including Desmond Tutu, Noam Chomsky, Lynne McTaggart, Elisabet Sahtouris, David Suzuki, Howard Zinn, and Thom Hartmann. The film asks two central questions: What’s Wrong With the World? and What Can We Do About it?. It is about “human connectedness, happiness, and the human spirit”,and explores themes including Darwinism, Western mores, loneliness, the economy, and the drive to war. Get “I Am” here. Miss Representation– The film interweaves stories from teenage girls with provocative interviews from the likes of Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Rosario Dawson, Dr. Jackson Katz, Dr. Jean Kilbourne, and Gloria Steinem to give an inside look at the media and its message. The film’s motto, “You can’t be what you can’t see,” underscores an implicit message that young women need and want positive role models, and that the media has thus far neglected its unique opportunity to provide them. The film includes a social action campaign to address change in policy, education and call for socially responsible business Get “Miss Representation” on Netflix here We only need 66 more people to “tip” this showing of 10×10 – Girl Rising! I think we can make it happen, so click below, reserve your ticket NOW (don’t wait, we need the reservation to green light the showing), and then get excited about a documentary that is SO worth your time. Click here to reserve your seats. http://gathr.us/screening/6453 Resource of the week mykidsadventures.com – My Kids’ Adventures™ is an online magazine designed to make it easy for busy parents to create adventures with their children anywhere Todd’s men retreat is March 7th thru March 9th. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting You can subscribe to Cathy’s blog by going to http://www.chicagonow.com/self-aware-parent/ Thank you for listening!!!    

Conversations With People We Love- We interview a self admitted former bully. Mark Schultz is a friend and somebody who told Cathy and I that we had to watch the documentary Bullyand then interview him on his experiences as a former bully with the hopes that we can all learn a little bit from his experience. He shares with us how he became a bully and the unlikely person who showed up to change his ways. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUy2ZWoStr0 Todd’s men retreat is March 7th thru March 9th. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting You can subscribe to Cathy’s blog by going to http://www.chicagonow.com/self-aware-parent/ Thank you for listening!!!  

We are talking about bullying…. again, but this time it’s about the adults (Rich Incognito/Jonathan Martin story). We discuss “man code” and the culture of the NFL, but recognize that many cultures have a “code” that is expected to be kept. It’s easy to direct anger at the an individual, but we are reminded that most bullies were a victims at some point in their lives. We also discuss end of life decisions as a result of a news story from last week. As Todd ages, he further differentiates the difference between one’s physical body, emotions, and heart. Are we our body? This video from Nick Vujicic might help inspire you. Tournament of Bad- Todd takes issue with the new bubble wrap. Finally we answered a question from a listener tring to recapture the closeness with her daughter that is eluding her. Todd’s men retreat is March 7th thru March 9th. Please email @ [email protected] for details. We would love to hear any comments from the show by sending us an email @ [email protected] You can be sure to hear more by liking our facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/ZenParenting You can subscribe to Cathy’s blog by going to http://www.chicagonow.com/self-aware-parent/ Thank you for listening!!!