Friendships are oxygen for girls! When a friendship sours, the mean girls arrive, or your daughter just can't find her tribe, life can be really hard. We share some powerful ideas to help your child navigate friend troubles - giving them options and building resilience.
Topics included in this episode -

The difference between boy & girl play
Boys use their bodies, girls use their words
Optionality equals resilience 
Autonomy, and feeling seen, heard and valued
When should the school get involved?
Avoidance reinforces anxiety
Things you can you do to help your daughter
Why Your Kids Need a Tribe - a Happy Families article
Miss-Connection | 7 Day Connection Challenge – Happy Families

 
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#964 What to Do About Mean Girls

The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Kids & Family

Relationships

Parenting

Content warning: not for young ears.
“If you had to be in the forest with a man or a bear, which would you choose?”. How do we get to the point where we can answer without hesitation “a man!”?
In this episode:

Violence against women
Parents stepping up
Teaching morality
The 'No More' rallies
Influence of explicit pornography on young men

Links:

Quote by Saint Augustine: “Right is right even if no one is doing it...”
The five demands of the No More national rallies (womensagenda.com.au)
Helping Our Boys Grow Into Men – Happy Families
How to Prevent your Child Becoming A #metoo (and Prevent your Child from Creating One) – Happy Families

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#983 Man or Bear?

Judgement & criticism, punishing, provoking, and trying to “fix” a child—none of these are a parent’s job. They only serve to drive a wedge in relationships. Our job is to love our children. To set limits and have expectations—yes!—but to do so kindly. 
 
In this episode:

Shifting the paradigm
Compassion and empathy
Emotions go up, intelligence goes down
The problem with judgement
Why kindness is the answer

Links:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R Covey
I don’t need Fixing! I need Guiding and Loving – Happy Families
Why Our Kids Need Us to Set Limits – Happy Families

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#982 Judgement & Criticism Are Out!

If you are struggling to "keep the spark alive" with your loved one, you're not alone. Exhaustion, screen addiction, lack of time, resentment - all these issues (and more!) can lead to zero interest in nurturing intimacy. Today we share some surprising secrets to sustaining a strong sexual connection!
In this episode:

Reasons for having zero interest in intimacy 
Connection and friendship
Prioritising sex
Slowing things down
Female pleasure
Book recommendations 

Links:

Nurturing Intimacy: Secrets to Sustaining Strong Sexual Connection – Happy Families
Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski | The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life
She Comes First by Ian Kerner | The Thinking Man’s Guide to Pleasuring a Woman

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#981 Am I The Only One Not Interested in Intimacy?

Justin shares four big ideas based on Jonathan Haidt's new book in the hope that it generates some constructive conversations with your kids at home: the key to building a resilient child, getting comfy with our children experiencing a healthy level of discomfort in life, the impact of social media on the brain development of teens, and looking at problematic use of or addiction to social media.
In this episode:

Healthy/unhealthy childhood stressors
Supportive parenting vs "tough love" or over-protective parenting
Resilience
Anxiety
The cycle of incompetence
Anti-fragility
Impact of social media on teenage brain development
Social media addiction / problematic use

Links:

After Babel | Jon Haidt | Substack
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
Honestly with Bari Weiss: Smartphones Rewired Childhood. Here's How to Fix It

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#980 The Anxious Generation With Jonathan Haidt

A listener wants to know how to help her friend, a single mum to an increasingly difficult 10-year-old boy. Plus, three things you can do to survive your child’s big and embarrassing public meltdown!
In this episode:

Single parenting
Supporting other parents
Aggressive child
Emotional regulation
Psychological help
It takes a village!
2-parent privilege
Travelling with kids
HALTS
How to say no with compassion and kindness

Helpful Links:

Developmental Milestones [Part 4: Middle Childhood]
Can We Please Talk About Boys?
#649 Bringing Up Boys With Dr Arne Rubinstein
The Secret to Regulating Emotions
What is the Best Way to Say ‘No!’ To Your Kids?

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Leave a voice memo here or email your questions/comments to podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au
Find out more about joining THE QUEST at our website See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#964 What to Do About Mean Girls

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