Summer calls for sunshine, ice cream, and if you're a parent—stacks of strategies to keep the kids engaged and entertained. I'm Jordan Langdon, and together with the brilliant Niki Langley (mom of 5) and our online parent community, we've come up with our best tips for summer. Whether you're wrangling toddlers or trying to pry your teens away from their screens, we promise you'll walk away with actionable advice to smooth out your summer days. From flexible schedules that don't collapse at the hint of spontaneity to themed meal nights that end the "what's for dinner?" dilemma, we've got your back.

Join us as we unpack creative solutions for the unique challenges that summer brings to every household, be it managing a raft of different ages or keeping tech time in check. We're talking about the sanity-saving 'I'm bored' list to spur on your kids' independence, plus a practical screen time checklist to help you navigate the digital jungle with confidence. With Nikki's expertise and our community's contributions, this episode is your go-to guide for parenting through the summer with a little more ease and a lot more joy. Tune in, and let's toast to a season of thriving as a family—no sweat required.

Check out our shop for all the latest and greatest products to entertain your kids, sans screens!

Struggling with parenting challenges as a couple? Families of Character offers tailored solutions for common family issues. From instilling responsibility in kids to finding peace in daily chaos, our couples coaching provides support and practical strategies. Let's navigate the choppy waters of family life together, transforming hardship into hope.

Support the Show.

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.

Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our shop and purchase our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website | our Private FB community!

After counseling couples for 20 years, I've noticed a serious trend in what drives a wedge between husbands and wives when it comes to parenting and the seasons of family life. A lack of planning!

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the next season of family life or if you dread summers because the season is so much different from the traditional school year, tune into this episode!

I'm Jordan Langdon, and I've got your back with seasonal summer planning strategies that promise to turn potential pitfalls into pure pleasure. On today's show, we get up close and personal with the family calendar and discover how it can be your ally, not your adversary. From picking the perfect spot for your planning session to the old-school charm of handwriting your family’s itinerary, we'll cover how to make this summer not only manageable but magical. You'll walk away armed with everything you need to tackle those seasonal nuisances head-on, whether it’s wet towels littering the floor or scrambling for a last-minute birthday gift.

But it's not all about the plan—it's about the people too. We discuss the art of keeping family ties strong and irritation at bay by maintaining bedtime routines on those summer nights even when the sun refuses to set. Plus, I share my personal playbook for creating simple systems that make summer living easy and enjoyable for the entire team.

And let's not forget how sharing is caring; pass along these game-changing tips to friends yearning for their dose of serenity amidst the chaos of family life. So, tune in and transform your family's summer from frantic to fantastic!

Takeaways

• Take control of the family calendar to reduce distress and improve relationships.
• Set aside uninterrupted time for seasonal planning and involve your spouse and children.
• Make a brain dump of all the supplies and plans needed for summer.
• Reflect on the annoyances of summer and find solutions to minimize them.
• Involve the whole family in the planning process to create a sense of unity and belonging.

Product Links mentioned in this episode:
Summer Planning Guide
Tame the Tech
Best Me I Can Be Journal

Support the Show.

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.

Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!

Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website | our Private FB community!

Caught up in the whirlwind of my husband's award ceremony, I found myself fumbling with a camera rather than soaking in his moment of glory. It was a wake-up call, underscoring a modern predicament: our incessant need to capture everything might just be causing us to miss the point of true experience. This episode is a heart-to-heart on the delicate balance between preserving memories and actually living them, especially poignant when it comes to parenting. I share my journey towards cherishing unrecorded moments with my family, and I promise, it's a conversation that will leave you rethinking the role of technology in your life.

The anecdotes and insights don't end with my own revelations; we also bring our community into the fold, sharing stories and advice on how to engage more deeply with our loved ones in a digitized world. Whether it's setting down your phone to watch your child play or resisting the urge to document every second of a family holiday, this episode explores how these choices can lead to more vibrant and enduring memories. Through laughter and reflection, we tackle a modern challenge together, inviting you to join us in the journey to become more present and connected.

Takeaways

• Constantly using phones to capture moments can lead to missed opportunities and memories.
• Being fully present in the moment allows for a richer and more meaningful experience.
• Memories can be created and enhanced through engaging the senses and actively observing the environment.
• Putting the phone down and being present can create lasting memories for both parents and children.

Support the Show.

Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.

Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!

Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

our website | our Private FB community!