The Parents Place

The word resilience is being used more on social media and normal conversation. The question we had is, how do we build resilience in our children and ourselves. Amanda Zelechoski is here to answer our question!

Amanda is a Professor of Psychology at Purdue University and has some incredible insights.

Subject Resources:

When in comes to parenting, there always seems to be new things to learn and new obstacles to navigate. One of these obstacles is the change that come as kids grow up and develop in different ways. In Utah, April is Family Strengthen Month. In this episode, Jen and Hilary, with their vast amount of knowledge, explore how knowledge of child development can help strengthen families and unite parents. This is a great episode you don't want to miss

Episode Resources:

Being a parent is a big job and often times we don't realize how hard it might be to let them grow and live their own lives. Sydney is here and has a great story about watching two of her children grow up and come out as being members of the LGBTQ+ community. She talks about what was hard, what she wishes she did better, what she did well, and what young LGBTQ+ adults want parents to know.

Subject Resources:

With costs going up, and more parents needing to work outside the home, child care is a hot topic at the moment!

Zinthia is here from Care About Child Care to talk to us about trends, needs, how to find high quality child care and more!

Subject Resources:

Josh Sullivan is here and has plenty of tips and advice for us! Josh started as a school counselor, and is now a principal. With his schooling and background, he is doing great things to bring parents, teachers, and children together in understanding behavior, but especially anxiety!

Subject Resources:

We love a good Ted Talk and today Jen and Hilary are discussing a great one! Harvard did a 75 year long study about adult development and happiness. Join us for some interesting thoughts from Jen and Hilary, and find the link to the Ted Talk below to listen to as well!

Episode Resources:

This weeks guest is Abbas and we are so happy to have him! Abbas has been here in America for almost 2 years as a refugee from Afghanistan. We are so glad he is here, and is willing to tell us what it is like to be a refugee and resettle in a new country.

Subject Resources:

1. CRIC: https://cacherefugees.org/volunteer

2. IRC: https://www.rescue.org/united-states/salt-lake-city-ut

3. ELC: https://elc-cv.org/class-registration/

Contact:

Antonio is here from Right From The Start and is here to chat about how we can help teens get on the right path for healthy relationship! Come and dive into a great conversation about modern teen dating, concerns, what to talk to your teens about, and more!

Antonio Ledbetter was born and raised in Gastonia, North Carolina. He moved to Columbus, Georgia in 2014. He has been married for 9.5 years with 4 children.

He earned his Bachelors degree from Morehouse College in Philosophy. He currently works with Right From The Start as a Facilitator and Relationship Educator.

He is a family man that is an avid book reader and anime fan.

Subject Resources:

1. RAM Chart: https://ramseries.com/background/

2. How to Avoid Falling In Love With A Jerk book: https://a.co/d/d1U6Vzm

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Chelom Leavitt is a professor at BYU who focuses on building healthier relationships. Today, she is here to talk about the importance of healthy intimate relationships. From talking to your kids about sex, opportunities for intimacy, and anxiety in intimate moments, she knows it all!

This is an episode you don't want to miss.

Content Warning:

Sexual topics, sexual vocabulary.

Subject Resources:

Esther Parel

This week we have a quick but heartwarming episode. We asked kids of all different ages questions about love!

Listen for a laugh and a quick heartwarming moment. Have a great day celebrating all types of love.

Happy Valentines Day!

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Jadie Jo is here with Hilary to talk about part of her story of resilience. Jadie has witnessed more that most people do in her first five years of life. She is here to share her story, as well as how things are going now. We are so grateful for her vulnerability and honesty. Despite hard things happening, we can learn to bend and not break!

Trigger Warning: Domestic violence, death, witnessing death, trauma, drug use.

Subject Resources:

The Holistic Psychologist : https://www.instagram.com/the.holistic.psychologist/

The Relationship Recovery:

https://www.therelationshiprecovery.com/

Contact:

Picky eating is one of the most common parenting struggles, so you are not alone! Jess is here from our Parents as Teachers program to guide us through picky eating challenges and great tips to help you!

Subject Resources:

We have the best intentions with our children and preparing them for their futures, but sometimes our best intentions and systems in place that aren't helping how we hoped they would. Tim Klein is here to help us change how we guide our children as they prepare for their futures. The best part is, this can help anyone at any age too!

Subject Resources:

1. Book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Navigate-Life-Science-Finding/dp/1250273145/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1ZDCJ2NXDNMEG&keywords=navigating+life+tim+klein&qid=1702924911&sprefix=navigating+life+tim+klein%2Caps%2C230&sr=8-2

2. Character Quiz: https://www.viacharacter.org/account/register

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Some of us love January and the new goals that we often make when a new year approaches. Many of us also have suffered at our own hands by not being able to accomplish these goals, and often shame spiral because of it. Jen and Hilary are here today to introduce a new idea for this coming year! A yearly theme.

Video:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVGuFdX5guE

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Have you ever found yourself spiraling in negative thoughts? Our thoughts greatly impact our actions. Today, Analee Pacheco is here to guide us through what reframing is, and some steps on how to do it. The New Year is a great time to start reframing so we can do our best!

Subject Resources:

Guides to Reframing

1. https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/cbt-triangle

2. https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/self-help-cbt-techniques/reframing-unhelpful-thoughts/

Helping kids reframe thoughts

3. https://www.socialemotionalworkshop.com/cbt-activities-explain-thoughts-feelings/

The Family Place Therapy

4. https://thefamilyplaceutah.org/services/therapy/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Our guest Matthew was adopted as a newborn and reached out to his birth parents later in life. Join Jen and Nicole as Matt shares his story about seeking family, loving his birth family, and finding acceptance in the unknown.

Trigger Warning: Death by Suicide

Contact:

The holidays can be an fun time of year! Visiting, eating treats, and giving and receiving gifts. However, sometimes kids (and us adults) can be disappointed in some of the gifts we receive, despite the love behind the giving. Join Jen and Hilary for some tips on how to help kids prepare, be grateful, and manage changing expectations during the holiday season.

Article:

1. https://www.drbeurkens.com/podcast/what-to-do-when-my-child-acts-disappointed-after-receiving-a-gift-from-someone/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Danny Beus is here to talk to us about how to be inclusive during the holidays, respecting different cultures, and how we can approach learning about other cultures and traditions.

Subject Resources:

CRIC website: https://cacherefugees.org/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Grief changes a lot of things in our lives, so how can we manage and cope with it during the holidays? KJ is here with Jen and Hilary with great advice for people who are grieving, and those who are supporting someone that is grieving.

Guest Bio:

Subject Resources:

1. https://www.verywellmind.com/holiday-grief-how-to-cope-with-loss-during-a-joyous-time-6503042

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Have you tried it all when it comes to stress relief? Is yoga not your thing? Deep breathing doesn't seem to work? Amanda Stanley is here to offer a new option! Come learn about being present, removing stress, regulation and more!

Guest Bio: After 20 years working in human service organizations, including 9 years as CEO of DePaul Community Resources, Amanda started her company, The Artisan Leader, in 2022. She helps organizations create cultures where people, vision, and ideas can grow. Integrating the arts into her work, she infuses creativity, compassion, and courage into the C-suite and beyond through leadership development, strategic planning, and executive coaching. Amanda’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and art and a Master of Science in sociology. She lives in Bedford, VA with her family of four.

Subject Resources:

Amanda's website with free PDF resource: https://www.theartisanleader.com/thedoodlingcollective

Upcoming Doodling Session - Free to attend but registration is required

The Holiday season can be so magical! A lot of that magic comes from fun traditions, but what do we do as parents when our kids are curious about how these traditions work?

Jen and Hilary chat about how to address questions about the Santa tradition, ways to navigate it, and good questions to ask back.

Articles:

1. https://www.verywellfamily.com/is-santa-real-how-to-answer-when-your-child-asks-3288424

2. https://thedollarstretcher.com/family-finances/when-santa-cant-afford-childs-wish-list/

3. https://www.choosingtherapy.com/how-to-tell-your-kids-about-santa/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

The holiday season can be difficult for many people, for so many different reasons. Seeing others struggle and wanting to help is the heart and soul of Utah Families Feeding Families.

Jaymee and Keisha are here to tell us all about this amazing organization, what fuels it, and how to help.

Subject Resources:

1. https://www.utahfamiliesfeedingfamilies.org/

2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/utfff/?mibextid=uJjRxr

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

In this episode we dive into a heavy topic as we talk about sexual abuse within the family. Join Hilary and Jen as Lee tells about finding out about her husbands abuse of a young child in their family. She walks us through the shock, sadness, guilt as well as the strengths and hope that pulled her through.

Lee is amazing and we are endlessly grateful for her sharing her story with us.

Trigger Warning: Child sexual abuse, child abuse.

Episode Notes and Resources:

Worrying about our kids eventually getting involved with substance use is a common concern for parents. We have Brittany Britsch here from the Bear River Health Department to help us understand what WE can do to help. She tells us more about why teens start using, the statistics about vaping, how to help prevent teens from experimenting, and more!

Guest Bio: Brittany Britsch earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Brigham Young University Idaho. She works at the Bear River Health Department as a Prevention Specialist. Brittany is also a mother of 3 teenagers and 1 soon to be teenager.

Subject Resources:

Worrying about your children or teens getting involved in drug or substance use is a very common worry as parents and adults. Jay Hymas is here to talk to us about what we can do as adults to help prevent substance use and navigate it if it comes up. Join Hilary and Jen and learn more about what WE can do to help our children.

Jay is the CEO/ Owner of Clear Recovery. Jay has life experience with overcoming Addiction he does his job with passion and purpose inspiring others to do their best and never give up. Jay has 6 kids and loves spending time with them.

Subject Resources:

Pleasure Unwoven Video:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxiKVQR90VM&list=PLA8F89537FD4C3FD1

2. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/pleasureunwoven/154506392?autoplay=1

---

How to Talk to Children About Substance Use:

3. https://centerforparentingeducation.org/library-of-articles/nutrition-and-healthy-lifestyle/talking-younger-children-drugs-alcohol-early-intervention-tips/

4. https://www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-you/parent-resources/why-you-should-talk-your-child

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

We mention trauma a lot here on the podcast. Trauma is more common than we realize and can impact us much more that we realize too. Big behaviors, anxieties, substance use, and more can be linked to trauma. Jen and Hilary give us an intro into trauma, what it is, and how we can understand it.

Articles:

1. https://childinst.org/a-brief-explanation-of-aces-adverse-childhood-experiences/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

October is Substance Abuse Awareness Month! Hilary and a guest host, Alissa, chat with our guest Kyle about substance abuse! Kyle tells us how abuse can start, how it interacts with mental health, how to support loved ones and so much more!

Kyle is a Psychotherapist at Ora Counseling here in Logan Utah. He has his own journey with substance abuse and years of knowledge, training, and a passion for helping others.

Subject Resources:

October is Substance Abuse Awareness Month and we have a great month of guests, stories, information, and resources for you!

Today we have a guest, Matt, who is here to tell us about his journey with substance abuse. Jen and Nicole and Matt go along his journey from start to finish. Learn how to encourage others who are going through the same journey and how to be a support!

We are so grateful to Matt for being open and vulnerable and being willing to share his story with us to understand this situation better and to help others.

Trigger Warning: Alcohol abuse, substance abuse.

Episode Notes and Resources:

1. https://youth.gov/feature-article/national-substance-abuse-prevention-month

2. https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/youth-substance-use-prevention-month

3. https://www.verywellmind.com/best-ways-to-quit-drinking-5080571

4. https://www.aa.org/find-aa

Contact:

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! Melanie is here to share her story about navigating her young son's cancer diagnosis, the journey, and recovery.

Melanie works here at The Family Place Utah and we are so glad to have here her here. She has a bachelors degree in Social Work and will be starting on her master's soon. She has 4 kids and a great husband.

Episode Notes and Resources:

https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/other-ways/childhood-cancer-awareness-month.html

Contact:

September is Suicide Awareness month, and we brough our co-worker Cari Phillips to come and chat with us. Cari teaches and supervises our Mental Health First Aid program here at The Family Place. She has stats, ideas, and tips for HOW to talk about suicide and why it is so important to do so.

Subject Resources:

1. Mental Health First Aid: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/

2. The Family Place Events for MHFA class information: https://thefamilyplaceutah.org/events/list/

3. Feelings Detective (ARC GROW):

Subject Warnings: Suicide. Suicidal Ideation. Death.

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Whether you are a parent or not, time management is a skills that can be incredibly helpful! Jen and Hilary are talking about time management skills that they love, what they are good at, and what they want to work on. You can find the articles they reference below.

Articles:

1. https://www.lifehack.org/663431/10-time-management-tips-every-busy-parent-needs-to-know

2. https://www.nurturelife.com/blog/5-time-management-tips-for-busy-parents/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Sarah Orton is here to talk to us about the importance of reading to our children! She spills all about the benefits of reading to them, including some intense stats about how it can help children later in life!

Subject Resources:

1. Parents As Teachers program locator: https://parentsasteachers.org/program-locator/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Shame is common in all of our lives, but do we realize when it sneaks in? Understanding shame can help us in parenting, working with others, and learning to better help ourselves. Reece, our Clinical Director here at The Family Place Utah, is here to guide us through the stages of shame and how it works.

Subject Resources:

1. Janina Fisher resources: https://janinafisher.com/

2. Brene Brown books: https://brenebrown.com/books-audio/

3. The Body Keeps the Score book: https://a.co/d/2fdRnJe

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Do you dread big changes, traveling, or any disruption in schedules? Do you dread this not for yourself, but in fear of how your child(ren) will react? Dawn Barclay is here to help! Travel, change, and new places can be incredibly stressful for children (and adults!) that are on the neurodivergent spectrum. Dawn has incredible tips, resources, and her own book that is here to help!

Guest Bio: Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry. After spending ten years working in sales and marketing for her parents’ two firms she branched out into travel trade reporting with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life, Travel Market Report, and most recently, Insider Travel Report.

Subject Resources:

1. http://www.dawnbarclayink.com/

2. https://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Different-Strategies-Inflexible-Neurodiverse/dp/B09WJM45H9#customerReviews

3. https://thearc.org/our-initiatives/travel/

4. https://autismtravel.com/travel-agents/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Transitions are hard for adults and children! School is right around the corner and Jen and Hilary are here to talk to some of the stress that comes with it, as well as some tips to help.

Take care of yourself this time of year!

Articles:

1. https://www.bbrfoundation.org/blog/back-school-stress-management

2. https://childmind.org/article/back-school-anxiety/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Being lost in the wilderness might be one of the scariest things we can imagine happening to us. Kaden Laga is with Jen and Hilary today to tell us his story of getting lost, and eventually found in the Montana wilderness. Listen in for an intriguing story and heartfelt acceptance of what helped Kaden survive.

Kaden Laga has been married for 7 years, is a father of 2 boys, and works in digital advertising. He is *still* an outdoors enthusiast.

Episode Notes and Resources:

News article: https://www.deseret.com/utah/2019/8/17/20809737/missing-utah-man-found-alive-orem-kaden-laga#:~:text=Kaden%20Laga%2C%2025%2C%20went%20missing%20on%20Sunday%20while,searching%20and%20praying%2C%20his%20mother%2C%20Debbie%20Laga%2C%20said.

Contact:

Seeing kids out and about in pajamas, costumes, or (to adults), tragically clashing outfits is really not that odd. However, being the parent of that child changes things. Today Jen and Hilary address a listener's concern about their 4-year-old wearing pajamas in public. Listen for a laugh and some great tips.

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

You might have heard of Malouf pillows, mattresses, or other home goods, but they happen to do SO much more! Sage Hancock is here from The Malouf Foundation to tell us about what they do, and why they do it. She gives us signs to look for, how trafficking looks in our communities, and ways we can help.

Guest Bio:

Sage Hancock is passionate about making an impact and creating positive change, especially when it comes to women’s rights and advocacy. As executive director of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation and director of impact at the Malouf Foundation™, Sage helps oversee the strategic development and planning of each organization and program, including OnWatch™. 

Sage has several years of direct nonprofit experience. She’s helped grow nonprofits from their beginning stages, served on several nonprofit boards, and aided in the donation and grant solicitation process for various local causes. She has a Master of Business Administration degree from Louisiana State University.

A lover of the great outdoors, Sage and her husband, Porter, enjoy boating, camping, biking, snowboarding, and spending time in the mountains together.

Subject Resources:

1. Malouf Foundation: https://malouffoundation.org/education

2. Raise App Website: https://www.joinraise.com/

3. Human Trafficking Hotline: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en

4. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Jesse is an ABA therapist as well as a Certified Behavioral Analyst and is here to give us tips for helping our children sleep. It's hard to find another topic in parenting that brings as much dread as the topic of sleep can. Jesse has great tips and guidance for how to navigate newborn sleep habits as well as older children. Do your kids get out of bed all the time, asking for water, or snuggles, or something else? Listen in today for some great ideas from Jesse!

Subject Resources:

Rogue Behavior Services: https://roguebehaviorservices.com/

Book Recommendation Link: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Night-Sweet-Dreams-Love/dp/1889322652

Summer is here, and we all have differing feelings about that. Jen and Hilary discuss how different parents feel about Summer and how to navigate some tough parts about it.

Articles:

https://mompowerment.com/get-most-of-summer-as-working-mom/

https://parentinfluence.com/tips-for-working-parents-to-enjoy-summer-break/

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Julie is here and she is a treat to listen to! Julie has had a lot of big changes in her life and is here to share the thoughts and feelings behind them. She has incredible advice for grieving, and also a great sense of humor to share. Join Jen and Hilary as they get to know Julie, listen to her story, and learn from her and her experiences.

Julie Hanson Card currently serves as a board member for Share Parents of Utah. She and her husband, Lance, live in Saratoga Springs, Utah and have been married for 12 years. They have a combined total of 8 children (7 living), 2 daughter-in-laws, 3 adorable grandchildren,2 unruly dogs and 1 ridiculously spoiled parrot. Julie enjoys historically senior hobbies such as: rockhounding, metal detecting, bird watching and traveling even though she doesn't even qualify for an AARP membership. 

Episode Notes and Resources:

Share Parents: https://sputah.org/

Dr. Wolfelt: https://www.centerforloss.com/about-the-center-for-loss/about-dr-alan-wolfelt/

Grief/Reconciliation/Mourning Resources:

1. https://www.centerforloss.com/grief/

2. https://www.joincake.com/blog/free-grief-counseling/#:~:text=Ways%20to%20Find%20Free%20or%20Low-Cost%20In-Person%20Grief,7%207.%20TAPS%20National%20Military%20Survivor%20Helpline%20

Contact:

We continue our discussion on how we can support families and protect children in the LGBTQ+ community. Ana Chavarri is here from Encircle Utah. Jen, Hilary, and Ana discuss what love and support looks like, how to talk about it, what resources Encircle provides, and more! Come and learn more about what people in the LGBTQ+ community need, and how we can support and love them.

Episode Resources:

https://encircletogether.org/

Contact:

Moshe Moeller is joining us all the way from New York! Moshe leads a few incredible programs in his community, including one called HERO Dads. He chats with Hilary and Jen about how dads have not always been involved in parenting studies, and how that is changing. He talks about what skills and resources his program supplies, talks about the importance of fathers in a child's life, as well as give us great resources for us as listeners!

Subject Resources:

1. https://www.drmoshemoeller.com/

G.O.A.T, drip, boujie, and the list goes on. Jen and Hilary guess what slang terms mean, learn the definitions, discuss some 80's slang, and talk about how slang is created. Join us this week to hear Jen and Hilary be embarrassed and delighted by current slang.

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Camille is kind enough to share her story with us today about a turbulent marriage, step-parenting struggles (and great tips), as well as learning about gas-lighting and other new terms! Camille, Jen, and Hilary explore great books, classes, similarities and more! Come and listen!

Episode Notes and Resources:

Books:

"Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts" by Les Parrot

"Building Love Together in Blended Families" by Gary Chapman and Ron L. Deal

"The Smart Stepmom" by Ron L. Deal and Laura Pertherbridge

"The Smart Stepfamily" by Ron L. Deal ---------

Step Family Class: in-person with dinner class for whole family- https://thefamilyplaceutah.org/event/smart-steps-for-stepfamilies-3/

Step Family Class: virtual- https://extension.usu.edu/hru/courses/smart-steps-for-stepfamilies

Contact:

Surely we all have had an experience with a toddler or pre-school aged child who loves to say "MINE!" While this is very developmentally normal, it doesn't make it easy as the adult or parent. Jen and Hilary guide us through some redirection ideas and other tips to help us survive the "MINE" phase of childhood.

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Did you know that speech therapy is not just for speech impediments? Lenora Edwards from Better Speech is here to tell us all about who can benefit from speech therapy! Lenora gives us tips on how to talk to our kids in a way that encourages speech growth, tells us different ages and situations where people can benefit from speech therapy, and more! Join Jen and Hilary on this new journey and build your knowledge.

Subject Resources:

Katie (Endicott) Harris, (Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA) is here to chat will Jen and Hilary this week about difficult behaviors in children. Finding things that motivate children, changing parenting behaviors rather than children's, and what behaviors mean. Most of Katie's experience is with children with autism and severe disabilities; she has served as a behavior specialist, special educator, coach, special education coordinator, and currently works as an assistant teaching professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis graduate program at Pennsylvania State University.

Contact us:

-Email us questions or topic ideas: parents@thefamilyplaceutah.org

Join Jen and Hilary as they discuss perfectionism. How does it show up in our lives, as adults, and how does it show up in the lives of our children? Learn some ways that we can help by focusing in progress and using encouragement.

When we think about narcolepsy, we imagine goats falling asleep while standing, or comical bits in shows about people not being able to stay awake. What we didn't know, is that it is MUCH more than than. Callie is here to walk us through her journey, struggle, diagnosis, and what life is like living with narcolepsy. Join Jen and Hilary as they learn about the true side of life with narcolepsy.

Episode Notes and Resources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcolepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20375497

Contact: