Episodes

Supporting our children when they are afraid Does it make your uncomfortable when your children are afraid? Do you find yourself telling them to stop being afraid rather than comforting them when they need it most? Listen today as Todd and Cathy discuss children’s fear and anxiety and how we can deal with it in an effective and compassionate way. Poofin.com Don’t forget to use our coupon code “zencharm” Movie quote – “’Over’? Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it ov...

Todd and Cathy discuss why kids have tantrums and how to look at them differently…..instead of feeling out of control, can we feel compassion and understanding? And really, adults have tantrums, too, we just call them by a different name, like feeling “impatient”, “stressed” or “overwhelmed”. Cathy and Todd also discuss how to avoid tantrums (adult and child!) by discussing and processing feelings in the home.

Todd and Cathy discuss miscarriage, share their own personal experiences and focus on the need for grieving, healing and supporting each other through this kind of loss. They also discuss how giving birth is viewed as a “medical issue” rather than a natural process and highly recommend the documentary The Business of Being Born. Movie quote: Give a different line from the same movie via facebook and enter to win a free book… “What is it?” “It’s a gun rack.” “A gun rack… a gun rack. I don’t ...

A birth plan is a great idea, but can you really “plan” how your children are born? Cathy and Todd talk about their birth stories, their thoughts regarding natural birth, and they share life lessons learned through the birth process….

Quit telling your kids how great the school year is going to be….if they feel anxious, let them be anxious! They don’t need you to tell them how great it’s going to be, they just need your support and validation. Instead of telling your kids how to feel, let them to you how they feel and know that with your love, they will work through it. AND, Todd gets deep about attending an American Idol concert with this dad….things were a little pitchy Dawg!

Do you find yourself agonizing over the past or worrying about what could happen in the future? Do you wish you could be more present for your children instead of always thinking about “what if”? You are not alone. Listen as Todd and Cathy discuss what it means to be here now and how to practice mindfulness in our everyday parenting experiences. Parenting Resource of the week – Kandle Kidswear (www.kandlekidswear.com) – a local and sustainable company using American Apparel organic shirts and s...

In this episode Cathy and Todd ask each other deep questions and surprise each other with their answers….it’s a great way to keep a partnership interesting! You can also use questions (from the book “If”) with your children…..stay connected and build relationships through question asking. Click here to learn more about Cathy’s Book Release Open House! http://www.cathycassaniadams.com/book-signing Movie quote – “It ain’t show friends, it’s show business.”

Are you a knit picker? Do you point out flaws in the hope that it will lead to change? If you really want to see a change, start pointing out the strengths…..as they say, what you focus on grows! Listen as Todd and Cathy discuss how to improve relationships by being a cheerleader rather than a nitpicker. Parenting Resource of the week – Parent2ParentU Facebook Page and website – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Parent2ParentU/364139551483 Abbreviated Movie line – “The space goes … downtown baby …...

What are your children really trying to say? Do your children use swear words or use strong language like “hate” or “kill”? Todd and Cathy discuss what your children are really trying to convey…..can we help them find different ways to express how they feel or appropriately ask for what they need? Parenting resource of the week – Pagatim.fm! Check out all the great podcasts on Pagatim (www.pagatim.fm)…..Parenting Unplugged, Dads Unplugged, Single Parents, Luvmour Family Relationships, Transfor...

Today Todd and Cathy talk about the “weird one”, the “emotional one” or the “truth teller” in the family – as parents can we be more accepting of our children’s differences, traits, and difficulties? Is something really wrong with them or do we need to find new ways to understand, appreciate and connect? Parenting resource of the week: Cultivating Radiance by Tamara Gerlach…..all about finding your inner radiance and sharing it with others. Beautiful stories, quotes, and suggestions that guide ...

Video Games- The supreme court just said that any kid any age can purchase any game they want. What’s your take? Is there a difference b/w Space Invaders and Grand Theft Auto? How to use video games to your parental advantage Like what you heard? Have Cathy present to your group- more info can be found @ http://www.cathycassaniadams.com/speaking-presentations Parent Resource of the week- Looking to get family pictures taken? Look no further http://cherylpacyna.zenfolio.com/ Last but not least...

Why are so many children diagnosed with disorders and given powerful medications that may not even be necessary? Listen as Todd and Cathy discuss the epidemic of over diagnoses and how parents can be more aware of what is indeed “normal”. They reference this recent article in Newsweek – http://www.newsweek.com/2011/06/19/mommy-am-i-really-bipolar.html And their “parent resource of the week” is Square One Organics (www.squareoneorganics.com), frozen organic superfoods for babies and kids.

Todd and Cathy discuss FOOD, our conflicting emotions about food, why it can be difficult to feed our kids. As parents we need to understand how we feel about food so we can pass on a positive message to our children. It’s time to get smart about eating and let go of the guilt! Food is our first line of defense when it comes to health, but it should also be a pleasurable experience. How do we do this? Listen today! Also check out our Parent Resource of the week Siv Sjöholm Facebook Page https:...

What are the top 5 deathbed regrets? Listen to this show and learn…..just a hint, most of them are about enjoying the moment, “being” instead of “doing” and choosing happiness over stress. Simple, right? Then why doesn’t everybody live this way? Listen as Cathy and Todd discuss the way to really integrate this wisdom and change your life for the better. Check out our parenting resource of the week – Soul to Soul Parenting: A Guide to Raising a Spiritually Conscious Family by Annie Burnside – ww...

Cathy and Todd discuss the breastfeeding-in-public controversy and talk about the laws and issues surrounding nursing. There are varying opinions about breastfeeding based on personal history, experiences, and access to current information….Cathy and Todd challenge you to have respectful discussions about this issue – listening and learning is the key to normalizing this often contentious subject. To pre-order Cathy’s new book, The Self-Aware Parent Two: 23 More Lessons for Growing with Your Ch...

What do YOU want? Cathy and Todd discuss why it’s important to let go of the way your family did things. Be open to what your partner brings to the table and create a family based on what works best for both of you. Getting married and having children is another stage of development….your relationships with your family of origin (and inlaws) will change, but you can still remain loving, grateful, and connected.

Cathy and Todd discuss the importance of allowing for pain, sadness, and grief, and how to be the best possible listener for your kids and other loved ones. If you or your family is dealing with crisis, divorce, death, or just overall challenges, this show is for you.

Listen as Todd and Cathy share their pet peeves and then discover new and more positive ways to view these annoyances. Cathy finds some strengths, but Todd is challenged to understand the concept. They continue to discuss that everything can viewed differently and that sometimes the most difficult issues (your daughter is bossy and stubborn) can have a different viewpoint (she is a natural leader who won’t be swayed by peer pressure because she knows how to hold her ground).

Are you stuck in old patterns and fearful of what’s ahead? Cathy and Todd encourage you to be present in the moment and go with the flow….life is exciting and constantly flowing, so learn to flow with it. This is especially important as your children grow and change…will you stay stuck, or will you allow them to evolve?

Fear is normal. It’s normal for children to be afraid. Instead of telling them to not be afraid, let’s help them find tools to deal with their fear. Speaking of fear, Todd scared his daughter when he dressed up as Cookie Monster….his intentions were good, but it didn’t quite work out the way he planned…… Here’s the link to Cathy’s blog that we mention on the show – http://www.chicagoparent.com/community/the-self-aware-parent/2011/march/let%27s-be-clear—what-do-we-really-want-for-our-children

Have you really thought about what you want for your children, or are you letting society tell you what’s important? Cathy and Todd encourage listeners to focus on children’s emotional intelligence as well as their book skills, and they reference the movie Race to Nowhere. Creativity, play, and downtime are just as important as study time. They also suggest why reading to your child may not always be the best idea. And speaking of, Todd decides to make fun of Cathy for not playing board games…...

Remember in the movie Field of Dreams when Kevin Costner’s character said to his father “Dad, You Want To Have A Catch?” What a beautiful moment. But might we make a small suggestion? Don’t be that Dad! Don’t force your son to kidnap a famous writer, nearly watch you daughter choke to death on a hot dog and cut down a corn crop to make a baseball field all after you are dead – Learn to stay connected now! Cathy and Todd challenge you to be creative and take the lead on staying connected – don’...

“Money isn’t real,” said Ray Liotta in the movie Blow. But if it’s not real, then what is it? Cathy and Todd think it’s another opportunity for awareness and communication within the relationship – with your partner and with your children. Are you modeling a healthy relationship with money for your children? Do your children experience boundaries when it comes to stuff, or do they get whatever they want?

Cathy and Todd discuss the importance of parenting from the heart instead of staying stuck in the head. They talk about “monkey mind” and how our brain continuously processes information and messages without our consent. The question is, are these messages helping or hurting you and your family? Can you bring heart and head together and parent from a highly conscious and grounded place? Listen today to find out!