Family planning can be a tough topic. How many kids should you have? When should you have them? We don’t have all the answers, but we’re discussing it in this episode. We also discuss our kids’ new favorite toy and why we’re not fans.

We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community. Thanks for listening!

Follow GTG on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/givethemglitterpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@givethemglitterpodcast 

Substack: givethemglitter.substack.com/

Joshua’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/joshuaahouston

Threads: threads.net/@joshuaahouston

LesLeigh’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/herwrittenstyle 

Threads: threads.net/@herwrittenstyle

In this episode, our son tells us what he wants to be when he grows up. We asked him one night at dinner, and now we think we are raising a super villain. Also, with the election going on right now, there are so many politicians telling you what your family should look like, according to them. Well, guess what? We think your non-traditional family is perfect just the way it is!

We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Follow GTG on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/givethemglitterpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@givethemglitterpodcast 

Substack: givethemglitter.substack.com/

Joshua’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/joshuaahouston

Threads: threads.net/@joshuaahouston

LesLeigh’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/herwrittenstyle 

Threads: threads.net/@herwrittenstyle

In this episode, we’re talking about COVID. The COVID years were hard for almost everyone, especially for families, and we’re going there in this discussion. Parents were adjusting to working from home while kids were adjusting to learning at home. Teens missed out on milestones like attending graduation and prom. The last four years have been a difficult time to be both a parent and a kid, and we’re unsure if we’ve collectively healed as a society or if we’re all just accepting a new normal.

Below are some of the ideas that spark much of the conversation around this episode:

• Work disruptions 

• Family disruptions

• Disrupted social life

• Disrupted childhood 

We’d love for you to join the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

In this episode, we’re getting real about something many of us struggle with as parents: the fear of messing our kids up. That fear motivates us to be better, but that fear can also have the opposite effect. We all want to be the perfect parent, but where does that desire come from, and is it even possible? 

Below, are some of the questions that spark much of the conversation around this episode:

-In what ways can the fear of 'messing up' our kids affect our relationship with them?

-How does fear (birthed from our childhood) shape our relationship with our kids?

-Does social media help or hurt us in our parenting?

-What are some effective ways to shift the focus from 'not messing up' to fostering a positive and nurturing environment?

We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

It seems like there are a million different parenting styles out there, and there’s a lot of pressure to choose the right one. In this episode, we’re discussing whether or not a parenting ‘style’ is important, and what it might look like to empower our children to have a voice in how they’re parented. Below, are some of the questions that sparked much of the conversation around this episode: Should we label our parenting style? Should parents create home environments where children feel empowered to contribute to decisions and express their opinions? How do we balance teaching our kids while giving them autonomy? What do you believe are the long-term benefits of partnering with your kids in their raising? We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

This is a special episode dedicated to fathers! If you're a parent, there's a good chance you've seen at least one episode (or many) of Bluey, a famous Australian children's television series that follows the adventures of a lovable Blue Heeler puppy and her family. In this episode, we're talking about lessons we, as parents, can learn from Bandit and Chili Heeler. Happy Father's Day to those celebrating! And to those who find Father's Day challenging, our thoughts are with you.

Below are some of the points that sparked much of the conversation around this episode:

• The power of play with your kids

• The power of being in the moment 

• The power of being around and present 

• The power of parental teamwork and trust 

We’d love for you to join the GTG Community! By hitting the follow button, you'll become part of our ever-growing community of parents, where you can share experiences, gain insights, and build connections. Your support is invaluable to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

In this episode, we delve into the complex world of apologies. We explore the challenges parents face when apologizing to their children, reflecting on our own experiences and the dynamics of apologies in our childhood homes. We also discuss the barriers we encounter when trying to teach our children healthy conflict resolution. Join us as we navigate these difficult but crucial conversations.

Below, are some of the questions that spark much of the conversation around this episode:

• Do you learn more about apologizing through it being modeled or taught?

• What are some of the barriers or mental blocks we face in being able to apologize as parents?

• Understanding the power dynamic in your relationship with your kids.

• How do apologies contribute to building trust and strengthening the parent-child relationship?

We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

This episode offers a unique perspective on the challenges of raising children in the digital age. We delve into topics such as managing screen time and ensuring online safety, providing practical tips to help navigate the complexities of modern parenting. Join us as we explore strategies for fostering healthy digital habits and balancing technology use within your family.

Below are some of the questions that sparked much of the conversation around this episode:

• How do we lead by example and model healthy digital habits?

• How do devices and screens affect communication, bonding, and quality time together?

• How do we balance wanting to share our family moments online and our privacy concerns?

• How can we acknowledge and leverage the positive aspects of technology to support our children's development, foster creativity, and enhance their sense of connectedness with others?

We warmly invite you to become a part of the GTG Community! Simply click the follow button to join our ever-expanding community of parents. Your support is invaluable to us! Could you spare a moment to leave a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the most effective ways to help us grow this amazing community of parents. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

In this episode, we're delving into the very real and prevalent issue of parental burnout, a challenge that 62% of parents, just like you, say they grapple with, as reported by Today. The demands of raising children can often leave us feeling isolated and lonely, a sentiment echoed by 66% of parents.

Join us for an honest conversation on the exhausting reality of parenthood, as we discover what is exhausting us as parents and how to combat burnout while loving our children well.

Below, are some of the questions that spark much of the conversation around this episode:

• Why are we so burnt out?

• Are we putting too much on ourselves?

• What would help to not feel so burnt out?

• What are some healthy ways we combat this?

We ‘d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Welcome to the Give Them Glitter podcast! In this episode, we delve into the complex realm of parental emotional expression. With the digital age inundating us with countless parenting standards, it's natural to second-guess our responses to our children's actions. One of today's paramount parenting challenges revolves around navigating the fine line between showing too much or too little emotion.

Join us as we explore the multifaceted dynamics of showing emotion as a parent, reflecting on the familial environments that shaped us and contemplating how our emotional health influences our children's trust and emotional well-being as they mature.

Below, are some of the questions that spark much of the conversation around this episode:

• How does cultural background influence parental approaches to emotional expression with children?
• Reflecting on your upbringing, what aspects contributed to emotional health?
• What societal pressures contribute to the rise of emotionless parenting?
• How can parents authentically express emotions while modeling healthy emotional behavior for their children?

We ‘d love for you to be a. part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Are you a better parent to your second kid than you were to your first? We definitely feel this way sometimes. There is a comfort level with the second that just doesn’t exist with the first. In this episode, we talk about this and how, just because you are a different parent to the second, you aren’t showing favoritism or preferential treatment. In many cases you are just wiser.

Welcome to Give Them Glitter! GTG is not your average parenting podcast. We aren’t parenting experts. We’re just parents who want to have meaningful conversations about parenting. We don’t follow a particular parenting style, and we discuss everything—from toddlerhood to adulthood and everything in between. The main goal here is to raise emotionally healthy kids. Join us every Monday for a new conversation on parenting!

In this episode, we discuss how a Ted Cruz commercial led to Joshua going viral on Threads. We also discuss angry cowboys and their ‘opinions’ and share community comments and our recent parenting wins. 

We’d love for you to join the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Follow GTG on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/givethemglitterpodcast/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@givethemglitterpodcast 

Substack: givethemglitter.substack.com/

Joshua’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/joshuaahouston

Threads: threads.net/@joshuaahouston

LesLeigh’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/herwrittenstyle 

Threads: threads.net/@herwrittenstyle

Sometimes, it really is your own kids! In this episode, we discuss our feelings about kids’ unfiltered thoughts and opinions—they are even rude sometimes! Then, we talk about why Taylor Swift is a good role model for our boys.

We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Follow GTG on Social Media:

Instagram: instagram.com/givethemglitterpodcast/

TikTok: tiktok.com/@givethemglitterpodcast 

Substack: givethemglitter.substack.com/

Joshua’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/joshuaahouston

Threads: threads.net/@joshuaahouston

LesLeigh’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/herwrittenstyle 

Threads: threads.net/@herwrittenstyle

We’re back! We’ve been working on things behind the scenes for the last few weeks and enjoying the rest of summer break with our kiddos. In this episode, we’re telling you what we’ve been up to lately. We also discuss what happens when our kids turn the tables on us and tackle a hot topic among parents: screen time. 

We’ll also want to acknowledge the tragic school violence that occurred in the week before this video went live. For resources on how we can end this violence, visit https://momsdemandaction.org/.

We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Follow GTG on Social Media:

Instagram: instagram.com/givethemglitterpodcast/

TikTok: tiktok.com/@givethemglitterpodcast 

Substack: givethemglitter.substack.com/

Joshua’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/joshuaahouston

Threads: threads.net/@joshuaahouston

LesLeigh’s Social Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/herwrittenstyle 
Threads: threads.net/@herwrittenstyle

Have you ever used AI as a parent? In this episode, we make some confessions about the gross sides of parenting and ask Chat GPT for parenting advice on air. Join the conversation and listen in on what Chat GPT has to say about a healthy diet for toddlers, craft time, and more. 

We’d love for you to join the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Parenting is hard, and sometimes, you just have to laugh about it. In this episode, we’re doing just that and discussing the funnier and more common aspects of daily life in parenthood. Raising tiny humans doesn’t come with a manual, and there’s a lot of stuff no one prepares you for.

Below are some aspects of parenting we talk about that can be a joke sometimes. - Endless Snacks - Messes Everywhere All the Time - Kid Logic

We’d love for you to join the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Education is a hot topic among parents and teachers. Parents, justifiably so, want to be sure their kids are getting an education during the 7-10 hours they spend at school. Educators want parents to understand that healthy learning habits should be encouraged outside of school, as well as in. In this episode, we sit down with Principal and author, Greg Wilkey, to discuss all things school. 

Follow Greg Wilkey on Social Media:

Facebook: facebook.com/greg.wilkey.9

Instagram: instagram.com/wilkeywrites/

Greg's Website:

https://www.wilkeywrites.com/

Use the link below to order Greg’s books he’s written!

Amazon Link: amazon.com/stores/Greg-Wilkey/author/B008NZ533S?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_6&qid=1722208054&sr=8-6&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Society and culture have long dictated fashion. Attaching clothing to gender roles, however, can limit self-expression. In this episode, we’re exploring the history of clothes, how clothing has differed among genders/s*xes throughout human history, and how gendering clothing can impact our children’s development. 

Below are some of the questions that spark much of the conversation around this episode:

• How have historical shifts in the perception of makeup, clothing, and nail polish shaped current gender norms? 

• How do different cultures approach gender norms related to makeup, clothing, and nail polish? 

• How can parents encourage their children to explore these areas without adhering to traditional gender expectations?

• How do societal expectations around makeup, clothing, and nail polish impact the mental health and self-esteem of individuals, particularly those who do not conform to traditional gender norms?

We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!

Gender “norms” and expectations have existed for centuries. Society is always telling children what they should do and be, or how they should behave and present themselves, based solely on their gender. In this episode, we’re discussing how gender affects the way we parent our children, and if gender should matter as much as it has in decades past.

Below are some of the questions that spark much of the conversation around this episode:

-Why do you think people react so differently to boys wearing dresses compared to girls wearing blue jeans?

-Why do you think traditional gender roles make femininity seem less positive than masculinity?

-How do we model and have conversations around gender as parents?

-Do you feel like our views on gender are changing as a society? What does the future of parenting look like when it comes to gender norms?

We’d love for you to be a part of the GTG Community! Simply hit the follow button to join our ever-growing community of parents. Additionally, your support means the world to us! Would you consider leaving a 5-star rating for our podcast? This is one of the best ways to help us expand this incredible community of parents. Thank you for listening!