The team discusses how playing with our kids is a great way to connect with them. Play is fun and disarming and makes us enjoy our kids as much as it makes them enjoy us. Play is the language of children but is sadly something most of us are no longer fluent in. [podbean resource="episode=f7ku6-8e4cf2" type="audio-square" height="400" skin="8" [...]
Author: Ryan North
Ryan North is the Co-Founder of One Big Happy Home and creator of The Empowered Parent Podcast. He is a recognized expert on childhood trauma, a TBRI Practitioner, and develops training materials for parents, schools, churches, and child-placing agencies. Ryan is a sought-after speaker known for his engaging and practical approach to communicating complex issues clearly and relatable to a wide range of audiences.
Reinforce the Relationship Before you Remind them of the Rules
It took me a long time to embrace the idea that we should connect first even when correction is obviously necessary. After all, isn't dealing with the natural consequences of breaking a rule a prime teachable moment? Like most of you, we don't allow our kids to run in the house. So, when one of [...]
Manage Your Expectations
We all have expectations. Expectations are normal. Expectations are healthy, but unrealistic expectations can create a barrier between us and our children. The expectations we bring to parenting matter just as much as our child’s history, abilities, and needs. In order to help our children heal and grow we need to pay attention to our [...]
Mealtime Struggles
Ryan and Kayla join Chris to talk about mealtime struggles. The team discusses the typical concerns parents of adopted and foster kids see at meals: food sensory issues; eating too much; before-meal snacking; not wanting to eat what is being served, and actually getting kids to the table! They talk about setting expectations and using transitions, [...]
Who is Holding Your Hands Up?
We all need a place where we can be ourselves, where we are loved and not judged. That's why being part of a community of people who get us, who love us in spite of ourselves is so important. Watch as Ryan shares about the people who help hold their hands up. https://youtu.be/ka_JT3ZX5y0
Maybe You Just Need a BB Gun
Our kids love spending time with their grandparents. I remember thinking that a weekend with my grandparents was just about the best thing ever when I was a child. Kayla has childhood memories of spending time every summer with her grandparents. It’s a rare child who doesn’t love their grandparents. Kayla's parents and my parents [...]
Are you Leading at Home?
Leadership is important, very important. It is a highly valued commodity in the corporate world. So much so, that according to a study by Deloitte, American companies spent $14 billion on leadership development in 2012. I can only imagine what the 2017 number looks like. But leadership isn't only valuable in offices and boardrooms across the [...]
Mindfulness – S4E4
Chris is joined once again by Ryan and Kayla as the team talks about the need for mindfulness. As Curt Thompson says, "You need to pay attention to what you're paying attention to." They discuss why this is especially important with adoptive and foster children. [podbean resource="episode=h2jd9-795e3f" type="audio-square" height="400" skin="1" fonts="Helvetica" auto="0" download="1" rtl="1"] Star [...]
2017 Tapestry Conference – S4E3
The 2017 Tapestry Conference will feature Curt Thompson, author of Anatomy of the Soul and The Soul of Shame. Dr. Thompson's work is an integral part of the Empowered to Connect Parent Training classes; Anatomy of the Soul is one of the books that parents read as part of the training. The 2017 Tapestry Conference [...]
Connecting With Hurting People
There is something that we all have in common; we all came from somewhere. We didn’t just arrive in the present. And because we are all on a journey we all have stories to tell. All of us have had adverse experiences and many of us have lived through trauma. Unfortunately, too many people have [...]