Episode 182: Letting go of the “Shoulds” in Parenting with Dr. Alison Cook

Did you ever try to be a Star for Jesus at some point along your faith journey? Do you still struggle sometimes unknowingly to be? (Hello, any fellow perfectionist’s/first born’s/Enneagram 1’s or 3’s or so many other numbers!) Well, let us introduce you to Kimberly Stuart, podcaster, writer and author of the book Star for Jesus (and other jobs I quit). And we should also add dear friend to us both! You are going to LOVE this episode. Kimberly exudes grace. She’s deeply kind. And she’s HILARIOUS!!!! We both enjoyed this conversation immensely and know you will, too! Get yourself a copy of the book, download her podcasts For Real with Kimberly Stuart and The Writing Room with Kimberly and Bob Goff—and no, he’s not related to Sissy. . . . . . For a deeper dive, we've now got the Ages and Stages Discussion Guides up on our website - with Try it Out sections and devotionals for each day of the week. Go to raisingboysandgirls.com/shop and scroll down to the bottom! Raising Boys and Girls Courses are now available! More info here! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Y’all are going to LOVE this podcast! So many of you are already fans of the amazing Ben and Erin Napier, @scotsman.co and @erinapier. Okay—actually, who isn’t?! Their show, Home Town with all of its spinoffs, their passion for revitalizing small-towns, their store, Laurel Mercantile Co, his work with Scotsman Co…they are doing so many amazing things. But what you may not know is that the two of them, along with some friends, founded an organization called Osprey: Old School Parents Raising Engaged Youth. How awesome is that? Through Osprey, they’re helping all of us understand and guide our children (in the best old school way) in this world of technology. Lauren Rogers Museum of Art . . . . . For a deeper dive, we've now got the Ages and Stages Discussion Guides up on our website - with Try it Out sections and devotionals for each day of the week. Go to raisingboysandgirls.com/shop and scroll down to the bottom! Raising Boys and Girls Courses are now available! More info here! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. . . . . . A special thank you to our sponsors: Needed: Head over to thisisneeded.com and use code RBG for 20% off your first order. OurPlace: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code RBG at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. KiwiCo: Get 20% off on your Summer Adventure Series at kiwico.com/rbgsummer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We recently posted a video with our friend Landyn Hutchinson and SO MANY of you got so excited! We were flooded with messages from those of you who have been encouraged and inspired by Landyn over the years. In this episode, she shares so much wisdom on modern parenting challenges from social media to accelerated sports and more. She offers so much truth mixed with humility and grace in a way that’s going to make you feel like you are not alone on this journey. . . . . . Raising Boys and Girls Courses are now available! More info here! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk often about how the very best thing you can do, as a parent, is to work on your own stuff. Dr. Alison Cook is a trusted therapist and friend who is helping the world do that! Through her podcast, The Best of You and her newest book, I Shouldn’t Feel This Way, Alison helps us trade mental chaos for clarity, learn how to understand and process our emotions in healthy ways, and stop the self-defeating cycles we can all fall into. We love this book and are so grateful to have had this conversation full of so much wisdom and grace—not just for our kids, but for ourselves. . . . . . For a deeper dive, we've now got the Ages and Stages Discussion Guides up on our website - with Try it Out sections and devotionals for each day of the week. Go to raisingboysandgirls.com/shop and scroll down to the bottom! Raising Boys and Girls Courses are now available! More info here! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. . . . . . A special thank you to our sponsors: Hiya Health: Go to hiyahealth.com/RBG and receive 50% off your first order! Mosh: Head to moshlife.com/RBG to save 20% off plus FREE shipping on either the Best Sellers Trial Pack or the new Plant Based Trial Pack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 80, we had a psychologist named Dr. Michael Thompson on the podcast to discuss the social connections of kids. He talked about the importance of summer camp for kids and said the very best part of summer camp is “that you’re not there.” Makes sense. We have talked to and witnessed the impact of camps for countless kids over the years…not just the skills learned like archery and horseback riding, but the independence and confidence gained from having opportunities they wouldn’t have had at home. Plus, a friend said recently that camp is literally the one place kids go anymore where they have no connection to technology. Hallelujah for that! On this week’s episode, we have our friends Glenn and Carter Breazeale, the owners and directors of Alpine Camp for Boys —of which we’re big fans, by the way. They talk about not only the importance of camp but how to help prepare your kids for camp this summer. So much wisdom, practical help and hope in this episode—we can’t wait for you to listen! If you enjoyed this episode you may also like episode 29, The Importance of Summer Camp for Kids with Amy Grant. . . . . . Raising Boys and Girls Courses are now available! More info here! For a deeper dive, we've now got the Ages and Stages Discussion Guides up on our website - with Try it Out sections and devotionals for each day of the week. Go to raisingboysandgirls.com/shop and scroll down to the bottom! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the questions we get the most from parents is about siblings. This week, we have two of our favorite friends on the podcast—who just happen to be sisters! It’s the first time we’ve ever had sisters together. Jackie and Robbie share some of the ways their parents raised them that have kept them close all these years and some intentional practices they’ve used with their own families. You don’t want to miss this conversation full of fun and wisdom on building sibling relationships that last with our friends Jackie Brown and Robbie Jackson. . . . . . For a deeper dive, we've now got the Ages and Stages Discussion Guides up on our website - with Try it Out sections and devotionals for each day of the week. Go to raisingboysandgirls.com/shop and scroll down to the bottom! Raising Boys and Girls Courses are now available! More info here! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. . . . . . A special thank you to our sponsors: KiwiCo: Get 20% off on your Summer Adventure Series at kiwico.com/rbgsummer. OurPlace: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code RBG at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you gotten your tickets for the Unsung Hero movie yet?! If not, you certainly will after listening in on this rich conversation with Luke Smallbone of for King & Country and his mom, Helen Smallbone. We have never had a mother and son on together and it was every bit as inspiring as you would imagine from these two. Their story will make you laugh and cry, and we would HIGHLY recommend you take your family to watch it in movie form. We’re so grateful for their honesty and wisdom in both spaces and can’t wait for you to listen in on this delightful conversation AND GO SEE UNSUNG HERO as soon as you can! . . . . . For a deeper dive, we've now got the Ages and Stages Discussion Guides up on our website - with Try it Out sections and devotionals for each day of the week. Go to raisingboysandgirls.com/shop and scroll down to the bottom! Raising Boys and Girls Courses - now available! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. . . . . . A special thank you to our sponsors: Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal, head on over to hiyahealth.com/RBG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we interview our friend Karen Stubbs from Birds On a Wire who is sharing all the great content on being a Grace-Filled Grandmother. This conversation is rich with so much wisdom and insight that will not only benefit your kids, but your relationship with their grandparents, as well! Share with a grandmother and remind them why you’re so glad your kids have them in their lives! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many of us grew up watching Katie Couric over breakfast before school? We both sure did…and have loved and respected her work ever since. It was an HONOR to have a conversation with her recently about parenting adult children, her books, her work with Stand Up to Cancer, and the fascinating people she has met along the way. What a remarkable career this kind, tenacious, brilliant woman has had. . . . . . For a deeper dive, we've now got the Ages and Stages Discussion Guides up on our website - with Try it Out sections and devotionals for each day of the week. Go to raisingboysandgirls.com/shop and scroll down to the bottom! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. . . . . . A special thank you to our sponsors: Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter code RBG at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. LMNT: Right now LMNT is offering a free sample pack with any purchase. This deal is only available through our link. Go to drinklmnt.com/RBG. KiwiCo: Get 50% off your first month on ANY crate line at kiwico.com with promo code RBG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are over the moon excited to introduce you to two brilliant parents of some amazing Stage 5 kiddos—who also happen to be two of David’s very best friends. (And Sissy thinks the world of them, too!) Dave and Julie Hunt are wise and thoughtful and have so much wisdom to share on the topic of Raising Teens and Young Adults. Okay, who are we kidding? All the topics! We can’t wait for you to listen in on this one! . . . . . For a deeper dive, we've now got the Ages and Stages Discussion Guides up on our website - with Try it Out sections and devotionals for each day of the week. Go to raisingboysandgirls.com/shop and scroll down to the bottom! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. . . . . . A special thank you to our sponsors: Hiya Health: Go to hiyahealth.com/RBG and receive 50% off your first order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices