The Simplifying Childhood Podcast Tiffany

Words we are avoiding

We're going to talk about some words that we don't say in our house. And I'm not talking about swear words, or anything like that. You know what I mean? No, stop and be careful. These are the things you say when your kids are trying something new, or doing something dangerous. It's a reflex for us as parents to use these words, but I want to share why we stopped saying them.

Why do our words matter as parents?

Our words matter because they become the inner voice of our children. Our words matter because it sets the tone for how we run our families. And our words become our beliefs which become actions. So changing words is a small, one of the small things we can do that have such a profound and long lasting effect on our parenting and our kids. So today, we're going to dive deep into some words that as a family we actually avoid: no, stop and be careful!

We are all going to go through this as parents - your child is sick, and you haven't slept in two days. Maybe you are sick as well. How on earth do we survive? This video describes a few helpful tactics to get us through the low points - things like making sure that people know that you don't want help, avoid overwhelm, and just let us know that there is an end to it.

Parenting is hard, but having sick children... its a whole other game. There are all kinds of different ways that it can happen to you, and no matter how prepared you think you are for it, something will come along and kick you in the teeth. But what can we do about it? How do we handle being sick when someone else is sick? How do we manage the changes that are required to keep moving forward? This video is an exploration of the things I've learned over these last few weeks at have helped me during some difficult times.

Meltdowns can make for a long day out, but it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, you can learn ways to prevent meltdowns and help your child avoid them when they happen. It just takes some patience and understanding of your child's behaviour. These tips can help you stay calm and manage meltdowns the next time they happen:

And yes, as parents, we all know how difficult it can be to maintain our cool in the midst of a toddler meltdown. The tantrums, tears and screams can spark the most intense emotions within us. Although it's impossible to stop these feelings from bubbling up inside us, we can not change someone elses behaviour - only our own. So this episode focuses on how we can adult our response to best help our toddlers.

Has anyone told you that parenting is simply about getting back to the good old days? I mean, didn't we live in harmony and land of make believe when we were children? Weren't our parents better than the ones today? And wasn’t it simpler?

So I don't often get caught up in the online discussion of "how it use to be". I'm so happy that far more families today have access to clean water and our access to education amongst other thing ... yet as a parent even I feel myself saying "they don't make them like they used to" –a bit cliched but still kinda true- BUT...is that all there is to simplifying childhood? Should we just be celebrating nostalgia and wishing for a simpler time or should we be actively looking at our current ways of doing things and aiming to improve what we can?

Because I get why parents want to simplify their children's childhood. They see their children being pushed, pulled and expected to do so much by so many. They see the physical toll it is taking on their children, and they wonder if those magic years are being stolen from them in order for their children to compete in some future world that may or may not exist.

As mothers we have expectations on how easy parenting should be or how much our little one should be learning and growing. But what if there is no right or wrong way to do things or if one thing is not better than another? Want to try a different approach?

As a parent, one of the most challenging times is when your toddler has a meltdown. But what should we call it? Meltdown? Tantrum? Big feelings? If you find yourself in this situation, how name it does matter as does your understanding of the emotional regulation and the toddler's brain. This episode is just the tip of the iceberg in exploring toddlers and their emotions.

The reality is, you have too much. Too many toys, too many materials, too many small pieces and just too much. And that’s why it’s time for a thoughtful, confident decision from you: It’s time to ditch the excess.

This is not about being a minimalist or about being thrifty, it's about reclaiming your home from the mountains of unnecessary stuff, and most importantly, changing the way your children play.