Shows
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastInspiring Cooperation in Your ChildrenPhoto Courtesy of Dudley Dana In this fantastic new episode of the Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast, John tries to inspire Sara to be more cooperative. You can guess how well that works. As the usual Sara-John dynamics fly, you’ll learn about three situations that tend to elicit children’s defiance, how children’s styles may make them more or less cooperative, general principles of inspiring cooperation in children, and specific techniques you can try out with your children. You’ll also hear Sara ask John, “Is it wrong for me to stalk my children?” and Sara will share h...2019-07-2429 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastTeen LoveWhen John mentions the title of this episode of the Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast, Sara emits the sophisticated professional response of “Eewww gross.” Don’t worry. Things get better from there, because you get to hear a wide range of strategies for teaching children about healthy relationships, including Sara’s super-secret and bizarrely named strategy called “the spinach in the muffins technique.” You also get to hear several inappropriate self-disclosures, unfair accusations (as in when Sara says John just wants to reminisce about his Teen Love experiences), the Romeo and Juliet effect, and how much Sara’s teenage boys look forward t...2019-02-2224 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastHelping Children Deal with Fear and AnxietyJohn begins this episode feeling nervous, mostly because he has unrealistic expectations about wishing to solve everyone’s anxiety problems with one podcast episode. Fortunately, because Sara is a genius, she immediately helps John feel better about his unrealistic expectations . . . although Sara also immediately makes it so John regrets calling her a genius. As the podcast continues, Sara also shows that she’s not only a genius, but that she is also a neurotic mom who has instilled bizarre fears in her children. (Actually, Sara’s children’s former fear of sharks in the University of Montana pool weren’t really h...2018-12-1823 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastWhy Kids Lie and What to Do About ItWhen it comes to boastful lying, there’s no better example than Penelope, one of Kristen Wiig’s characters on SNL. Penelope is incessantly popping up here and there, basically lying her ass off. The purpose of Penelope’s lies appear relatively straightforward. She seems to be insecure on the inside, therefore, she boasts and brags about her amazing accomplishments, constantly “one-upping” anything that anyone else says. On second thought, maybe there’s another fictional-nonfiction character who does her one better in the lying department, but let’s not go there. This Practically Perfect Parenting podcast on lyi...2018-11-3026 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastSibling RivalryTwo brothers, ages 7 and 9, were arguing over an imaginary cookie. In a dramatic turn of events, the older brother brought the invisible cookie to his lips, and took an imaginary bite. Immediately, the younger brother fell to his knees, crying and wailing over the loss of this imagined—yet highly coveted and presumably scrumptious—cookie. In this Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast episode, Dr. John and Dr. Sara attempt to unravel the mysteries of sibling rivalry and discuss how it can serve an important purpose. They remind listeners that, although an understandable fantasy, eliminating conflict is not a reasonable goal. Instead...2018-10-1127 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastThe Secret...Like the Dead Sea Scrolls, this podcast was thought to be lost forever. Then, somehow the universe returned it to us. As a lost, but freshly rediscovered relic, it includes massive secrets that are about to be unleashed on society. The good news is that you could be the first of your friends and families to hear this secret, life-enhancing message. Listen carefully. Listen closely. Listen with purpose. This podcast will transform your life. 2018-07-2024 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastThe Secret Self-Regulation Cure (Seriously, this time)For this Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast you should just let yourself relax, let go of all expectations, and tune in. You can even practice being bored, because one part of the secret to self-regulation is that it’s all about embracing your boringness (Spoiler alert, Sara gets bored at the end). Another way of putting this, is that the deep secret to self-regulation (which John shares in this episode) is to repeatedly focus on one comforting thing that is—or becomes—boring (for you science types, that means focusing in on one comforting stimulus). Another big part of the secret...2018-06-0727 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastThe Secret Self Regulation CureIn today’s episode, Dr. Sara begins by imagining what it might be like if children, teachers, coworkers, parents, and even world leaders, were able to regulate their emotions. John is so inspired he starts to sing a song from the Beatles, "Imagine all the people living life in peace...," unfortunately (or fortunately) he does a little on-air self-check and remembers that breaking into song isn’t on the agenda. What IS on the agenda, however, is John and Sara explaining the 5 crucial steps parents can follow if they want to help their kids learn to navigate the big world...2018-03-2626 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastBehavior Modification: To Use or Not to Use-That is the QuestionBehavior Modification: To Use or Not to Use—That is the Question! Parenting is difficult. Parenting is also wonderful. As parents, most days we’re reminded of parenting challenges and joys. In today’s episode, Dr. Sara and Dr. John talk (and John dons his professorial persona and talks too much). Sara and John they talk about adding the crucial tool of behavior modification to your parenting toolbox. Don’t worry, we know how the idea of “behavior modification” can feel to parents; it can feel too sterile and mechanistic. The expectation isn’t for you to use behavior m...2018-02-0131 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastOn the Road: Q and A with Students from the University of MontanaOn the Road with the Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast: Q and A with Students from the University of Montana One day, Sara woke up tired; she was tired of always having to go to a studio to record the Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast episodes. She emailed John and Mike (the sound guy) and suggested we take the show on the road. So we did. Mike put lapel microphones on Sara and John, and set up a standing mic for 50 students in Ariel Goodman’s “Intimate and Family Relationships” class (Counseling 242). The good news is that we got some f...2018-01-1515 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastParenting in the Age of Trump... and Dealing with Other Challenging Role Models Parenting in the Age of Trump . . . and Dealing with Other Challenging Role Models Here’s a quick parenting quiz. Question: “How do you spell opportunity?” Answer: “T-R-U-M-P” Regardless of your politics, most of us American parents agree, there’s more profane and disgusting information leaking out of the media and into our children’s brains than ever before in the history of time. This information comes from Twitter, late night comedy, football, and the weather; it’s everywhere and it presents a direct challenge to American family values. What’s a parent to do? In this episode, Dr. Sara and Dr. John take on the Tru...2017-11-1325 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastWhy Parent Spank Their Children and Why They Should StopWhy Parents Spank Their Children and Why They Should Stop What do you feel when your lovely child misbehaves and then the misbehavior continues or repeats? What happens when you feel terribly angry and just want to make your child’s behavior stop? What happens if you spank your child . . . and then . . . much to your relief, your child’s annoying behavior stops! In this episode, not only do Dr. Sara and Dr. John discuss the negative outcomes linked to spanking, John also annoys Sara so much that she takes the impressive step of turning off his microphone. Will John ever get to...2017-10-2320 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastHow to Listen so Parents will Talk, and Talk so Parents will ListenIt would be nice to know everything. And if you have children, it would be nice to know about all the wild parenting adventures awaiting you. But you don’t know. You don’t know because there’s no special instruction manual that comes along with the birth of your first child. In this Practically Perfect Parenting episode, we talk about all things parenting education, because parenting education is the best substitute for the absence of an instruction manual; it might even be better, because parenting education is experiential, responsive to your needs, and way more supportive than a book. ...2017-10-0227 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastTechnology as a Barrier and Bridge to Healthy Family RelationshipsThis OPENING episode of Season 2 of the Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast is positively packed with information and tantalizing tips. TECHNOLOGY and SCREEN TIME is a huge issue for many parents. In this captivating episode, Dr. Sara and Dr. John are talking back to technology; they’re saying, “Hey technology, we’re taking you down! Well, not really. But the episode does include a range of AMAZING insights and tips to help parents understand and deal with the dangers and opportunities of technology and screen time. When you tune in, be sure to listen for: Dr. Sara’s obsession with usi...2017-09-1525 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastWhy Youth Sports Makes Parents CrazyWhy Youth Sports Makes Parents Crazy In this—the final episode of Season One—Dr. Sara and Dr. John talk about how youth sports can be the royal road to emotional problems for parents. Highlights include: (a) a discussion of how easy and natural it is for parents to get overemotional about their child’s athletic performance; (b) ideas for emotional preparation; (c) the sorts of bad advice parents can yell from the sideline (but shouldn’t!); and (d) insights from Coach Collin Fehr, who, with his newly minted doctorate, shares the “best thing” for parents to remember. Ot...2017-05-2923 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastYouth Sports: Opportunities, Benefits, & Advice for ParentsYouth Sports: Benefits, Opportunities, & Advice for Parents In this action-packed episode, Dr. Sara gathers important insights about youth sports from a parent and two young athletes. Then, she treats Dr. John with contempt (not really) because he doesn’t understand the term “Capitalization” (that’s true), and later she has to put John in time-out because he gets all agitated and uses the words “pissed off” while just talking about soccer referees. More importantly, Sara and John share a variety of concrete tips for parents. . . and, if you listen to this episode, you’ll be able to answer the questi...2017-05-1523 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastHow Parents Can Help Children Deal with GriefHow Parents Can Help Children Deal with Grief In our last podcast Dr. Sara and Dr. John, teamed up with Dr. Tina Barrett from Tamarack Grief Resource Center as we answered some questions about how to talk about death. This week, we go from talking to doing, as we invite Dr. Tina back, this time to discuss how parents can help children deal with grief. After Dr. Sara and Dr. John check in on each other’s grief memories, Dr. Tina shares more of her infinite wisdom on how we, as practically perfect parents, can help support ou...2017-05-0229 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastTalking with Children about Life & DeathTalking with Children about Life & Death In keeping with our “Big Talks” theme, this episode focuses on how parents can face and manage conversations about death with their children. Beginning with memories from their childhoods and concluding with money tips and resources, Dr. Sara and Dr. John ramble from practical tips to philosophical truths. Best of all, sandwiched in the middle is an interview with Dr. Tina Barrett, executive director of the Tamarack Grief Resource Center in Missoula, MT. Dr. Tina opens with a quote from Mr. Rogers, encouraging parents to provide their children with honest and simp...2017-04-1823 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastTeens & Depression Teens & Depression In this episode, Dr. Sara and Dr. John take on the serious topic of teenage depression. There are no laughs or giggles, but you’ll get to hear Sara ask John a rapid-fire series of many questions about teen depression, which is sort of funny. Her questions include: (a) how parents can distinguish between depression and normal sadness, (b) whether anti-depressant medications are effective, (c) what sorts of therapies might be helpful, and many more. John dazzles with trivia (what percent of children “recovered” from their depressive symptoms in the first-ever double-blind, placebo-controlled study of antidepressant medications?) and yes, on...2017-04-0326 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastWhen Teens Talk BackWhen Teens Talk Back In this episode, Dr. Sara decides to consult with Dr. John about her hypothetical “friend’s” teenage and pre-teen boys, who coincidently, happen to be the same ages as Sara’s own children. Other than being a disastrously bad consultant, John ends up complaining about how disrespectful our culture is toward teens. This leads Sara and John to affirm that, instead of lowering the expectation bar for teens, we should re-focus on what’s great about teenage brains. Overall, this turns out to be a celebration of all the great things about teenagers . . . along with a set of guid...2017-03-2030 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastLet's Do The Sex Talk AgainLet's Do The Sex Talk Again Would you rather have your child learn about sex from Fergus, the unsupervised kid down the street . . . or from internet pornography . . . or from YOU? We hope you can see that the answer to that question is obvious. In this episode, Dr. Sara encourages you to become an “askable parent” and to get comfortable shouting out the words “vagina” and “penis,” instead of avoiding the topic. She also shares the clever line: If you’ve got a protective cover on your phone, you should have a condom on your penis. Although it’s important for...2017-03-0626 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastPost-Partum Depression – It’s Harder than You ThinkThe American expectation is that pregnant women and new moms will be happy and fulfilled. But the reality is that approximately 20% of pregnant women are diagnosed with depression during pregnancy. So what happens when pregnancy and childbirth bring along the storm clouds of depression? In this Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast episode you’ll learn more about post-partum depression and hear writer and founder of Postpartum Support International, Jane Honikman share a universal message to families. You’ll also understand why now is always a good time to support pregnant women and mothers. This podcast is brought to you by The C...2017-02-2023 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastDivorce and Shared ParentingGetting a divorce isn’t part of the fairy tale family story. No one who gets romantically connected and has children plans on getting divorced. In this PPPP episode, Dr. John and Dr. Sara discuss the divorced children’s bill of rights. In the process, they provide information to help parents make positive family adjustments to a divorce and shared parenting situation. If you want to hear John’s “Stupid-Ass Parenting Class” story, Sara’s rules on post-divorce dating, and the polarized parenting syndrome, you should listen to this episode. This podcast is brought to you by the National Parenting Ed...2017-02-0627 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastLove, Sex, Babies, and HappinessIn this Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast, Dr. Sara starts off by spoiling the romantic hopes and dreams of everyone—including Dr. John. Instead of embracing fairy tale relationship patterns that include love, sex, babies, and happiness, Sara offers a rather depressing list of reasons why having children tends to decrease relationship satisfaction. Fortunately, later in the show she also provides a list of excellent ideas and solutions that should give us all hope for the happily ever after ending. John’s role in this episode mostly involves him scratching his head and asking Sara what the heck she means by “...2017-01-2326 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastThe Challenges of Step-ParentingStep-parenting is like walking a tightrope. You don’t want to be in the biological parent’s shadow, but, at the same time, you know if you try taking over as mother or father, you’re rocking a family boat that’s already unstable. Also, you want to be loved and respected, but you know love and respect don’t happen instantly. In this podcast, Dr. Sara and Dr. John talk about four big step-parenting challenges and offer tips and resources to help make it so step-parents don’t fall off their parenting tightrope. This podcast is brought to you...2017-01-0925 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastSleep Well in 2017 & BeyondHigh quality sleep drives nearly everything; it improves your memory, enhances emotional stability, and contributes to good health. This means that nap-time and sleeping through the night is equally good for children and parents. In episode 5, Sleep Well in 2017 and Beyond, Dr. Sara Polanchek shares her personal story of being an exhausted parent and how she turned to sleep to turn her life around. Our special guest, Chelsea Bodnar, M.D., a Chicago-based pediatrician and co-author of Don’t Divorce Us: Kids’ Advice to Divorcing Parents, will tell you how she gets her children to sleep and why sleep depr...2016-12-2627 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastGet Curious, Not Furious: Discipline Again & Again, and Some More.All children misbehave—at least sometimes. You know that. You also know your particular child or children will misbehave; it might even happen every day. And you know how to use positive discipline—partly because it was covered in the two previous episodes of the Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast. Why then, when your child misbehaves, is it so easy to get mad and so difficult to be a thoughtful and positive disciplinarian? In this episode, Dr. Sara Polanchek and Dr. John Sommers-Flanagan discuss why children misbehave and how to solve obstacles to healthy discipline by . . . getting curious, not furious. To m...2016-12-1223 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastPractically Perfect Positive Discipline Part 2Practically Perfect Positive Discipline Part 2. When a child misbehaves, parents often just react. Sometimes these reactions come in ways that we regret later. How do we stop reacting to bad behavior and doing the things that just don't work? This podcast picks up with strategies for parents to use when dealing with children and behaviors that are less than ideal. This allows us to keep our calm when children act out. This episode is brought to you by the National Parenting Education Network, Families First, and The Charles Engelhard Foundation. Keywords: Parenting, Children, Families, Family, Dis...2016-11-2827 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastPractically Perfect Positive Discipline Part 1Discipline is something that so many parents can struggle with. How do we as parents teach our children to make smart choices? Does it have to be my way or the highway? This are just some of the many topics discussed in this three part series as we explore the ideas and myths surrounding discipline and children. As always this podcast is brought to you by the National Parenting Education Network, Families First and the Charles Engelhard Foundation.2016-11-1426 min
Practically Perfect Parenting PodcastDear Mom & Dad Please Be My Parent & Not My BestieNobody is perfect and kids don't come with an instruction manual! Some of the most challenging and rewarding life experiences come with children. Sure we want our kids to like us, and we also know that ice cream for breakfast is not always a sound choice. In our debut podcast we explore the difficulties parents can face when we confuse the roles of parent and best friend. This podcast is brought to you by The National Parenting Education Network, Families First and the Charles Engelhard Foundation.2016-10-3025 min