On the Ground Parenting is a resource for parents, grandparents, and caregivers across all stages of family life. Sandy, Sam, and Kelly bring unique perspectives on navigating neurodiversity, grassroots family care, and seasoned grandmotherly wisdom in this nonjudgmental conversation.
Each episode is about 25 minutes long, offers insights, relatable experiences, expert guidance, and above all, great stories, well told, from the diverse team of parent educators at Muskoka Family Focus (https://muskokafamilyfocus.ca/).
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https://linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting (https://linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting)
A Call for Support:
This show serves as a platform for the Muskoka Family Focus Parent Ed team to request support, either with a one-time donation (https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/muskoka-family-focus-and-childrens-place/) or by signing up for our Patreon (https://patreon.com/OnTheGroundParenting), OnTheGroundParenting (https://patreon.com/OnTheGroundParenting).
We need your financial support to ensure we can continue offering free educational programming and keep this podcast running.
Springing Into Connection: Budget-Friendly Traditions and Garden Dreams
Welcome back to Episode 34 of On the Ground Parenting! After a short break to recalibrate, hosts Sandy, Sam, and Kelly are back to celebrate the shifting season. In our corner of the world, the snow is receding, the birds are returning, and it is finally time to tap the trees.
This session explores how to embrace the rejuvenation of spring without breaking the bank. From creative Easter egg hunts to starting a "cut flower garden" with recycled materials, the team discusses how time and connection often mean more to children than expensive store-bought treats. Whether you are planting seeds in a community garden or building a cardboard vending machine, this episode is all about cultivating joy through simple, "on the ground" adventures.
In This Episode: Renewal, Traditions, and Dirt
* The Magic of "Fall Spring": Sam and Kelly discuss the excitement of counting down to gardening season and catching that perfect moment when the river ice breaks.
* Revisiting Traditions: The hosts share how even older kids—like Sam's 14-year-old—still find delight in the nostalgia of an Easter egg hunt.
* Celebrating Diversity: A look at local faith-based and cultural celebrations, like the Festival of Colour, that invigorate the community during this time of year.
* Celebrations on a Budget: With gas and food prices rising, the team offers creative alternatives to expensive holidays:
* The Long Hunt: Use scavenger hunt clues to make a small surprise last longer.
* Creative Wrappings: If you don't have plastic eggs, squares of tin foil work just as well.
* Focus on Food: A simple pancake breakfast can be just as thrilling as a basket of candy.
* Cardboard Ingenuity: Sandy shares a heartwarming story of her 5-year-old grandson building a functional "vending machine" out of boxes and tubes.
* Seed Starting 101: Kelly's tips for starting a garden with nieces and nephews using recycled meat trays and inexpensive seed mixtures.
* Community Resources: Where to find free or low-cost gardening supplies:
* Public Libraries: Many local branches offer free seed libraries.
* Horticultural Societies: A great place for seed exchanges and expert tips.
* Community Gardens: Ideal for families who don't have their own yard or want to keep things small.
* Container Gardening: Why lettuce, spinach, and even potatoes are perfect for transient families or those with limited outdoor space.
Support On the Ground Parenting
This podcast is a project of Muskoka Family Focus [https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/muskoka-family-focus-and-childrens-place/], a registered Canadian charity. We rely on your support to keep these conversations accessible to all families.
* Support the Show: Join us at patreon.com/onthegroundparenting [https://www.patreon.com/onthegroundparenting] to help us keep going.
* Connect with Us: Find resources, ask questions, or donate via our Linktree: linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting [http://linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting].
On the Ground Parenting is produced and published by Red Juice Studios. Happy planting!
4 Mar 2026
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen: A Timeless Blueprint for Connection
Welcome to the season finale—Episode 33—of On the Ground Parenting! In this very special episode, hosts Sandy, Sam, and Kelly take a deep dive into a parenting "bible" that has stood the test of time: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.
Whether you first encountered this program on a CD in your car or saw summaries taped to a bathroom door, its practical wisdom remains as relevant in 2026 as it was in the 1980s. The team explores the fundamental first step of the program: helping children deal with their feelings. By moving away from denial, philosophy, or unwanted advice and moving toward empathy and acknowledgement, we can transform our relationships not just with our children, but with every human being in our lives.
In This Episode: The Language of Empathy
* [02:44] A Legacy of Learning: Kelly and Sandy reflect on their long history with the program, from participating in co-op nursery schools in the mid-80s to facilitating the course for Muskoka Family Focus.
[05:45] The "Backpack" Moment: Why acknowledging a "bad day" is more effective than demanding chores the moment a child walks through the door.
[09:20] Validation vs. Acknowledgment: Discussing the "comic-style" role-plays in the book that demonstrate the difference between typical parenting reactions and empathetic ones.
* [12:11] The Eight Roadblocks to Listening: The team role-plays common (but unhelpful) responses to a workplace crisis, including:
Denial of Feelings: "There's no reason to be upset."
The Philosophical Approach: "Life isn't perfect."
Advice: "Tomorrow you should just march into the office..."
Questions/Interrogation: "What exactly were those emergencies?"
Defense of the Other Person: "I can understand your boss's reaction."
* [21:10] The New Language of Acceptance: Learning the four specific methods to help children deal with their feelings:
* Listen with full attention: Putting down the phone and offering eye-level presence.
* Acknowledge with a word: Using simple cues like "Oh," "Mmm," or "I see."
* Give the feeling a name: Expanding beyond "sad" or "mad" to identify the true motion.
* Give wishes in fantasy: Using imagination to bridge the gap when a child's desire is unattainable (e.g., "I wish we had a giant ice cream stand in the car!").
Important Update: A New Chapter! As we wrap up this final episode of the current season, we have some exciting news:
* Taking a Brief Break: The team is taking a week or two off to handle some behind-the-scenes technical transitions.
* Deep Dive Series: Once a month, the team will continue to dive into specific chapters of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen.
* Join the Community: Visit us at patreon.com/onthegroundparenting [https://patreon.com/onthegroundparenting] to support the show and access resources.
* Stay in Touch: Find all our past episodes and contact information at linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting [https://linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting].
On the Ground Parenting was produced and published by Red Juice Studio [https://redjuicestudio.com/]. Thank you for listening, for learning with us, and for being "on the ground." We'll see you soon!
25 Feb 2026
Finding Calm in the Chaos: The RAIN Mindfulness Practice
Welcome to Episode 32 of On the Ground Parenting! In this session, hosts Sandy and Kelly (wishing a speedy recovery to Sam) shift their focus inward. After several discussions on outward relationships and friendships, the team explores how taking care of ourselves is the first step toward taking care of our relationships with others.
Sandy leads Kelly through a guided mindfulness practice known as RAIN, an acronym designed to help parents move from being "out of sorts" or reactionary to a state of curiosity and self-compassion. Whether you are facing a tough day with your children or feeling the weight of a busy schedule, this structured pause offers a way to acknowledge your feelings without judgment.
Understanding the RAIN Practice
Originally created by Michelle McDonald and popularized by Tara Brach, the RAIN practice consists of four essential steps:
* R – Recognize: Acknowledge what is happening in the present moment. This involves identifying thoughts (like "future worry" or "list-making"), overwhelming emotions, or physical sensations such as jaw tension or restlessness.
A – Allow: Let the experience be there, just as it is, without trying to change it or judge it. Sandy suggests using metaphors like watching clouds float by in the sky or waves in the ocean to observe thoughts and feelings as they pass.
I – Investigate: Bring childlike curiosity to the experience. Ask yourself, "What words are going through my mind?" or "What does this vulnerable part of myself need right now?"—whether it is belonging, forgiveness, or love.
N – Nurture: Offer yourself kindness and comfort. This might include phrases like "I am okay" or "this too shall pass," or imagining the love of a good friend, family member, or pet flowing toward you.
Key Takeaways for Parents
* Mindfulness is Noticing: It is about being present and aware of yourself and others without harsh judgment.
Addressing the "Monkey Mind": Recognize when your brain is catapulting ahead to future tasks, and gently bring yourself back to the "now".
Treat Yourself Like a Friend: Nurture yourself with the same compassion you offer others; staying "okay" is essential for continuing to give to your family.
Practice Over Perfection: You can drop into this practice anywhere—on a subway, in a meeting, or during a stressful parenting moment—to settle and centre yourself.
Connect & Support
* Join the Conversation: We love hearing how these practices work for you. Connect with us at patreon.com/onthegroundparenting [https://www.patreon.com/onthegroundparenting].
* Resources & More: Find all our links and ways to support the show at linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting [http://linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting].
On the Ground Parenting is a production of Muskoka Family Focus Parent Education Program. Be kind to yourself today!
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