It’s the witching hour–when you are trying to get dinner made–and your four-year-old son is whining that there’s nothing to do.  You walk with him to the playroom, only to find that he has dumped out every bin of toys, yet can’t seem to find anything suitable to hold his attention. Unable to face the mess of Legos, cars, Magformers, and stuffed animals that are now strewn everywhere, you simply close the door to the playroom and pretend it doesn’t exist.  You turn on the TV to keep your little man occupied, and you wonder, What new toy should we get him for Christmas that he will actually play with? If this scene sounds familiar, this episode is for you.  I invited Tana Parke, a mother of five children and a semi-professional organizer, to share three strategies for keeping our kids’ clutter at bay.  Our discussion includes exciting topics, like: * Why you should hide some toys from your children for a while * Who might be happy to receive some of the little trinkets that your kids have collected (it’s not who you think!) * How to teach your kids to think critically about whether or not they actually want a new toy or trinket * Why The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up doesn’t work for children (and how you can modify it!) * How to allow your children to have some “treasures” while also keeping them from being hoarders …and much more!

"At any given point, you can say, 'This is not how the story is going to end.'" Cate Johnson shares three small but significant changes that transformed their home environment.

This week, my family has been through a terrible loss: the death of my son’s birthmother, Katie.  We’ve had an open adoption with her and she became part of our family over the last seven years. We are grieving deeply, and I couldn’t go on with business as usual on the podcast; so I took a break from our usual show format to record some thoughts on how we can find hope, even in the darkest of trials. Listen in as I share three scriptural phrases that gave me strength during my long battle with infertility and the ups and downs of the adoption process.  Whether or not you’re religious, whether or not you’ve ever adopted, I think these messages of hope will uplift you.  They are universal. * Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. * He gives unto them beauty for ashes * When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Hold your families close this week.  Much love. In Memory of Katie Rose Stratford

Is your child’s life at school a bit of a mystery to you? Amanda Hamilton Roos' mission is to help families bridge the divide between home and school and build strong, effective partnerships. In today’s podcast, she shares three easy steps for forming a “working relationship” with your child’s teacher.

Ralpie Jacobs, a parenting expert, teaches us three principles to help us control our anger and increase patience and love in our homes

Jennifer Brimhall, a mother of five and the founder of the website Raise the Good, teaches us how to surround our children with good role models whom they will want to emulate.