Gotta Love Family Podcast

Learn how to connect every day in simple and doable ways.

Everyday Learning Ideas for Every Family 10/11/2026

Everyday Learning Ideas for Every Family Some time ago, I read an article called “Afterschooling,” written by a mom who was also a teacher. The idea is simple: learning doesn’t stop when the school day ends. Parents can use after-school hours, weekends, and summers to help kids stay sharp, fill in gaps, or stretch further when they’re ready for more. It works whether your child is homeschooled or attends a private or public school, and it’s especially helpful for the child who needs more than the classroom can give. What interested me was how ordinary the ideas were. Join me as we explore some wonderful ways to have fun and learn as a family. They will keep you connected. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/43246153

Five Principles of Power Series – Real Life Planning 09/27/2026

Five Principles of Power Series – Real Life Planning At a webinar on the , I gave the attendees an assignment to determine which of the principles they felt most resistant to. I received a hilarious email from an attendee. It was hilarious, but also sobering. The principle that caused her to cringe was planning ahead. In her email, she related all the ways that she was constantly interrupted and why planning anything was a disaster. After a conversation, she sent me this email: "I appreciated you addressing my hang-up with preparation. I felt much relieved and empowered after our talk. Thanks for helping me see through another set of eyes!" Join me today as I let you in on what I shared with this distressed mother. It will be life-changing because real-life planning isn't what you think! /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/43037573

Five Principles of Power Series – The Wizard of Oz Moment 09/20/2026

Five Principles of Power Series – The Wizard of Oz Moment When my youngest daughter was getting married, we went announcement shopping. Shopping is not on my list of enjoyable activities! We stopped at a couple of places, choked on the prices, and then found the perfect thing. It was way out of our budget, but being crafty, we can do anything, sort of women, we decided we could recreate it ourselves. We headed to my sister's home for a second opinion. While we were talking about photos, my sister mentioned she thought people looked better in black and white photos. An animated conversation took place over her comment. The enormity of seeing black and white move to brilliant color in the movie The Wizard of Oz surfaced. Join me as we explore how to move family activities from black and white to color and how doing so changes everything. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42961628

Practicing Calm — Holding the Chaos A Series Part 5 09/13/2026

Practicing Calm — Holding the Chaos A Series Part 5 Long ago, after a day that started at 7:00 in the morning and didn't end until 1:30 a.m. the next day, my daughter, Jodie, said, "Mom, it's probably a real blessing that you have the grandkids so much. It gives you lots of material for your writing." LOL We were preparing to teach a room full of sixth graders how to make gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. It took over ten hours of preparation. It was a gift to the kids for a fundraiser they'd put together to help with my granddaughter Maggie's therapy. However, a big project doesn't pause the rest of life. So how do you manage a day filled with children that doesn't end until the next morning and remain calm? Join me as I share what I did. It is doable for anyone! /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42852195

Practicing Calm — What the Boys Taught Me - A Series: Part 4 09/06/2026

Practicing Calm — What the Boys Taught Me - A Series: Part 4 Many of us, without a plan, default to raised voices. We want calmer homes, but when the moment comes, we go straight to frustration and yelling because that's the response we're used to. Staying calm comes from knowing, ahead of time, how to respond when things are out of control or don't meet our expectations. Join me as I share two real-life stories that illustrate perfectly that staying calm requires a plan and that with a plan you can do it. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42793675

Practicing Calm — It's Better to Laugh Than to Cry – A Series: Part 3 08/30/2026

Practicing Calm — It's Better to Laugh Than to Cry – A Series: Part 3 In today's podcast, I share two real-life examples that illustrate how important it is to laugh and find humor in hard situations. When you do, it can make all the difference. You will love the stories and I bet you will relate. Join me and learn more about the art of remaining calm when parenting. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42595960

Practicing Calm — The Time-In – A Series Part 2 08/23/2026

Practicing Calm — The Time-In – A Series Part 2 The little boy, three years old, was out of control, a temper tantrum of sorts. I didn't know what he wanted, but I could tell he felt desperate to have whatever it was. His mother was using a calm voice, talking to him, holding him gently while he twisted and screamed, then leading him away. I could tell that many of the onlooking adults felt upset with her. Why wasn't she doing anything about this terrible tantrum? Why didn't she make him stop? That little boy was my grandson, and his mother is my daughter, Jodie. We were at a family reunion, and this wasn't his first outburst. He was three, that difficult age when a child is learning to control his impulses, to be patient, to wait. It's tough. Today I share how to manage better when others judge your parenting and how to stay true to your decision on how to parent. I will also teach you about the Time-In. An amazing idea for helping children manage big emotions better. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42523805

Practicing Calm — The Honey Bucket - A Series 08/16/2026

Practicing Calm — The Honey Bucket - A Series I used to think staying calm with my children was and move past, something I'd graduate from once they were grown. I know better now. Right now, I'm caring for my 96-year-old mother, who has dementia, and I'm finding myself back in the same classroom I thought I'd left decades ago. The stories in this series are from long ago, mostly from the years when my children were small, or my grandchildren were underfoot. But I keep coming back to them, because the lessons in them are just as true today as they were then. I hope these stories feel less like advice from someone who's arrived, and more like company from someone still on the road with you. Staying calm isn't a skill you master once and keep forever. It's a practice. And you never know when life will hand you a new season that puts you right back in the classroom. I was reminded of that recently when I came across an old story from years ago, back when my grandchildren were small. It's a good reminder that the practice never really ends, and that's okay. Join me as I share the story of the Honey Bucket and its powerful message on calm parenting. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42448440

Learning in Disguise 08/09/2026

Learning in Disguise A friend of mine, a mom with several young children, told me recently that her kids' favorite thing to do is play dress-up. They want to do it all day long, even the boys. Of course, it makes a glorious mess. As we visited, she asked me about the value of this interest she was seeing in her kids, and it opened up a wonderful conversation. Today I will share some effective ideas on how to harness the joy of dressing up and learning in a family activity. They work for little kids and teens. They can be so family-connecting! /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42320345

Finding Your Two Mites 08/02/2026

Finding Your Two Mites My sister Cindy has a job caring for a man with dementia. As I know well, this can be an overwhelming and consuming responsibility. Here was her text to me: "Mary, I need advice. Taking care of D. is draining me. I didn't go to the temple all week. I'd leave his house, and I had nothing left. He wants to be with me constantly. When I'm cooking his food, he stands right next to me, and I have to move away. He asks me what he should do about everything. It's exhausting." After some pondering, because I do know firsthand what this is like, here was my response: "No matter what our current mission, we can survive and even thrive, but we must revive." Today I will be sharing some real-life examples of how to survive caring for and interacting with others: the elderly, kids, teens, and those we work with. It can be challenging unless we have ways to revive after hectic days. Join me and begin to thrive! /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42271345

Stop Fixing the Cookies! 07/26/2026

Stop Fixing the Cookies! When you're engaged in a project, what matters to you? For many adults, it's the outcome. When children are engaged in a project, what matters to them? For the most part, it's the process. There is real value in stepping back and allowing our children to create without worrying about the outcome. Any time we foster the skills of creation, thinking, and problem-solving, we are helping our children on the path to becoming capable, confident adults. Join me as I share some stellar examples of what stepping back from the outcome looks like and how it can bless the children in your life. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42175605

Drunken Snails and Other Miracles 07/19/2026

Drunken Snails and Other Miracles When I moved from Montana to Utah in my late 50s, something stopped me in my tracks. The realization that , no matter the circumstances or the people involved. This hit me hard. I couldn't blame others for how I felt! I was mad and honestly didn't want it to be true. But I am a learner, and the thought wouldn't leave. As I learned and accepted the truth of this statement, my life began to change. I wanted that same growth for my children. Join me as I share my 29-year-old son Andrew's experience. It is enlightening and fun. Especially the part about the drunken snails. : ) /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42107600

Two Mintes and a Moment of Stillness 07/12/2026

Two Mintes and a Moment of Stillness I had a deep, interesting, and moving conversation about learning to slow down and being still with a friend, Melissa. This is something I've been tutored in for over a decade, but it still isn't a habit for me. I'm a mover, shaker, and finisher. Stopping and stillness are not part of my natural energy. Join me as I share what my tutoring has looked like, how it has gone, and the challenges and blessings of working on stillness. It has been enlightening. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/42040715

Spark Station Letters: Keeping Kids in Your Heart (and You in Theirs) 06/27/2026

Spark Station Letters: Keeping Kids in Your Heart (and You in Theirs) When my daughter Marie's children were young, I wanted to stay connected between visits. We only saw each other a couple of times a year, and I wanted more than that. While working on a presentation about , the idea came to me: why not write Spark Station Letters? The idea was simple. I would write letters to my grandchildren sharing something that interested me — a word, a historical figure, a current event, a family story. Something that might spark a conversation in their home and keep us woven into each other's lives. It worked beautifully. Marie told me the kids were all ears when she read the letters aloud. They'd re-read them on car trips. She saved each one in a separate book for each child. She also mentioned that I was frequently sharing values and teaching life lessons — which I hadn't even realized I was doing. Today, I will share some sample letters I wrote to children I loved and show you how you can do the same. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/41850000

I Thought I Had Committed (I Hadn’t) 06/21/2026

I Thought I Had Committed (I Hadn’t) In January, my daughter Jodie gathered a group of friends to work on having a better outcome in 2026. We listened to an interesting by Daniel Pink. The premise was that structure beats willpower. We each determined what we regretted from 2025 and how we could do better in 2026 to avoid repeating our mistakes. My regret was not getting my writing in until the last minute. I regretted that because it fed this old story — there is no time in my life for me — and it led to feelings of resentment toward those I care for. I placed my lack of consistency on them and their needs. Here's something I shared early on in one of our conversation threads: "I have a hard time doing my own things even when I try. I do my personal morning routine, but it's interrupted, and I usually don't get any writing done. For the last four days, I rarely sat down, and tonight I didn't even get to eat my dinner until 8 pm. No TV, no internet, no reading, no loafing, just serving and doing what's necessary. I oversee what I choose to do, but I'm obviously doing something less effectively than needed." Today I will share what was causing my dilemma, what I needed to change, and how life-changing it has been. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/41705880

The Pink Refrigerator-A Book About a Spark Station, Of Sorts! 06/07/2026

The Pink Refrigerator-A Book About a Spark Station, Of Sorts! I received this email in the early days of teaching parents how to use The Spark Station. “You may have seen this. It’s a picture book called The Pink Refrigerator by Tim Egan. This illustrates the secret of the Spark Station in an inspiring way. A junk dealer who likes to do–not much–finds a pink refrigerator that holds something new for him every day, and he gets excited about life and learning, closes shop, and sets off to explore the world. I thought you might enjoy this if you hadn’t seen it. Happy reading, Cathy D.” I was intrigued, so I went to the library and found the book. Cathy’s description was spot on. The Pink Refrigerator is . It’s a beautiful story about how we can inspire children to explore things that might not have occurred to them before. Today, I am sharing a personal experience of how experiencing new things can help children find the greatness inside themselves. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/41555115

The Traveling Spark Station – Holidays, Memories, and a Basket Full of Wonder Part 4 05/31/2026

The Traveling Spark Station – Holidays, Memories, and a Basket Full of Wonder Part 4 Holidays have a magic that no other topic quite matches. Children feel them coming weeks in advance. They carry memories, traditions, food, and family stories all bundled together. They are, in many ways, the punctuation marks of a child's year, the moments against which everything else is measured. I can remember family holidays when I was a child, and my children still talk about theirs. That's what makes them perfect Traveling Spark Station territory. In this final installment, Part 4, of the series on The Traveling Spark Station, we're going to look at six holidays that have found their way into my Traveling Spark Station over the years. Some are eagerly anticipated. Some are barely on a child's radar. Those turn out to be some of the most fun, because there's nothing quite like introducing a child to a celebration they didn't know existed. Every holiday has a story. Every holiday has something worth knowing. And every single one of them is better when you explore it together, so join me for some real-life examples of the fun. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/41479610

THE TRAVELING SPARK STATION – WIDE-EYED AND WONDERING Part 3 05/24/2026

THE TRAVELING SPARK STATION – WIDE-EYED AND WONDERING Part 3 Here we are — Part 3. If you've been listening along with and , you already know the rhythm. You pick a topic, you gather a few books, a simple activity or two, and maybe something to eat. You show up, and something small and good happens. Part 3 is where the Traveling Spark Station gets wonderfully wide. We're talking about the entire world — its creatures, its seasons, its countries, its history, and the people who shaped it. These topics help children understand that they’re part of something bigger than themselves: a family with a history, a country with a story, a planet full of remarkable things worth knowing about. Join me and lets have some fun! /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/41308130

The Real Problem With Kits Isn't The Kit 05/17/2026

The Real Problem With Kits Isn't The Kit While working with individual families, this question came up often - should I let my kids use kits or have them work from scratch? I had listened to speakers and read articles that said absolutely no kits. By then, I had stopped living in a black-and-white world. I had learned to take my family, their needs, as well as my own, into consideration when deciding what was good for connection and learning. I had gotten brave enough to say, "I'm the expert in my home." I surely didn't know everything and still don't, but I observed, pondered, and used my good sense. With that in mind, listen to what I'm sharing today about using kits with kids, and then do what's right in your home, with your kids or grands. You will be surprised and enlightened. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/41308000

5-10-26 The Traveling Spark Station - Numbers Needles & Faries Part 2 05/10/2026

5-10-26 The Traveling Spark Station - Numbers Needles & Faries Part 2 Welcome back. If you heard , you already know that the Traveling Spark Station isn't about content — it's about being present. It's about showing a child that the person standing in front of them finds the world interesting and wants to explore it together. In Part 2, we're going to explore two areas that might surprise you: math and the arts. I say "surprise you" because math has a reputation for being dry and intimidating, and the arts sometimes get dismissed as less important than "real" subjects. The Traveling Spark Station disagrees with both of those ideas. Math is everywhere — in the cookies you're counting out, the nails you're hammering, the fractions in a recipe, the shapes on a walk around the block. When you make math real and connect it to something a child already loves, it stops being a subject and starts being a tool. And the arts? Creativity, imagination, and making things with your hands are among the most powerful ways children (and adults) make sense of the world. From crocheting white blood cells to building fairy houses in Yellowstone, you'll see exactly what I mean. Pack your basket. Let's keep going. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/41198635

A Spring Story - A Principle Taught 05/03/2026

A Spring Story - A Principle Taught It's spring — that season of newness, freshness, and quiet beginnings. It seemed the perfect time to share a story from Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards' book The Daffodil Principle, because it beautifully illustrates something I've come to believe deeply: that lasting change happens 1% at a time. Not in grand gestures or overnight transformations, but in small, consistent efforts that grow into something magnificent. Join me as I share portions of a story that illustrate that we make a difference and leave a legacy 1% at a time. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/41124320

THE SPARK STATION – IT TRAVELS Part 1 04/26/2026

THE SPARK STATION – IT TRAVELS Part 1 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, uncles, family friends, anyone who wants to show up and really connect. The Traveling Spark Station is simply a basket, bag, or box filled with books, supplies, and simple activities built around a single topic. You choose the topic. You pack what you need. And then you go. Join me as I give you dozens of fun ideas to connect by using The Traveling Spark Station. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/41015395

The Spark Station: Bringing It All Home 04/19/2026

The Spark Station: Bringing It All Home 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 like and want to be with does. The Spark Station is a tool to help you accomplish that. Join me as I share the disaster that taught me the Five Principles of power and how the Spark Station worked in a room with 140 small children. You're going to LOVE this. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/40905405

The Spark Station: Bringing It All Home 04/19/2026

The Spark Station in Action_ Real Families, Real Results Part 2 04/12/2026

The Spark Station in Action_ Real Families, Real Results Part 2 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. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/40808720

The Spark Station in Action: Real Families, Real Results Part 1 04/05/2026

The Spark Station in Action: Real Families, Real Results Part 1 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 those two months shaped everything I now teach about the Spark Station. What I found was this: the tool itself wasn’t the problem. The principles behind it were. Join me as I share stories and examples from these real families that illustrate how and why the Five Principles of Power work. I want to convince you that these rules work, not just in learning but in family connection and fun. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/40730005

The Spark Station - Everything You Need to Know to Build One 03/29/2026

The Spark Station - Everything You Need to Know to Build One 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 learn to read directions, I had to go back to the beginning and learn to connect the skill with the actual execution of a pattern. The same is true for the Spark Station. You may have heard me mention it, but hearing about it and actually creating and using one are two different things. During April, I’m going to give you the instructions you need. Today, let's look at the basics - why it's called the Spark Station, what a Spark Station is, and the rules for success. You're going to LOVE this! /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/40649885

Five Principles of Power Series - The sunday Box 03/22/2026

Five Principles of Power Series - The sunday Box /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/40484225

3-15-26 From the Archive - A Fun and Messy Easter Tradition 03/15/2026

3-15-26 From the Archive - A Fun and Messy Easter Tradition “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 family established this tradition. If you keep them in mind when dying Easter eggs, things will go smoother. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/40429645

3-8-26 From the Archive - Panoramic Sugar Eggs Your Family Can Make 03/08/2026

3-8-26 From the Archive - Panoramic Sugar Eggs Your Family Can Make 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 your family make some fabulous Panoramic Easter Eggs. /episode/index/show/gottalovefamily/id/40307760

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