The Parenting Horizons Podcast Julie Ross M.A.

Money is an uncomfortable, emotionally charged topic for a lot of parents. In this episode, we discuss how to overcome this last taboo with Anthony Delauney, a financial planner and author of the new book, “Dash and Nikki and the Jellybean Game.”



You’ll get practical advice on such sensitive topics as:


At what age should you start teaching your kids about money.
Spend, save and give jars — what are they and what is their value?
Should you even give an allowance and if so, should you tie allowance to chores?
Credit / Debit cards — yes or no for tweens and teens?



And what do you do when your kid wants to spend their money on something you don’t agree with? You’ll hear solid tips on how to keep power struggles out of money issues by focusing on some key principles:


Patience,
Collaboration,
Compassion,
Finding Win-win solutions

As of 2020, guns are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. This horrific fact has placed American families in a no-win situation: how and when to talk about it with your kids. 



In this episode we discuss how and when to talk to your kids about the epidemic of gun violence. Feelings of anger and despair are prevalent so you can assume your child has heard something, or at the very least, has picked up on feelings.



Like many sensitive subjects, the rules remain the same:

Open and keep open the door to communication. Keep it simple. Keep it truthful. Only answer the questions that you've been asked.



Since emotions about this topic obviously run high, it’s okay to show your feelings in moderation as long as you model recovery as well. You don’t want your children feeling like they have to comfort you.



Finally, we suggest donating to organizations dedicated to countering gun violence like SandyHookPromise.org or Everytown.org

Emotions can run high if a marriage ends in divorce, but when there are children involved, the stakes become even higher.

In this episode we’ll be talking with Andy Heller, author of the new book “Take the High Road: Divorce with Compassion for
Yourself and Your Family”

Andy brings to the discussion some great insights on how to re-frame divorce and the importance of bringing a business strategy to the divorce, not so that you “beat the competition”, but so that you can create a stable environment for your kids. 

Divorce is a marathon, not a sprint, and just like a marathon,  “winging it” is not an option. Focus on the long term: what will this all look like several years from now? Remember, kids see everything and they will remember whether you treated your ex with compassion or revenge.

In this episode we interview Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe (https://www.robynehd.ca), the author of “Calm Within The Storm: A Pathway to Everyday Resiliency.”

Many parents wonder why some kids “get up” while other just “give up.” Is the ability to pick yourself and dust yourself off a matter of temperament or can it be learned? 

And what is resiliency? Is it about “sucking it up” or is it something else entirely? You’ll also learn how we can help our children deal with their big emotions by supporting them as opposed to rescuing them.

Your kids are your greatest treasure AND they sometimes drive you to the brink. It’s perfectly normal for parents to feel all kinds of uncomfortable emotions about your kids (frustration, fear, anger) and it's often tempting to vent these feelings by blowing our lids. But while this may feel good in the moment, it almost always backfires.


In this episode we look at some of our favorite techniques to use instead of blowing up. And we promise you won’t even need to be an enlightened Zen master to take advantage of these strategies for becoming a calmer, more effective parent.

Are The Kids Still Alright?

We’re seeing increased anxiety and depression in kids these days in the wake of so many events that are simply out of our control. The long tail of the pandemic, climate change, the war in Ukraine, just to name a few, are causing children and parents alike to despair.

So what can we do in the face of wave after wave of seemingly overwhelming crises. In this episode we continue our conversation with Dr. Barbara Nusbaum, a psychologist who specializes in working with children and young adults. Together we offer strategies for combating helplessness and despair.

You’ll discover ways to create (or re-create) community so you and your kids don’t feel so isolated and alone. We’ll discuss how to talk to your children about things that are outside of our sphere of influence: Keep it simple, honest and at their developmental level. 

Finally, if you find the events and stressors that we're all going through are too painful to bear and thoughts of self harm emerge, we urge you to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.