Episodes

  • We are sad to let you know, that this is the final episode of the Parenting in Real Life Podcast. We took this episode to share a few things we learned from podcasting for 7.5 years. This whole podcast documented our kids' young years and us learning as young parents. When we started, our oldest was 5 years old and now our youngest is 5. We'll leave these episodes available for you to go back through if you find them helpful.

    Please stay in touch! We believe in families and want to keep sharing the things we're doing, family activities, and fun. You can follow us on Instagram @iamalexisinreallife

    Sponsor:
    We still love our Troomi phones and watches! If you are looking for your first phone for your kid or a smart watch for your kid, definitely check out Troomi and use the code PARENTING for $50 off!

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In this episode, we interviewed Angela Santomero, the creator of iconic children's shows like Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Blue's Clues. We discussed the importance of staying playful as parents and the valuable lessons we can learn from children's shows. We also talk about how to implement times of playfulness so you can connect and create fun memories with your kids.

    Angela's book, "Life Clues," offers guidance on nurturing playfulness and 20 lessons that will help you unlock passion, joy, happiness, and positive thinking.

    You can pre-order Angela's book Life Clues here on Amazon. You can also find Angela on Instagram @angelasclues and on her website Angela's Clues.

    The Atlantic article with more info about Daniel Tiger.

    Sponsors
    Women's Meditation Network: The busy holiday season is here and it's so important for moms to be able to find peace and calm. The Meditation for Moms podcast is a weekly guided podcast for moms, by moms, that guides you through meditations for all the seasons, circumstances, peaks and valleys of motherhood. Visit Meditation Network or search Meditation for Moms on on your favorite podcast app.

    Troomi: If your kids are ready for their first phone or a smart watch, we highly recommend Troomi! These kid safe phones are the perfect way to keep in touch with your kids and help them learn to be responsible with technology. Use the promo code: FREEA14 for a FREE phone or watch30 for $30 off a watch. These make great Christmas gifts!

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

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  • We are super excited to have Brooke Romney on this podcast episode! In this interview, we discuss helping kids step out of their comfort zones, embracing mistakes, praising effort over outcomes, and setting clear expectations for children. We also have some great tips for parents too about remembering that every new parenting step means new things to learn and to allow yourself grace even when you're a seasoned parent.

    You can find Brooke Romney on instagram @bookeromneywrites. We also highly recommend her books 52 Manners for Modern Kids and 52 Manners for Modern Teens.

    Sponsors
    Women's Meditation Network: The busy holiday season is here and it's so important for moms to be able to find peace and calm. The Meditation for Moms podcast is a weekly guided podcast for moms, by moms, that guides you through meditations for all the seasons, circumstances, peaks and valleys of motherhood. Visit Meditation Network or search Meditation for Moms on on your favorite podcast app.

    Troomi: If your kids are ready for their first phone or a smart watch, we highly recommend Troomi! These kid safe phones are the perfect way to keep in touch with your kids and help them learn to be responsible with technology. Use the promo code: FREEA14 for a FREE phone or watch30 for $30 off a watch. These make great Christmas gifts!

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • On this episode, we discuss emotional intelligence for children with life coach, business coach, and parent, Jody Moore. We explore the importance of allowing children to experience negative emotions without labeling them as problems. We delve into the concept of emotional intelligence and the benefits it brings to both children and parents. We also share practical tips on how to regulate behavior and emotions and teach kindness, empathy, and decision-making skills. This is a great interview that you will definitely want to listen to!

    To learn more from Jody Moore, you can listen to her podcast Better Than Happy.

    Sponsor:
    We love Troomi phones as kid safe, first phones for kids. Right now they're having a Black Friday sale and new customers get free phones! Just use the promo code: FREEA14 and make sure to use this link to get there.

    They also just came out with kid safe watches! We just got them for our 3 youngest kids and we have loved being able to know where they are and tell them when it's time to come home from playing at the neighbor's house. Use the code: watch30 for $30 off and make sure to use this link to get there.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In episode 164 of Parenting in Real Life, we interview three passionate women from Bloomfully, a company dedicated to helping tweens and teens. We discuss cultivating confidence and strength in young people amidst social media and technology. The importance of growth mindset, trying new things, and creating routines for stability is emphasized. We also talk about the impact of screen time, making friends in middle school, and the value of their program for tweens.

    You can find the I Believe in Me program for tween girls here.
    You can also find them on Instagram @ibelieveinmegirls

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In this mini episode, we discuss the value of Halloween candy and which ones are worth indulging in. This is totally for fun because we think you should be able to do what you want, but if you're trying to be more health conscious, but want to eat of few pieces of your kids' Halloween candy, we're sharing the ones that may be worth it.

    If you have a parenting question, you can email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram!

    Candy Article

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, we discuss the importance of gratitude. We share practical strategies for cultivating gratitude in our homes, including daily practices and incorporating it into family conversations. We also explore ways to foster gratitude with our kids, such as using gratitude journals. There are some really great thoughts on here from the article that we found and we hope that you will choose just one to work on this month with your family as we get closer to Thanksgiving.

    Gratitude Article

    Thankful Turkey
    Thankful Tree

    Troomi Watch!
    We have loved Troomi phones as a first phone for kids and now they just launched a new product - a kid safe smart watch! This is perfect for the younger kids who may not be ready for a phone. You can call your kids, track them on GPS, have there's a parental control app. They also have fun features like tracking your steps and games to earn points. Make sure you visit Troomi and use the promo code watch30 for a discount.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, Dayna Abraham, author of "Calm the Chaos," provides practical guidance for overwhelmed parents. She shares a roadmap of five stages for parenting success and emphasizes the importance of connection, understanding, and self-compassion. Dana encourages open conversations, problem-solving, and repairing after difficult moments.

    Check out her book for valuable insights and tools to create a thriving family environment. You can even get the first chapter of her book FREE in podcast form here.

    Find her on Instagram and social media @calmthechaosparenting.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, we discuss three unpopular parenting opinions. We talk about monitoring our children's candy consumption, our thoughts on smartphones or social media for our kids, and whether we pay or don't pay our own kids when they babysit. And then we throw in a few more.

    Do you agree? Or disagree? Let us know on Instagram!

    Special Promotion! Troomi is having a free phone promotion until October 31st! Use the promo code SECRETSTOCK to get your free phone. This is the perfect time to get your kid a phone for Christmas.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, we speak with Jenny Layton, a professional organizer and life coach, about achieving better organization in our spaces and schedules. Jenny's holistic approach addresses the underlying reasons behind disorganization and offers practical tips for decluttering and creating a "home base" for mental clarity. We also discuss ways to help our children of all ages get organized. Listen for valuable insights on how organization can improve our lives and relationships.

    You can find Jenny Layton on her website The Happy Gal and on Instagram @jlthehappygal
    Jenny's free Get Organized Fast download.

    Sponsor
    Troomi is having a secret sale! You can get a free phone when you sign up for Troomi! Just use the promo code: SECRETSTOCK. This sale will only last through the end of October. Click this link to get your kid a safe phone.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In this episode of Parenting in Real Life, we address challenges with our kids' struggling to be kind and how we're trying to help that with our kindness jar challenge. We explore different maternity leave policies around the world and the impact on parents' careers. We also share practical tips for when you've been working or busy all day and your tank is empty by the end of the day. How to still connect with your kids and have meaningful family time with little time and little energy.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In episode 158 of Parenting in Real Life, we interview Ashley Bartley, an elementary school counselor and author, about helping kids solve problems, manage emotions, and be kind. We discuss teaching independence and problem-solving skills, recognizing and regulating emotions, and how to help our kids foster kindness. Ashley shares valuable insights and strategies for parents. This is a great conversation full of helpful tips for navigating parenting challenges.

    You can find Ashley Bartley on her website: www.counselorstation.com or on Instagram: www.instagram.com/counselorstation. And make sure to check out her cute books at https://www.boystownpress.org/author/ashley-bartley/ especially the one she mentioned Diamond Rattle Loves to Tattle.

    Other books about kindness:
    Be Kind by Pat Miller
    I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoet

    Great news! Troomi is continuing their free phone sale! Just click this link and use the promo code: LABORDAY to get your kid a free phone. This is the perfect starter phone for kids where parents really get to decide what the kids are able to do on their phones.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • Fall is just about here and Christmas will be here before you know it. This season seems to fly by and can often leave us stressed with all the activities going on and money that is spent.

    In episode 157 of Parenting in Real Life, we dive into the wonders of fall, discuss tips for saving money during the holiday season, and highlight family-friendly fall activities. We also give our best tips on planning and things to be thinking about now so that when the holidays come, you're more prepared, can feel less stressed, and better enjoy all the holidays.

    Important links:
    Is your kid wanting a phone, but you want to get them a kid friendly phone that is safe and something they can grow into? We love Troomi for this reason! And they are having a special deal that first time customers can get up to 4 devices free! Use this link and the code LABORDAY to get your free phones until September 15th!

    We love the Get Out Pass as a way to do fun things with our family, for way cheaper. Their passes are in 31 states so check to see if it works for your location! Use the promo code: Tanner15 to get $50 off each ticket!

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • In this episode, we interviewed Joe Hashey of the Strong Family Project. We talk about keys to building a strong family, how to set family goals and follow up with them, and creating a family system that works. The Hashey's are intentional parents who have taken the time to really think about what they want for their family and they're doing it.

    We love Joe's advice to take one thing you want to do with your family, work on it for a few months, and then do the next thing. Strong families take a lot of time and effort and we're here to support you along the way!

    Make sure to download their free resource Your Strong Family Path with 7 elements to building a strong family. And follow the Hashey's on Instagram.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • It's been a few months since our last podcast episode. But we are officially back! And will be posting each week again. We also have some big changes happening our int family so hear the update on the Tanners! Plus, we share our 4 favorite back to school organization tips to help keep you sane these next few weeks.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • Figuring out a work-life balance in the summer can be tricky. Whether you're working from home or just trying to get some things done around the house, it can be tricky to know how to get things done with your kids home at all times. In this episode, we're going to share our best tips for getting things done as well as ideas for better screen time use as a family.

    For more info on screen time use, make sure to check out @betterscreentime and @mindfulwithmedia.

    Summer Bucket List
    One of our favorite things to help make sure we have fun is to do a summer calendar and bucket list. You can find our calendar on our website.

    Sponsor
    If you're looking for activities to do with your kids, visit Annie's Kit Clubs and check out their monthly kids craft kits. Use the promo code: REALLIFE for a discount.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • Summer is almost here and that means that kids are going be home all the time. We have spent the last seven years trying to figure out what to do with our kids when they come home from school for the summer.

    We're going to tell you the things that have been working for us and what we have really enjoyed doing over the summer.

    Summer Bucket List
    One of our favorite things to help make sure we have fun is to do a summer calendar and bucket list. You can find our calendar on our website.

    Sponsor
    If you're looking for activities to do with your kids, visit Annie's Kit Clubs and check out their monthly kids craft kits. Use the promo code: REALLIFE for a discount.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • Do finances and chores seem to cause contention between you and your spouse? Or maybe you feel like things aren't balanced quite right. Then this episode is for you! We have some great tips from Brain Page about how to be on the same page as your spouse when it comes to finances and household chores.

    Brian Page is the founder of Modern Husbands, a company dedicated to sharing ideas for devoted husbands to manage money, the house, and a life full of experiences.

    His course, Self Help Homework Hacks is designed to empower students with the lifelong study skills they need to thrive as independent learners. The evidence-based strategies are presented by multiple Milken National Educators of the Year and award winning educators and current college students who can relate to the learners.

    You can also find him at the Modern Husbands Podcast.

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • We recently did a book review of The Coddling of the American Mind and we talked about how experts are finding that young adults in college are often unable to handle the challenges that come with life.

    It really struck a chord with us because we are raising a bunch of people that we hope won't be that way. So we are starting a journey where we're going to talk about some of the things we're doing to help our kids be more independent and more ready for what's ahead of them.

    The first thing is chores. In this episode we talk about what we do and why we do it. It's definitely a process for us, but we're going to give you our insights and we hope it helps you get started.

    In this episode we talked about some resources:
    Free Chores by Ages Chart
    Skills to Learn Breakdown
    Chore Wheel
    Greenlight Chore App
    Family Council Jar blog post (podcast episode 145)

    Research Articles for this episode:
    Chores for Kids
    Family Routines
    Chore and Children
    Ways to Get Kids to do Chores Now

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!

  • Are your kids having a hard time being a good friend to others? Maybe they can't seem to get along or don't know what to do when they're playing. That was the problem of one listener and you may relate, I know we do. In this episode, we interviewed Stephanie Valdez of Empowerful Girls who talks about how to be a good friend and how we as parents can help our kids learn this important skill.

    You can find Stephanie on Instagram @empowerful girls or on her website Empowerful Girls.

    Grab Stephanie's Friendship Recipe Worksheet

    Thanks so much for listening! Find us on Instagram @parenting.irl.podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! And if you liked the episode, leave us a review!