Wire Talk With Karen Stubbs

Today we’re answering questions from those of you who’ve decided to homeschool your kids for the first time this year. From how to choose a curriculum to managing the needs of toddlers and school-age kids at the same time, Wire Talk’s producer, Katie Leipprandt, shares her insights and experience from homeschooling her four children for the past 6 years. Whatever your school situation looks like this year, we hope this episode reminds you that in spite of imperfect circumstances, God will equip you with everything you need.  Head HERE for links to everything mentioned in today's episode!  

Preparing our kids for puberty and sex does not have to intimidate us, mommas! If the thought of having “the talk” gives you all kinds of anxiety, tune into today’s episode to hear some straight talk from Karen. In this episode we cover talking about sex, modesty, and the physical changes our kids will be going through. As usual, Karen reminds us moms that we may not be perfect, but we are the perfect parent for our child!

Disciplining a toddler is no joke. As moms, we want our discipline to work the first time and every time, but as Karen reminds us, toddlers take time. If you need some encouragement to stay the course with your toddler, tune in today and take heart!

Plans for school this year are changing daily in school districts around our nation. One thing we know for sure this year? We have no idea what to expect! That’s why we brought Dr. Chinwé Williams into the studio today, to ask for her thoughts both as a therapist and as a mom, about how we can handle our own anxiety surrounding going back to school and how we can help our children navigate these strange days.

By this point in the year, it seems like everyone has had more than enough ‘quantity time’ with our families…but summer is still going strong! Today on Wire Talk Sunny and Karen answer questions from moms whose families are getting a little edgy from all of the time spent together. From how to give some structure to your summer days to how to teach your children boundaries, Karen shares wisdom on keeping your sanity as a family during this unusual summer. Love Wire Talk? Double tap the Subscribe button so you never miss an episode! 

Beth Rosenbleeth of Days with Grey joins Karen and Sunny today to talk about keeping your toddlers engaged in play during these long summer days. If you've ever found yourself wishing for nap time by 9am, this is the episode for you! Hear Beth share her philosophy and practical tips for beginning your morning with intention, so you can fill your child's creative bucket and lead them toward independent play for the rest of the day.

Today wraps up a month of diving into the vault to re-air some of our most popular episodes. In this episode, Karen and Sunny are answering all of of your questions about "yellow" kids. Yellows are bubbly, affectionate, fun loving...and they can be exhausting! If you've ever wished your child would just stop talking, this is an episode you don't want to skip.  Wondering what color your child is? Try taking our temperament quiz with them in mind: birdsonawiremoms.com/quiz.    

All month long, we're re-airing some of the most downloaded episodes from the Wire Talk vault: Today Karen and Sunny address questions from listeners all about the blue, or melancholy, temperament. Organized, thoughtful, loyal, precise - our blues have so many strengths! From how to balance their need for quiet with your family's activities to addressing their mood swings without catering to them, this is one episode packed with practical advice for all you moms of little Eeyores! 

All month long we're re-airing some of the most downloaded episodes from the Wire Talk vault:  Peaceful, easy-going, conflict avoiders...however you describe them, to a parent who doesn't understand their motivations, "green" kids can be a mystery. Today Karen and Sunny discuss teaching our greens to take responsibility for themselves and how we can help them handle the pressures that come along with high school. If there's a green in your life, we think you'll learn something new when you tune in.

All month long we're re-airing some of the most downloaded episodes from the Wire Talk vault!  On Wire Talk today Karen and Sunny take questions about your little future president; how do we effectively discipline them? How do we establish our authority without crushing their spirits? How do we teach them to harness their innate confidence without being aggressive or coming across as a bully?  We hope this conversation gives you practical tools today to parent your headstrong child with confidence.

All month long we're re-airing some of the most downloaded episodes from the Wire Talk vault. In today's interview Sunny is joined by one of our most popular guests, child psychologist David Thomas. During their conversation David addresses your questions about the emotional needs of our kids. Sunny and David cover when to lean in and when to back off, how to discern what is hormones and what is normal behavior and David gives loads of practical tips to help you navigate the outbursts. Whether you're dealing with anger, sadness, anxiety or frustration in your kids, we think you'll hear something today that equips you to respond with grace. Love this episode? Double tap subscribe so you never miss an episode of Wire Talk! 

Today’s topic is one all moms can relate to - whiny kids! Whether your child is 4 or 14, listen as Karen answers your questions about how to handle whininess in the moment and how to nip it in the bud for good. Can't get enough of Karen? Become a Patron today and gain access to our monthly podcast, Real Life Real Moms! 

The Stubbs girls got together for this special episode to discuss the way quarantine has changed daily life. From job losses and pregnancy to missing out on the end of her senior year of college and travel opportunities, the girls share the challenges they are still walking through and what God is teaching them in this season.  Love Wire Talk? Double tap that subscribe button so you never miss an episode! 

In this episode, we’re sharing exclusive audio from a live event featuring both Karen and her husband, Greg. Listen in as they teach on the topic of staying united as a couple and share a few tools you can use today to communicate better in your marriage. Love this episode? Share it with your spouse! Our full curriculum for married parents, Parenting Together, is available for digital download on our site. 

Beth McCord (@YourEnneagramCoach) joins Karen and Sunny today to dive into the popular personality typing system, the Enneagram. We loved hearing Beth’s perspective on what makes the Enneagram such an effective tool for understanding ourselves and learning how we can use that knowledge to empower our parenting. Be sure to check out the show notes for links to the many resources Beth shares!

From getting up in the middle of the night with babies to staying up until the wee hours because your teen wants to talk late at night, this mom-gig is literally 24/7. On today’s episode we cover sleep regression, Saturday morning tussles over who has to get up with the kids, and dealing with parenting solo when your spouse travels. Sunny and Karen answer your questions and offer tips so you can be there for your kids, no matter what time of day it is. And don’t miss Karen sharing a prayer prayed over her many years ago that still brings peace whenever Greg is away to this day. If you want more Karen in your earbuds, sign up today to become a Patreon supporter! Receive a new episode of our Real Life, Real Moms podcast each month as well as gain access to intimate Q&As with Karen and other fun surprises! 

We’re back this week with a continuation of this fantastic conversation about ADHD with Dr. Staci Bolton. Today Dr. Bolton answers your questions about treatment alternatives to medication, how to help your teen develop stronger executive functioning skills, and how to discipline when ADHD is a factor. Don’t miss Dr. Bolton talking about how girls with ADHD Inattentive often fall through the cracks. Loving Wire Talk? Double tap that subscribe button so you never miss an episode! 

Today Karen and Sunny ask clinical psychologist Dr. Staci Bolton your questions all about raising a child with ADHD. Dr. Bolton brings years of wisdom and expertise to this conversation, including her take on the difference between ADHD and a typically developing active child in the early years, the misdiagnosis of ADHD,  and practical strategies for families dealing with the difficult dynamics ADHD can introduce into sibling and parent relationships. This conversation was so rich, we've split it into 2 episodes so you have time to digest all of the information Dr. Bolton shares.  Loving Wire Talk? Leave us a review and be sure you're subscribed so you don't miss Part 2 of this conversation! 

Karen and Sunny gathered virtually this week to talk about how COVID-19 has changed life for us all this month. They talk about the highs and lows, from having more meals together as a family, to feeling overwhelmed by the kids' questions all day long. Stay tuned til the end to hear Karen's encouraging word for us from the book of Job.  We would love to be praying for you specifically during this time, you can share any prayer requests with us on our Facebook page, our staff prays over each one of those!

Today's episode should give us all hope. Moms, this is what we are all aiming for - the stage when we finally get to be our child's friend! As your child begins to stand on their own two feet, help maintain a great relationship with them by tucking away the tips Karen shares during this rich discussion.  If you have enjoyed this series on Wire Talk, make sure you are subscribed and share it with a friend!  And if you want more Karen in your life, become a member of our Patreon community for exclusive episodes each month and intimate Q&A sessions with Karen!