Crazy Zen Life

It’s Spring Break! Break out the SPF 4 and Zima with jolly ranchers. That’s right! We are talking a throw back to 90s spring break. All the traditions, all the fads, and all the mistakes. Join Brittany and Shannon for a trip down memory lane to the highlights of spring break of their youth. Although the days of “laying out” and Jell-O shots are far behind, there are still good times to be had on spring break. Not traveling? The CZL ladies have some stay-cation survival tips to help out any cooler weather stay-cation. This is a fun, lighthearted episode to ease us into those coveted warmer months. Oh! And this was the first CZL live episode on Instagram. Enjoy!

This might be a trigger episode! to some, talking about youth sports is kind of like talking about religion or politics.  Everyone has their different views and parenting styles when it comes to how their family approaches youth sports. But today we are ripping off the Band-Aid and chatting about it! Its very common for parents to want their child to be the next sports super star.  Although that sounds great in theory, the path to get to the next level is not an easy one. (And we are talking mentally) We are so thankful we have Dr. Cassandra Smisson Hayes, Ph.D on the show to open up the dialogue about child athletics. She is a clinical psychologists that specializes in sports psychology of all ages. She dissects the language, signs of unhappiness, and how different sports can have a various peak points.  Dr. Hayes also dives into how social media has changed our perception of sports and how the pressure for a college scholarship is higher than ever. Download with an open mind, zen friends.  Enjoy!       

Our society has changed so much in the last 70 years but our educational system has not.  The way our children are taught can date back decades. If we want to move forward as a society and country our educational system has to change; and that is where Garrett Wilhelm comes in.  Garrett is the executive director of Common Ground Foundation in Reston, Virginia.  This childcare facility is releasing the ego from the learning process and making the education experience more personal and meaningful.  Garrett is striving to implement a learning cycle that centers around wonder, investigate, and share.  More importantly, Garrett is disrupting the system and asking the hard questions.  Why don't we teach ore mindfulness in the classroom?  Can we place a higher importance on emotional development? Can teachers still be students as well? Garrett breaks down the stigma behind test taking and the power of self awareness.  This episode to full of thought provoking ideas as to how our children can learn in our ever-changing society.  Enjoy! 

Wanna Learn More:  

https://www.commongroundchildcare.org/common-ground

What's Best for Kids- Facebook

What's Best for Kids- Instagram

In week #3 of our childhood wellness series, CZL takes on cyber bullying and healthy technology habits within the home.  Social media and social gaming are fairly new so the challenges are ever changing. Cyber bullying is willful, repeated harm that happens by digital means.  Whats even more shocking is 1 in 9 kids will actually tell someone they are being/ have been bullied.  Shannon and Brittany sit down with Mary Beth from Operation Parent to learn more about how parents can assist in promoting positive boundaries with all electronic devices. Operation Parent is a non-profit organization that began as a liaison between a parent and teen to help deal with challenges of adolescence. Now in its 12th year of service, they have published several handbooks and webinars to give parents information on how to approach problems that the youth face today.  Mary Beth dives into the signs of cyber bullying from various angles, how to promote a digital boundary system with in the home, and how to have open conversations about online behavior.  We hope you enjoy this super informative episode.  If you or your teen are struggling in an area of life, please do not hesitate to reach out to this amazing organization.  They are here to help or point you in the right direction.  Be well, zen friends!

Websites and Resources:

https://www.operationparent.org/

http://www.stopbullyingnowfoundation.org/main/

https://www.connectsafely.org/

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Parental Control apps mentioned in this episode:

Circle by Disney

Teen Safe

Net Nanny

Stephanie White was only a resident of Louisville for 2 months when she decided to launch a website called Louisville Family Fun. Over 10 years later and millions of site visits later, Stephanie has a thriving website that offers so much to the Louisville community.  LFF is a site dedicated to streamlining the search process for Louisville families looking to do fun, engaging, and educational activities around the city.  Stephanie takes the CZL ladies through the early days of the website and how having a math background helped her in creating LFF from the ground up. Stephanie even talks about her love of math and how she plans to change the way kids are taught math in schools. Enjoy this informative, fun episode!  

In this episode: 

- Building Louisville Family Fun website

- What the future of LFF looks like

- How Stephanie is heading back to the classroom 

- How to change the way we look at math

- How Stephanie hopes to revolutionize the way our kids are taught math in school

Resources:

https://louisvillefamilyfun.net/

https://www.instagram.com/loufamfun/

https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleFamilyFun/

One of the biggest struggles as a parent is getting our children to sleep.  After a long day and our parent tank is on empty. We usually feel anxious, exhausted, and most of all frustrated.  Megan Bartley was in the same boat and she stumbled across positive language that helped her daughter drift to dreamland in a calm relaxing manner. So, Megan decided to put her technique in a book for all to use titled, "Don't Go To Sleep." This book offers simple, awareness language that assists not only the child to a calm peaceful place, but also the parent.  Megan also has 17 years of experience as a marriage and family therapist and licensed for 11 years. She even founded the Louisville Mindfulness Center.  This center specializes in bringing joy and peace into the lives of others through mindful practices. Megan's mission is to give you the tools to bring more awareness to your aspects of your life like setting boundaries, understanding things that are out of your control, and ways to view certain issues from multiple perspectives.  We are so happy that Megan was able to join us and kick off our childhood wellness month. Enjoy, zen friends!

In this episode: 

-The power of being calm at bedtime   

-How important it is to set boundaries

-Parenting is hard, its ok to mess up 

Resources:

https://meganbaylesbartley.com/

https://louisvillemindfulnesscenter.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Go-Sleep-Megan-Bartley/dp/1984155121

Megan B Bartley Instagram

Megan B Bartley Facebook

Why do people like yoga?  What is it about moving on a mat that is so life changing? Shannon and Brittany often talk about the importance of their journey into yoga and why this holds such significance in their lives today. Well, today the ladies sit down and dive deep into that journey and tell you all of the nitty gritty behind the asanas.  From their first downward dog, these besties knew this practice would be apart of their lives for the long haul.  SPOILER ALERT!  Shit gets emotional!  Travel with the ladies down memory lane and find out what keeps them hooked on this thing we call yoga. This episode will make you wanna roll out your mat!  

In this episode:

-Shannon's yoga journey and home she found her home studio

-The power of that first yoga instructor and what they say stays with you

-Brittany's yoga journey from student to teacher

-What you find on your mat is way more than you ever expected