Gotta Love Family Podcast
132 episodes - English - Latest episode: 21 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingLearn how to connect everyday in everyday ways.
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Episodes
Recharging – Do You Know What Works for You
April 07, 2024 08:00 - 9 minutes - 7.09 MBThere are many ways to recharge and care for yourself but they aren't helpful unless you know what works for you. and did you know that what works can change and then you have to go back to the drawing board. Join me as I share an experience from 2011 and another from 2024 that is illuminating when it comes to understanding what works for you when you need to recharge. I will also share why I don't buy the idea that to recharge we have to go outside of the chaos of daily living. If tha...
SPARKS = Loving to Learn
March 24, 2024 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.6 MBIn the last two weeks, I’ve given you some information on Sparks and how to use them to connect with your children. In the article on March 10 – SPARKS - The Big Fail, I mentioned that when we learn to utilize Sparks, we can help our children love the idea of learning. Kids have a lot to learn, and often, whether we homeschool or use public or private schools, the love of learning can get buried. We can’t prevent times when school is boring or too hard. But we can keep the desire to learn ...
SPARKS - The BIG Win
March 17, 2024 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.67 MBLast week I shared information about Sparks and how valuable they can be in building child-parent relationships. I also shared my big failure when it came to one of my grandsons Sparks. Let’s have a quick review. In my book Becoming a Present Parent I wrote that the value of seeing your child’s Sparks is that it’s a wonderful way to get Present with your child. It’s powerful not only in helping them love learning but also in creating tighter relationships. So, what is a Spark? Simply put,...
SPARKS - The Big Fail!
March 10, 2024 09:00 - 11 minutes - 7.84 MBIn my book Becoming a Present Parent I wrote that the value of seeing your child’s Sparks is that it’s a wonderful way to get Present with your child. It’s powerful not only in helping them love learning but also in creating tighter relationships. Over the next few months, I want to share some examples of how I, and other parents, were able to use Sparks to connect with our kids. They are fun ideas that you can incorporate with your children, even if they haven’t shown up as a Spark, beca...
Are You Afraid of Reading Hard Books?
March 03, 2024 09:00 - 8 minutes - 5.96 MBHave you ever wondered how to read books that aren’t easy reads? This has been an issue for me. I LOVE reading but sometimes the classics are a challenge. History can be dry. Some books deal with tough topics. How do you manage those? I just finished a book while at my daughter's in Seattle, The Midnight Library. It’s a book I would recommend to others, but it wasn’t what I would call a ‘tough read.’ It was a thoughtful and enjoyable read. We all need those now and then but to learn and gr...
Do You Have a 'Family Thing'?
February 25, 2024 09:00 - 13 minutes - 9.23 MBEvery mother struggles to bring all that she has to the family table. We all want to teach our children to be kind, to have manners, to be honest, to do their chores, to share, and on and on. We also want to teach skills that can help them as adults. We desire to encourage them to develop talents for the joy of it. It can feel daunting. But there is something else that many of us struggle with; we want to have meaningful ‘family learning’, where our families connect and where the connectio...
Harness the Power of focus!
February 11, 2024 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.19 MBI have a friend that I admire very much, Alysia Humphries. What got me thinking about her this last couple of weeks was that tonight (Saturday) I am going to a special event for caregivers. She and a handful of other women are giving some nurturing to caregivers. I fit into that group and so Alysia asked me to come. I am going to have some foot zoning done and Alysia is giving me some light therapy. Restful! That got me thinking about Alysia and a letter she sent to me after an event I par...
HELP! I Need Activities for Small Children
February 04, 2024 09:00 - 10 minutes - 7.33 MBI recall getting an email from a very harried mom with a three-year-old. I laugh about it still because I can relate! “YIKES!! My three-year-old wants me to help him with everything!! I need some activities and games for small children!” Not long after, I got an email from a mom who was homeschooling. She loved working with her eight-year-old, but she had two littles who made it difficult to give her older son the attention she wanted to. She needed some diversions for those little ones....
I No Longer Have a Bucket List or Is Parenting the End of My Dreams!
January 28, 2024 09:00 - 12 minutes - 8.97 MBDo you have cherished dreams? Is there a goal you want as much as breathing? Do you worry that because you chose to be a parent they may never come to pass? I can relate. I raised seven children. I was busy and overwhelmed lots of the time. I had goals and dreams and there were times I felt they could come to pass. Then, just when I felt I was moving towards them, I would be called home physically or emotionally and the dream would be on hold again. Today, I want to encourage you and giv...
Simple Techniques for Stress-Free Single Parenting
January 21, 2024 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.15 MBLife as a single parent is a challenging journey, but it can also be filled with growth, resilience, and moments of joy. I have a daughter navigating this path, and it can be both painful and joyous watching her and her children as they move through this new territory. To manage well requires a blend of practical strategies and emotional fortitude. Understanding how to manage as a single parent, either a mom or dad, requires support and resources. In April of 2023, I posted an article by a...
Are You Prepared for the New Year?
January 14, 2024 09:00 - 8 minutes - 5.71 MBI no longer make New Year's Resolutions. Instead, I have a few useful tools I use. Today I will be talking about three ways you can put the coming year in order in your mind, and manifest what you want your life to look and feel like. Doing these simple steps has made the last ten years more powerful for me and I have been able to accomplish some BIG things, while busily working and caregivng. I hope you join me and discover what it is you want in the next three to five years.
Thoughts On My Wall
January 07, 2024 09:00 - 21 minutes - 15.4 MBLast week, I shared my daughter’s journey from a traumatic brain injury to a life of love and service. I shared one of the secrets to her success – she had taken charge of what she focused on. I, like my daughter, put ideas on my wall. I post on my walls thoughts and ideas that I want to understand and incorporate into my life and way of being. I thought it would be fun to share some of what I have on my walls with you. If it resonates you may want to post it on your walls. If not, enjo...
You Are What You Think About and Focus On
December 31, 2023 09:00 - 9 minutes - 6.92 MBIn 2003, my world turned upside down when my daughter, Jenny, was hit head-on by a drunk driver going the wrong way on a California freeway. Five years later, I wrote an article about Jenny’s journey and how she turned a major head injury into a life worth living. Another eleven years have passed, and I have watched my daughter live these words – You are what you think about and focus on. Jenny's sixteen-year odyssey is powerful. If you find yourself frustrated, angry, discouraged, resentf...
A Response to the Article on Dec. 17 - Tough Article - A Tender Mercy
December 21, 2023 00:52 - 3 minutes - 2.66 MBOn December 17 I posted an article on my website and made a podcast called How to Enjoy Life More, Even When It's Hard. That same day I received a tender mercy that fit in perfectly with the theme of the article. I am sharing it here.
How to Enjoy Life More, Even When It's Hard
December 17, 2023 09:00 - 12 minutes - 9.5 MBToday, although there are things I could share that would be less time-consuming and less emotionally draining, I am telling you about my morning. I am sharing this experience for a reason. After several decades of working on two principles, they can still trip me up. They are also stumbling blocks for many moms I talk with. I have written about them often, and I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but this is pivotal for our happiness and our ability to parent and relationship well. Join me ...
Say Yes More Often Than No
December 10, 2023 09:00 - 8 minutes - 6.09 MBMy daughter has a saying she lives by and I have seen the amazing results in her family. "What if we said yes as often as we could and not only when we had to?" Join me today as I share three crazy family examples of how living this way can impact your family relationships in a BIG way.
How Long Can You Carry the Weight?
December 03, 2023 09:00 - 6 minutes - 4.48 MBI walk daily. Walking is the only exercise I get because, as I understand it, you can’t count housework. LOL I walk five blocks. My sister, a fitness instructor, suggested I could employ the weights I carry better. I took her advice and began utilizing my weights in a new way. I raise one arm into the air and keep it lifted as I walk, for as long as I can. The pain begins slowly, but eventually, I must put my arm down. Then I lift the other arm and repeat the process. Then I let both ar...
The Power of I Love You
December 03, 2023 00:25 - 9 minutes - 6.86 MBBack in 2012, I read an article by Kerry Patterson of the Arbinger Institute, a company designed to build leaders and businesses. He has also helped author several wonderful books designed to help people have better relationships in families, at work, and in communities. I have enjoyed reading his work for many years. This article, which was published around the holidays, beautifully showcased the power of love. I am sharing it with you because it is powerful. I hope it will bless you and h...
Why I Decided to Commit to Meditation When I Said I Couldn't
November 19, 2023 09:00 - 12 minutes - 9.33 MBOn October 15th of this year, I posted an article called Are You Self-Aware? What Does That Even Look Like? In the article, I listed ideas for becoming more aware of our own emotional state. Then I listed things I was committing to do for myself. At the end of the article, there was this P. S. “Mediation came up often on the lists. I have meditated in the past but right now, I can’t commit to it.” Join me as I share my meditation journey. I will share what I have done to make it workable a...
What is Family Philanthropy
November 12, 2023 09:00 - 10 minutes - 7.54 MBNovember and December are perfect months to teach our children about gratitude and sharing. It’s an excellent time to review our family culture around giving and receiving. During these months, there are multiple opportunities to teach our children that no matter how wonderful it is to receive, giving brings deep satisfaction and joy. Today I want to share a few stories about family philanthropy, how it benefits children, how you can make it part of your family culture, and why it isn't just...
The Two-edged Sword of Innovation
October 29, 2023 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.99 MBI like Kerry Patterson. He is a great writer and from my era, so I relate to everything he writes. Back in September 2012, Kerry wrote an article about unplugging from the workplace, the difficulty and the benefits. I saw amazing parallels for a family. In the ensuing eleven years, I have seen what Kerry shared become even more challenging. Join me as I share thoughts, ideas, and facts on how technology may be causing your feelings of dissatisfaction and lack of family connectedness.
Don't Be a Mastodon
October 22, 2023 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.79 MBLast week I included in my weekly newsletter the link to a podcast I did a few weeks ago for Beyond the Cookie Cutter. It was about managing change. Then this week, out of nowhere, I found myself faced with another possible change. It will require a shift in a hope I have held on to for a long time and an adjustment in how I deal with a current situation. This reminded me of where I was back in 2013 and some hard lessons I had to learn. I want to share what I learned in 2013 because it is so...
Are You Self Aware? What Does That Even Look Like?
October 15, 2023 08:00 - 11 minutes - 8.45 MBLast spring, I was listening to a talk at church and the speaker gave a statistic that I found intriguing and a bit surprising. He said that most people think they are self-aware but that when tested only about 15% are. That is a low number of people who really know where they are emotionally, at any given time. You are probably not surprised that this information would catch my eye. After all, I did a little counseling for myself this year because I knew there were issues with my self-awa...
Putting People Ahead of Projects. Can It Be Done
October 08, 2023 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.39 MBI am a finisher. This will be important for you to remember as you read this article. Being a finisher is a blessing in my life and the lives of those I live with and serve. But it has its drawbacks. I can get caught up in projects and leave people behind. Learning to STOP what we are doing in favor of something that is truly more important, usually having to do with our spouse or children, is a process. I have had to learn to give myself space and time to keep practicing. Changing one’s w...
Want to Laugh More, Remain Calmer, and Be Happier?
October 01, 2023 08:00 - 8 minutes - 5.69 MBIf you had asked me twenty-five years ago if I had a sense of humor, I would have replied that fun and funny are not on top of my list. I don’t get jokes. I don’t see the humorous first. Getting stuff done is my thing. Being on time matters. Maintaining order is number one. I liked things and people to be a certain way. Because of this, I was easily frustrated or annoyed by situations and people, including my husband and kids. However, a decade and a half ago, when I began speaking and tea...
Duality Matters in Parenting
September 24, 2023 08:00 - 5 minutes - 3.83 MBI had a heart-to-heart conversation with my daughter, Kate, on pridefulness vs. pride. I recorded Part 1 and Part 2 of that conversation. This is part three. Join me as I share what duality is, how it looks in parenting, and why it matters. This was a great end to a powerful conversation.
As a Mother, You Won’t Know the Value You Bring Until Later
September 17, 2023 08:00 - 4 minutes - 2.98 MBLast week I shared a conversation I had with my daughter Kate on pride vs. pridefulness. It was illuminating. This week I am sharing the part of the conversation that blew me away and shows, yet again, that you can't know the value you bring as a mother, until later, even if you think you are doing a poor job. Join me and be heartened on your parenting journey.
How We Talk about Ourselves Sends a Powerful Message to Our Children
September 10, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.41 MBA few months ago, I had a conversation with one of my daughters on the issue of pride vs. pridefulness. It was amazing and insightful. Today I am going to share an experience my daughter had in sixth grade that taught her that girls and women should be self-deprecating to be accepted and liked. It will blow your socks off. You may even relate. Then we will delve into the difference between pride and pridefulness and how to help our kids to know the difference and allow themselves to take p...
Growing and Increasing in Wisdom One Thing at a Time
September 03, 2023 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.67 MBThis summer I took a few months off from writing. It was a wonderful rest, but in those off weeks, I had an experience that I want to share. When I read the book Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller, I created a list that allowed me to implement what I learned about rest, renewal, and space. But, I only implemented one item on the list. During my writing break, I found the list. Oh man, it was good! So I came up with a plan to intentionally impleme...
Deadheading
June 18, 2023 08:00 - 8 minutes - 6.37 MBThe earth, if we are paying attention, can teach us so much symbolically, and metaphorically. Here is a lesson I was reminded of this week in my garden. Join me as I share a gardening concept - deadheading. It is a metaphor for life. Join me as I teach you what deadheading is and how it applies to you, your life, and your family. Life is never going to be perfect no matter how hard you try. When we can accept that, then we are free to enjoy the good job we are doing, despite the imperfec...
A Little Here and a Little There, Conquers!
June 04, 2023 08:00 - 8 minutes - 7.88 MBMy life seems filled with opportunities to prove to myself, repeatedly, that consistency in small things really can accomplish BIG things, things we thought we couldn’t do. Join me today as I share information about the principle - small steps done consistently does accomplish BIG things. I will share some examples that will amaze you. I have gained this wisdom the hard way but you can get better at it without a lifetime of struggle. Join me. : )
Not as Bad as I Thought
May 21, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutes - 5.08 MBDo you ever have the feeling that your efforts aren’t good enough, even though you are giving it all you have at the time? I have and still do, occasionally. Join me today as I share a perfect example and how, if we let time do its work, we will learn that we are doing far better than we thought!
My Rocky Relationship with Time and Happy Mother's Day
May 14, 2023 08:00 - 14 minutes - 11.5 MBI have had a rocky relationship with time but lately, I have been making great progress in this relationship. That is until last week when all you know what broke loose. Come join me and see how an article on time turned into a beautiful Mother's Day article on our value and worth.
Necklaces on the Mirror or Charity 101
May 07, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.99 MBI like things my way. It's true. It has taken intention for me to learn to be flexible and generous with others’ differences. It hasn’t been an easy ride, but I really wanted to make this change. Over ten years ago, I began praying for charity. As I studied, I learned that charity isn’t what we do it is how we are - a way of being made up of many traits. Hmmm Here are two that cause me trouble – long-suffering and not easily offended. They relate to flexibility and generosity with others’ ...
Still Learning? Does it Make You Feel Less Than?
April 30, 2023 08:00 - 9 minutes - 6.91 MBA young mother, forty years my junior, helped me out today. We have been talking about what it takes to be a writer and the necessity of getting up earlier. I got up at 4 am for six months in order to write my book. She has 3 kids all under 6, but she has been following through and writing in the morning at 6, for 30 minutes. But me, I have been struggling to do the same, even though I did it in the past! In one of our conversations, this young mom did something brave. She shared some tho...
Just Do It!
April 09, 2023 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.98 MBBack in 2013, when Jodie and her family moved into our three-bedroom apartment while looking for a new home, I was reminded of many things I had forgotten since my children had grown up and moved away. It takes flexibility to manage a family. Things don’t always go the way you plan, and moving forward when things aren’t just what you want, well, that is the road to feeling good as a family. Here is a peek back to that ‘learning’ time. By the way, Jodie was homeschooling Maggie and Jack and b...
Chaos Reigns!
April 02, 2023 08:00 - 4 minutes - 3.68 MBWhen we moved from Montana to Utah we helped our daughter purchase her first home. We lived in that home with her for a while. Then she married, and we moved two blocks away. Not long after that Maggie, our granddaughter with CP, was born. After a few years, Jodie’s family needed a more handicapped-accessible home, and voila, we were eight people in a smallish 3-bedroom apartment. This was a precursor to living with them, in a three-generation home, which was a precursor to living in a...
Children Learn Best When they are Interested
March 26, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.76 MBIn the next four weeks, I am going to be sharing articles I wrote over ten years ago. Why? Because they were fun, contained great information and when I reread them, I fell in love with my family all over again. I will have a current introduction to each article, but I‘m not going to adjust the information to make it appear that it is in the now. You will see people and situations as they were over a decade ago. You know, I have been in the parenting trench for a long time. I raised my own...
Make Learning Safe!
March 19, 2023 08:00 - 11 minutes - 8.8 MBOver the last twenty years, I have run across wonderful resources. Today I want to share an article that I read back in 2013. It was by Kerry Patterson. I enjoy reading his stuff because it is always fun and illuminating. In this article Kerry outlines the parent or teacher’s job of establishing an environment where their charges can learn and grow (even experiment) without fear of being in trouble. Whether you school your children at home or they attend public or private school, we all are...
Better Word Choice - Better Outcome
March 12, 2023 09:00 - 6 minutes - 4.99 MBToday I am sharing a remarkable story from the book Remember the Ice and other Paradigm Shifts by Bob Nicoll. It will open your eyes to the importance of using words well. Understanding truth changes lives and Bob understood words. Hearing his story and reading his book will change your life too.
My Meat Chopper is a Metaphor for Growth. Really!
March 05, 2023 09:00 - 12 minutes - 9.51 MBLet's talk about the challenges of growth and change. Join me as I show you how my meat chopper got me thinking about how change can be made and how we can discern when to make changes and when to walk away. You will be enlightened and heartened.
I Don't Run. or Do I?
February 26, 2023 09:00 - 10 minutes - 8.07 MBIn August 2010 I wrote an article that I posted on my original blog, Home School Coach. It was titled I Don’t Run. In the article, I shared why I had begun running and why it wasn’t working out well. It’s funny, but the reasons that I was having such a hard time running have been resolved over the last thirteen years. I have made many changes in my lifestyle and my thinking since 2010. When you have a strong enough purpose, belief, or why, you can do and change anything. I have lived t...
2022 Was Really HARD!
February 19, 2023 09:00 - 8 minutes - 6.71 MB20232 was a very HARD year for me. I told why in last week's podcast, Tracking Can Turn Your Life Around. today I want to flesh that story out by sharing what I heard in church on January 8, 2023. It illuminates why we struggle and how we can manage better. Join me as I explore how we can live a happier, more satisfying life by being willing to embrace the struggle.
Tracking Can Turn Your Life Around!
February 12, 2023 09:00 - 9 minutes - 7.23 MBWhen we’re trying to implement a new system, create a new habit, change our way of being, or resolve a problem, tracking is helpful. I know this doesn’t sound fun or doable for many of you, but I have learned the hard way that tracking makes a difference in how well I do in any of the above scenarios. Tracking helps with consistency. You can see at a glance how you are doing and, in fact, if you are doing. When you track you can’t pretend that you are doing better than you are. You als...
Taking Care of Ourselves and Managing Stress – Two Lists
February 05, 2023 09:00 - 15 minutes - 12 MBIn February 2022 my daughter and I were having a conversation about taking care of ourselves and managing stress. It cam eup because she is learning to live a good life with depression and I was feeling down from four years of caregiving. We shared our list of what we do to manage the tough days with each other. In this podcast, I share those lists with you. I think you will find their contents enlightening. Enjoy!
A Story of Classic In the Box Thinking
January 29, 2023 09:00 - 4 minutes - 3.78 MBToday I am sharing a very silly, frustrating, and classic story of every day in the box thinking. when we get in the box it can mess with our relationships and our parenting. Join me today and see if you can relate. I know you will and the tips at the end will help you get out of the box. : )
Personal Growth When Life Turns Upside Down
January 22, 2023 09:00 - 4 minutes - 3.1 MB"This year, choose to suffer less. Choose to remain in control of your stories. Write them in your mind in a way that lifts you, no matter what happens. You are 100% in control of your response to whatever comes your way. You can’t control everything that happens or how others behave, but you can control your response." Join me as I share a beautiful and moving story that illustrates this truth perfectly.
How to Have Better Outcomes
January 15, 2023 09:00 - 9 minutes - 7.63 MBEver have an experience that isn't fair and made your life so much harder? My sister recently had one of those BUT she maintained control of her story and her results were nothing less than extraordinary. Join me as I share what happened and some tips for having better outcomes when life doesn't go as planned. Taking control of your story and how you respond makes ALL the difference.
What Does Chris Hemsworth Have to do With Being Stress Proof
January 08, 2023 09:00 - 10 minutes - 7.96 MBMy husband, Don, began watching a series titled Limitless. Chris Hemsworth, of Thor fame, was concerned about his health and aging and went looking for answers as to how to maintain longer. After Don watched the first episode he said to me, “Mary, I need you to watch this with me because I think it will help me.” I sat with him as he rewatched the first episode in the six-part series. Frankly, I was interested in this for myself because when you are a full-time caregiver and one of the p...
What You Need Might Be Right at Your Feet
January 01, 2023 09:00 - 4 minutes - 3.26 MBThe other day I lost a glove and walked all over the place looking for it. When I found it I was right back where I had put on the first glove. It had been right at my feet. I could have saved myself all that searching. Has this sort of thing ever happened to you? It has to me, and not just in little things like a missing glove. Join me as we explore how to know when you need outside intervention as you problem-solve and when stillness, thought and reflection are what you need.