Goat Milk StuffPodcasts – Goat Milk Stuff

Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast Episode 023.
Several months ago, Brett got her own room. Since then we’ve been talking a lot about the subject of privacy because I don’t want her to over-value privacy at the expense of relationships. After all, if she gets married some day, she’s going to have to give up the very privacy she has finally achieved.

When I look at my life, I’ve come to realize that I live my life with very little privacy. I’m always surrounded by my family. There are regularly people in my house. I blog about the things that daily happen to us. And people are always watching me when I go out with the family. In fact, when Jim and I went to New York (just the two of us) a few months ago, we both commented on how strange it was that nobody was watching us. We realized how much attention we drew just by the size of our family.

And I’m ok with that. I think living my life with transparency is better than heavily guarding my privacy. It makes me want to be a better person knowing that people are watching. I want to be a better wife and mom because people are watching me and that carries over to the times when people aren’t watching me.

During this podcast episode, I’m joined by my friend Prayse Dangler, a fairly new wife and mom. We discuss the concept of privacy and how it relates to our personal lives and our children’s lives. I also share a very personal experience about a struggle that I kept private and the lessons I learned from that. This episode really isn’t designed to “teach” anything, but just to spark some thought.

I’d love to hear from people what you think about this topic and how the issue of privacy plays out in your life.

Thanks for listening! Tune in next week to hear about what my “typical” day looks like.

I have a short (5 question) podcast survey. If you haven’t already, I would really appreciate it if you would take 2 minutes to fill it out. Thank you! Click for Survey

You can subscribe to the Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast:

Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast Episode 040.
As busy moms, we often believe that we can be more productive if we multitask more. But this is not necessarily true. Multitasking is defined as “the performance of multiple tasks at one time.” Because our brains are not wired to multitask, attempting to do so can actually make us more inefficient.

I have found that the best way for me to multitask is to do two (or more) tasks at the same time that do not require thought. During this podcast I discuss how I multitask and how the family multitasks so we are getting more done without becoming inefficient.

Listener Questions

Sara: I have twins (almost 4) and a little one (almost 2). I struggle with multitasking with them around, especially now that we are down to just one short nap in the afternoon. Trying to avoid TV but with such short attention spans I have a hard time keeping them entertained while I get my work done. We homeschool but even with little projects and play around that I sill am getting little done. I’d love some advice! LOVE the podcast, looking forward to new episodes!

Sarah: Multitasking- How do you make sure schoolwork is getting done on those days you have to be busy with business stuff? How do you prioritize the two?

Melody: How do you handle farm chores and juggling babies? I haven’t figured that one out yet.

What about you? Do you try to multitask and find it doesn’t work well for you? Or have you figured out some wonderful things that you can accomplish at the same time? I’d love for you to share what’s working (and not working) for you.

Thanks for listening! Tune in next week for simplify and organize your holidays part 1.

You can subscribe to the Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast:

Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast Episode 022.
Have you ever heard the expression, “He is a born leader?” While I do think there are people who are natural leaders, I also believe that leadership skills can be taught. I focus a lot on teaching my children to be leaders because I want them to have the strength to believe they can lead themselves and others to success.

During this podcast episode I talk about the intense experience we’ve sent Colter and Brett on to help them meet new people, have fun, and build their leadership skills. I also interview Emery who is very insightful on some of the leadership skills of the Jonas family members.

If you’d like to strengthen your children’s (or your own) leadership skills, there are four principles that are discussed:

Knowledge: To lead people, there needs to be a solid knowledge base about the subject matter. Help your children to become confident in their knowledge and it will be easier for them to lead.

Opportunity: We have to step back and allow our children the opportunity to lead. If we’re always stepping in, we do not allow them the chance to be leaders.

Example: Set an example for your children of how good leaders behave. Bad leaders “push”; good leaders “pull”. Point out examples of good leadership for them to mimic.

Confidence: While you can’t give your children confidence, you can help them to cultivate it by allowing them the opportunity to fail and giving them lots of opportunities to practice their leadership skills.

What about you? Are you a natural leader? Or is it something you had (or still need) to develop?

Thanks for listening! Tune in next week when I talk about privacy and how it affects our lives.

I have a short (5 question) podcast survey. If you haven’t already, I would really appreciate it if you would take 2 minutes to fill it out. Thank you! Click for Survey

You can subscribe to the Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast:

Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast Episode 046.
My food budget is never as big as I want it to be. I would love to buy only organic items or the most expensive and healthiest cuts of meat. But like most moms I have to make some tough choices as to what food to buy for my family.

I’ve had a lot of practice over the years making a food budget stretch. During this episode I share what I feel are the best ways to save money when food shopping on a budget. This allows me to buy the greatest quantities of the healthiest food that I can.

Topics Covered in this Episode

• How a garden saves you money
• How a pantry saves you money
• The importance of a price book
• Basing decisions on unit pricing, not sales
• Shopping frequency
• Bulk items and whether or not to buy them

Listener Questions

Courtney: Do you account for growth spurts? It always seems like no matter how much I buy on the lean side or major shopping stock up its gone! Other moms of 6+ children report the same thing

Janae & Bethany: Do you use coupons? I find them more of a hassle than anything, and they hardly ever apply to what I need to purchase – but some people say they save so much money, I wonder if I should rethink.

Leah: I only have one child and he gets breakfast AND lunch at preschool/daycare. Is the meal planning for one meal and budgeting on groceries worth it money wise?

Becky: Thoughts on the tight budget family – shop clearance/sale bins or plan ahead with flyers?

Jennifer: How far ahead do you plan/shop? One week, two, or more?

Episodes in the Series

• Feeding Your Family Part 1 – Your Pantry and Shopping List
• Feeding Your Family Part 2 – Meal Planning
• Feeding Your Family Part 3 – Food Shopping on a Budget
• Feeding Your Family Part 4 – Teaching Children to Cook 1
• Feeding Your Family Part 5 – Teaching Children to Cook 2
• Feeding Your Family Part 6 – Teaching Children to Cook 3
• Feeding Your Family Part 7 – Picky Eaters 1
• Feeding Your Family Part 8 – Picky Eaters 2

What are the best ways you have found to save money when food shopping?

Thanks for listening! Please join me next week as I discuss teaching your children to cook.

You can subscribe to the Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast:

Busy Mom’s Survival Guide Podcast Episode 049.
Being able to put together a meal is a valuable life skill that I start teaching my children when they are as young as two years old (depending on the child). During the early years they work beside me or their father or one of their older siblings when they are in a good mood and for as long as their attention span allows. But as they become older and get more experience, they are able to safely cook certain foods all on their own.

This is the final podcast episode in this series on teaching your children to cook. Emery and I conclude the series by answering listener questions.

I loved having Emery (age 13) join me during this podcast. It was amazing (and validating) to hear his confidence when it comes to cooking. I hope that it encourages you that it is never to late or too early to work with your children on becoming proficient in the kitchen.

And I would like to encourage you that if you are a Busy Mom that isn’t comfortable in the kitchen yourself, you too can learn! Start with some basic soup, stew, and chili recipes and expand from there. Don’t be afraid to experiment or be afraid to fail. It happens. You can always keep some eggs in your refrigerator. Scrambled eggs are a super easy quick dinner if your planned meal “failed”.

Learn with your children and have fun while you do it!

Listener Questions

Lisa: I know your kids cook, I’d love to have recipes for what they do. Mine are 11 and 13 and I’d really like to start putting them in charge of some nights but don’t know where to start.

Rosa: How do you teach them about substitutions for an ingredients they are out of without having to ditch the recipe they want to make?

Jennifer: How do you keep them focused to the finish?

Kathy: I am a new, stay at home mom who needs some easy recipes and good kitchen staples. I never cooked when I worked and am at a bit of a loss in the kitchen.

Beth: I have to say, I am not a great cook. :/ My husband does all of the grocery shopping and cooking (he works from home so it’s easier for him), but eventually I will take over (when we start having children and I leave the workforce). I am going to need some major help figuring out how to shop and cook – it’s embarrassing to admit, but I don’t even know where to start. Do you cook from memory or a cookbook or both? Thanks again!

Darla: My daughter is ten and she has recently shown an interest in baking. She wants to bake by herself but it is hard for me to totally give the kitchen over to her. Because of health issues she eats grain free and coconut/almond flours are expensive (not to mention all the other organic ingredients we use). So a mistake could be costly for our limited budget family. We are a homeschooling family and I strongly believe that learning to cook is a wonderful learning opportunity and essential.

Sharon: What about cleanup?

Vicki: Can they teach me?

Episodes in the Series

• Feeding Your Family Part 1 – Your Pantry and Shopping List
• Feeding Your Family Part 2 – Meal Planning
• Feeding Your Family Part 3 – Food Shopping on a Budget
• Feeding Your Family Part 4 – Teaching Children to Cook 1
• Feeding Your Family Part 5 – Teaching Children to Cook 2
• Feeding Your Family Part 6 – Teaching Children to Cook 3
• Feeding Your Family Part 7 – Picky Eaters 1
• Feeding Your Family Part 8 – Picky Eaters 2

Resources

• How to Write a Kid-Friendly Recipe
• Sample Kid-Friendly Recipe – Split Pea Soup
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