Us and Kids: Parenting and marriage coaching with therapist, Jan Talen

Values are extremely valuable when it comes to understanding others.  They are also very valuable when it comes to communicating as a parent and within our marriages.   

But, we have to start with defining a value, and …

Happy Father's Day!  

Although, to be truthful, Dad's are needed everyday!  And so, today, we talk with 3 dads...all with 3 kids...about the highs, …

On today’s show, Rachel Johnson Greer will talk with us about what to look for in all those online purchases.  Her work in Amazon compliance and helping online sellers understand the manufacturing and distribution laws …

Welcome to the Us And Kids Podcast!

We are talking today about how to create smooth transitions  - for our kiddos, and for our selves.  It's spring, …

So, Mother’s Day has come and gone, again.  How are you?  Still so glad to be a mom or wondering how long you can hang in there with this mommy stuff?

Did you entertain all day, were you ignored most of the day, or did …

Yes, today’s show is for adults, (but still rated very G.)

Why?  Because staying in the adult-world after having a baby is very important to your …

On today’s show we are talking all about parenting, new babies, and pretzels.  Pretzels can represent hugs, give a way to pause and think, distract from the depression and anxiety that can swamp new parents, and help …

Are you struggling with the noise, tears and screams in your house?  A simple request turns into tempers, tantrums and trouble?

And, you are supposed …

Do you like to fight?...with your spouse or your kiddos?

On the show today we are talking about those fights that seem to just recycle, over and over.  Sometimes, it (seems) settled for years, or months - other times, …

Married, with kiddos?  What kind of reading are you doing - newsfeed, kids’ books, whatever is short and quick?   Reading is a skill we would be …

We all know that romance and roses are supposed to go together.  And we know that the romance can wear down, as the roses wilt.  And what fun is that?

Today’s show is about how to keep that treasured romance between the …

Tammi chats with us about how she knew her son (and family) needed more support - and how she pursued getting the right support to help Isaac reset …

Parenting little ones - are you kidding??  They just run all over me and wear me out!

In today’s podcast we’ll talk about kiddos - and how to enjoy them more, keep parenting doable and even have great kindness, insight …

U.S. …Us...together forever.  Or is it together, just barely?

Listen in for some great words using the two letters - U and S - to help your reset and upgrade your marriage into a great place of Unity and Strength!

Finally - or fastly - 2021 is almost done! We are into our 3rd year of bringing you bi-weekly podcasts to help you be married forever while you enjoy parenting your kiddos together! So, today, we’re going to round out …

So it's December. Do you feel a little bit crazy? Like maybe the world is always spinning and you try to jump on, but tumble off, embarrassingly. Or maybe from time to time you secretly bumble and jump off. Or do you …

Let me ask you, "Are you ready?"
"For what??", you might ask.
For learning about how to loosen up and lighten up, even in the midst of November and December.
What do you think when you hear those words loosen up, …

On today’s show, we're going to talk about napping. Now you can have all sorts of different emotional reactions around this, like, “Oh, I'd love to nap!”, or “They always nap way too long”, or “That kid who of mine does …

Have you had a heavy heart this month?  There are two intense life events that impact so many of us in October as it is both Breast Cancer and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.  Listen in to how the grief that …

On today’s show, we are going to be chatting with our special guest, Christi Gilbert. She is an awesome mom of 3, an education expert, and my oldest …

On today’s show, we are doing something a little bit different. I’ve brought on a few guests to be on the show today but they aren’t just any guests …

On today’s show, we're talking about how to help your kids be successful. We think of it in terms of how to help your kids be gritty. How do you help …

On today’s show, we are gearing up to send our kiddos back to school or preschool, or perhaps just a more structured schedule for the day in the …

On today’s show, we are pulling together the last seven podcasts where we listed "10 Tips" and are integrating those top tips with key ideas from our …

On today’s show, we are doing the last  of our "10 tips" in our series. This is podcast 99 moving into podcast 100 and I wanted to talked about intimacy, as we have not covered this topic very much.  Intimacy has lots …

On today’s show, we are going to talk about about 10 tips for playing as adults. So you might think at first, how is this different from playing as …

Forgiveness is messy, challenging and necessary. Often we believe that the hurt from "that person" will never leave me. We are scared and damaged for life because of what they did. We might believe that we will never be …

On today’s show, we're going to do 10 tips about talking. We're going to borrow some from the corporate world and the neurophysiological world. We …

On today’s show, we are talking about how do we listen well?
What are some tips for helping me just listen a little better?
Sometimes it's a little harder during the summer time because it's hot outside and we're …

Kids: playing, making messes, being loud and noisy!  Really it could just give us adults all a headache. Or could we relax as we realize how …

So today we're going to start  a series of 10 Tips.  Our first topic will be about summer health.
And then, the next 5 weeks we will include tips …

Today we're going to talk about the letter A. We're going to start by talking about anger and then add other A words that both lead away from anger in a negative way or in a more sad way and lead away from anger into a …

On today’s show, we are talking about how my marriage has lasted 42 years and one week. Last week was my 42nd anniversary to my husband Chip. We have known each other for 45 years and so I took a little walk back …

I have a little announcement today.
The date of this is podcast being released is the 42nd anniversary of my marriage to my husband, Chipper. You're right, usually we call him Chip. I get to call him Chipper. Anyways, …

On today’s show, we are using the DNA method to explore empathy. We are going to need to Define our desires or a dream. And that means today my dream or my desire is being emotionally connected with my family and with …

On today’s show, our topic is all about using our imagination to build confidence. This is a timeless podcast because we whether we are adults and …

On today’s show, we're going to talk about being honest. Now, honesty can come in many forms, right? Honest to ourselves, honest with others, honest about our emotions. When you hear the word honest, or when someone …

On today’s show, we’re going to talk about anxiety. Anxiety is, physiologically, a sense of overwhelming concern, or worry when there doesn't seem to …

On today’s show, we're talking about, "How can I help?" Or, "How can I support?" So, we're going to work our way through the word SUPPORT in an acronym sort of way.  This time we are going to look at each letter briefly …

It takes a lot of courage to stay married forever while you parent together and it also takes a lot of encouragement to do that. The DNA method of communication often talks about this need for having courage and that …

Courage...have you used yours all up??

Sometimes we have to “just do it” - and it doesn’t really matter if we feel courageous...we have to do it anyways.

So, what components of courage did you use to make it through, …

On today’s show, we're going to talk about Easter. But, we're also going to fit that into our desires, and the skills that we need to achieve our desires. This is not a highly spiritual, Christian podcast in terms of …

On today’s show, we are going to talk about trauma. Not many of us like to think about it, but probably all of us have it. And trauma impacts families, it impacts marriages and impacts us as individuals. And yet I feel …

So today’s show, we are going to talk a little bit more about the DNA process. We’ve been talking a lot about marriages lately and when I wanted to do was say, okay, let’s pay attention to those kiddos. So we’re just …

Today I'm glad you joined us becausewe are tying together the last threepodcasts aboutupgrading your marriage so that it will last forever, while you also become more awesome parents taking care of your kids together.

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Today we are talking about the last three of the eight core or necessary pieces that we know to make the DNA in our marriage and our family life really strong and healthy. You and I both know our marriages are very …

Last week we looked at the values that we bring into our relationship and how those values build up the basic structure of our relationships with our kids or even with our spouses. So today we’re going to look a little …

In today’s show, we are focusing on building up the skills we need for helping our marriages and our families regardless of the messiness of life. Today we are going to talk about DNA and we are looking at DNA within …

On today’s show, we are diving into shame and responsibility and it’s going to apply both to you as a husband or wife, and how you interact with your kiddos. We’re going to start by talking about yourself because so …

On today’s show, we are wrapping up the last part of a 5 part series we started in January about how to stay married forever while you parent together - not one or the other. Today we are talking about KISSes. Of …

We are carrying on with the series that we’ve been going through each week in January about how to have a fresh start after 2020. So today, we’re on chapter 4 and we’re talking about exploring and expanding because a …

On today’s show, we are carrying on with our series that we kicked off 2021 with. This series is about how to reset from the mess of 2020. This week we are going to talk about routine and overwhelm. How do routines help …

Calm is a four letter word, you know!  And we all know the frustration in trying to feel, be and experience calm when life is anything but calm! 

So, three actions that can settle the noise, energy and tension down, no …

On today’s show, we are starting out the year by talking about marriage. When we developed the Us and Kids  platform, and later the DNA for Fun Communications Course, we wanted to really be able to encourage these two …

It’s just past Christmas day...and like most other traditions and truths there is a fabulous story to go along with this tradition of Christmas. So, …

On today’s show, we are talking about finding ways to end the year well. When we feel that in many ways this year has been bumpy, there have been anticipations and disappointment and adjustments that just seem nonstop. …

On today’s show, we are talking about anticipation. This can be a negative or positive word depending on if we are expecting the best and good or expecting and planning on something unpleasant or undesired. …

On today’s show, we’re going to talk about kids. Yes, those little monkey’s that climb all over your furniture. Those little things that spill and don't seem to care or wonder why you do so much. Sometimes it feels like …

Hey Dad!  Do you love those words, ignore them (because you are not a Dad), or cringe to be bothered once again?

Being a Dad throughout this year has …

So, it's Thanksgiving week! A week to give thanks for all the good things that we have in our life. Perhaps, if you're lucky, you get to go Black Friday shopping, or Cyber Monday shopping!

But, for some of us, this year …

On today’s show, we’re going to talk about happy hour. Now you might think “Happy Hour?  I have to leave the house for that and I haven’t done that …

On our show today, refridgerators are the topic of conversation!  We know that cleaning them is usually not much fun - too much to move, touch and decide about!  

And much our life, when we look through what we have, …

On today’s show, we are talking about something that each one of us at some point in our life or another thinks “That wasn’t the wisest thing I could …

On today’s show, we are talking about salt and emotions, and what does one have to do with the other? So let’s just think for a minute about salt. It’s been around for ever and ever, and so have emotions. It has a …

On today’s show, we are talking about how to parent healthy children - emotionally healthy children. This is not so much about the food that we feed them, although we know what we feed them impacts their moods and …

Losing a little one before you have time to hug, hold, play and watch grow is one of the hardest things that a parent (or your friend) may ever have …

On today’s show, we are going to talk one more time about emotions - in comparison to our muscles. We’ve been talking a lot about emotions - and EQ - that emotional intelligence. You’ve probably noticed that we have a …

On today’s show, we have my friend and fellow marriage professional Mark VanDellen, who is going to talk to us about the six things we need for getting our marriage started well and keeping it running smoothly.

Mark …

On today’s show, we have my good friend and fellow marriage professional Mark VanDellen joining us. He knows all about emotional intelligence and we are going to talk all about how to become more emotionally smart.

This …

For today’s show, things felt a little different in the fact that I felt like I had nothing to say. But once I dove into the “I have nothing to say”, my brain dove into the feeling that I have all sorts of things to say.

On today’s show, we are going to talk about our kiddos and come at it from the angle of parenting. We have to make sure we understand what is …

On today’s show, we are taking a little more lighthearted approach and we’re talking about keys. More specifically talking about car keys but we will start out with just keys in general. We use keys for things like our …

On today’s show, we are talking about the big topic of going back to school. I know going back to school for our kids right now and for us parents …

On today’s show, we’re going to do something a little bit different. We have gone through all of our podcast episodes and picked the top 5. In the beginning of this podcast we talked about the first 5 years of married …

On today’s show, we are talking all about regression and stress. These can be really scary and overwhelming words. Knowing the why, the where and the what-to-do can really help settle down the worry that comes with …

On today’s show, we are talking about depression and how that affects our lives. Depression can make us feel really dead. Not like dead as in not alive, but dead alive but not able to engage in life. So our lungs can …

On today’s show, we are talking about conflict resolution and what it looks like in parenting and marriage. Conflict resolution is a mouthful of …

On today’s show, we are talking about goals and setting goals. We go into how to do that and why to do that, and if that’s even possible when you’re raising kids and trying to stay married. A lot of times our goal might …

On today’s show, we are talking about big emotions in our kids. Last week, in episode 44, we talked about the adult brain and big emotions. There we …

On today’s show, we are talking about feelings - a pretty normal part of our life. At some points over our life and even 2020, we have ones we don’t really know what to do with. Where do those big feelings come from? …

On today’s show, we are talking about feelings - a pretty normal part of our life. At some points over our life and even 2020, we have ones we don’t really know what to do with. Where do those big feelings come from? …

On today’s show, we are talking about feelings - a pretty normal part of our life. At some points over our life and even 2020, we have ones we don’t really know what to do with. Where do those big feelings come from? …

On today’s show, we are talking all about boundaries. It’s hard to believe that half of 2020 is done! Do you just feel overrun? The kids do what they want, don’t want to do what you want them to do...and cooperation is …

On today’s show, our topic is about fathers. I know Father's Day just passed last week and so we just wanted to let you keep thinking about it. There can be a lot of pressure around dads. And sometimes it's important to …

On today’s show, we're talking about a hole in our bucket. I'm curious, do you know this song? It's about two characters - Henry and Eliza. Henry has …

On today’s show, we’re going to talk about donuts. What does National Doughnut Day have to do with being married forever while you parent together? National donut day is on June 5th or the first Friday of June every …

Is it possible to keep sweet love alive for a lifetime?

Is it possible to move from sweet to sour and back again?

Or to make a really stale and stagnant relationship significant and supportive again?

So many questions - …

Is it possible to keep sweet love alive for a lifetime?

Is it possible to move from sweet to sour and back again?

Or to make a really stale and stagnant relationship significant and supportive again?

So many questions - …

On today’s show, the topic we're talking about today isn't necessarily a really happy one. But it's a rather common one. And the topic is about grief or loss for a child and how they experience it, but also how we can …

On today’s show, we are doing things a bit differently. We aren’t going to focus on our marriage, nor are we going to talk about parenting much. What we are going to be diving into is us, and how that can inevitably …

On today’s show, let’s be certain about what we’re talking about - uncertainty. There is so much going on and changing every day in our homes, our …

On today’s show, we're moving on to part two of this two part series. In the last podcast, we were talking about Velcro. We talked about how to be connected with your spouse, and about how to clean up those connections …

On today’s show, we're going to talk about Velcro and about staying connected. So I have a question. Do you think your home life can just naturally get better without any outside support? I know that you keep on trying …

On today’s show, we are talking about couches, couples and connecting. After a long day at work or maybe endless hours together at home, it can feel easy to grab your phone and sit down next to each other on the couch. …

On today’s show, we are going to be keeping up with topics that are timely with everything going on. We are talking about what is happening in your home, with what is working or not working to keep those relationships …

On today’s show, we are going to be discussing things that are affecting the entire world right now. In times of crisis and uncertainty, it can be easy for us to get ourselves worked up and use certain slang out of …

On today’s show, we are taking it back to the times and memories of when you and your partner first fell in love. What were those feelings like? What about them made your heart skip a beat? So many things in our lives …

On today’s show, we talk about all the changes that we have to make. How do we make them and stay an adult? Sometimes there are so many changes. They …

On today’s show, we're going to talk about adjusting to life changes and what happens to our kids. We all know, life changes and usually not when we want it to. And, if we have littles, then life changes for them too. …

On today’s show, we are talking about the good old fashion nap. You know, the one during the day that isn’t quite those long overnight sleeps? We are …

On today’s show, this is going to be an interesting episode especially if you are a new parent. We are going to be talking about infancy and adding an infant to our lives and family. It’s not always an easy adjustment …

On today’s show, we are talking about all things anxiety! How do we get it? How do we handle it? What do we do when we freeze and can hardly think? How does anxiety affect our kiddos and what does it look like in them?

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On today’s show, we are going to talk about what it means to be a parent. We all have different things come to mind when we think about what it’s like to be a parent. Some people think exhaustion, others might think …

On today’s show, we are learning how your brain best receives love so that it can sink into your heart and being is good to know - and good for …

Like an entryway rug, our relationship gets daily use and can easily get beat up and looking pretty ratty. But, with some attention to daily details, your relationships can stay strong, steady and even pretty. Join us …

On today’s show, the question is, have you looked around your house, your garage, or your bedroom lately? Have you thought, what a mess? I sure wish …

On today’s show, we're talking about something most people like to avoid talking about—depression. Depression can affect many of us for so many reasons and in so many different ways. The reason depression leaves us …

On today’s show, even though we are 14 days into the new year, are we still thinking and talking about resolutions? So much has happened this year …

On today’s show, in honor of National Sleep Day, we'll take some time to remember why sleep is so important. And why getting to sleep can be so …

On today’s show, we are celebrating the last day of the year as we bring in the New Year. It’s often hard not to get up in the “year in review” mode when we get to the end of the year. It can be important to look back …

On today’s show, Christmas is right around the corner, so for many of us presents are on our minds. Are you ready? Are the presents wrapped? Or has frazzled and weary got your heart and mind?  Does staying home to sleep …

On today’s show, we're talking about how raising our kids is like building gingerbread houses. There are so many fun, messy and challenging parts of …

On today’s show, we’re talking about how relationships can be tricky and just when we think we’ve figured them out they grow and change. So many of us want to feel that our relationships are steady, dependable and …

On today’s show, we’re talking about all the things we lose in our day to day lives. When we lose things, no matter how small or insignificant, how do you react? Do you think you’re losing your mind and get mad? Do we …

On today’s show, we're in the season of celebrating Thanksgiving this week. The holidays can put an emotional and relational impact on your …

On today’s show, we're talking about why writing is so important for good mental health, family health and marriage health. Many of us get caught up in the thought of sitting down and having to write things down. Our …

On today’s show, we are discussing something that is important in any relationship - how to apologize. Sometimes things can get messy and we need to …

On today’s show, we’re talking about how one simple and small action we can take each day can make a huge difference. That one little step many of us may love or avoid doing is making our bed. We often don’t realize the …

On today’s show, we are talking about something that can be hard to talk about but something that is necessary to bring awareness to. When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, there is a lot of uncertainty in their …

On today’s show, we are talking about PETS and how they relate to our marriage. In our day-to-day lives, there are so many things that can put us into a negative mindset. It’s hard to not let our anxiety and negative …

On today’s show, we talk about the hard topic of miscarriage and losing a child. Miscarriage is never an easy thing to go through no matter when it happens. We often feel as though we are alone because no one talks …

On today’s show, we are talking about ✨ANNIVERSARIES✨ and all the ways we celebrate them. I’ve been a marriage and family therapist for many many years. Anniversaries matter to so many people around us, our family, our …

On today’s show, we are talking about the sweet and juicy topic of berries and how they can resemble our kids and families. When we think about our gardens and the variety of fruits we might be growing, we hardly ever …

Today on our show, we are getting into part 2 of our series: Alive After Five. On the last episode, we discussed what happens in the first five years of raising our kids.Today, the discussion is all about our marriage …

Today on Us & Kids, we're focusing on the number 5 and why it’s important in the connections in your marriage and with your kids. We are going to be talking about the first 5 years of raising a child.

The struggles and balancing acts that we can perform, or try to perform to keep all these relationships connected and healthy can be amazing - or crazy.  At Us & Kids you will have good, short chats about what …