I had a houseguest once who called me on how important it is to keep your word as a mum. Let your yes be yes, and your no be no - is what he said. He called me on second guessing myself, on entering negotiations, and on changing what I had said when my kids didn't like it and not following through after I did say something. He had a point and for a while, after he left us, I heard his voice in my head – keep your word: let your yes be yes, and your no be no. It really is a first step for parenting well. So let's look into this today…

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #20

Parents, it is Important to Keep your Word when you Speak to your Child

>>>Download FREE Healthy Person - Healthy Parent Journal and Assessment Pages. Heart Booster #15

When you are a healthy person you will make healthy parenting choices - and personal growth starts with honest reflection.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

It is often quipped that being an intentional parent is more about the parent than the child. And it is true. We cannot be a healthy parent unless we are a healthy person. Today's society is very fitness and health aware – and we go to extreme lengths to look after our body – but our physical body is only one aspect of our health. We need to be healthy in all areas of our self: spiritually, morally, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and physically. So today we are looking at the idea that a healthy person equals a healthy parent.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #19

When you are a Healthy Person you are able to be a Better Parent

>>DOWNLOAD Healthy Parent Journal - Heart Booster #15 self assessment journal pages to help you grow to be the best you - so you can be a better parent.

Heart Booster #15 is a part of the Heart Booster Library which includes weekly emails, access to printables and other bonuses.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

We may have been told when we were kids that sticks and stone may break bones, but words can never hurt you. But we also know that is simply not true. No idea why a parent would have ever said that to a child! We all know that there is power in the tongue - the words we say have an impact on the people who hear them. And as a parent this is an important heart issue for us to get a grip on. We are responsible for the words we say - we are responsible for the little hearts that we shape. Today I'm looking at 5 different times in our day where we can choose to speak life and be a positive influence in our child's growing up.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #18: Choose Your Words Carefully and Speak Life Throughout the day

>>>Please share this podcast with your friends. Being heart-focused from Toddler through to Teenagers is so important - and if we need to change what we think about parenting and how we parent - it is helpful to have friends on the same page! Share the podcast and tag me on instagram.

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here.

Weekly email digging deeper into the heart-focus topic so you can make real change in your family. PLUS Resource Library Pass, and other bonuses.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

In order for our children to know and love God and God's Word, we need to include the Bible in our daily lives. I remember a story my parents read to me as a child – I can even remember where we were when they told the story – it was about a family who received a Bible and they were so excited about it, it was so precious that they decided to keep it up on a shelf in their lounge room - they looked at it and treasured it. The story then compared this with us having a birthday cake – and being so excited about having a birthday cake and that we would never dream of putting the birthday cake up on the shelf. To enjoy the cake to the fullest we have to cut it and eat it. The Bible is much the same – to enjoy it fully we need to read it and become familiar with it. Let's look at how we can help our children hide God's word in their heart.

>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #17 2 Ways You can Teach your Children to Hide God's Word in their Heart

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here.

Weekly email digging deeper into the heart-focus topic so you can make real change in your family. PLUS Resource Library Pass, and other bonuses.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

How do we keep perspective when all we can see are all the issues that need to be dealt with our children? How do we know which issue to take on, and which issue to leave for another day? And then what happens when we multiply that by all the kids in the house? This podcast is all about intentional, relational, and heart-focused parenting. Today we are focusing on the idea of being intentional in the training of our children. I have a significant strategy to share with you - which includes a download from the Heart Booster Library that will just make it much easier for you.

>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #16 Make a Plan that helps you Help your Child to Grow

>>>Heart Booster Intentional Parenting Plan (worksheet) You can join Heart Boosters and I'll send you this download as a part of the Resource Library. Sign up here

Heart Boosters include a weekly email, resource library and a free workshop once a year.

>>>As I mentioned in this episode if you need to do a recap on what it means to train our children - have a listen to Heart-focused Parenting episode #8 How to Make Training a Part of your Heart-focused Parenting

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @ belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see Coaching details

Today we are talking about those days where we get to the end and feel like its been a complete mess. One day I ranted to my mum about there being no joy and no peace in our day - and she quipped - I hope there was righteousness! As always mum brought me back to the Scriptures - and that is where we are going to start today - looking for a better way to assess our day - and then a better way to get back on track on those bad days.

>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #15

Pursue Peace in your Heart & Home and have a Good Day

>>>Do you get the weekly HEART BOOSTERS? Now is a good time to signup. Each week I write a note - from my heart to your heart - now, that might sound cheesey, but it really is. I sit and write an email to my mum friends to encourage you in the things we talk about here on the Heart-focused Parenting podcast. Its a good time to join the Heart Booster Library as I'm also preparing a free parenting workshop just for that community. HERE: https://belindaletchford.com/heart-booster/

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

You've probably heard me say it - that we are to parent with relationship. My byline is Intentional - relational - heart-focused parenting! But it is important to understand that I am not talking about friendship. Friendship is an aspect of our family life that comes with maturity in our children. It is something that we can look forward to - but we blur lines, which is not helpful to our children growing up if we make them our spiritual, moral, emotional, social, or intellectual equal. So let's look at the difference between relationship and friendship with our kids and how that affects our parenting.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #14

Building a Relationship with your Child will Lead to Friendship Later

>>>Do you get my weekly Heart Booster emails? Every week I send an email, which is kind of like a note from my heart to yours, on the topic of the up-and-coming podcast. This means you get double the encouragement to be heart-focused in your family every week. Head over to either the show notes on the podcast app where you are listening - or my website belindaletchford.com/heart-booster and you can sign up there!

Along with the weekly Heart Booster, you will gain access to my Resource Library which has links to the printables and downloads that I have created over the years - and once a year I offer a free workshop. And just so you know - I'm working on a workshop now, so sign up so you don't miss out on this Heart Booster resource.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @ belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

https://belindaletchford.com/coaching

So much of parenting is actually about the parents. What we do - how we respond or react has a direct impact on how our kids respond or react. Today is a quick tip episode. I have 10 subtle things that parents do that makes parenting hard. But don't be hard on yourself - We all do these things at some time! But we can learn to check ourselves and learn new ways of parenting.

Email me which one is the hardest for you - and the most mentioned issue will be a future episode - find my contact details on my website: belindaletchford.com

>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #13

10 Ways Parents make Parenting Hard - Harder than it has to be!

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here.

Weekly email digging deeper into the heart-focus topic so you can make real change in your family.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

I've been asked the question a few times so this week I'm answering this email: Dear Belinda - I wondered if you have any advice for how to deal with young adults living at home who are struggling with addiction to technology. I am at such a loss and can see my son is hurting himself with his distraction and addiction to scrolling on his phone but nothing we say has made a difference. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. So this week we are looking at - How to Help Adult Children Living at Home with Screen Time Habits

>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #12

How to Help Adult Children Living at Home with Screen Time Habits

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here.

Weekly email digging deeper into the heart-focus topic so you can make real change in your family.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

Technology, social media, online gaming - these things have become one of the hardest things parents need to navigate these days - and our children are being exposed or influenced at younger ages than previous age groups. So it is a challenge - and we want to jump in and find hard and fast rules that will keep our children safe - but rules are rarely the answer. Instead, we need to look at the heart.

>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #11

Online Technology & Social Media are not the Real Problem for our Kids

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here.

Weekly email digging deeper into the heart-focus topic so you can make real change in your family.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting