Valentine’s Day is coming up quick! Are you getting that special someone flowers this year? I would suggest you think about where you buy your flowers first before you plop down $20-$50 bucks on a bunch. They may look nice, smell great and appear beautiful, but they are leaving a brutal carbon footprint and they are actually full of deadly chemicals.

Do you want a Rose that has been dipped is pesticide or one that is naturally beautiful and grown in your own state? We interviewed Josef Reiter, the owner of Botanica Floral Design and talked about the difference between flowers grown in Portland or in your home town vs the ones that are imported into our country, which most are.

Do you actually know the process that flowers go through before you buy them at a supermarket and at many Floral shops? You will after this show and you will not want to buy certain types of flowers again.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Trudy Ludwig is a children’s author and focus on Bullying. She has written 7 books, including the award winning, “Confessions of a Former Bully”

Whether it was Relational Aggression, Cyberbullying or what is working in schools to combat Bullying and what is not, we talked about it. The State of Oregon has their policies in place but are they really helping? Bullying is a problem in our schools, but you will find out it’s not the only place to fix it. We leave you with tools and resources to help your children what can be a very difficult time.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Laura and I had one of those shows, where we didn’t agree. She was wrong. I was right. It got as heated as we often get on the show. She made her points, of which I totally sliced right through. However, the longer we talked, and I think that was always her plan, the more I began to see what she was talking about. But I am a stubborn man. At one point, I told her out loud, “I hate you.” Now that was not part of our vows 14 years ago, but it was part of this show. Find out why I said it and her reaction to it on this episode. You may find out that you want to say it to your spouse too.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You have a brand new beautiful baby. Changes are in store. Not just in the first year, but in the years to come. You will enjoy all the beautiful moments, but you might get frustrated by the lack of intellectual stimulation.

Jennifer Niesslein, co-founder of Brain, Child Magazine joined us to talk about some of the great stories they have put out over the last 12 years. Whether they are light and fun pieces or others dealing with Anorexia, Brain, Child Magazine creates a stimulating magazine every month that is worth it’s weight in gold to all parents. There is a reason that they call it the magazine for thinking mothers.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

In our Parenting Unplugged Radio program, aired on January 4^th, 2012, I brought up an idea called, “The Angry Jar”. It’s where anyone in our family who loses their temper has to put a small fee in case they “lose it”. For the kids it’s .25 cents, for Dad it’s $1. At the end of each week, we have a drawing to see who gets to keep all the cash. The idea was born out of two 12 hour car rides with the two boys and me. At times, it was pleasant. At times, I earned my two dollars in fines. So, we talked about ideas that might work to help us with our tempers. The boys and I came up with the idea of rather than taking something away, as in a toy or time or love, we thought money might be a way to do it. It would have two lessons, one about money and one about our temperament.

Todd Adams of Zen Parenting did not agree with this as an idea. But what the hell does he know? He’s raising kids in Chicago for crying out loud! I kid because I care. I went to school in Chicago and Todd is a very knowledgeable parent. In fact, more should listen to him.

The objective of this idea is to create awareness around losing your temper. If you have one, then you know. When you lose it, you usually don’t know how bad you did. You flip your lid. I have never really realized how loud I get or how mean I may be. Now the deal is, anyone in the family can call you out on it. To you it may not appear like a temper burst, but if someone calls you on it, then you have to pay the piper.

So, what is this teaching us?

Todd Adams, thinks this will teach kids to stuff their emotions. If he is right, then I should be awarded the Crappiest Parent of the Year award because stuffing emotions is what I learned to do most of my life. So his point could be very valid, because often we only copy what was done to us. However, I don’t think it will create that. I want to teach my kids about responsibility and accountability. I feel losing your temper is a good thing. However, I am not a fan of directing that anger at anyone else. It’s important to teach kids how to let it out.

I am hoping that the “Angry Jar” creates an opportunity for Pause. Because it is scientifically proven that if kids are able to stop and name their emotion, they don’t lose their temper. The Angry Jar is my goal to create a deterrent that creates that Pause. Maybe in that Pause, the kids and I will gather our thoughts, leave the room and go into our bedrooms and beat the crap out of our pillows or our bed. Better that than screaming at Mom.

Why did I choose money? I chose it because the boys understand that dollars can buy things and in our family if they want something special, they can use their own money to buy it. We are on a tight budget and if we bought a $1 toy every time we go to the store, we would be spending an extra $500 a year. This is not the last idea I will try with my kids and myself. There will be others in 2012. Keep listening to Zen Parenting for all of their great ideas and tips, while I also suggest you jump over to Parenting Unplugged Radio every now and again to see how and what we are doing. Plus, don’t forget what’s most important, share the shows with a friend. I look forward to your responses…

So, this was one of the tougher holidays Laura and I have ever encountered. You know about the death of Laura’s sister. But you don’t know the rest of the story. Today we tell it to you.

Drew, Connor and I gave Laura some space, and got out of town for 5 days. Our 12 hour car rides gave us time to think and fight as well. What came out of it? Maybe a parenting gem and maybe not. The Anger Jar has now set up camp in our house and while it had a lot of momentum early, it has slowed down a little.

What is it? What was the purpose behind it? Who is it really for? All of the answers await you in this episode. By the way, operators are standing by at our house ready to take your orders.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Goodbye Sweet Caroline.

The death of a family member is never easy. It can be especially difficult if it is your younger sister. Laura recently lost her sister Caroline, a young woman who had been battling with Bi-Polarism for almost half her life.

Everyone deals with grief differently and this episode is about the personal struggle that Laura has been dealing with and also the perspective of Todd, who has tried his best to be supportive.

Would you have handled this delicate situation the same way? Have you ever experienced anything like this? What are your tips for grief?

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Laura and I are not Jewish. We are not particularly religious, though we have our own relationships with Spirit. We have never shied away from learning from other religions and from other people. Today, we wanted to share something that we think all families should read together. Much of it may seem obvious, but if it was, then everyone would be doing it and they are not.

Linda Cohen is a Portlander, who lost her father a few years ago and being true to her faith of Judaism, she wanted to begin a mitzvah in his honor. So began a journey that took over two years to complete and 1000 Mitzvot later, Linda put together a beautiful book, 1000 Mitzvahs: How small acts of kindness can heal, inspire and change your life.

I have always thought that at the heart of Judaism, a beautiful community exists. Maybe people struggle with this religion because they feel excluded. If so, then here is your opportunity to put on your Yarmulke or Kipah.

Talk about the perfect holiday gift. This is something that will unite your family and could live on for generations as it speaks to the real person in all of us. Thank you Linda for travelling this path and sharing it all with us.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Laura was out with a sick child, so Todd took the helm and it’s up to you to decide if he crashed the ship.

Do you remember watching MASH as a kid? What a great show and Col. Potter was fabulous. Harry Morgan has died, he was 96. Todd gave him props. Also, earlier today there was barely any mention of it being Pearl Harbor Day. Is America forgetting about its heritage and what so many did on that fateful day? Plus a father wants his son to have Pot. The reason makes sense, some people’s reaction doesn’t. And should doctors be allowed to check a 9 year old cholesterol? Isn’t that a little young?

They were certainly topics that you can take to the water cooler tomorrow and as always, Todd was not short on opinions. It’s nice to be back.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Glenda Montgomery, a Positive Discipline Lead Trainer joined us to talk about the Physiology of Anger. We talked about “Flipping your lid” in adults. We talked about how it happens to your kids as well.

What is our job as parents when it comes to our kids and anger? Is it our job to shame them? No. It is our job to be their teachers and we can’t do that if we are yelling at them to stop yelling.

Parents are models and when we model the wrong thing, what do we do? Glenda responded to a bunch of issue that Todd and Laura are struggling with.

Learn how to self soothe and how that is so crucial to your own development and your child’s. Plus, can we model for our kids how to behave when they are angry? Yes.

And next time you are getting frustrated, ask yourself this. Do kids don’t come with knowledge of how to regulate their emotions. I think you know the answer. Enjoy the show.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.