Libsyn Directory

THE SPARK STATION – IT TRAVELS Part 1

Gotta Love Family Podcast

When my daughter, Jodie’s, children were young, I lived two blocks away. When I was caring for them in my home, they loved . But I wanted to connect more often, so for several years I would take my Spark Station traveling to their home. I didn’t stop there. I took it to Washington and Colorado to connect with my faraway grands. I used it at events with children. I wanted a better connection with all the children in my life. It came to be called the Traveling Spark Station. This four-part series is for anyone who loves a child but doesn't live with them every day — grandparents, aunts,...

The Spark Station: Bringing It All Home

Gotta Love Family Podcast

When I developed the Spark Station, I thought I was helping parents learn to use a useful tool for connection, learning, and fun. What I spent most of my time doing was helping parents see their children differently — helping them stop seeing their children as burdens, responsibilities, or problems to be solved. My mission became helping parents adjust their sight and hearts, to see their children with new eyes. When we see differently, we behave differently. When we behave differently, we get new results. Willpower isn't what makes a home a heaven. Seeing our children as people we genuinely...

The Spark Station: Bringing It All Home

Gotta Love Family Podcast

When I developed the Spark Station, I thought I was helping parents learn to use a useful tool for connection, learning, and fun. What I spent most of my time doing was helping parents see their children differently — helping them stop seeing their children as burdens, responsibilities, or problems to be solved. My mission became helping parents adjust their sight and hearts, to see their children with new eyes. When we see differently, we behave differently. When we behave differently, we get new results. Willpower isn't what makes a home a heaven. Seeing our children as people we genuinely...

The Spark Station in Action_ Real Families, Real Results Part 2

Gotta Love Family Podcast

Last week, I shared an experiment I did with real families using the Spark Station. I reiterated the five rules that make everything else work and shared real family experiences for three of those rules. Today, we will cover the last two rules. I am also going to address what to do if it isn't working for your family and how to manage the hard days. Join me as I round out all the information so you can begin to find successful family connection with this fun tool.

The Spark Station in Action: Real Families, Real Results Part 1

Gotta Love Family Podcast

I want to tell you about an experiment I did years ago. I had been talking to families about the Spark Station and quickly realized that something wasn’t clicking for a lot of them. They liked the idea, but it wasn’t working the way it should. I could see clearly that these parents were missing the vision of the real power this tool could have in their homes. So, I decided to test what I knew worked with real families — five of them, over two months. The families were wonderfully different from each other. I talked face-to-face with parents and children, and what I learned from...

The Spark Station - Everything You Need to Know to Build One

Gotta Love Family Podcast

When I was in fifth grade, I learned to crochet. It wasn’t easy to learn. I had never done anything like it before. I felt all thumbs, and it wasn’t always easy to conceptualize what it was I was supposed to do. With time, I did learn, and I made a small purse. My teacher coached me through almost every row until it was done. I still have that purse. The next hurdle was learning to read actual directions. Yikes. It was like reading Greek. I had learned how to crochet, but without a teacher constantly at my elbow or being able to read the directions, I couldn’t really use my new skill. To...

Five Principles of Power Series - The sunday Box

Gotta Love Family Podcast

3-15-26 From the Archive - A Fun and Messy Easter Tradition

Gotta Love Family Podcast

“Mom, come on. It’s almost Easter, and we need to color the eggs.” These words were spoken in a voice of desperation and a full two weeks before Easter. I love and this egg-dying ritual was one of ours. Some years went better than others, but each one brought us closer as a family. Each one tied us together in a bond that exists today. Traditions matter to children. These are the things that they can depend on: certain foods on the table at holidays, special activities done year after year, and favorite people gathered together. Let me share some Easter egg-dying tips I learned as our...

3-8-26 From the Archive - Panoramic Sugar Eggs Your Family Can Make

Gotta Love Family Podcast

I’ve taught hundreds of children to make sugar eggs. I taught two groups of kindergartners every year for over 15 years. I taught children how to make sugar eggs in Girl Scouts, community groups, and for the city in Laurel, MT. I traveled to Colorado to help over ninety children in my grands school classes. I flew to Washington, where more grands lived and helped many other children, do the same. It has become an in our family, and . Join me as I share a hilarious Easter experience making these eggs with kids, and also a wonderful spiritual comparison. I share the directions so you can help...

Learning Play - Math and Science Through Levers

Gotta Love Family Podcast

Some children love math and science, while others find these topics unenjoyable or uninteresting. My grandson, Ben, was interested in both. He spent time on the computer looking up science questions rather than playing outdoors. As a child, I wanted to understand both math and science. I was intrigued by them, but my learning style made both very challenging. I had children who weren’t interested at all! Math and science are important subjects that our kids will encounter in school, regardless of their educational setting, whether public, private, or homeschool. What can we do to respond to...

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