Between Parents

Does the pace of your family ever feel frantic? Do you feel like you run from thing to thing to thing? You're not alone! On this episode we discuss what it means to adjust our pace and create strategies for releasing pressure in our family life.

Talk about this:

Do we have an unhealthy tempo? What's preventing us from making adjustments?

NOW TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS!

Related Links:

Episode #38 – Keystone Habits of Healthy Families

Also remember:

Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content!

Finally, if you don't know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com

Thanks for being awesome!

Life is messy – especially when it comes parenting. (Or perhaps your kids actually pick up there stuff!) If we aren't careful, chaos can take over more than our household, it can impact our relationships. Like Episode #106, in today's podcast Billy and Joy discuss what sloppy habits we need to purge in order to keep our family healthy!

Talk about this:

Where is there garbage in our parenting?

What steps do we need to take to get rid of it?

Related Links:

NY Times article on sleep HERE

Episode #106 – 12 Garbage Habits in Marriage

Joy's blog posts on quick meals HERE and HERE

Episode # 78 – The Best Way to Destress Your Family

Episode # 33 – Enjoying Your Family

Episode # 10 – Keeping the Family Fun

Episode #31 - Erasing Fear From Parenting

Episode #99 – Asking Better Questions

Episode #30 – Five Important Questions to Ask Your Kids

Episode #3 – Fighting with Kids

Episode #85 – Respond vs React

Episode #57 – Hurrying Home

Episode #83 – Leave Kids Space to Grow

Episode #58 - A Parent's Most Fundamental Role

Episode #98 – Five Truths For Discouraged Parents

Episode # 2 – A Warning About Parent Measurements

Also remember:

Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content!

Finally, if you don't know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com

Thanks for being awesome!

We love personality tests not just because they help us grow individually, but because they can build empathy and understanding in our relationships. This is especially true in marriage. On this episode we'll give you one example (ours!) of how a variety of tests provide a common language and improve our connection.

Talk about this:

How are you, as a couple, learning to leverage the knowledge of type and the common language found therein?

What are the tensions you are currently facing that might be more rooted in your personalities and types over what you currently think... that your spouse is simply doing this to bug you?

What's your next step to get to work?

Related Links:

Episode # 60 - What to do when spouses annoy

MBTI

The Five Love Languages

Enneagram

Strength Finders

Also remember:

Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content!

Finally, if you don't know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com

Thanks for being awesome!

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to trash a place? Without constant maintenance it feels like garbage would take over our lives. The same is true in our marriage – little habits and behaviors creep into our relationship that can eventually trash the connection with our spouse. In this episode Billy and Joy review the "Dirty Dozen" of marriage garbage and offer some ways to see if any of them are cluttering your relationship.

Talk about this:

Where is there garbage in our marriage?

What steps do I need to take to get rid of it?

How can I take ownership of the garbage I leave around?

Related Links:

Episode #104 - Coming to grips with your spouse's imperfection

Episode #95 – Marriage is a team sport

Episode #11 – The Awkward Date Night

Episode #97 – Forgiveness in Marriage

Also remember:

Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content!

Finally, if you don't know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com

Thanks for being awesome!

Wouldn't you love to get logical, reasoned feedback from your kids? Wouldn't it be fantastic if they expressed appreciation for your hard work, if they explained when they were hurt or frustrated or if they admitted that you were usually right? On today's podcast we discuss things your kids won't tell you, but are true nonetheless.

Talk about this:

What do you think your kids don't tell you?

What encouragement makes the biggest difference to you?

Are there any areas where you feel like you need to make changes?

Also remember:

Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content!

Finally, if you don't know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com

Thanks for being awesome!

Have you ever noticed your spouse is flawed? Of course this is a rhetorical question, but as couples say their vows, it's easy to minimize those flaws. Don't we all hope for a seamless compatibility to rule the day? But what do you do when as life progresses and the frustrations mount? How do you cope with the imperfections you always seem to notice in your spouse?

Talk about this:

This week we would love for you to sit with these steps - to think about the quality of your marriage and to examine where you might have tensions because you expect your spouse to be someone that they will never be. Then consider what steps you need to take to start the process of grieving and healing - and ultimately celebrating your spouse.

Also remember:

Want to reach us? You can find us on the socials @betweenparents on Instagram and @betweenparentspodcast on Facebook. While you're there, tag someone who would also enjoy this content!

Finally, if you don't know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com

Thanks for being awesome!

Ready or not, your young children will soon become teenagers. For most of us, this means our parenting journey will feel like peddling a bike up a long, steep hill. If you want to be ready, you'll build momentum for the teenage challenge during the elementary school years. In this podcast, we'll discuss what that means with practical ideas and starting points!

Talk about this:

Spend time imaging what your kids will be like as teenagers. Compare notes with your spouse or community. Discuss where do we need to create more habits and routines with our kids? (Keep an eye toward building momentum!)

Related Links:

Episode #56 – Dreading The Thought Of Your Kids Growing Up

Episode #64 – Talking To Your Kids About Temptation

Episode #33 – Enjoying Your Family

Abundance Mindset – this is a term developed by Stephen Covey and explained in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. A summary is on Wikipedia article 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!

Finally, if you don't know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com

Thanks for being awesome!

What makes a couple ready for marriage? Is it the amount of time spent dating? Or is it based on shared experiences? Is a couple ready because they are generally "compatible" or because they have been great dance partners at weddings? Why is it important to be "ready" to be married anyway? All of that on this episode of Between Parents!

Talk about this:

As you think about your relationship and your "readiness" consider what areas need to be turned up and what areas need to be turned down.

TURN UP:

Love. Respect. Communication. Friendship.

TURN DOWN/REMOVE:

Expectations. Dark Corners. Unhealthy habits. Dependence on parents. Self-centric attitudes.

Related Links:

Episode # 55 – Can You Affair Proof Your Marriage?

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!

Finally, if you don't know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com

Thanks for being awesome!

So you think you're marriage material? How do you know? Is there anything you can do in advance to make sure you're ready to say, "I do" successfully? We think so! In today's episode we discuss six key practices for getting ready for marriage even in the dating season.

Six Key Practices:

Practice Self-Awareness

Practice Healthy Conflict

Practice Other Awareness

Practice Serving

Practice Boundaries

Practice Intentional Community

Talk about this:

Where do I need the most practice?

What can I do to remember to practice?

And a BONUS QUESTION if someone passed this podcast along to you, in which of these categories did you feel under-prepared when you got married?

Related Links:

Ep #52 - How Family Of Origin Impacts Your Marriage

Ep #72 - Eight Things To Do Before You Get Married

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!

Finally, if you don't know where to begin listening to back episodes of the podcast, look for the helpful packages on our website betweenparentspodcast.com

Thanks for being awesome!

Welcome to the triple digits everyone! Thanks for coming along on this journey with us. Today we're doing a "highlight reel" featuring the themes of this podcast. If you're new to this podcast (or passing it along), below are a few links to episodes that touch on these themes.

Enjoy!

Joy's Themes

1. Greatest compliment you can give someone is to enjoy their company!

Episode sampling:

Best Way to Destress Your Family

Enjoying the Middle School Years

101 Fun Things to Do as a Family

Enjoying Your Family

1. Be a team

Episode sampling:

Creating Your Family Identity

Marriage as a Team Sport

1. Put issues in front NOT between

Episode sampling:

Five Questions About Marriage

Forgiveness in Marriage

1. Strategies are your friend

Episode sampling:

Can You Affair-Proof Your Marriage

Parenting With A Positive Vision

1. Margins Matter (so build them into your life!)

Episode sampling:

When Is It Time To Quit?

Awkward Date Night

Billy's Themes

1. Know thyself.

Episode sampling:

Discovering Your Default Operating Systems

Practicing Vulnerability In Marriage

1. Don't do this alone.

Episode sampling:

Don't Do Life Alone

10 Newborn Principles

1. Be the one that models the way to be in conflict.

Episode sampling:

Respect in marriage

Fighting With Your Kids

1. Keep the long view.

Episode sampling:

Keystone Habits For Healthy Families

Erasing Fear From Parenting

1. Make the most of the time you have.

Episode sampling:

One Piece of Data That Blew Our Minds

A Parent's Most Fundamental Role

Please remember to share with others! Thanks for being here and listening along!

*but not in a parental advisory, creepy kind of way!