I have 5 children and as they've grown I have learned some practical things you can do today to get your kids talking. Yes, we have talked about how to approach subjects big and small on this podcast but I haven't really dug into any ways to actually get your kids talking. In this episode, I hit on some of the things I have found the most success with for my family.

I hope you have enjoyed listening to the podcast this past year. Stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new has been incredibly humbling and at moments downright scary. Talking, in general, is not my strong point and talking to new people even less so. I shall push on into the new year. I hope to have some episodes featuring real-life conversations with kids as well as some more interviews with parents who are walking alongside me and doing an amazing job.

Kerensa Wing is a high school principal with an uncommon approach to doing her job. She is dedicated to working with children and young people and her unique approach recently garnered her attention at the national level and she was award National Principal of the Year.

She is playful and engaging with the student she serves and has even been featured in a carpool karaoke-style video singing the theme song to Fresh Prince of BelAire. She has a unique vision for developing leaders among her students and it is that unique approach of service and servant leadership I will be discussing with her in today’s episode of the Conversation Podcast.

Here’s a rundown of how the call will go so you aren’t caught off guard. We’ll start out with 3-4 minutes of you telling us about yourself. Then we’ll spend 4-7 minutes talking about the service program/philosophy you have going at the school. Last we’ll spend 4-7 minutes talking about ways parents can talk with their children about serving, what you advise the parents of your students to do at home to support what you are teaching them at school.

I remember when Jason and I started to like each other as more than just friends. There was a thrill and rush of excitement when I realized that he liked me too, but it was quickly paired with apprehension. Jason’s friends began to tease me that I’d be getting a ‘Steve Talk’ pretty soon. They all then retold stories of times Steve had sat down with them and talked with them about their lives, this probably shouldn’t have been scary but I didn’t have conversations with my own parents about these things.

It was unfamiliar territory for me to have parents intentionally engage with and talk with me. I knew my friends talked with their own parents more than I talked with mine, but I had never had any of them dig in a talk to me too.

In this Episode we hear from Steve on how he engaged with his kids' friends and how he plans on engaging with his grandchildren in the future.

Let me go ahead and dispell any myths that my family is perfect and that my children are always sweet and kind. They are children and like all children, they have their moments. In this episode you'll hear me talk with our middle child after a particularly rough day with him.

In today's episode my dynamic other half shares with you his practice of having one on one time with our five kiddos. Jason is oftentimes everything that I am not, and he has taught me so much about relationships and relating to other people. For the past 7 years, he has been building a rhythm that I believe is setting a good foundation for the future of our family. We hope you enjoy a peek into our family and what this looks like.

In our podcast today I had a chance to sit down and speak with Kendria Johnson. Kendria is a teacher, author, and speaker. Her story is truly motivational and I really enjoyed getting a chance to hear more from her. Her honesty and candid way of speaking to her daughter is truly inspirational.

Sometimes it is very hard, to be honest with our children about the situations we are living in and the circumstances we are facing. I really have to respect Kendria’s approach to talking with her daughter about some of the tough things they faced as her daughter was growing up.

I think we forget sometimes that our kids are going on our journey WITH us. A part of our story becomes a part of their story as well. One of the things Kendria said to her daughter during a particularly difficult time was this; “I told her what we were doing while we were going through this and that she was going to go through it with me.”

Remember our stories have a way of defining us, and I think this beautiful and honest statement from Kendria to her daughter takes the sting out of a circumstance that could potentially be a defining one. Honesty and conversations in the tough moments of life are how we help shape our children and how we help them process through what is going on around them. We are helping them to form their self-definitions. As you’ll hear from Kendria, I don’t think this circumstance defined her daughter, but rather became just a part of her story.

For everyone who enjoys this episode and is interested in reading more about Kendria’s story her book is available as both a digital download and a physical copy, and you can order yours by clicking the links below.

Barnes and Noble

 The Conversation Journal is targeted towards younger kids, in the elementary age. For children, this young Purpose, Vision, and Mission are more than likely over their heads. Values, which are our guidelines, are within their scope of understanding. 

I have includes pages for your children to fill out for Purpose, Vision, and Mission. Use your discretion on whether or not they are able to grasps these concepts. Even if they are not quite ready it is absolutely okay to expose them to the concepts now and try to explain it to them at their level and to share with them what you wrote and your thinking that went into it.

This is the conversation my 9 year old and I had about these things. As you can see she wasn't able to go incredibly deep into any of these, but the exposure to them is what matters.

Today's episode is brought to you by Audible.  Listeners can get a free audio book and 30 day trial by visiting:  www.audibletrial.com/conversations  

I'm excited for what is coming in this fall on the podcast. We plan on covering a range of topics from race, to social media and youtube fame. It's my hearts desire to help you all navigate tough topics and conversations with your kids. I need all the help I can get and this podcast is really deisgned around me seeking help myself and sharing that help with all of you.

If you'd like to be a part of the Conversation Journal Community you can join our group on Facebook by clicking the link below.