July 2024 - Organization Pending Newsroom - Upper Arlington, Ohio
Welcome to Organization Pending's Newsroom, July 2024: Parenting: Portable Summer Learning Series edition.
This month, we deep dive into common parenting struggles on how to talk to kids about money, book recommendations for starting conversations on consent and body autonomy, and a podcast recommendation for raising kids in an entitled world. Don't miss the Upper Arlington updates with a local podcast recommendation and upcoming library puzzle swap!
Thank you for reading! Subscribe to receive the Newsroom in your email each month, and follow Organization Pending on Facebook and Instagram for local decluttering opportunities and home organizing tips!
If you have an upcoming event, resource, or professional the community should know about, contact Organization Pending.
Money & Kids: Podcast Episode and Book Recommendation
"Who better to tell money's story than money itself? And there's so many books about money, but this is a book told by money. It actually allows a kid to build a relationship with money as a personified entity with feelings, and then all the sudden it becomes a part of who they are versus an object to learn about."
The Bad With Money With Gabe Dunn podcast invited author Julia Cook to talk in the Explaining Money to Kids with Author Julia Cook episode. Author of 126 books for kids in 9 languages, Cook focuses on "giving our kids coping skills in a non-threatening way that makes them feel good about themselves," teaching people skills, behavior strategies, and relationship building.
"All the books [that I write] are in first person, and they're all relationship-relatable. [...] You have so much to teach kids, and so little time to do it in. So they're like the vehicle of great people skills that goes into their brain. And then when you pull the book away, those skills stay in there. So they can solve problems from the inside out, versus the outside in."
A chance meeting on a flight with entrepreneur and business coach Garrett Gunderson brought their talents together for I Am Money: and I Don't Grow on Trees, brightly illustrated by Josh Cleland.
On the podcast, Cook explores how we can openly and honestly talk about money with our kids, discussing different ways we can think about money and then talk about money with kids, starting with the four basics found in the book - everyone needs to know how to earn, save, spend, and give away money.
"It's not about having to, it's about getting to [give away money]. Because when you have to, you use one-eighth of your brain, and when you get to, you use seven-eighths of your brain. So it's an opportunity when you get to. [...] Also on savings, savings to me is kind of negative, because I have to put this away, instead of that - Garrett has this coinage, and it's just amazing. 'As soon as I get paid, the first thing I do is I pay myself fifteen percent. I'm paying myself, and that is my savings. I get to pay myself."
Including discussions on the importance of taking care of your basic needs and saving first, Cook wants kids to know how to enjoy spending money with thoughtful intention, using money personified to tell the story of how money is used, and the different "outfits" money can wear, including money's "credit card coats" that "Once in a while, when I'm wearing them, they try to convince me to buy stuff that costs more money than I have!" Read the book yourself and tune in to the podcast episode for more tips on how to start (or continue) talking to your kids about money and the different ways it can be spent and saved in the current world.
Raising Entitled Kids: Podcast Episode Recommendation
"There's one word that I truly feel is a dirty word in parenting, and I'm going to say it - entitled. How many times have I heard the same thing from parents? 'I don't want to raise an entitled kid, How do I not raise an entitled kid? [...] Anything but entitled!' And related to the word entitled is another question we say all the time - to our friends, or to ourselves - how do I make sure my kid isn't an @$$hole?"
Good Inside with Dr. Becky invited her producer Jesse Baker on the podcast to talk about a worry that so many of us parents have - what can we do to make sure our kids don't end up as entitled adults, or as the podcast called it: How To Not Raise An @$$h0le.
"When you're living in an area, where maybe you're thinking along with that candy metaphor - OK, maybe my kids are growing up in a candy store, but these kids are growing up in the candy store with king size candy all the time. So now, my kid doesn't even appreciate their fun size candy, because everyone around them has more."
Dr. Becky discusses how in our society, it can be easy to give in to the pressures to "keep up with the Jones'" in real life or social media, making it difficult to teach children how to moderate their feelings and reactions when they can't get or do what they want.
"I really think a big component of not raising an @$$hole is building up your own muscle, or building up tolerance, for wanting and not having. Period. I think there's wanting and not having, there's doing things that are boring, and there's doing things you don't want to do."
Listen in for tips on teaching gratitude through connection, creating frustration tolerance, and other "insights that will reframe how you approach these conservations with your own kids".
Looking for more parenting recommendations? Check out previous Newsroom articles for Good Inside, Multigenerational Home Organizing, Back to School Organizing, and Shopping with Kids.
Consent and Kids: Book Recommendation
Are the kids starting middle school, or have recently expressed an interest in dating? Welcome to Consent: How to Say No, When to Say Yes, and How to Be the Boss of Your Body is a 2021 publication for all genders, talking about consent in everyday situations, including a "For When You Are Ready" section towards the back for those who want to skip information on consent specifically within romantic contexts.
Need a title for older teens? Try A Quick & Easy Guide to Consent, by Isabella Rotman - this graphic novel focuses on consent in romantic relationships, and is recommended for ages 16 and up. Let's Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent & Respect, by Jayneen Sanders, is a great picture book for kids just learning about consent in everyday situations, or try Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of You, by Rachel Brian, for chapter book readers.
"The best thing about making an effort to discuss consent with someone is that you both know what's going on! You leave the guesswork behind. If you are clear about what you're allowing someone to do - or what they're allowing you to do - then no one has to wonder anymore."
Authored by Australian duo Yumi Stynes and Dr. Melissa Kang, this comprehensive guide talks to tweens and teens on their level, using quotes from a variety of ages to show real-life examples supporting the text. I personally loved that the first example of consent was the borrowing of a t-shirt - something we've all experienced. From discussing if someone wants to borrow it from you, or you from them, enthusiastic consent and withdrawing consent, to power imbalances and communication tips - this inclusive guide shows a variety of perspectives and experiences to help readers think about how the things they want and enjoy may be different than other people, and consent helps preserve bodily autonomy for everyone. UK illustrator Jenny Latham keeps the text engaging, and the layout of each page helps break up the longer themed text. Like all books I recommend for kids and teens, I encourage parents to read this beforehand, or get two copies to read together and discuss!
Want to read more by Stynes and Kang? Check out their other titles, Welcome to Your Boobs, Welcome to Your Period, and Welcome to Sex.
Upper Arlington Updates
Upper Arlington Public Library's Puzzle Swap is bigger and better than ever - Saturday, August 31, from 2pm-3 at the Tremont Road Branch. Bring your 300+ piece, gently used adult puzzles to swap, and meet other local puzzlers!
Upper Arlington Updates: Podcast Recommendation
Is your family new to the Upper Arlington school district, or did you miss meeting the new superintendent on his school and community tours? The City of Upper Arlington's Won't You Be Our Neighbor podcast sat down with Dr. Robert (Bob) Hunt last spring to learn more about Hunt and his educational goals for Upper Arlington schools. Hunt shares some of his personal struggles when he was in school, his passion and background as an educator, what he loves about UA, and his mission to maintain a continuous system of listening to students.
"I've had some of my best dialogue in that environment - just being in the building. [...] When I walk out the back of my office in UA, there's students gathering in those collaborative spaces and I just walk up, ask about what they're doing. I think building those relationships and having that level of accessibility [...] - is really important. [...] You need that to feel inspired, and stay connected to we're really doing meaningful work here."
Not familiar with the Won't You Be Our Neighbor podcast? Hosted by Upper Arlington City Manager Steve Schoeny and City Attorney Darren Shulman, the duo has been "discussing City happenings and introducing you to members of the community" since January 2022.
Are you a fan of Cameron Mitchell restaurants? Check out all of the Won't You Be Our Neighbor for more interesting dives into our community!
"It was never about opening a restaurant, it was about birthing a company." Operating since 1983, Mitchell celebrated his 100th opening last July with Cento Italiano in German Village. Learn more about Mitchell's personal connections to Upper Arlington, potential plans for the future of his restaurants, who cooks in his home, a critique of Scoeny's cocktail, and a discussion on the importance of kitchens as gathering places for everyone.
Comments