The Conversation Podcast with Cait

I have 5 children and as they've grown I have learned some practical things you can do today to get your kids talking. Yes, we have talked about how to approach subjects big and small on this podcast but I haven't really dug into any ways to actually get your kids talking. In this episode, I hit on some of the things I have found the most success with for my family.

I hope you have enjoyed listening to the podcast this past year. Stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new has been incredibly humbling and at moments downright scary. Talking, in general, is not my strong point and talking to new people even less so. I shall push on into the new year. I hope to have some episodes featuring real-life conversations with kids as well as some more interviews with parents who are walking alongside me and doing an amazing job.

Kerensa Wing is a high school principal with an uncommon approach to doing her job. She is dedicated to working with children and young people and her unique approach recently garnered her attention at the national level and she was award National Principal of the Year.

She is playful and engaging with the student she serves and has even been featured in a carpool karaoke-style video singing the theme song to Fresh Prince of BelAire. She has a unique vision for developing leaders among her students and it is that unique approach of service and servant leadership I will be discussing with her in today’s episode of the Conversation Podcast.

Here’s a rundown of how the call will go so you aren’t caught off guard. We’ll start out with 3-4 minutes of you telling us about yourself. Then we’ll spend 4-7 minutes talking about the service program/philosophy you have going at the school. Last we’ll spend 4-7 minutes talking about ways parents can talk with their children about serving, what you advise the parents of your students to do at home to support what you are teaching them at school.

I remember when Jason and I started to like each other as more than just friends. There was a thrill and rush of excitement when I realized that he liked me too, but it was quickly paired with apprehension. Jason’s friends began to tease me that I’d be getting a ‘Steve Talk’ pretty soon. They all then retold stories of times Steve had sat down with them and talked with them about their lives, this probably shouldn’t have been scary but I didn’t have conversations with my own parents about these things.

It was unfamiliar territory for me to have parents intentionally engage with and talk with me. I knew my friends talked with their own parents more than I talked with mine, but I had never had any of them dig in a talk to me too.

In this Episode we hear from Steve on how he engaged with his kids' friends and how he plans on engaging with his grandchildren in the future.

Let me go ahead and dispell any myths that my family is perfect and that my children are always sweet and kind. They are children and like all children, they have their moments. In this episode you'll hear me talk with our middle child after a particularly rough day with him.

In today's episode my dynamic other half shares with you his practice of having one on one time with our five kiddos. Jason is oftentimes everything that I am not, and he has taught me so much about relationships and relating to other people. For the past 7 years, he has been building a rhythm that I believe is setting a good foundation for the future of our family. We hope you enjoy a peek into our family and what this looks like.

 The Conversation Journal is targeted towards younger kids, in the elementary age. For children, this young Purpose, Vision, and Mission are more than likely over their heads. Values, which are our guidelines, are within their scope of understanding. 

I have includes pages for your children to fill out for Purpose, Vision, and Mission. Use your discretion on whether or not they are able to grasps these concepts. Even if they are not quite ready it is absolutely okay to expose them to the concepts now and try to explain it to them at their level and to share with them what you wrote and your thinking that went into it.

This is the conversation my 9 year old and I had about these things. As you can see she wasn't able to go incredibly deep into any of these, but the exposure to them is what matters.

Today's episode is brought to you by Audible.  Listeners can get a free audio book and 30 day trial by visiting:  www.audibletrial.com/conversations  

M had a girl in her class last year that she defined as mean. It has been a journey with her to unlock the meaning of the word mean and help her push through her apprehensions about this girl. In today's podcast I try to talk with M about what will happen if "Cassie" is in her class again. M gets tired of the conversation so we ended it, but this conversation is far from over. I hope you enjoy listening to us work through this issue.

Today's episode is brought to you by Audible.  Listeners can get a free audio book and 30 day trial by visiting:
audibletrial.com/conversations

Our 6 year old is about to start Kindergarten and he's a little scared. In today's episode I try to talk with him and unlock some of the fear he has.

 Today's episode is brought to you by Audible.  Listeners can get a free audio book and 30 day trial by visiting:
www.audibletrial.com/conversations 

Laughter and silliness is currency with kids, and the silly conversations are vital for us building up credibility for the bigger conversations. My 8 year old walked in on my recording a podcast with his 6 year old brother and he wanted in on the action. This is our silly conversation about nothing and everything.

  Today's episode is brought to you by Audible.  Listeners can get a free audio book and 30 day trial by visiting:  www.audibletrial.com/conversations  

In my mind bedtime is supposed to be this peaceful thing, but it rarely ever is. Inevitably someone is upset over something and it almost always revolves around food and water.

Every Monday night my husband takes one of our children out on a dad date. When they return home from their date they get to stay up a little late and have one on one time with me. Our 3 year old had his dad date this past week and I went ahead and hit record on my conversation with him. He's only 3 and prefers not to talk so conversations with him aren't super deep and detailed, but we feel it is important to build the habit and rhythm of having conversations with us early.

We are using Duolingo for our kiddos to learn Spanish this summer. Click the link Below to join Duolingo and start learning a language with us today.

https://invite.duolingo.com/BDHTZTB5CWWKTFGRBJOHEFWGGI