Throwback Parenting

I am the mother of five kids whom I love. I love their friends. I believe in this strong and noble generation of youth. But, sometimes, my finite mind has difficulty grasping how God can have such faith and trust in young people when they have such limited understanding and experience. The truth is, however, that He has always used the youth to accomplish His purposes. There are multiple examples of that throughout scripture and, in this episode, we lay them all on the table, along with some of our own experiences. We hope these inspirational stories will help you see the strength and potential of the rising generation. Find show notes here Follow along on Facebook Follow along on Instagram And please consider leaving a rating or review on iTunes if you find the show helpful. That helps others find what we have to offer. Thank you for listening!

You may have heard me talk about my insanely strong-willed eldest son and how he threw us for a loop as a child. You may have heard me describe how he spit in my face, threw books at my head, and tried to run away at age seven. In those early years, I honestly feared he would end up in prison. Things have changed drastically since then. When Greg and I overhauled our parenting, we started to see some improvement in his behavior. And eventually, he grew into a top-notch young adult, bearing no hint of his former “my way or the highway” mentality. Today is the day you have been waiting for, my friend because you get to hear from him. When he was home from college for Christmas break, he graciously agreed to allow us to interview him about his transition from a strong-willed child to a strong and caring leader. Nothing was scripted, and we had no idea what he was going to say, so that makes it even more interesting. His transformation over the years has been nothing short of remarkable. I hope you will listen an

There is no doubt that courageous parenting is required to raise children in this tricky age of technology. Should we give our kids smartphones, and at what age? How much should we monitor? How much should we filter? Which filter should we use? One thing I have learned, however, is that external filters and monitoring software are fallible. The only filter that will last is an internal filter. Helping our children to develop the inner strength to self-monitor their time and whereabouts on technology is key. That is the message that Dave and Emily Jones of Family Tech University want to scream from the rooftops. As deliberate parents of five children, they developed what they describe as a "Driver's Ed for Wholesome Tech Use" to teach their children to be wise with technology. It was so effective that they made it available as a workshop for other families. This episode will help you come up with a plan to become a more courageous tech parent. Find show notes here: http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/41/ Follow al

With a new year upon us, self-improvement is the word on the street. Resolutions and goals are all the rage and for good reason. A blank slate and a world of possibilities make big things feel doable. But if we are talking about making 2020 the best year yet, it makes sense to add a couple of parenting goals into the mix. 1. WRITE A PARENTING MANIFESTO 2. DO LESS 3. DITCH PARENT GUILT 4. RAISE THE KIDS YOU HAVE (NOT THE ONES YOU WISH YOU HAD) 5. PRAY MORE Ready to learn more? Let's do this!   For show notes, visit http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/40/ Follow along on Instagram Follow along on Facebook

Welcome to Season 2 of the newly-rebranded How to Raise Grownups Podcast. In this episode, we talk about the spiritual experience that prompted the rebrand and what you can expect from here us in the coming months. We believe in the youth of today - in our kids and your kids. We believe they were born to accomplish incredible things for the Lord and the world. And we believe that it is our job as their parents to prepare them for all that lies ahead.  Listen in to hear all the details. We are so happy to be back and grateful, as always, for your support. Find show notes here Follow along on Instagram Follow along on Facebook  

Sometimes, clarity comes after stepping away. The noise quiets and light peeks through the fog, illuminating a path that has been just out of view but now beckons with the hopeful promise of something amazing. I have been taking a break from social media, which is always heaven-sent for me. We are steeped in mission preparation, with one day left until we send our son off on his two-year adventure. I have been trying to soak in as much time with him as possible. In the quiet moments between orchestrating a missionary farewell and open house and all the things that go along with sending a missionary out, my mind has been filled with thoughts of this podcast and how I want to show up so I can best serve my audience. Pondering has brought clarity in my desire to tweak my direction a bit and rebrand the podcast to reflect that change. Listen if for all the details. For show notes: http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/episode38/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throwbackparenting/ Follow our NEW Facebook

A few weeks ago, I saw a meme on Facebook with this message: "My parents made rules and I didn't even dream of questioning them. I make rules and my kid demands a 10 page thesis on why, how, what, when, and just so you know Mum, it's not happening." Mumlyfe I shared it on my page because I thought it was interesting (and a little disconcerting). One of my followers asked why I felt the behavior represented on the meme was so common. I gave her a short answer, but I wanted to delve deeper into this topic because I think it is essential for parents to understand. What could account for the change in children's behavior? Just about everything related to child-rearing. This episode lays it all on the table. Find show notes here: http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/episode37/ Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throwbackparenting/ Follow along on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/throwbackparenting/  

As parents, we have two choices: we can make purposeful parenting decisions, or we can fly by the seat of our pants and see how it goes. With a constant stream of distractions, it is easy to fall into the latter category. However, we will probably not end up where we want to be unless we consistently make intentional parenting decisions. Author and parenting educator, Amy Carney, knows firsthand about the importance of parenting on purpose. She was thrown into the parenting fire with a set of triplets, followed by another daughter just over a year later. She quickly learned that she would be in way over her head without a parenting plan. Her triplets are now 18, and, through the process of raising them to be responsible, respectful, resilient humans, Amy has learned much about what it takes to raise a child with values. She recently wrote a book called, Parent on Purpose: A Courageous Approach to Raising Children in a Complicated World, which is packed full of practical and wise parenting advice. In this epis

Lately, I have been thinking about the noisy world in which we live. There are countless voices competing for our time and attention, and it is difficult to weed through the chaos and figure out who we should listen to. I don't know about you, but I get overwhelmed by it all. Pulled in a thousand directions by a thousand different GOOD things, I allow my priorities to get out of whack. My attention gets hijacked by all the podcasts, blogs, books, and information, and I often feel like T.S. Eliot: "Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?" I do not want this podcast to be more noise. I don't want you spending your precious time to listen and leave unnourished. I certainly do not want to distract you from doing more important things. With that in mind, I am making a slight course correction that will (hopefully) make this space a little more helpful to you. Listen in for all the details about where we are heading. For show notes: http://www.lynnetteshe

The world could use a little more kindness, and kindness begins with each one of us. But how do we teach our kids to be kind when unkindness is so abundant? I have been wanting to publish a podcast about this topic for quite some time, and I knew that Kay West needed to be the one to teach us. She is one of the kindest, most encouraging people I know. Not only that, but Kay's daughter, Eden, has multiple physical and mental special needs and has been severely bullied and treated unkindly by many people. I am not a super emotional person, but both Kay and I shed a few tears during this interview. Her perspective on teaching kindness is one that every parent needs to hear. Find show notes here: http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/episode34/ Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throwbackparenting/ Follow the podcast on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/throwbackparenting/ Follow Kay on Instagram: @aworldwidesisterhood Follow her events page: @distinctanddifferent Follow her kids' business page

How to help kids manage their emotions is one of the biggest concerns among parents who reach out to me. One mom recently told me that she was dealing with a massive emotional explosion at least every hour, and she is not alone. As a mom of five, I have been dealing with my kids' BIG emotions for over two decades. Some of them are HIGHLY emotional, and others are naturally more relaxed. In my family, the emotional kids outnumber the rational ones, so I know how exhausting it is to deal with frequent outbursts. And, let me tell you, frequent has an understatement when referring to emotional outbursts during certain stages of my parenting journey. Like always, I focus on common sense when it comes to this issue. And common sense tells me that expressing powerful emotions at any time or in any place is not appropriate, no matter your age. Learning to manage emotions is a vital life skill, and we are tackling that in this episode. Find show notes here: http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/episode33/ Follow along on In

From a recent poll on my Facebook page, I learned that the vast majority of parents (82% in this case) believe that raising a teenager is more difficult than raising a toddler. As a mom of teens, I understand why this is. For starters, teens prioritize their friend group over their family. They generally don't want to hear their parents' opinion. They make big decisions that have potentially far-reaching consequences, and they are often an emotional wreck. Yeah, the teen waters are turbulent. There is no denying that. However, I also believe that teenagers are pretty great. If you understand that pulling away is a natural and normal part of teenage development (that we actually want so they don't live with us forever), it takes some of the fear and emotion out of the equation. And that, my friends, is half the battle. In this episode, we talk a little about development and a lot about how parents can manage the teenage years in a positive way, keeping communication lines open and relationships strong. Find sh

As a mother of five, I have often wished that each child came with his or her own parenting manual. With how different they all are, I sometimes feel like I have to figure things out over and over because what works for one doesn't always work for the others. However, as a believer, I have come to understand that we do have a parenting manual in the scriptures. In the pages of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon (because we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), there are numerous examples of how God, the only perfect parent, deals with us, as His children. Of course, we mortals are not in the same league as God. But I believe with my whole heart that the parenting blueprint He repeatedly lays out in scripture is there, in part, to teach us how to raise our children in these confusing times. With a buffet of parenting philosophies to choose from, it is essential to note that God's parenting blueprint does not line up with a vast majority of modern parenting paradigms. Listen in to

Technology is one of my biggest concerns as a parent, partly because of the garbage that is so easily accessible online, and partly because it can be a huge distraction. It makes me crazy to watch my kids waste their time on their devices instead of doing other, more important things. The reality is, however, that technology is not going away and, therefore, the potential of distraction it creates is here to stay. It is our job, as parents, to learn how to manage our attention and teach our kids to do the same. To be honest, I am still working on that, but Nir Eyal has spent the last several years studying and writing a book on this topic. I recently read his new book called, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life(which is FANTASTIC!) and then had the opportunity to interview him about raising indistractable kids. This interview is packed full of so much useful information that you might even want to listen to it twice. Find show notes here: http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/episode3

School is getting underway for most people, which means a return to homework after a summer of relaxation (insert collective groan). I know many parents (and kids) struggle with near-daily battles over homework. Sometimes, the process takes several hours and is peppered with emotional landmines, leaving all involved frustrated and upset. But what if it didn't have to be that way? What if parents could disengage from homework and put it back in the child's court? What if kids could learn to manage the homework process entirely independently and, in the process, gain confidence and competence that will carry over into other aspects of their lives? Does that sound too good to be true? It is not! In this episode, we walk you through how to end the homework hassle once and for all. Find show notes here: http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/episode29/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnettesheppard/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/throwbackparenting/  

I believe in the parenting principles that I teach here on the podcast, on my blog, and on social media. My belief has come through watching the transformative power of this parenting style in my life and in the lives of my children. My faith in God, however, is stronger than my faith in a particular parenting style. I believe that He knows our children better than we know them. He knows what they need when sometimes we are left guessing. I believe He cares deeply about what we are teaching them and how we are raising them. Because of that, I am certain that all parents have the right to inspiration directly from God on behalf of their kids. There was a time when, after much prayer regarding how to help my struggling child, I received a direct answer to prayer that I did not anticipate. The personalized direction I received contradicted what I thought best, based on the parenting principles I had studied. Yet, I knew God was speaking to me, and that trumped my parenting knowledge and experience. In this episo

Sleep troubles are common in infancy and early childhood, often leaving both parents and children exhausted. Anybody who has ever dealt with sleep-challenged children knows the implications of chronic sleep deprivation. It affects every aspect of life and often results in near-constant overwhelm. When my kids were young, I believed sleep deprivation was just something I had to endure until my kids were older. But what if there was another way? What if it were possible to solve sleep challenges in infancy and teach babies and young children to be good sleepers for life? Lucky for us, there is a way to do that, and Certified Infant and Sleep Consultant, Eva Klein, is here to teach us how to get started. Find show notes here: http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/episode27/ Connect with Eva: https://mysleepingbaby.com Follow Throwback Parenting on Instagram @lynnettesheppard Follow Throwback Parenting on Facebook 

Parent guilt (especially mom guilt) is a common thing. I have been there. In fact, I used to live in the land of guilt. When my kids were young, I felt guilty when they misbehaved because it was surely my fault. I felt guilty because everybody else seemed to have it together when I felt like a hot mess. I felt guilty when I allowed my kids to watch a show so I could get something done. The list goes on and on. I have come a long way since then. While I still fall back into my old guilt-prone ways from time to time, guilt no longer runs my life, and that feels like freedom. Today, we are diving into parent guilt in hopes of helping those who sometimes fall into that trap to break free. For show notes, visit http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/episode26/ Follow on Instagram: @lynnettesheppard Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/throwbackparenting/

Raising hard-working kids is one of my main goals as a parent because work is one major secret to success in life.  I know from my recent reader/listener survey that many of you share that goal and worry about how best to accomplish it. If you fit into that category, you are going to love today’s new episode with Blaine Wiggins. We discuss: How to teach your kids the concept of, “Buy low; sell high,” and how they can use it to earn money in simple and age-appropriate ways How to nurture young entrepreneurs and teach them the skills they need to be successful in their business endeavors Why firing your landscaper (or maid) is a REALLY good idea The secret to getting kids to work Why it is completely OK if your kids hate work. As Blaine says, "If they don't love it, you are doing something right." For show notes head to: http://www.lynnettesheppard.com/episode25/ Follow along on Facebook Follow along on Instagram

Our son has been serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the past two years. He came home last week, and we are beyond excited. The reunion was sweet, and we are trying to soak in every second of the time we have with him before he leaves for college in a few weeks. Our second son has his mission call and will report to the Missionary Training Center on November 6. In this season of life, as we welcome one missionary home and prepare to send another one out, missionary service is on our minds. In this episode, we discuss why it is vital to start preparing our kids for missions long before their mission calls come, how that preparation entails FAR more than spirituality alone, what skills missionaries need to be successful, and how to start teaching those things. If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have kids of any age, this episode is for you. (And, by the way, all the skills we discuss are necessary for a smooth transition into ad