Hi, Fam!

Are you finding yourself in survival mode, feeling like you are running on empty and worried that you might be leading yourself to burnout? If you're not sure where you fall on the burnout spectrum, go check out last week's episode on the 10 signals that you might be in survival mode.

Now that we know the signs, it's time to get practical and do something about it.

What we really want to do is get our expectations to meet our level of support, and work on both sides of that equation. On one hand we need to be realistic about our expectations and in some ways lower the bar. But we can also work on increasing our level of support or perhaps reduce our level of responsibilities.

Let's dig in and talk about how we can conserve energy and recharge so that we can push ourselves out of survival mode and thrive.

[02:22] #1 - Simplify everything

[02:56] #2 - Use more screen time

[04:05] #3 - Lower your learning expectations

[05:03] #4 - Lower your presence expectations

[06:31] #5 - Write out helpful scripts

[10:11] #6 - Ask for help (and accept it)

[12:11] #7 - Let people in

[13:29] #8 - Prioritize self-care

[15:20] #9 - Positive self-talk

[16:50] #10 - Enlist your children's help

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources:

• Check out my free Facebook group, Love Parenting With Avital
• Join my membership, Present Play!

Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/102

One of the biggest risks we face as parents is burning out and falling into survival mode. In difficult seasons it becomes especially challenging to stay charged and energized. Many of us (myself included) run the risk of burning out when we don't take care of ourselves and "refuel our tank." You can only run on empty for so long.

I have seen so many parents on the brink of burnout (or fully in it), and I've been there as well. It's a major issue.

So today I want to share with you 10 signs you want to look for that might be telling you that your tank is empty, that you're about to enter survival mode.

[02:09] #1 - You're constantly stressed

[03:10] #2 - You get triggered a lot

[04:06] #3 - Meeting basic needs is a struggle

[05:52] #4 - Everything feels urgent

[06:42] #5 - There's a sense of impending doom

[07:31] #6 - You feel like you're failing

[09:29] #7 - You're stuck in the present moment

[10:21] #8 - You feel isolated

[11:48] #9 - You feel helpless

[12:47] The level of expectations in our lives must match the level of support

[13:38] #10 - You feel like you can't measure up

Now that you know the signs, it's time to do something about it. Check back in next week because I'm going to share a sequel to this and talk about what we can do to get out of survival mode.

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources:

• Check out my free Facebook group, Love Parenting With Avital
• Join my membership, Present Play!

Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/101

Most of us know that feeling of preparing a lovely meal for our children, sitting down to eat it with them only to have our toddler promptly THROW IT ON THE FLOOR 😡 😭 🤦🏽‍♀️

It can be so aggravating. If you're not sure how to handle the situation and it's repeating in your home, you are so not alone. Let's talk about what we can do about it.

[00:58] #1 - Normalize it

[01:41] Trajectory schema

[02:32] #2 - Stay calm

[04:13] #3 - Say what you want to see

[05:00] #4 - Don't play the game

[06:36] #5 - Give them alternatives

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources:

• YouTube Video About Schemas
• Childhood Design Guide
• Join my membership, Present Play!

Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/100

Do you struggle to get your kids out the door in the morning? Are you ever late for things because you're arguing with your kids or having trouble getting them ready for the day? You're not alone. Kristen from our Present Play community asked for advice about how to deal with this.

In this episode I'll discuss my thoughts and help you get back your sanity!

[00:38] Kristen's question: How can I motivate my child to get ready more quickly?

[03:37] More love isn't always the answer

[06:59] Natural consequences are great when they can play themselves out.

[07:32] Are there any morning activities that will be missed if they aren't ready in time?

[08:26] Your frustration and depleted patience is a natural consequence too.

[09:29] Try playful parenting

[11:26] Set a clear boundary and follow through

[15:37] Avoid power struggles.

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources:

• Join my membership, Present Play!
• Book Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen

Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/99

Do you have a little toddler at home and you're tearing your hair out, trying to find ways to keep this person busy without always resorting to screens?

If so, I've got you. I totally feel it. And I am here with five ways that toddlers generally love playing independently and that you can use today to keep your little person occupied and busy without screens.

[00:53] #1 - Sensory Play

[04:30] #2 - Movement

[06:17] #3 - Music

[07:21] #4 - Dressing up

[08:52] #5 - Pretend play

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources:

• Join my membership, Present Play!
• Download your Childhood Design Guide

Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/98

Can babies play independently? Is that even possible? Or is it something that only develops later (if at all)? The answer is...they can! And in this episode I'm going to talk about 10 ways they can play and how to encourage them to do so.

[01:05] #1 - Don't entertain your baby

[02:39] #2 - Le Pause

[04:13] #3 - Don't overstimulate - keep it simple

[06:23] #4 - Don't interfere

[07:52] #5 - Keep things low

[09:20] #6 - Keep trying

[10:59] #7 - Try different times

[12:43] #8 - Try different positions

[13:38] #9 - Make sure they're comfortable

[14:21] #10 - Experiment with music

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources:

• Join my membership, Present Play!
• Join our free Facebook community, Love Parenting with Avital
• How To Create A YES space (video)
• Book "Secrets Of The Baby Whisperer" by Tracy Hogg
• Book "Bringing Up Bébé" by Pamela Druckerman

Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/97

When you're pregnant, it can be so hard to get enough sleep. Between the hormones and feeling so uncomfortable, it can be very hard to sleep. And if you have other children or issues in the mix, it can be even more challenging to get the rest we need.

While there certainly are some things outside of our control, there are quite a few things that are within our control. In that light, I'd like to offer 10 suggestions to help you prioritize sleep so you can get more rest.

[01:39] 1. Keep your bedroom clean and tidy

[03:11] 2. Use calming fragrances

[03:37] 3. Use comfy PJs and sheets

[04:58] 4. Keep your room cooler

[06:11] 5. Use comfy pillows

[06:51] 6. Reduce light exposure

[10:04] 7. Talk to your health care provider about sleep supplements

[11:25] 8. Drink more water in the morning and less in the evening

[12:05] 9. Try out some gadgets and gizmos

[13:36] 10. Go to bed earlier

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources:

• Join my membership, Present Play!
• Join our free Facebook community, Love Parenting with Avital

Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/96

Do you ever hate this whole parenting thing? There's absolutely no shame here...I think most parents feel this way at some point in their parenting journey.

In this episode I'm going to cover 10 reasons you might hate parenting, and most importantly what you can do about it.

[00:53] 1 - haven't come to terms with your own childhood

[03:02] 2 - You're still waiting to be parented yourself

[05:39] 3 - Your home is a mess

[07:29] 4 - You haven't stepped into your leadership role yet

[10:06] 5 - You're giving waaaay too much of yourself

[13:40] 6 - You're not addressing key behaviors that are disruptive

[16:06] 7 - You're not sleeping enough

[19:00] 8 - You're not making it fun for you

[22:33] 9 - You're comparing yourself to others

[25:18] 10 - You have a fixed mindset

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!

Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources:

• Join my membership, Present Play!
• Join our free Facebook community, Love Parenting with Avital
• Check out the book Parenting From The Inside Out by Dan Siegel
• Check out the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/95

Let's talk depression. First I want to say that I have gone through seasons where I needed professional help, and there's absolutely no shame in that. If you feel you need some help, please don't hesitate. It can make a world of difference.

But even if you're not feeling clinically depressed, it's common to go through seasons of feeling "the blues" or feeling down. Thankfully, there are some things we can do to help bolster our mood and help us feel better!

In this episode I'm going to give you 15 things you can do when you're feeling down.

[00:45] 1 - Normalize

[02:56] 2 - Express don't suppress

[04:23] 3 - Seek professional help

[05:54] 4 - Do "The Work" by Byron Katie

[06:40] 5 - Get outside

[07:18] 6 - Get a listening partnership

[08:33] 7 - Get enough sleep

[09:14] 8 - Move your body

[10:09] 9 - Laugh (watch some comedy)

[10:47] 10 - Pamper yourself

[11:25] 11 - Eat well

[12:58] 12 - Check if you need supplements or a dietary change

[13:14] 13 - Cleanse your mental diet

[14:41] 14 - Take a break from social media

[15:10] 15 - Help others

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources mentioned:

• Book "Loving What Is" By Byron Katie
• Join my membership, Present Play!

Books about CBT:

• Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders by Aaron Beck
• Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns
• CBT Made Simple by Seth J. Gillihan (I haven't read this...yet. It looks promising)

Books about mindset:

• Don't Just Sit There!: 44 Insights to Get Your Meditation Practice Off the Cushion and Into the Real World by Biet Simkin
• Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
• The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith by Gabby Bernstein
• Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther & Jerry Hicks
• Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer
• The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Full Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/94

Do you feel overwhelmed by your life at home with young children? I'm a mother of 5, I run my own business, I homeschool part-time...I have a lot on my plate (and I'm sure you do too).

It can be so easy to feel overwhelmed! But we're not helpless. There are things within our control that can make a big difference and reduce the overwhelm in our lives.

In this episode I'll give you 10 tips to help you reduce the overwhelm.

[00:52] #1 Declutter

[02:37] #2 Create storage systems

[03:58] #3 Clean as you go

[06:01] #4 Batch your cooking

[08:03] #5 Develop consistency & routine

[10:18] #6 Buy things in sets

[12:05] #7 Store similar things together

[14:21] #8 Create a family color pallette

[16:36] #9 Get clear on your vision

[17:53] #10 Put systems in place

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I'd love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!Are you subscribed to my podcast? Subscribe here so that fresh episodes are delivered directly to you.

Those shiny 5-star ratings and sweet reviews have me all gushy, thank you. But more importantly, they help other parents discover the Parenting Junkie Show and spread the word about Loving parenting and Parenting from Love. If you have a moment to spare, those reviews mean the world to me, you can leave one here.

Want to connect to like-minded parenting junkies? Join our (free & awesome) FB community Love Parenting with Avital.

Resources:

• Podcast episode 90 about creating a great atmosphere at home
• Present Play