The Moms I Know Podcast

A large part of physical growth and development for children relies upon age-appropriate games and movement. In this episode, Sheila and Maria discuss how to nourish children through these developmental stages with a wide range of activities to physically and mentally challenge them as they grow.

"Time is a game beautifully played by children." - Heraclitus, 6th Century BC

In our modern society, it is becoming quite common for children to start playing competitive sports at a very young age. In this episode, Sheila and Maria dive into the risks of repetitive movement as well as the benefits of allowing children to explore many varying and seasonal activities as they grow.

It's our job as parents, to consciously create opportunities that challenge our children's development. This episode is full of ideas and resources to inspire play and movement for children of all ages.

Resources From This Episode:

Kim John Payne, Games Children Play: https://www.simplicityparenting.com/

Jamen McMillan, "Play, Games, and Sports in Childhood: The right thing at the right time", Renewal Magazine: http://bit.ly/2rBIOVX

Anna Rainville, Singing Games for Families, Schools, and Communities: http://annarainville.com/

Wendy Suzuki, Healthy Brain, Happy Life: https://www.wendysuzuki.com/

Marian Diamond, UC Berkeley: http://lunaproductions.com/marian-diamond/

If things are fun, they gain relevance and children remember them and games are fun for us, too! In this episode, Maria and Sheila discuss age-appropriate ways to incorporate games into our daily activities to make things more fun and educational for our children.

"The single most important skill that parents can acquire is playing." - Lawrence J. Cohen

Learning happens so much more quickly through play than through any other method and with schools pushing for more and more academics, it's even more important that we incorporate play-based learning into our family time activities.

In this episode, we provide research and resources for age-appropriate games that are timeless and fun for the whole family. Incorporating games into your family time will also help to develop and nurture the family culture that you desire.

Resources From This Episode:

Toddler/Preschool Games:

• play silks
• wooden blocks
• puzzles
• puppets
• legos
• magnatiles
• chutes and ladders
• snails pace
• connect4

Card games for younger children:

• Uno
• Go Fish
• Old Maid

Older card games:

• 5 Crowns
• Spoons
• Egyptian War

Individual Games:

• Perplexus
• Labrynth
• Puzzles
• Solitaire

Learning Games for 6 and up:

• Gobblet
• Cathedral
• Clue
• Life
• Apples to Apples
• Battleship
• Sequence
• Rummy Kub
• Yahtzee
• Boggle
• Mastermind
• Chess
• Checkers

Drawing on ancient teachings about parenting, Maria and Sheila embark on a conversation about how to raise this modern generation of children with resilience and empathy.

"Recognize the inner realities. If you try to make your children good, you will make them and yourself miserable; show them you believe in their natural goodness and all will be blessed. If you try to make them honor you, you will create instead resentment and dishonesty; instead, honor yourself and them, and all will be happy. If you try to make them successful, you will perpetuate their misery of endless desires; instead, enjoy the simple life and all will find contentment. You do not have to recognize the outward niceties, you have to recognize the inward realities. You do not have to make things turn out well, you have to realize that all is well." - William Martin, The Parent's Tao Te Ching: A New Interpretation, Ancient Advice for Modern Parents

When we bring to our parenting an underlying calm and knowing that all is well, we can address modern issues and better prepare our children to navigate the challenges and struggles of life with inner strength and inner peace.

"Be a model of honesty. If you want to become a wise parent, you must be prepared to appear foolish. You must be willing to say, "why should I chase this way and that? Always grasping and always running?" Unless you stop following the crowd, how can your children be free? To teach your children strength, you must be prepared to appear weak. You must renounce admission and struggle and embrace serenity and peace. You must confess your faults and embrace your failures. You must face yourself with honesty and find the truth of your nature." - William Martin, The Parent's Tao Te Ching: A New Interpretation, Ancient Advice for Modern Parents

Resources From This Episode:

William Martin, The Parent's Tao Te Ching: A New Interpretation, Ancient Advice for Modern Parents: https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/reviews/view/16160

Michelle Borba, Ed.D., UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in this All-About-Me World: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/UnSelfie/Michele-Borba/9781501110078

Julie Lythcott-Haims, How to Raise an Adult: https://www.julielythcotthaims.com/how-to-raise-an-adult

Frances E. Jensen and Amy Ellis Nutt, The Teenage Brain: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062067869/the-teenage-brain/

Project Empathy: https://www.projectempathyvr.com/

Just as our bodies can carry physical ailments from our ancestral heritage, our psyche also carries ancestral trauma into our lives and there's a way to break free!

"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." - Carl Jung

Have you ever felt in your body that there was some unfinished business, or that a piece of something in your life didn't really belong to you? In this episode, Sheila and Maria invite Special Guest and Transformational Wellness Coach, Teri Taylor, to the show for a deep dive into the topic of Generational Healing.

This episode will provide you with insight into a practice that you may be discovering for the first time. We believe that Generational Healing is a powerful tool for conscious parenting and that by choosing to do this work, we can set our children free to be the people they are truly meant to be in the world.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Resources From This Episode:

Teri Taylor, Your Daily Reset: https://www.yourdailyreset.com

Mark Wolynn, The Family Constellation Institute and It Didn't Start With You: https://www.markwolynn.com/

Bert Hellinger: https://www.hellinger.com/

Over the course of decades of parenting, teaching, and coaching, Maria and Sheila have had many inspirations, influences, and mentors. This episode honors those who've come before them and who've paved the way for this generation of joyful, conscious parenting.

"If it hasn't been in the hand and in the body, it can't be in the brain." - Bev Bos, author of Don't Move the Muffin Tins

There are many moments throughout our lives where we've felt our consciousness shift to allow openness for new ideas to come in and influence our decision making. These authors, educators, and mentors changed the course of our lives in many ways and we want to share that with you.

This episode contains a multitude of amazing resources to encourage you and to inspire you wherever you are on your parenting journey.

Resources From This Episode:

Visit our website for a complete list of resources: https://www.themomsiknow.com/episode-034-our-influences

As we raise our children and focus on mindfulness, we can heal our own wounds. In this episode, Sheila and Maria interview Grace Kendrick of Mindful Mama Yoga and Ayurveda who shares her personal story and journey to mindful parenting.

"The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they bloom like flowers." - Thich Nhat Hanh

Our children bring their own experiences, emotions, and desires into the world and, as parents, we strive to provide shelter, security, and acceptance to each of our children so that they can grow into confident and secure human beings. Through mindfulness practices, we can stay grounded and committed to treating our children with love and respect through any difficult circumstance.

Grace shares her personal story and parenting journey as well as the way she has been able to apply what she has learned to the mindfulness, yoga, and Ayurveda work she does with mothers and families.

Resources From This Episode:

Grace Kendrick, Mindful Mama Yoga: http://www.mindfulmamayoga.com/

Spring Equinox Family Yoga Retreat: http://www.mindfulmamayoga.com/familyretreat2019.html

Denise Roy, MFT, Momfulness: http://www.deniseroy.com/_center_momfulness__mothering_with_mindfulness__compassion__and_grace__center__56136.htm

Mila Kabat-Zinn & Jon Kabat-Zinn, Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting: https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Blessings-Inner-Mindful-Parenting-ebook/dp/B0037B6QV6

Curiosity is an essential part of parenting. If we can approach difficult parenting situations with a spirit of curiosity, we can be more open to understanding our children's needs and desires. Special guest, Kate Robbins, a Transition Life Coach with The Clarity Council, and a mom we know, brings to the podcast her unique view of curiosity along with real-life examples for inspiration.

"Curiosity is the one thing invincible in nature." - Freya Stark

Children are innately curious, yet as we become adults, we often abandon the spirit of curiosity. When we can approach conflict from a place of curiosity, we avoid blame and shame, and consequently gain clarity around the needs and desires of our children and loved ones.

Kate Robbins joins us on this episode to share with us how curiosity has played a vital role in her life experience, both as a Transition Life Coach and as a parent.

Resources From This Episode:

Kate Robbins, Transition Life Coach with The Clarity Council: https://theclaritycouncil.com

Grounding Meditation from Kate Robbins: https://www.themomsiknow.com/grounding-meditation-kate-robbins

After an amazing first season, we're excited to announce what we'll be bringing to the podcast in season two!

Our episode on self-care focussed on what brings you joy and refills your cup so that you can parent from a place of fullness. In this episode, we take this concept one step further and ask the question: How can we bring joy to others and fill each other's cups so that the women in our communities can serve from a place of fullness?

"Behind every strong woman…are more strong women." - Dr. Caroline Heldman

Historically, women have cared for one another and in many cultures, this is still the tradition. In our society today, we often find women and mothers trying to "raise the bar", do it all on our own, and be "supermom".

In this episode, we examine why our society has experienced this shift and how we can pull call ourselves back into alignment and be strong enough to ask for the help we need.

By giving ourselves a little "space... and grace" we can allow ourselves to receive the support of our communities, families, and friends with a little more ease.

Resources From This Episode:

Dr. Shefali Tsabary, The Awakened Family and The Conscious Parent: https://drshefali.com/

Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/

We've been asked lots of questions about homeschooling, from how to determine if it's the right choice to what types of curriculum to follow. If you've been considering homeschooling for your family, this episode is for you!

"It's not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world, it's our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless." - L. R. Nost

There are many reasons why families choose to homeschool varying from lifestyle choices, to learning differences. No matter your reason for wanting to explore and understand your homeschooling options, there are many resources and types of support available to you.

In this episode, we share our experiences and knowledge from years of homeschooling and homeschool teaching to help you understand your options and determine if this is the best path for your family.

We cover everything from reasons why families consider homeschooling to how to find and choose your curriculum, and share from our hearts and experiences how we have seen homeschooling impact our children and families as well as the many other children and families we've seen over the years.

There is not one, but many ways to approach homeschooling, and only you will know what is best for your family. Listen in to hear our stories. We hope you will find inspiration for your own journey.

Resources from This Episode:

John Taylor Gatto, Dumbing Us Down: https://www.johntaylorgatto.com/

John Holt: https://www.johnholtgws.com/

David Colfax, Homeschooling for Excellence: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/725228.Homeschooling_for_Excellence

Julie Bogart: http://blog.bravewriter.com/

Thomas J. Cottle, A Sense of Self: http://thomascottle.com/

Dr. Gordon Neufeld, Hold Onto Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/106744.Hold_On_to_Your_Kids

Mary Pipher, Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/159760.Reviving_Ophelia