Between Parents

Have you ever noticed how often friendships drift apart after people get married? Why is this a consistent pattern? Why don't friends stick around after the "I do" is said?

In this episode Billy and Joy discuss the benefit of having a diverse circle of friends whether you're married or single. Take a listen!

Talk about this:

How well are we cultivating friendships with people who have a different marital status?

What "benefits" seem most applicable to our lives?

What "bad behavior" are we most likely to indulge?

Related Links:

Nearly & Newly Podcast Package HERE

Say Goodbye to Hollywood HERE

Also remember:

We love hearing from you. Reach out on the socials @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content! Thanks for being awesome!

"We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection. Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow." - Brene Brown

Wouldn't it be great to be fully known and fully accepted? Isn't that what love is all about? Isn't it the ideal for marriage? Well, this kind of love doesn't happen without a serious dose of vulnerability!

So how do we build this habit into our relationships? That's the topic of today's podcast. Take a listen!

Talk about this:

How well do you think we do on the vulnerability continuum?

When do you feel most safe to describe your feelings?

What makes you feel like I have listened well to you?

Related Links:

Episode #84 - Getting to the bottom of disagreements

Also remember:

We love hearing from you. Reach out on the socials @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content! Thanks for being awesome…

Have you noticed how many kids suffer from anxiety these days? Therapists are alarmed by the trend, experts can't agree on the causes, and parents live with the threat daily. In this episode Billy and Joy discuss the probable causes of anxiety and leave you with some practical questions to consider as you raise your kids.

Talk about this:

What do we model in terms of our anxiety levels? Do we fret? Are we "worriers?" Do we operate from a place of fear? Are there fear and anxiety issues you need to deal with yourself?

What is our plan for ensuring our kids have a robust community? Do we help them process the tension in the comparison game? Do we encourage competition and achievement or elevate the higher value of relationships?

We have to ask ourselves, what's the price of striving in our families? What would happen if we made it our AMBITION to lead quiet (er) lives?

Related Links

A sobering look from the NYTimes Magazine...HERE

Lisa Damour's book describes how anxiety impacts girls in her practice in her terrific book Untangled. Find it HERE

All kinds of great material from David Thomas and the team at Dayspring - HERE

Time Magazine profile of the anxiety issue teens face- HERE

Some blame anxiety on the lack of play... read about it HERE

Our previous podcast on keeping family fun HERE

Also remember:

We love hearing from you. Reach out on the socials @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content! Thanks for being awesome…

Even though we know it's important to have dinner together, after hustling the family to the table, it's exhausting to guide a meaningful conversation. Where do you start? Who has the energy to form a strategy?

In this episode Billy and Joy jump-start the process with a structure and 60 questions (pdf attached) so you can make your time around the table meaningful.

Take a listen!

Related Links

8 Strategies For Getting Your Family Around The Table

Family Stories That Bind Us - NYT

The Secrets of Happy Families

Also remember:

We love hearing from you. Reach out on the socials @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content! Thanks for being awesome…

Do you ever lose your cool? Have you ever felt like you have one nerve left and everyone is standing on it? If you're like us, it's easy to react to people and circumstances reflexively – to give full range to impatience, frustration, or anger.

In this episode Billy and Joy kick around the idea of responding rather than reacting to the things that bug us.

Take a listen and form some of your own opinions about their opinions!

Talk about this:

How often do I react to my kids versus respond to them?

What "Pause Phrases" can I use? (Practice them!)

What circumstances do I need to imagine in advance?

Where do I struggle to "assume good intentions?"

Related-ish Links

Malaphor examples

Getting to the bottom of disagreements – Episode #84 HERE

Also remember:

We love hearing from you. Reach out on the socials @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content! Thanks for being awesome…

Have you ever found yourself arguing with your spouse about little things? Do you feel compelled to fight about your opinions or refuse to let go of insignificant slights? Every couple has their share of arguments, but they don't need to turn into relationship-busting warfare.

In this episode, Billy and Joy offer a word picture for getting to the bottom of disagreements and hopefully give you something meaningful to discuss. Take a listen!

Talk about this:

On average, how many of our disagreements are dealing in "ground floor" material?

What can we do to better dig around in "ground floor" material?

What is most difficult for you in teaching your ground floor material to your spouse and/or in learning about their ground floor?

Also remember:

We love hearing from you. Reach out on the socials @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content! Thanks for being awesome…

How can you be sure if your kids are ready for new responsibilities? Are there risks involved when you over or under nurture them? How do you give more freedom to your kids?

Tackling these questions (plus a few more!). Take a listen!

Talk about this:

What is your tendency – to over or under nurture your kids? In what ways do you need to pivot or correct?

How well do you balance between encouraging your kids to be independent versus demanding they need to hit an adult standard or quality?

In what ways can you leave more room for your kids to grow in their ability to be more independent?

Also remember:

We love hearing from you. Reach out on the socials @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content! Thanks for being awesome…

Are you excited about your kids being out of school this summer? Or does the summer schedule wreak havoc on your family life? Even though it feels like we have barely defrosted from winter, the days of grilling, swimming, and sunscreen will be here before you know it.

If you're like many parents, the change of routine has its blessings and curses. On this episode Billy and Joy give some practical tips for making summer fun with just a little bit of effort. Have a listen!

Also remember:

We love hearing from you. Reach out on the socials @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content! Thanks for being awesome…

Have you ever felt like your kids aren't grateful for what they have or what they experience? Do you ever feel like they live with a distasteful attitude of demandingness? Perhaps you see this tendency in yourself?

In this episode Billy and Joy discuss the benefits of having an attitude of gratitude and some practical ways to build the habit of thankfulness in your family.

Talk about this:

How well do I (personally) communicate gratitude? and how well is our family overall at cultivating attitudes of gratitude?

Where are your family "pinch points?" What parts of our family environment need to look different and what habits do we need to cultivate?

Related-ish Links

Episode #17 – Creating a Plan For Money & Allowance With Your Kids

Do guys or girls make better sound effects? Check out the video HERE

What if what you believe about marriage is a lie? Would you want to know the truth in advance?

In today's episode Billy and Joy step through 10 common lies about marriage. Perhaps we should issue a #spoileralert

Talk about this:

Which lies are we most susceptible to believe?

Depending on your answer, have MORE conversations about those topics!

For marriage veterans, which lies did we miss?

Related-ish links:

In case you want the same toilet paper as Beyonce… shop Renova here.

Both quotes from this episode come from Tim Keller's book, The Meaning of Marriage

We mention several back episodes of Between Parents

#35 – Four Terrible (But Really Romantic) Marriage Thoughts

#45 - Let's Talk About Sex: Marriage Edition

#7 – Don't Do Life Alone

Also remember:

Check out our new website @betweenparentspodcast.com

Also, tag someone who you think would like this episode on one of the socials! Or leave a review! It's an easy way to invest in others and we really appreciate the support!

You can find us @betweenparents on instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. We love hearing from you!!