Show #38 – What do I do when the kids leave home?

Airing: Sunday, August 15, 2010  ||  8 to 9 AM Eastern ||  93.3 FM www.CFRU.ca in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

This is a call-in show. Once the show starts, please call 519.837.CFRU (2378) with your questions or comments.

If your kids are moving out or going to school and your faced with a challenging transition, let Julie Wise guide you through an activity to help you discover what you’d like to do next.

Julie Wise (from www.JulieWiseConsulting.com and www.wise1coaching.wordpress.com) joins me in the studio to answer questions from folks who feel unsure when their kids are transitioning from being at home to going to school or living on their own. Julie works with individuals and families to help ease transitions. She’s going to share an activity with us, on the air, from her forthcoming book “Dream BIGGER: Reclaiming a Life of Joy and Ease”

My kids are going to school and I’ve been a stay-at-home parent for several years. Now what do I do?

My kids are moving away from home. I never thought I’d have a hard time with this transition. I’ve always enjoyed time on my own. Now what do I do?

For the person who’s leaving, this may be a scary or fun time.

For the parent who’s at home, this may be a time of freedom or uncertainty. What’s the transition like for you?

Show #37 – Collaborative Family Living with Angela Harms

Aired: Sunday, August 8, 2010 || 8 to 9 AM Eastern on CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Living collaboratively with children and adults is possible. Angela Harms, a mom of 4 boys ages 6, 15, 18, and 21 years, shares her experiences and the joy of living with teens.

When we demand compliance, what’s motivating our behaviour? What does it take to live collaboratively? Is working together always possible? What do we do when we hear that dreaded word “no” when we ask for help?

Collaboration doesn’t necessarily mean we’re nice with each other all the time. Instead, as I understand it, it’s a way of valuing all of our voices and speaking up, if you will, about how each of us wants to contribute to the family. Collaboration involves tapping into our innate passions and motivations to live together. All our opinions matter.

“Where did we ever get the crazy idea that in order to make children do better, first we have to make them feel worse?”  Jane Nelson

What does collaborative living look like? Life isn’t always easy and joyful. We discuss learning from mistakes, reconciliation, and sharing our vulnerability with each other. Our openness and honesty invites openness and honesty in others. Collaboration can be as simple as sharing what’s involved in caring for the house and the people in it so that everyone is aware of what they can do to help out. It can involve difficult conversations where we share our fears and trust our kids can make informed decisions. Angela describes how much she loves and enjoys her family.

Show #36 – Raising Global Citizens

Air date: Sunday, August 1, 2010 8 to 9 AM Eastern, on 93.3 FM www.CFRU.ca in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

This show and last weeks show came about because a parent asked me to talk about “Raising Global Citizens”.
How do we support social activism in our children and in our families?
Why would we want to do that?
Is it something we teach? Show? Live?

I’ve uncovered a few prevailing themes as I explored these questions:
1. Living and leading by example seems to be the most powerful way to parent.
2. Explore ideas, feelings, and needs through dialogue. Learn together.
3. Don’t patronize children. Be willing to share what you’ve experienced. Also, be willing to be challenged and changed by the experiences and opinions of others, however young.

Global citizenship involves respect for any and all fellow human beings around the globe and stimulates a universal sympathy and empathy beyond the barriers of nationality.

Today, I share interviews with an ambassador of the British Council’s Global Changemaker program, Nishin Nathwani and a 12-year-old political activist and his Mom. I also share resources to increase global awareness in your family.

Global Changemakers: www.global-changemakers.net

Kids Without Borders: http://www.kidswithnoborders.org

Karen McKay’s Blog: http://raisingglobalcitizens.blogspot.com/

“Growing Up Global: Raising Children to be at home in the World” by Homa Tavangar. Great ideas and fun activities for exposing kids of all ages to the world beyond their borders. http://www.growingupglobal.net/

Global Citizens Network: http://www.globalcitizens.org/

Free the children: http://www.freethechildren.com/

The Working Centre in Kitchener: http://www.theworkingcentre.org/

Awesome Article with 7 tips for Raising Globally Aware Kids: http://www.more4kids.info/1185/parenting-tips-for-raising-globally-aware-kids/

Show 32 – Foster Families

Aired Sunday, June 6th, 2010 and Sunday, October 25, 2009
on CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Join us 8 to 9 AM every Sunday morning.

While I’m away for more training, my friends Greg Denton and Kyle Mackie are helping me to re-broadcast our first Family Matters Show. Here is the link:

http://cfrufamily.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/show-1-foster-families/

When you get a chance, listen to Greg’s show on from 7 to 8 AM Sundays: This Ungodly Hour or Kyle’s show from 9 to 10 AM Sundays: Kids’ Time on CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph.

Shows 18 & 19: Family Relationships parts 1 & 2

Sundays, February 21st and 28th, 2010. While I’m away from CFRU, please enjoy these pre-recorded shows or listen live on 93.3 FM in the Guelph Area.

The early years with Teresa Pitman: http://cfrufamily.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/show-10-family-relationships/

The teen and later years with Julie Wise: http://cfrufamily.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/show-11-family-relationships-and-teens/

Thank you ‘stine for filling in for me while I take a 2 week vacation from radio. She does Wake Up! a Friday morning 7-9 ET show on www.cfru.ca: http://www.nothingisfinal.com/

I’ll be back on March 7th with Sharon Lewis and “Managing Meltdowns”. I’ll be enjoying this time to focus on upcoming shows, workshops, projects, and more training and practice in Restorative Circles (http://www.restorativecircles.org/)

As always, please email questions and show ideas to family(at)compassionatesolutions.ca.

Show #11-Family Relationships and teens

Aired Sunday, January 3, 2010 || 8 to 9 am ET

Julie Wise is a life consultant and relationship coach, and the author of her forthcoming book “Dream BIGGER:  Reclaiming a Life of Joy and Ease”. She works with individuals, couples, families and workplace teams to build relationships, strengthen communication, and ease transitions. Julie shares her thoughts about being there for our kids as they grow up and make mistakes, making rules collaboratively, and seeing the family as a team. Contact Julie at: 519.894.1330

Why is listening to our kids so difficult for parents to do sometimes?

When we don’t hold our temper and we’re not as patient as we would like…then what?

In what ways do our teens learn from their mistakes?

What do we do when our kids just want to push our buttons for fun or to feel empowered?

What can you do when you don’t have a trusting relationship and you already have a teenager?