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On this week’s episode, I want to cover something I’ve noticed becoming quite rampant in the work I do with both parenting and potty training—sustained cajoling as a parental technique. Rewards and compliments are great things to give our kids, but when you start cajoling or bribing to get them to do daily activities, you’re not empowering them, you’re disempowering yourself as a parent. Instead of putting yourself in a position of weakness, I discuss better ways to take control of your parenting, including developing your Mom Voice and using statements, choices, and challenges as your techniques for getting your kid to play ball. Also in this episode, I hear from two listeners: first, a mom who wants some advice on handling her child’s biological father choosing not to be involved in the kid’s life. This is a really personal subject for me, as I’ve had the experience of the other parent walking away and the impact of that choice. I talk about getting knocked up and facing life as a single mom and the decisions that I made to ensure Pascal has positive male figures in his life. I also tackle how to deal with questions from other kids about where the absent parent is and the importance of talking to the child about the reality of their parent leaving instead of allowing them to build up a flawless fantasy version in their head. Moving on, the second listener question is about homeschooling—a subject you all know I’m passionate about—and how to provide an enriched environment. I’ve got some tips and recommendations for setting yourself up to homeschool, including avoiding formal classrooms, the value of tape and scissors, and using big play to train kids for future academics. And to wrap things up, I talk about going outside as part of homeschooling, including stocking up on gear, figuring out barriers, and using thrift stores and outlets to save money. The Finer Details of This Episode: I’m recording the day after a huge blizzard here in Rhode Island—we got over three feet of snow! Fortunately, we didn’t lose power, and I have a plow guy, so I’m not stuck here. Webster’s definition of cajoling is, “To persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery,” while the definition of bribery is, “Offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving any item of perceived value as a means of influencing the action of an individual.” Meanwhile, a reward is “An item given for an achievement or effort.” When you start cajoling or bribing for daily activities, like getting dressed or putting their shoes on, you run into trouble because you’re asking your child permission to parent them. And by doing so, you’re not empowering them, you’re losing your own power by putting yourself in a position of weakness. My number one rule when you’re potty training is don’t ask your child if they have to go. There are many other, more effective ways to prompt by using a statement, choice, or challenge. I’m a firm believer in the Mom Voice; I want you to cultivate a voice that means business. That doesn’t mean using a mean voice, it means being regulated and letting your kid know that you’re in control. In my work, I see all the time that moms have to beg, plead, and cajole, but dads get listened to. This is because dads tend to have lower-pitched voices and use fewer words, which gives them a tone that says, “I mean business.” Moms can take a lesson from this by using a lower tone and resisting the cultural conditioning that encourages women to speak in a questioning tone. Don’t blow smoke up your kid’s ass by using excessive flattery to get them to do things—children already think they’re the center of the universe, don’t encourage that self-centered perception. I got a question from a listener about dealing with her child’s father not wanting to be part of his life. We tend to see this happening with the biological father more than the mother; some women d

Author and parenting expert Jamie Glowacki expands on her book Oh Crap! Potty Training in a new podcast miniseries that takes you step by step through the often arduous but rewarding journey of teaching your kid how to take care of their business on their own. Buy Oh Crap! Potty Training Jamie's Homepage Jamie's Patreon Jamie's Instagram

Author and parenting expert Jamie Glowacki expands on her book Oh Crap! Potty Training in a new podcast miniseries that takes you step by step through the often arduous but rewarding journey of teaching your kid how to take care of their business on their own. Buy Oh Crap! Potty Training Jamie's Homepage Jamie's Patreon Jamie's Instagram

Author and parenting expert Jamie Glowacki expands on her book Oh Crap! Potty Training in a new podcast miniseries that takes you step by step through the often arduous but rewarding journey of teaching your kid how to take care of their business on their own. Buy Oh Crap! Potty Training Jamie's Homepage Jamie's Patreon Jamie's Instagram   The Oh Crap! Potty Training Podcast can also be found on: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by a very special guest, Sarah Smith, who’s a pelvic floor rehab specialist. Sarah and I share some pretty similar philosophies and practices—we’ve both done intermittent fasting, we both cold plunge, and we both mouth-tape—and I wanted to have her on the show because of her expertise and unorthodox views. We start things off with Sarah talking about her work and explaining the various kinds of pelvic floor issues women can experience, including prolapses. Sarah herself had a pelvic floor prolapse in 2015 and was prescribed kegels as part of her recovery, which she found not only didn’t help but actually made her feel worse. Instead, Sarah uses breathwork to strengthen the core, and she explains how this helps your body manage pressure and align itself as a support system, ensuring that no one part of the body, pelvic floor included, is doing all of the work. She also goes into more detail about the problems with kegels and how the cause of pelvic floor problems isn’t a weak pelvic floor but a lack of good connection in the body that requires training to correct. Then she suggests some indicators that you may have pelvic floor issues, including chronic low back pain, chronic constipation, and discomfort during sex (plus we discuss the importance of good lubrication!). Next, Sarah shares some of the breath practices she utilizes in her work that help people get out of constant fight or flight mode (which is hugely important for parents trying to co-regulate with their kids). We also talk about our shared love of infrared sauna therapy, and Sarah shares the impact that using the sauna has had on her health, including dramatically improving her gut health. Moving on, we talk about the modern tendency to accept a level of sickness in our lives and the phenomenon of the depleted mom, with Sarah explaining some of the reasons for this depletion and giving some suggestions for how moms can reinvigorate themselves (including eating animal protein and unfollowing social media accounts as self-care). And finally, we talk about how Sarah uses kettlebells as part of strength training to help women overcome pelvic floor issues before finishing up with a chat about how we’ve lost access to ancestral wisdom as we’ve become more isolated from our communities (and why the boomers are to blame!). The Finer Details of This Episode: I wanted to have Sarah on because she has unorthodox views, and she has had a pelvic floor prolapse. And because she goes about rehabbing via kettlebells and breath, which is infinitely better than kegels. Sarah describes herself as a strength coach and an educator for women. Her goal is to help women discover their inner strength, both physical and spiritual, and their innate wisdom about the body that may have been lost through the messages our culture sends about our bodies. Oftentimes, the people who realize they need help are postpartum women (whether they’re new mothers or had their kids decades ago) struggling with pelvic floor issues as a result of the changes and sacrifices they’ve gone through after becoming mothers. Any organ can prolapse, which just means that the organ moves out of place. A pelvic floor prolapse is when one or more of the organs in the pelvis slip down from their normal position and bulge into the vagina. It can involve your bladder (as Sarah experienced after the birth of her third son), your urethra, or your rectum. Other issues with the pelvic floor include difficulty connecting with and controlling it, which means that it may not relax appropriately when it’s time to urinate or eliminate stool, or it doesn’t create the support to stop the bladder being relaxed all the time, which means pee can drip out. There are also people who overuse the pelvic floor by constantly creating tension in the abdominals and pelvis, which can negatively impact your organs, normal elimination things, sex, and how you feel in your

Tiffany Higgins is a CPA, mother of five, and owner of the “Stay-at-Home Bookkeeper Academy,” a program that walks you through the process of setting up and running your own bookkeeping business from home, even if you do not have any previous bookkeeping experience. If you’re a stay-at-home parent who’s ever contemplated starting your own business from home or having a flexible, lucrative career that also allows for plenty of valuable family time, today’s interview is a must-listen!  Tiffany breaks down how you can “have your cake and eat it too,” and shares her own story of leaving the corporate world to start her business. She speaks about balancing family life and work life, and offers her advice to separate the two so that you can be fully present no matter what you’re doing. She also discusses the importance of hiring the right help at home so that you can maximize your work productivity and actually enjoy quality time with your kids once you’ve packed up for the day, rather than feeling bogged down in chores. This is especially true coming off of the pandemic. Next, Tiffany reviews the “Stay-at-Home Bookkeeper” program, and explains how you can earn $40,000 per year and only work about 10 hours per week. We chat about shifting to the “entrepreneurial” mindset, embracing mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow, and her philosophy that anybody can become a bookkeeper. She dispels the myth that you have to be good at math to be a successful bookkeeper, then shares some of her favorite success stories, and explains why bookkeepers are so incredibly important and high in demand.  We wrap up by comparing our homeschooling experiences, and Tiffany invites listeners to check out her website or Facebook group to see if stay-at-home bookkeeping is the right fit for you! Thank you so much for listening. I appreciate your patronage more than I can say. For more information on my potty training and parenting resources, please visit the links below. Thanks for listening!   The Finer Details of This Episode: Tiffany Higgins is a CPA, mother of five, and owner of the “Stay-at-Home Bookkeeper Academy” She walks you through how to set up and run your own bookkeeping business from home, even if you do not have any previous bookkeeping experience Keep work life and family life separate so that you can be fully present no matter what you’re doing This way when you’re with your family, your work will not intrude on that time and you’ll be able to truly enjoy it It’s also important to make sure you have the right help at home, which might mean hiring a housecleaner or childcare provider This allows you to maximize your work productivity and not feel distracted by chores during family time With bookkeeping, you’re able to make about $40,000 per year and only work about 10 hours per week This is a manageable time commitment and also allows you to balance family life or homeschooling You do not need to have any previous bookkeeping experience, and in fact, it’s better to start Tiffany’s program from scratch She teaches how to make the mindset shift to becoming an entrepreneur, and embracing a “growth” mindset Mistakes help us learn and grow There is a common misconception that bookkeepers have to be good at math - you don’t Anyone can be a successful bookkeeper You need to be detail-oriented and organized Two of her favorite success stories of stay-at-home moms who make more now than they did while working full-time Bookkeeping is also a great career for introverts because everything is done online Bookkeepers are very high in demand Tiffany shares her homeschooling experience with her teenager and toddlers She invites listeners to check out her website or Facebook group to see if stay-at-home bookkeeping might be a good fit   Quotes “I started a bookkeeping business, and it literally just changed our entire family's lives in so many ways. So now we help and inspire othe

Last week’s episode was all about the hierarchy of misbehavior, and the two main components at play when you’re dealing with these issues - there’s the Band Aid solution that will stop the misbehavior in the moment, and then there’s the underlying cause. Today I revisit the idea of what’s underneath the behavior, and break down the many reasons why your child may be acting out in the first place. Of course, the first thing to look for is whether they’re hungry or tired. You also want to keep an eye on their blood sugar and make sure you always have plenty of snacks on hand. Next, we want to check to see if their buckets are full - emotional, attention, and power. I explain in great detail the signs that these buckets might be empty, and what you can do to keep them full. My mother used to say that sometimes parents just don't give their kids the chance to be their best selves, and today’s episode is all about giving your little ones the tools and support they need to do exactly that. Next I review the importance of Big Play and getting outside in the elements with your child as much as possible, and I detail my favorite strategies for helping your child regulate their own emotions, such as the throwing corner, “burrito” compression hug, and teaching them to name and identify where their feelings start in their bodies. We want to make sure our kids understand that no emotion is wrong. For example, anger itself is not bad - it’s a warning sign that can be expressed through misbehavior, and it lets us know that our child needs help. Finally, I urge parents to look at their child’s diet and be on the lookout for allergies, sensitivities, or overly processed foods as these can often be the culprit for problematic behavior. And I also share an interesting tidbit I recently learned about the difference between men and women’s brain circuitry that may shed some light on why men approach problem-solving differently than women. As always, thank you for your patronage. I love, love, love your feedback, questions, and dialogue on the Patreon. For more information on my potty training and parenting resources, please visit the links below.   The Finer Details of This Episode: Last week’s episode looked at the hierarchy of misbehavior and addressed the Band Aid solution that you use in the moment, as well as the underlying cause Today I dive back into what’s underneath the behavior, and reasons why your kid may be acting out in the first place First, you want to make sure they are not hungry or tired If they’re eating too much fruit (especially tropical fruits like pineapple or mango), this could also spike their blood sugar Keep plenty of snacks on hand We want to put everything in our kids’ corner so they can be their best selves, and that means making sure they’re eating well and getting enough rest Next, ask yourself if their buckets are full (emotional, attention, and power) If they’re in the constant “Why?” phase, this could mean their attention bucket is empty and they’re craving conversation and connection with you If you can give them your focused attention for short spurts throughout the day (I call this the Bouillon Cube), it will go a long way in filling their attention buckets If your kid feels like this time is never enough, it could be an indicator that they aren’t getting enough attention Also keep in mind that your child may simply need you more as life opens up post-pandemic and we dive back into “real life” Parents are hitting the ground running, and our little ones may need time to catch up One of the signs that a kid’s power bucket is empty is that they’re dictating what the adults in the house can do (where they can sit, what they can eat, where they go) You can’t give into this as it will set up tyrannical behavior, which gets out of control quickly Toddlers are just so new - they’re small and vulnerable, and they’re hardwired to want power Imagine you

With so many new listeners joining the Patreon recently, today I'll be clarifying the hierarchy of misbehavior, and outlining in very clear steps, the timeline of exactly what to do when your child is misbehaving, using the example of hitting. It may seem cute and harmless when your kid is 16 months old, but if you don't nip it in the bud, hitting can become very problematic and painful if you allow it to continue, particularly when it's directed at another kid. First, you want to try the gentle method of simply grabbing their hand and saying, "No, we don't hit." If the behavior doesn't stop or even escalates from there, this is when the “Go To Your Room” strategy comes into play. The most important thing you can do is keep yourself regulated, and while co-regulation is ideal, this can be hard to do when someone is slapping you in the face or throwing Tonka Trucks at your head. If you need to take space separately to stabilize your own mental state, that’s absolutely okay. This way you can come back and lend your child your calm, instead of giving them your Psycho Mom chaos. Once you are regulated, check to see whether you are continually moving the boundary or allowing your child to dictate your actions, as this can give kids too much power and cause their behavior to escalate even further. Next you’ll want to figure out what caused the misbehavior in the first place. In non-hot moments, you can introduce the conscious parenting strategies that I’ve been breaking down in recent episodes, such as creating a throwing corner, building emotional vocabulary, and engaging in role play. Remember that it is not our job to make our kids like us - we are here to parent them, be their caregiver, guide them, and set firm boundaries. Our kids are brand new on the planet, and their only job is to explore and figure it all out, not take care of our feelings. We have to parent without their permission, not take anything personally, and trust that all our hard work in the toddler trenches will foster securely attached, emotionally intelligent kids and adults, which I promise will set the foundation for really cool, strong relationships down the road. Once again, thank you so much for your patronage, and for all of your wonderful questions and feedback as we unpack these important topics together. For more information on my potty training and parenting resources, please visit the links below.   The Finer Details of This Episode: Similar to my experience raising my puppy, Maverick, it’s not fair to expect your young child to make good decisions - it’s up to us as adults to help guide them A client asked about my knack for being pragmatic and organized I recently had to shake up my schedule as it was not working and I was falling behind, exhausted If you are feeling like your routine isn’t working, it might be helpful to break down the components of your day and see where you can shift things around to maximize your time A lot of new listeners are joining the Patreon and I appreciate it so much But if you’re just joining the podcast and starting with my latest episodes, the timeline might seem a little screwy - we don’t want to immediately go to the “Go To Your Room” strategy, for example I wanted to run through the hierarchy of what happens when your child is misbehaving In the example of hitting, it seems harmless under the age of 2, but can become problematic and painful if it continues, especially toward other children If they’re hitting around 16 months, you want to first try a quick, gentle parenting approach of simply grabbing their hand and saying, “No, we don’t hit people” For some children, this is enough to stop the behavior But many parents report that their children are escalating at this point - if they continue to hit, this is when you would definitely want to implement the “Go To Your Room” strategy A lot of parents still say this feels like abandoning or will lead to a bigger reactio

On today’s episode, I’m delighted to welcome sleep expert Dana Obleman. Dana is the founder of the acclaimed Sleep Sense Program, and she lives for helping parents get their babies to sleep through the night. We begin with our own stories of sleepless nights with new babies, and how this struggle prompted Dana to find a solution that she then felt compelled to share with other exhausted parents. Her program offers a number of different options to help sleep train your baby, but Dana explains no matter which way you choose to get there, the heart of the issue is always going to be teaching your baby independent sleep skills. And as human beings, we are very protective of our sleep habits (even as adults), so changing these will naturally bring up tears and resistance. But as Dana points out, this is a side effect of learning something new, and kids need to learn how to sleep. Dana offers her advice on establishing a sleep routine early as our little ones return to school or daycare following the pandemic, addresses how to handle sleep issues when your kid is sick, and reiterates that boundaries around bedtime make your child feel safe and secure. When you throw rules and routines out the window, it actually makes your child feel concerned and insecure, and you might even see problem behaviors worsen as a result. We talk about prioritizing your own sleep so that you can be the best parent for your child, having time to yourself at night to avoid falling into “revenge insomnia,” and how dangerous sleep deprivation can be for your own health and wellbeing, as well your child’s.  Dana breaks down how to help your child have a positive relationship with sleep (“Sleep is not the enemy!”), the importance of being consistent when your toddler pushes limits around bedtime, and how to build a simple, calm “sleep sanctuary” for your kid and yourself. She also talks about avoiding overstimulation, working with biological cues like light and temperature to encourage sleep, and dispels the myth of the night owl in children. We discuss the ideal number of nighttime sleep hours for your little ones, how circadian rhythms shift in the teen years, and bond over our shared belief that sleep is one of the best nutrients we can give ourselves and our children. Thank you for your listening, and I appreciate your patronage more than I can say. For more information on my potty training and parenting resources, please visit the links below.   The Finer Details of This Episode: Today’s guest is Dana Obleman, founder of the acclaimed Sleep Sense Program Her son was a terrible sleeper from the beginning, and she became desperate for a solution to help him sleep better She poured through the research and put a plan together; when it was successful, she felt compelled to share it with other parents who might be going through a similar struggle The heart of the issue is that you have to teach baby independent sleep skills, but there are different ways to get there With any type of change, there will be tears, resistance, and protest As human beings, we are very protective of and habitual with our sleep habits - this is why we don’t sleep as well at a hotel or at a friend’s house Babies are going to cry when you change their sleeping habits This is a side effect of learning something new, and kids need to learn how to sleep As we return to school or daycare following the pandemic, you need to slowly back up bedtime to get them ready for this, rather than waiting until the night before Blackout blinds and a solid, predictable bedtime routine (bath, pajamas, reading, cuddles) can help signal to the brain that it is time for sleep Avoid overstimulation at bedtime and focus on what’s relaxing for your child Bedtime is non-negotiable Avoid doing anything different with your bedtime routine for three nights in a row, because then you’ve established an alternative habit (e.g., letting your child sleep with you when they’re sic

On today’s episode, I’m excited to welcome my good friend and colleague, Stephanie Sotelo, who also happens to be my backup parenting coach. Stephanie blows my mind over and over again as we talk about accessing our “Whys” as parents, and tapping into our values, which act as our compass on this journey and give us the courage to hold firm in our parenting choices when others may question them. We explain how knowing your “Why” can help you understand yourself better as a parent, as well as your partner and even other parents who may have the same “What,” but a different “Why.” We also discuss the ways your “Why” can change over time, and the importance of finding your own authentic voice in a world where so many other opinions are thrown at you. We talk about choosing connection with your child above all else, encouraging your child to advocate for themselves and find their own strong voice, and why authenticity, confidence, and consistency are your most important tools as a parent. If you are constantly looking at how others live their lives, and their “Whats” on social media, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you’re losing yourself in parenthood. Today’s conversation will help silence all the noise, opinions, and scripts around you, so that you can grab hold of your own inner voice and parent based on the “Whys” that feel true to who you are. Thank you for your listening, and I appreciate your patronage more than I can say. For more information on my potty training and parenting resources, please visit the links below. You can also visit Stephanie Sotelo’s website at www.StephanieSotelo.com or on Instagram @consciousparentcoach.   The Finer Details of This Episode: Today I speak with my friend and backup parenting coach, Stephanie Sotelo We begin by revisiting my story about taking Pascal to see Green Day, and Stephanie shares her thoughts on my “Why” - the true reason why I made this parenting decision She also explains her “Why” is relation to her 5-year-old son’s passion for sports Your values are your compass as to how you’re going to parent (for example, with sports, commitment is very important or it may just be about being social) It’s a bit more difficult for dads to access those emotions and tap into their “Why” This can make it hard for partners to get on the same page But knowing your “Why” and being strong in your values gives you courage Stephanie values respect and manners for her son, but also wants him to be able to advocate for himself and be able to tell other adults when he feels uncomfortable with something Her story of implementing an allowance for her son and having him earn a special toy by doing chores This allowed him to decide whether he truly wanted the item and it was a game-changer for Stephanie It’s not the “What” but the “Why” - Parents have different “Whys” and this is why we judge each other, even when we have the same “What” (for example, two different parents may agree that children need an allowance, but one implements this to help teach money management while another may be trying to teach their child about work ethic) The other parent’s ‘Why’ is just as good as my ‘Why’ Understanding this helps you understand other parents and not judge them, or more importantly, yourself Your ‘Why’ can also change as your kids get older Encouraging kids to advocate for themselves versus being disrespectful Parents can also practice finding their own voice, which can help you sort it out from all the other voices that can be overwhelming in the gentle parenting world In tricky situations, remember connection with your child goes a long way (this can be hard when you simply want to get your chores or tasks completed) Doing parallel chores can help you connect while actually getting a few things done Kids really enjoy playing with everyday items like tape or simply running water on the tap We c

On this episode of the podcast, I’m so excited to be joined by Dr. Stephanie Rimka to talk about the science behind sauna, red light, and cold therapy. Dr. Rimka is a holistic brain optimization specialist; she’s been in private practice for twenty years, focusing on using a variety of natural therapies, including bio-hacks, to treat mental health issues including autism, depression, strokes, and Alzheimer’s. Her practice uses technology-based devices focusing on electromagnetic and light frequencies to alter brain structure and function and return normal function to it. To kick things off, I have an anecdote about how I got into cold therapy (it involves blue lips and the inability to do pull-ups) before handing things over to Dr. Rimka, who explains how it’s possible to put positive stress (like cold) on the body and encourage it to adapt and improve. Then she introduces red light therapy—often the treatment she’ll start her patients on—and how it stimulates the central nervous system to encourage deep, potent sleep in kids, especially in conjunction with skin-to-skin contact. Following that, we talk about parental dysregulation and disconnection, the impact these can have on children, and the need for parents to perform self-care so that they can care for their kids as well. I also bring up the trend for “mother martyrdom” that seems to be a result of social media encouraging comparison and competitiveness in parenting, and Dr. Rimka suggests that unreasonable expectations and information overload are causing parents to neglect themselves for the sake of perfectionism. After that brief detour, we get back on course, talking about sauna therapy and cold therapy, how your mitochondria dictate your tolerance for heat and cold, and the magic of sleep. Finally, we wrap things up by discussing how cold plunging can offer you a sense of control and calm while encouraging you to be mindful of your body and proving that you are capable of taking on hard things and succeeding.   The Finer Details of This Episode:   I got interested in cold therapy after taking part in a Tough Mudder obstacle course race, which included an ice climb.   Hormesis is the physiological concept of putting a stressor on the body that actually makes the body better.   Dr. Rimka usually starts her patients with red light therapy before moving on to sauna therapy.   Red light is highly stimulating to the vagus nerve, a cranial nerve that comes out of your brain and is the most soothing, calming part of the nervous system.   Skin-to-skin contact also activates the vagus nerve and stimulates oxytocin, the love hormone. This is especially important for children, who need touch, holding, and bonding.   The fight or flight response is designed to last twenty to thirty seconds optimally and two minutes maximum. Yet many families are in fight or flight all day long, and that input is destroying health and longevity because your body can’t fight threats when it’s constantly in life or death mode.   Dysregulated parents will always struggle to co-regulate with their child, and often the parent will assume the lack of regulation is a problem with the child rather than examining their own issues. It’s critical for parents to accept that they need to take care of themselves in order to take care of their families, even if that means bringing someone in to help.   Dr. Rimka suggests that we have unrealistic expectations of what motherhood is supposed to be because of the information overload and the distractions of the internet and social media.   She also says that parents, in general, are much more dissociated now than in the past because they’re overly connected to their digital devices and neglect their connection with their kids.   I recently went through a rocky patch with Pascal where his behavior wasn’t so pleasant, and I felt like our connection was severed. Then I realized that instead of being reactive with him, I n

On today’s episode, I speak with yet another person I find truly fascinating, Jessica Sueiro. Jessica and her husband, Will, along with their two children, Avalon and Largo, are world traveling, homeschooling, bohemian vagabonds in the best possible way. They have an amazing YouTube channel called World Towning, where they document their full-time travel family adventures and share their passion for dreaming big. Jessica joins me from a boat in Majorca to discuss her family’s decision to leave their Boston 2013 in favor of trekking around the world together, how they have thrived throughout their traveling adventures, and the experience of managing homeschool in the process. Jessica talks about overcoming the fear of screwing up your kids or being judged by others to step out of the box and follow your own path. She shares how her family maintains a sense of stability, routine, and deep connection as world travelers, how her children have navigated their social needs through this experience, and her thoughts on minimalism. We chat about the delicate balance of transitioning grandparents away from giving stuff in favor of experiences, and I ask Jessica how she handles being with her kids all day long as a HSP (Highly Sensitive Person). Finally, we discuss the importance of community and asking for help, how traveling makes you a better, more humble person, and Jessica offers her best advice for listeners who are considering a major life change or transition from the norm. For more information about the Sueiro family and their traveling lifestyle, visit WorldTowningVoyages.com or check out their YouTube Channel, which features new videos every Friday. Thank you for your listening! I appreciate your patronage more than I can say. For more information on my potty training and parenting resources, please visit the links below. The Finer Details of This Episode: Jessica and her husband, Will, always wanted to travel with their kids but didn’t think it was possible A summer trip to Paris sparked their interest in international travel They realized they all thrived in their travelling adventures and decided to make it happen on their own They wanted to instill a global education for their children, have more time together,  forge a tighter bond as a family, and create memories over buying stuff Most people have a fear of stepping out of the box - accepting that we will f-ck up our kids no matter where we are gives us the freedom to take that leap It took them seven years to finally decide to change their lives - they are planners and it was not an impulsive decision They have a travel-based business, which works for their lifestyle They have maintained a sense of rhythm and routine as travelers by reading at night, eating dinner together, and having consistency as a family Home is in the heart, not the house you’re living in They have an ‘open-door policy’ where you can always interrupt if you have a question or need emotional support They have always prioritized their children’s social components through the homeschooling experience, which has been challenging during the pandemic Her daughter started her own book club, to help meet social needs and connect with friends Listen to your kids’ interests, create what you need, and be open-minded about the way kids make friends today Jessica shares how their travels informed a minimalist lifestyle - she is a minimalist by nature For the first three years, they left with eight bags and eight carry-ons, and lived in different countries for nine to twelve months at a time They traveled from Costa Rica to Ecuador to France, then they moved to an RV Their policy was if something came in, something went out Focus is on experiences over stuff Grandparents traditionally show their love through gifts and toys, but Jessica and Will have really tried to transition grandparents to giving experiences instead Grandparents get joy out of watching kids open presents, but Jessi