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Hey guys! Chris and Melissa here, if you listened to our last episode you heard us touch on the importance of leadership and the opportunity we have to teach our kids what good leadership looks like. But what does that actually mean? What does leadership mean to your family?
Today we break down what it means to be a leader and how we approached our kids about the impact good leadership can have in this world. We discuss some of the main leadership principles that we want to instill in our children, and why teaching this is important not just for the world but within our own community. Even if our children are never on a world stage, there is a need for people who know how to lead. Whether that's in homes, in schools, in communities, or in the workforce -leadership is important.
Listen in as we talk about defining the principles of a leader with our family and how we as parents can set a good example for our kids. We talk about why it's important to distinguish a good leader from a bad one and how doing this can allow our kids to make the best choice when it comes to choosing who to follow. Every future leader starts as a child somewhere. The power that we have to teach and raise up these future leaders is immense.
So let's raise powerful leaders and help create a world that is changed because of it. For more resources or to follow us on Instagram check out the links below!
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Hey guys! Chris and Melissa here, Recently with the crisis in Afghanistan we, like many of you, have been wondering "what can we do?" And "how do we talk to our kids about this?"
If you've been listening to us for a while you've heard us say that strong families make strong individuals, and strong individuals have the opportunity to create a huge impact in the world around them. With that thought in mind, we believe that one of the most powerful things you can do for the world is to build and strengthen your family.
In today's episode we talk about what we have been sharing with our kids, and how we are choosing to make an impact and a difference in this situation. You'll hear about a recent moment where Chris had the opportunity to help our kids understand that the world is bigger than the one they can see with their own eyes, and how we approached them with the recent crisis to not instill fear but to inspire them. Join us as we discuss what you can do for Afghanistan now, and how you can address these issues with your family. To donate or find the resources we talked about, you can visit the links below!
Disclaimer:
This episode was recorded prior to the ISIS bombings at the Kabul aport and other recent developments. Continued thoughts and prayers to all families affected both here and abroad.
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Welcome back! Melissa here, and I'm excited about this week's episode! I am a little biased, but our guest today has to be one of my favorites. Before I introduce her, I want to set the stage a little more.
I think there are moments in every human's life that can change everything on a dime. Most people traditionally associate these divine moments with things like having a baby, getting married, graduating from college, moving Cities, and so on. However, these life-changing moments don't always revolve around a positive memory.
This month marks an interesting anniversary for my family. 25 years ago on Aug 24th, we were in a serious car accident where, among other injuries, my mom lost her left hand. In this episode, I got the opportunity to interview my mom in-depth about the experience. Hear first hand the lessons, wisdom, and spiritual insight she has gained since the accident.
If you have been listening to the podcast for a while, you know we've been talking recently on the podcast about sharing personal and family stories of overcoming with your children and how that can help build resilience. Chris and I immediately thought of my mom and her unique story. It's a story of overcoming and resilience in the face of hard things. She'll tell us how she learned to face the challenges of raising a young family with only one hand, and the mindset, perspective and gratitude that allowed her to face her challenges with peace, patience, and perspective.
I hope this episode leaves you motivated, inspired, and confident that you too CAN do hard things.
PS:
This is just one incredible story that helped make our family what it is today. We were so excited to be able to document my mom's testimony so we can share it with the next generation. What stories can you share and preserve from your family? Take some time this week to write them out, record a voice memo, or call your relatives and start documenting your history.
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Hey guys! Chris and Melissa here; recently, Chris had a conversation with a friend about finding happiness. It got him thinking about the actual definition of what it means to be happy. When we think of it, most of us think of it in terms of our kids. You've heard it before, "I just want them to be happy." Maybe you have even said it yourself.
But what is the difference between temporary happiness and lasting joy?
If you've been listening for a while, you know that we believe in leading by example. For us, this was a moment where we could really dig into how and why joy is different from happiness. We talk about Chris' family and history with substance abuse and how it has affected the saying "I deserve happiness." Of course, we don't think that people shouldn't be happy, but there are different types of happiness if you think about it. It's similar to if you want the pleasure of eating a delicious piece of cake now or if you want the confidence of a healthy and strong body. Both are good, but one is better.
Listen in as we discuss our thoughts on joy and how understanding the true definition can help raise stronger, happier, and more confident kids. We talk about examples in our own lives of finding joy even in the toughest of times and a moment when prioritizing our own happiness actually caused more damage. You'll learn what we think are the biggest differences between joy and happiness and how we plan to start defining it to our kids. We discuss the concept of sacrificing temporary happiness now to get lasting joy later and how we can be the best example of that to our kids as parents.
So this week, take some time to examine your life and see where you might be choosing temporary happiness over lasting joy. The journey of internal happiness starts with you. So go out, find joy, and we'll be right there with you!
To learn more about the articles on the joy we mentioned or follow us on social media, check out the links below!
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Welcome back! Chris and Melissa here, recently it came to our attention that this past year has had a huge impact on pediatric mental health. Kids just don't have the tools to deal with stress as adults do. So of course, we had to do some research. We were amazed to find that one of the most powerful things you can do to strengthen your child and build resilience is…
Storytelling! Yes, when your kids say, "can you tell me a story?" or "can you read me this story? They could be asking for a lot more. It may sound simple, and it is!
We've seen the truth of this play out even in our own family. The power of stories has built connections, helped children feel safe, and even offered a place of escape for just a little bit. The best part is, there are no storytelling skills required. You don't need to be good at telling stories, you just need to start! Supporting evidence has shown that even just thirty minutes of storytelling decreases stress hormones like cortisol and increases oxytocin, or the bonding hormone.
In this episode, we give practical tips on how you can powerfully show up and support your kids through stressful and overwhelming times. We discuss the effects of real stories versus fiction and the benefits they both offer. You will also hear the best way to connect with teenagers through stories, some of our go-to prepared stories, and even why a small history lesson can help de-stress your kids
Being a kid is harder now than it was even five years ago, but when you hit play you'll hear our tips and tricks on how you can incorporate stories into your own lives. We believe examples of courage, resilience, and overcoming obstacles through storytelling is your best bet at raising a more resilient and happier kid. So, tell some stories this week, have fun with it. We will be doing the same!
For more information on the resources and articles we talked about or to connect with us, check out the links below.
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Welcome back to another Family Brand podcast! Chris and Melissa here, and today we want to unpack a seemly simple yet profound principle of life. That principle, or as some might call "the key to happiness" is gratitude. We believe that gratitude is the fastest and most effective way to step into the abundance mindset and kick the feeling of lack once and for all.
You may be thinking "wait, I don't have time to stop and smell the roses or anything woo-woo" We get it, it can be easy to get caught up in day-to-day stressors like school, cleaning, businesses, and every other thing on the do-to list. However, we have found firsthand that practicing gratitude in practical ways has been a huge help in these areas to not only be more productive but has helped us maintain peace throughout the day. (not only for us but for our kids as well.)
Join us as we discuss the different ways we've practiced gratitude, and how stepping away from materialism has helped us find a new appreciation for everything else in our lives. We talk about the importance of practicing and how the more you do something the more natural it becomes. Waking up grateful for your life is not something that can be attained by outside means. It all comes from within and we believe that if we can do it so can you!
Challenge this week: We want to encourage you to find time every day this week to think of all the things you're grateful for. Whether you write them down, say them out loud, or just ponder them, these little steps will have you moving towards the life you've always wanted. Be sure to listen to the end to hear more about our challenge for you and your family this week.
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Hey guys! Melissa here, we've been in Arizona for the past couple of weeks for a wedding, and since we are a long way from home, we figured why not make a vacation out of it? So, we planned a road trip up to Utah. One thing that may shock you is that even though we've lived in Arizona in the past, Chris and the kids have never seen the Grand Canyon.
This was a must-see, in my opinion. So, we booked a night on the northern rim on our way to Utah. If you've been listening lately, then you've probably heard about the meditation garden that I have been visiting weekly for some one-on-one time with nature. It has made a huge impact in my life, and I was eager to see if I could recreate that same feeling no matter where I am. So, in the morning, I took twenty minutes to myself and went to spend some time with the Grand Canyon.
A recent book I've been reading talks about the importance of getting into nature every day and how if we listen, then we can learn from it. While it may sound out there, I was interested to see what I could learn from sitting and taking in the Grand Canyon. I knew that while this huge canyon was a wonder of the world, it didn't start out like that; it was created over millions of years by the steady and consistent flow of the Colorado River. It got me thinking that the Colorado river never had doubts or off days when creating the Grand Canyon; it just slowly chipped and eroded, it never doubted what it was supposed to be.
You know, one of our family values is "you can be who you want to be." We repeat it every day with the kids at breakfast. Still, as I thought about the steadfast Colorado river, I couldn't help but wonder if I genuinely believed that. Sometimes, struggles and frustration can make it seem like we are so far from who we want to be, like we're standing still and our goal seems impossible. But it isn't. Just like the river that carved the Grand Canyon, we take it one day at a time and slowly chip and erode until we become who we want to be or we accomplish the goal set before us.
This lesson has been so important to me; it has solidified my belief that you can be who you want to be if you are patient, consistent, and give it your all. So, take a moment and hit play because this is a lesson I think everyone can benefit from. I encourage you to set aside some time, whether it's five, ten, or 15 minutes, and spend some one-on-one time with nature. You may be amazed at what it teaches you.
If you liked this episode, you can follow our journey on Instagram by checking out the links below!
Melissa
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Hey guys! Chris and Melissa here. Recently, Chris had the opportunity to speak from the heart at his niece's wedding and give some advice to the new couple. When the time came, Chris decided to share the four things that we wish we knew before we got married. Of course, we had to share it on the podcast!
The four topics are:
Never Stop Building And Strengthening Your Marriage
Much like a muscle, the strength of your marriage is dependent on how much focus, time, and energy you put into it. If you commit to feeding and taking care of it, it will thrive.
Never Say Rude, Hateful, or Mean Things To Each Other
Sometimes the closest people to us get the worst of our words. Whether it's an argument or things aren't going our way, it's important to keep hateful words out of it.
Never Keep Score
A 50/50 win is actually a loss; we talk about giving 100% to your spouse no matter what. When both of you are fully invested in each other's success, you win every time.
Never Forget Your Kids Are Watching
Whether you're divorced, a single parent, or married, how you live your life and how you interact with a spouse, ex, or other loved ones is how kids learn. Their view of marriage comes from the demonstration you give them.
Hit play to dive deeper into these topics with us and learn more!
We encourage you to pick one thing that will strengthen your marriage, commit to it until the next episode, and see how your life changes! If you're wanting to take it to the next level check out episode 31 where we talk about how to take the perfect couple's trip! (yes, even if you're busy.
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Hey Guys! Chris and Melissa here again. We're thinking about school next year and making our decisions about where, and what our kids will be learning and doing for school next year. One thing that is influencing our decision is a conversation I recently had with a new friend that has me thinking even bigger about what's possible for our children's education.
In this episode, we share the details of that conversation that quite honestly blew my mind, and why we think that sometimes the path the is laid out before us isn't necessarily the one that's the best fit.
We came to the realization that our education journey with our kiddoes probably looks different from many families out there. We've done homeschooling, charter schools, public schools, and even tried a micro-school in someone else's home! Some things have worked out, some things not so much. That's why we believe that schooling doesn't have to be one size fits all.
We always let the kids think and choose which path they want to take every year, and it has been a game-changer for us. We're always learning, adapting, and discussing what and where we want our kids to learn. That is why in today's episode, we share about our journey so far with education and the role it plays in our kid's lives.
Join us as we discuss what it looks like to have our children choose where they want to go each year and how it has impacted their learning. From cooking to lego building, we talk about the education that enriches our kid's lives uniquely and how you can create the perfect environment for them to learn what they are interested in. You'll learn about the "secret menu" and how education has more possibilities than you ever thought before, as well as stepping away from what you're supposed to do and doing what you need to do.
We hope this is an eye-opening episode for you and that you finish with new hope and new possibilities when it comes to education!
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Hey Guys! Chris and Melissa here, As every passes, it seems like life becomes more and more dependent on our phones, right? We use them to get directions to places, read emails, and more. Sometimes though, it's easy to let the screen take over.
Recently, Chris realized that he felt like he could spend a little less time on his phone in the afternoons and evenings. So he challenged himself to use his phone less for 30 days, and while it was a vague commitment, it evolved to be something really awesome! In today's episode, Chris talks about why he wanted to start this challenge and how after 30 days, he has felt better connected to our kids, in a better mood, and even feeling better about himself.
Listen in as we talk about the struggle of screen time and why he started this challenge in the first place. One of our most asked questions is how to handle screen time with our kids, and truth be told, we are working on it as much as you are, but one thing we really believe in is leading by example. You'll hear how Chris started his challenge and all his tips and tricks to try this in your own life, like being honest with yourself, starting with deleting just one app, and even being ok with doing nothing while not on your phone!
Chris has gained so much from just 30 days, we can't wait to see what comes next! Do you want to take this challenge with us? Try this for yourself, even just for a week, and see how you feel. It won't always be comfortable, but the other side is totally worth it. After you do, let us know how you did and what changed for you!
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