A podcast to fuel your parenting reactor and energize your mission: to enjoy raising responsible kids in an unpredictable world. Listen in as a homeschool mama chats with her nuclear launch officer and leadership author hubby to encourage other parents through real conversation. They welcome you to their at-home centrifuge where their fusion of ideas brings child-rearing encouragement to critical mass.
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Cross That Bridge When We Get There
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Parenting is busy. It is hard. It is full of the potential for worry and anxiety. As parents, we will always worry about our children, and we should - to an extent. To keep our stress level at an acceptable level, we have a phrase we often use to remind ourselves of which worries are worth stressing over right now. Check out this episode to hear fo…
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How Do We Build Our Kids' Confidence?
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People who are confident are more likely to have better pay, get treated with greater respect, and develop better resiliency. These are just a few reasons why we want to cultivate confidence in our kids. The question is whether it is possible and - if so - how to do it. You can support us financially by clicking here: OurNuclearFam is a parenting e…
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After our dog passed away, Kathryn and I were determined not to have any more pets, not even fish. It just did not fit our current life circumstances. But that changed when our sweet oldest daughter made a persuasive argument for getting guinea pigs. Even though we gave in, we did so on our own terms. Tune in to see what that means! To support us f…
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We're back! And this is no April Fool's Joke! Our Nuclear Family needed some time to figure out our spaces in a new house with new routines and a new teenager. With so much turnover happening, we realized a need for systems and structures was necessary for us to have our house function the way we want it to. Today, we are discussing the importance …
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Do you feel the pressure of trying to squeeze every ounce of good energy out of summer or give your kids the perfect, memorable vacation this year? After all, we only get about 18 summers with our kids, right? We have to make it count! If you are wondering how to have a perfect summer, listen to this episode; you won't regret it! Follow us on Insta…
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We are often looking for balance in life: a balanced diet, work-life balance, etc. so it would follow that we would seek balance in our parenting. But is that really what we want? Or is there something better? That's what this discussion is about. If you have questions or would like to send us a message, you can find us on Instagram @Our.Nuclear.Fa…
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Teaching Our Kids About Money - Two Years Later
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A couple years ago, we started a plan to teach our kids about money. On this episode we answer some frequently asked questions and also bring in some experts: our kids! We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports financially! If you would like to join the team, please visit OurNuclearFam is a parenting encouragement podcast (buymeacoffee.co…
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RE-RELEASE: Teaching Our Kids About Money
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Some of our most frequently asked questions are about our kids and their allowance so we are re-releasing our season 1 episode talking about how we help our kids understand the value of things and the ideas of spending, saving, and giving. If you would like to donate to our cause, please click here: OurNuclearFam is a parenting encouragement podcas…
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When is Parenting Going to Get Fun?
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Is parenting fun? Is it supposed to be? On this episode, we discuss what makes it difficult to enjoy parenting and how we can reframe these challenges into opportunities to experience the joy kids bring. If you have questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us on Instagram @our.nuclear.family or online at Our Nuclear Family | …
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Are We Giving Our Kids Enough Attention?
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Kids come out of the womb demanding our attention, and their need for it seems to never stop. On this episode, Matthew and Kathryn discuss the very real struggle of trying to determine the right amount and -- even more importantly -- the right kind of attention our kids need to thrive. Support us with a small financial donation by clicking here: Ou…
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A sibling relationship is one of the most enduring relationships in our lives and hopefully one of the most rewarding, too. In this episode, we discuss what supporting siblings has looked like in our house in the past and what it could look like as our kids get older. The Andy Stanley podcast episode we mentioned can be found here:Andy Stanley | Ja…
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As soon as we hit stop on our last episode, we had more thoughts to get out. From bedtime routines to exercising and more, we discuss the importance of self-care in our lives, and especially the importance of modeling it for our kids. As always, if you have questions or comments, you can find us on Instagram @our.nuclear.family or visit us on our w…
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We all need sleep, adults and kids alike--but getting kids to fall asleep can be tricky! We definitely do not have all the answers, and each circumstance is different, but this episode is about us discussing what has worked for our kids and will hopefully spark some ideas that can be incorporated into other bedtime routines as well. As always, if y…
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As adults we know the value of apologies and forgiveness -- even if we don't always feel like doing it. We do, however, want our kids to experience the freedom that comes from learning these crucial life skills. So, do we force them to say the words? How do we teach apology and forgiveness? The podcast referenced in this episode can be found here: …
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While the traditional time for New Year's Resolutions may have come and gone, there is always time to set our intention, especially as it comes to parenting. Instead of resolutions, we find it helpful to focus on a single word or phrase to guide us. In this episode, we share our "word" for 2023, talk about what it means to us, and hopefully provide…
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My Kids Will Never...The Christmas Edition
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There are many times we have seen other peoples' kids act a certain way and think, "My kids will NEVER do that." There are just as many times we have looked at other parents acting a certain way and think, "I will NEVER do that." And of course, there are many MANY times we find our kids or ourselves acting in a way we never thought possible. The ch…
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It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
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The Christmas Season is upon us once again, and if you are like us, there is so much fun to be had that it can feel overwhelming and even suck some of the joy out of the most wonderful time of the year. To avoid that, we are being intentional about discussing our priorities for the season, filling out our must-do list, and checking it twice. The pl…
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Parenting is HARD. There are so many difficult challenges that come again and again, and it is exhausting to have to say the same things or do the same things over and over. BUT, we have good news: the hard work does pay off. One day, we will be able to look back and see how far we have come and that our kids are becoming the wonderful kids we'd ho…
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Our family's first dog, Romeo, passed away after 14 years. In this episode, we talk about helping our kids walk through their grief while also processing our own grief. This is definitely not prescriptive as everybody's grief is different, but hopefully this conversation provides another perspective for those unfortunate moments for when grief is p…
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Cultivating a Culture of Curiosity
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Despite sayings such as "Curiosity killed the cat," our culture highly values curiosity and openness. These traits are essential in learning, innovation, and imagination, but answering our kids' "Why?" questions all the time can be exhausting. On this episode, we discuss how we work to cultivate a culture of curiosity in a way that doesn't leave us…
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Kids can have big, irrational fears, and because they are irrational, it can be hard for us as parents to know how best to help. On this episode, Kathryn and Matthew talk about some different strategies they have tried and how sometimes acknowledging the fear is the best path toward courage. If you would like to support us financially, you can do s…
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We are not parenting experts; in fact, we do not even always agree on the best thing to do when parenting our own kids! On this episode, we invite you in on a recent parenting disagreement that happened over one of our kids not wanting to try a bite of zucchini. Have a listen and see who's side you're on! If you're feeling like we could use a pick-…
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On our last episode, we talked about how important it is to know our Parenting "Why." This episode is a follow-up to that where we dive deeper into what it looks like when our kids ask us, "Why?" and what we do when we don't have the time or the right words to explain it. We love putting out this content for you and we pay for all of it ourselves. …
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Start with Why - Parenting Edition
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Simon Sinek's popular book Start With Why is not just good business advice; it's good for life and especially good in parenting. It can help us prioritize our schedules, identify why we are feeling frustrated, and grow deeper relationships with our children. Listen in as we discuss how to find and share our parenting Why. We love sharing this conte…
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The Who, What, When, Where, and Why of Kids and Electronic Devices
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In our media-crazed adult world, us parents are continuously thinking about our kids and their media consumption. Should they have an electronic device? What parental controls do we need? How much time should we let them spend playing video games? What about social media? In this episode, Matthew and Kathryn give their initial thoughts on these que…
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We've all either heard or felt the sentiment behind the expression, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Both moms and dads can have an outsized impact on the emotional barometer of the house, which can sometimes hurt our relationship with our kids. Today's episode is about what's behind these moments and what we do to navigate them. Find us …
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The Most Special Kid in the World is No More Special Than Anyone Else
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We want our kids to be confident and full of self-love, but we do not want them to become arrogant. And like all new things our kids learn, they have to learn that balance. On this episode, we discuss how we can help our kids walk that tightrope between confidence and humility, and whether or not those two things are mutually exclusive. Want to sup…
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Parenting can sometimes feel like an ongoing cycle of wondering whether our child is old enough to do the next thing. From sleeping in their own room and potty training to having a cell phone and dating, we are constantly evaluating whether or not they are ready for a certain conversation or responsibility. Today, we discuss our approach to answeri…
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Do I Have to Play With My Kids All the Time?
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We love our kids, and we love developing their imagination, but it can be exhausting--especially as we are trying to cook, clean, do school, work from home, or just have a minute to ourselves. So, is it really ok to let my kids play by themselves? And if so, how can I start that transition? All of that and more in this episode! We are listener supp…
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How To Avoid Becoming Those Nagging Parents
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None of us want to be those annoying parents who exasperate our children, but if we are not careful, that is exactly the kind of parents we might become. In this episode, we discuss why it is such an easy trap to fall into and some ideas for how we can avoid it. We are listener supported! To max a tax-deductible donation, click here: OurNuclearFam …
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One of our biggest fears as parents is that we might say the wrong thing or do something that will leave our kids "scarred for life." Fear not, however, as we explore what the science has to say about it in this TED Talk: (3) Yuko Munakata: The science behind how parents affect child development | TED - YouTube. We are listener supported! Donate to…
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Have you ever felt you were too busy? Have you thought of yourself as a bad parent or an angry parent? Have you ever said, "I can't," or heard your kids say it? The words we use have significant power. They anchor us to certain traits or attributes, and if we are not careful, these become our default settings and can turn into self-fulfilling proph…
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Talking to Our Kids About the Russia/Ukraine Conflict
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There are plenty of topics that are difficult to talk about with our kids, and the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine is just one more example. On this episode, we discuss why we felt it was important to talk to our own kids about the crisis and provide some practical things to consider if you decide to do the same with your own children. …
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We want our kids to have a fun, safe, and easy childhood. So we treat them like glass, and the problem with glass is it is fragile. On this episode, we discuss developing kids with grit so we can equip them to handle the challenges of adulthood. This episode is inspired by this article: https://reason.com/2017/10/26/the-fragile-generation/ We are l…
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You may have heard the saying, "Comparison is the thief of joy." Unfortunately, our brains are naturally comparative; we cannot shut it off. So what do we do? On this episode, we talk about what we can do when we catch ourselves comparing our kids or our parenting to others. Got a question or comment for us? Find us on instagram @our.nuclear.family…
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Listening to our kids argue can be mentally exhausting, and our desire to maintain a peaceful house can have us continuously acting as the judge, which further drains our energy. To stop this never-ending spiral, we suggest a combination of letting kids argue and teaching them how to do it well. We'd love to hear from you! Send us a voice memo by c…
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Do You Have a New Year's Resolution?
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The New Year is a great time for reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future. On this episode we reflect on season 1 of our podcast and look ahead with some practical thoughts on keeping New Year's resolutions. Find us on Instagram @our.nuclear.family Send us feedback or questions via voice memo by clicking the blue button here: ABOUT …
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Oh You Better Watch Out! We're Talking Santa
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It's the Holiday season, and there are a ho ho whole lot of ideas about how we should approach the Santa question with our children. On this episode, we give our thoughts on how we approach Elf on a Shelf and Santa Claus, especially as our kids get older and more curious about Christmas spirit. Have a question? Reach out to us on instagram @our.nuc…
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Thanks So Much for that Unsolicited Parenting Advice...
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In the world of parenting, there is no shortage of well-intentioned people willing to tell us the best way to raise our children, but there is a shortage of advice that will actually work for us. How to sift through the sand of advice to pull out the valuable gems is the topic of this conversation. To support Our Nuclear Family, click here: OurNucl…
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The Holiday Season is upon us! From Christmas parties with friends to family get-togethers, this is a busy time and can be overwhelming for us and our children. In this episode, we talk about how our introverted and extroverted kids alike can experience unique challenges during this most wonderful time of the year. Support Our Nuclear Family by cli…
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What If Incentives and Consequences Aren't Working?
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No matter the parent and no matter the kid, it seems like there are some friction points that always pop up in our parenting experiences. From not cleaning their rooms to not doing their schoolwork, from avoiding chores to getting out the door, we try to incentivize good behavior or threaten bad behavior. But maybe there's something else we can do.…
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I'm Fine, It's Fine, Everything's Fine
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Often times as parents, we feel like we have to always have everything together all the time. But life happens, and being fine all the time is not practical. In this episode, we encourage parents that it is ok to not be ok. Support Our Nuclear Family by clicking here: OurNuclearFam is a parenting encouragement podcast (buymeacoffee.com) Have a ques…
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How do we handle it when -- not if, but when -- our kids lie to us? Today we talk about this universal parenting quandary. Despite our best efforts, our kids will lie to us, and it's up to us to figure out how best to respond so that our kids will learn the importance of honesty. Thanks for supporting Our Nuclear Family by clicking here: OurNuclear…
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As parents, we may struggle getting into a rhythm or routine. But if we can do it, the benefits are immense. A good routine helps us and our kids' mental well-being. And, surprisingly, they enable us to have more flexibility by limiting decision fatigue. Support Our Nuclear Family here: OurNuclearFam is a parenting encouragement podcast (buymeacoff…
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Boundaries, Consequences, and Discipline, oh my! Part II: Consequences
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We don't like disciplining our kids, but having undisciplined children is worse! On this episode, we talk about giving our kids consequences and how that is different than punishment. Support Our Nuclear Family by clicking here: OurNuclearFam is a parenting encouragement podcast (buymeacoffee.com) Share your parenting stories and questions here: AB…
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Boundaries, Consequences, and Discipline, oh my!
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Is there anything more scary to talk about in parenting circles than disciplining our children? In this conversation, we try to make it less scary by focusing on how boundaries can help us grow in our own lives and can help our kids grow, too! Leave us a message by clicking the blue button here: ABOUT THE PODCAST |OUR NUCLEAR FAMILY (wixsite.com) S…
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Dealing with failure is tough for any human, but it's especially tough for our young tiny humans who so desperately want to make us proud. But failure does happen, so how do we help our kids get through all the failures required to make it on the path of success? Listen in for our thoughts. Click the blue button here to send us a voice message: ABO…
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Money is all around us. It pervades so much of our lives. If we want our kids to grow up to be successful adults, they have to learn about money. In this episode, we dig into why it's important to teach our kids about money and how we choose to do so. Share a messy parenting moment by clicking the blue button here: ABOUT THE PODCAST |OUR NUCLEAR FA…
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What Does Successful Parenting Look Like?
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We all want to be good parents. In fact, it is probably our biggest fear as parents that we are not doing a good enough job. So what does successful parenting look like? Matthew and Kathryn share their thoughts in this thoroughly uplifting conversation. Support Our Nuclear Family by clicking here: OurNuclearFam is a parenting encouragement podcast …
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It's three of the scariest words for a parent to hear: "Mom (or Dad), I'm bored." Today, we talk about how to fight through the boredom and the benefits of allowing space in our daily schedules for our kids to be bored. Support Our Nuclear Family by clicking here: OurNuclearFam is a parenting encouragement podcast (buymeacoffee.com)…
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