"I believe in the sanctity of childhood." That's something that Chris says in today's episode and I know each of us can stand behind that. Parenting in the Digital Age may be one of the hardest tasks we are up against with raising our children. "We have children with children’s brains, children’s development and we put them inside a space that was made for adults and then we get upset when they act like children.

"...These spaces were not designed for them in the first place, they are by nature exploitative. They are not protective. We have to hunt for protection. And that’s the part that’s so difficult and maddening. I want us to embrace what can be so good about technology, but never trust it for a minute. Never turn your back on it.” ~Chris McKenna, Founder and CEO Protect Young Eyes. 

Let's get connected AND protected with Chris's guidance today.

Let's grow,

Jennifer 

This one is worth it. Let's do this as a family with screens this week. Let's set these boundaries, let's commit, let's give our children more childhood this Summer. 

Let's grow, 

Jennifer 

Today's Togather™ Sticker is from Placemats Togather™ Together:  Live and Learn - Write each person's name with something new they learned this year. 

Use code: SUMMER23 for FREE SHIPPING!

I'm sure we're both sick of the values we see out there that feel like they're being shoved into our homes and used as propaganda to minimize traditional family values. Well, the truth is, they're sticking around. And if we know that then we need a plan to control what we can control. That's our FAMILY VALUES. Here are three ways to fight for yours in your home and do it in a way that fits into your real life, feels easy, and feels like you can make some change where it matters most: in your four walls. 

Let's grow, 

Jennifer 

The world is telling us to fight for a lot of "values". They want us to bow to them and stand up for the secular views. But if we choose to say "no" then we must be fighting for something else, right? What is that? What would happen if we all fought for our marriage from day ONE? Not from the day it starts getting hard, or the day we see it get stressful. How does your family change because of the commitment you make to fight for the kind of Covenant you vowed before God? Let's fight for our marriages a little harder. DAILY.

Let's grow, 

Jennifer 

Here comes Summer Break and the temptation to have a bucket list and all the camps and all the activities and trying to make it all happen alongside the moments and the childhood memories. Phew! What is the answer to taking it all in without running ourselves crazy?? Slow DOWN. We all know that's the answer and we also don't want to feel the pressure if we don't get it right. Here are 4 things you can do right now to make it happen. 

Let's grow, 

Jennifer 

Every child will leave childhood with some kind of foundation. What will your child leave with? We have the incredible opportunity to be the architect of the beginning of their life. As today's guest, Nellie Harden, says: "This life foundation is not built by accident. It takes parents who say YES to being deliberate and intentional in the every day big and small, hard and fun."

Today we're talking about 5 needs our tween and teen daughters have including: Being seen, heard, loved, and feeling belong. All of these are their worth and this is the foundation we as parents must leave our children. 

Let's grow,

Jennifer 

Come sit with us and enjoy a glimpse into our marriage of almost 2 decades as we talk strengths and weaknesses in marriage, smells that make us think of childhood, blooper moments from past jobs, and a TON of laughter -which has been the main ingredient that keeps our family strong. We're using stickers from Togather™ for Family Dinner and Togather™ for Date Night and a whole lot of FUN!

Let's grow,

Jennifer

I recently sent a survey to our Togather Family asking what were some things getting in the way of our families having time for connection and communication. Among all the distractions of too many activities and overwhelming chores and work life balance, the topic of sibling relationships came up many times. You all told me that you didn't want to see this sacrificed because you just got too busy. 

I completely agree and think it's a family value that we need to talk about and reflect on. Let's build and nurture positive sibling relationships within our children. 

Let's grow, 

Jennifer 

Our words matter. They matter when they are spoken and they matter when we think them. How could we change our children's daily actions and influences simply by changing the way they speak their words? We can change our family's communication as well as our own with this quick tip for choosing our words wisely. 

Let's grow!

Jennifer

I was with my dearest friends this morning and our chat inspired this episode. We lean on each other for everything and one topic that came up was how we get off track with what we KNOW we should be doing for our family. I’m talking about rules we know we should have in place, family habits we should be practicing, lessons we should be teaching. And we talked about how we mess up weekly, daily, even hourly. And that is okay. It's OK. 

This episode is permission to mess up, but we cannot sit there. We have to get back up and start again. We're sharing 4 Steps to starting over on habits, activities, or rules that you know are good for your family, but that you've fallen away from. We are using an acronym for the word REAP because that harvest of values and virtues and all things good is what I know we all want for our family. Let's be strong and make it happen.

Let's grow, 

Jennifer

Tired of playing life whack-a-mole? Rachel Norman wants to hand us our silver bullet to contentment and peace in motherhood and she calls it BOUNDARIES. As a mother of 5 and a Language of Listening™ Parenting Coach, she knows the importance of boundaries and why they aren't just rules you make for someone else. They truly are a necessity to help us realize our purpose in motherhood and being proactive on what you really want for you and your family. Let's get rid of our unnecessary struggles and get clear on our boundaries. 

Let's grow, 

Jennifer 

Just because we're "mom" doesn't mean we have to settle for being tired. Sure there are seasons of tired, VERY tired, but a lot of times we are just told to deal with it. But why do we settle for that? There has to a better way, right? There is, and Lori Aikman, functional medicine Nurse Practitioner, is here to help us all feel more energized, have a clear mind, feel more focused, and live more peaceful days. We can have a plan to make this happen including 4 ways to use holistic strategies to increase our energy. 

Let's grow, 

Jennifer 

You know when you get to the end of the day and you wonder how you never got done what you planned to do? Whether it was the workout or the activity or the errand or the work, we just didn't do it. Maybe we have an excuse or maybe we just ignored it so we could pretend we didn't have to face it. And when you find yourself living this reality, do you start the negative self talk and forget how to master your mindset. Lindsey House, host of Direction Not Perfection Podcast is here to encourage us all to keep moving forward in our confidence and positivity one next right step at a time. Let's do this for ourselves and for our families. 

Let's grow, 

Jennifer 

Ever feel like you wish you could have a do-over on the parenting moment you just had? OR you wish you could just have a few more tools to handle your child with more patience and calm when the stressful conflict or tantrum happens? Ashley Seling, Conscious Parenting Coach, shares with us how being more confident as a parent naturally leads to more patience with our children. And when we have more patience, we have a more happy and peaceful home. We multiply strong communication, we notice our children's triggers, and we work on ourself and our own self care and emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. And we all know "happy mom" equals "happy home". Let's gain the tools to become more calm and patient moms - even when it is hard. 

Let's grow!

Jennifer 

What are the top virtues you want to see grow in your children? What are you doing daily to grow these? If you said "leadership", did you know teaching etiquette and table manners at home can set your children up for a lifetime of success as a leader? Amy Rainer joins us on today's show to share with us her etiquette business. Using her 20 years of teaching elementary children, Amy has built a "school" of virtue for her students around her passion of teaching the values of respect, kindness, and compassion. Etiquette is way more than just raising polite children. Let's raise world changers who lead as bright lights in today's world.

Let's grow,

Jennifer 

School is back which means paper is back - homework, artwork, special cards. And it’s all added to the never ending piles of mail and receipts and coupons and whatever else is causing distractions on our piles. It can feel like the organizing solution for decluttering paper never fits your family. But today’s guest, one of your favorites from episode 103! is back to give you the encouragement and real life tips to actually make that paper clutter system happen for your family. Lauren White from The Intentional Edit Podcast shares her tricks and tools to say goodbye to the stress and overwhelm of all that paper and open up more room for the quality family time and special moments you really want.

Let’s grow,

Jennifer

We all hear anxiety and depression is on the rise in preteens and teens. What is your plan as parent to protect your child? From understanding brain development to taking a hard look at social media dangers to checking in on your "time in" or quality family time, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and School Counselor Abby Schaber, makes us all take a hard look at the BOUNDARIES we have set in raising our children in today's world. This episode will help you regulate the boundaries you set with your adolescents and teens -whether you have that age child now or in the future- and encourage you to make connecting in real life a priority for your children - Help them to connect with nature, with family, with God. Just connect MORE within the walls of your own home, where your most important work is done. 

Let's grow!

Jennifer 

We all hear anxiety and depression is on the rise in preteens and teens. What is your plan as parent to protect your child? From understanding brain development to taking a hard look at social media dangers to checking in on your "time in" or quality family time, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and School Counselor Abby Schaber, makes us all take a hard look at the BOUNDARIES we have set in raising our children in today's world. This episode will help you regulate the boundaries you set with your adolescents and teens -whether you have that age child now or in the future- and encourage you to make connecting in real life a priority for your children - Help them to connect with nature, with family, with God. Just connect MORE within the walls of your own home, where your most important work is done. 

Let's grow!

Jennifer 

It's time to savor and not just survive motherhood. Ever feel like you are saying "yes" to too many things? Elise Daly Parker, Host of Mom Vision Podcast, certified life coach, speaker, and co-author of the devotional, Unshakeable Peace in an Unsteady World, is here to empower moms to live a life aligned with your dreams. You will walk away feeling confident to set boundaries and keep your priorities with your family. Elise shares advice to stay grounded in the peace of Christ as your true anchor and she shares her personal experience of how to stop Mom Guilt. Let's show up to savor the rest of summer break with our kids and families!

Let's grow,

Jennifer 

When our rhythms change, how can we keep ourselves on the list? Know your non-negotiables and commit to them. Make it happen because it’s a win you can build on tomorrow and THAT is what helps you continue showing up for all the important relationships in your life. Keep reinforcing the habit and don’t let perfection get in the way of doing something good for yourself. This is your episode for self care rejuvenation and re-motivation when you need it the most. MOMS Life Made Simple Podcast Host, Chanelle Neilson knows how to help you let go of the guilt and do good things for yourself while STILL being the best mom and wife for your family and not sacrificing. 

Let's grow,

Jennifer