The Value of Diverse Relationships and Perspectives #043

06/02/20 • 41 min

Growing Up With Kids :: A Funny Parenting Podcast

It has been a harder week than most given the recent events in Minneapolis. We are not qualified to talk about racial injustice or police policies, so we won't even try. However, this is a good time to explore why we should, and how we can, pursue diversity in our relationships and in our perspectives.
We are tempted to pursue like-minded relationships and to retreat into literature and news that bolsters our existing worldview. However, there is great value in engaging with people, media, and points of view that are different than ours. It develops empathy, compassion, and hope in us. And, we can model this openness and humility with our children. This is a journey we are growing in, and we invite you to come along as well.
We discuss a few organizations and resources you can utilize, if you want to learn more about racial injustice and the history of racism in the U.S. We encourage you to lean into these topics that may be uncomfortable or challenging for you and your family.

One Race
Be The Bridge and their recommended reading list for youth
Dr. Amanda Kemp
Children's books to support conversations on race
Book suggestions for adults

Also, we spend some time (at the 28:22 mark) specifically on why Christians are called to embrace and even seek out diversity in their lives, to engage with and love other Christians even if they don't look, think or act like us, and to care for the poor and oppressed. (Spoiler: Scripture is clear that God cares very much for the poor and oppressed.) If that is not your cup of tea, feel free to skip to The Stat of the Week (37:18).
The Stat of the Week is from the Statistic Brain Research Institute and is all over the place with thoughts on seaweed growth, jewelry injuries (didn't know that was a thing), and human eye blinking. Also, we talk about our family pentathlon and the game of Water War.
Thank you for listening! We hope you enjoyed this episode. We are so grateful for everyone who listens to us and would appreciate if you would share the podcast with a friend who might be encouraged by this conversation.

One Race
Be The Bridge and their recommended reading list for youth
Dr. Amanda Kemp
Children's books to support conversations on race
Book suggestions for adults

Previous Episode

Vacation with Kids Is Not So Restful #042

Vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing. No one warns you that vacations with children are anything but those two things (at least some of the time). There is extra gear. There are nap times to work around. It is not easy to share a hotel room with a two-year-old.
However, there are some simple ways to make the most of the next family vacation. One key word is "simple." We find that pacing ourselves helps make everything more enjoyable. Trying to do one fun thing a day is easy and more successful than cramming it all in. Plus, simple meals, simple pleasures, and simple surprises all make for tons of fun with young children.
Some of our best vacation memories are borne out of simple AirBNB locations with a single unique feature (such as a loft, built-in bunk beds, campfire pit, or a few acres of woods and a creek). Have better vacations that are more fun and less stress!! That's our summer 2020 resolution (even if we can't get out of the house much because of COVID).
The Stat of the Week is all about international vacation travelers and comes from the UN World Tourism Organization's 2019 International Tourism report.
Rachael also mentioned this very funny YouTube video by I Mom So Hard: I Swimsuit Season So Hard.
Thank you for listening! We hope you enjoyed this episode. We are so grateful for everyone who listens to us and would appreciate if you would share the podcast with a friend who might be encouraged by this conversation or who just needs a good laugh at our expense.

Next Episode

Parenting with Conviction...Not Guilt and Shame #044

Everyone deals with guilt and shame in their lives, but there may be a special mix of it reserved for mothers (and fathers, to a slightly lesser degree). It is hard to not feel shame when we are parenting because there are so many unknowns. We are gardeners, not carpenters, so we can't guarantee the results, which means we often obsess over the inputs we can control. Mix this internal pressure with the overwhelming amount of parenting "advice" and information out there and then top it with the comparison culture of social media.
This week we take a look at why we often feel this way, and we offer some encouragement for facing our faults and moving beyond shame towards positive conviction. We want to move away from the shame that leads to isolation, performance and hiding. We want to move towards intimacy and relationships that set us free. A few tips:

Admit that we are not perfect and that is okay.
Focus on what I want for my kids and move towards offering them that, while moving away from self-focused criticism and perfectionism.
Remember we are not alone.
Be kind to ourselves along the way.
Look to proactively encourage other moms and dads.
Also, don't be afraid to seek professional help from a counselor or coach if needed

The Stat of the Week is about mommy guilt based upon a survey conducted by baby care product company NUK. Also, we mention a funny video that is not suitable for work or safe for the whole family: If Google was a Guy
Thank you for listening! We hope you enjoyed this episode. We are so grateful for everyone who listens to us and would appreciate if you would share the podcast with a friend who might be encouraged by this conversation or who just needs a good laugh at our expense.