Parents of the Year

You feel like every simple request turns into a debate. Picking up a backpack, putting away a phone, getting ready for bed, or helping around the house somehow becomes another power struggle. After enough of those moments, it's easy to wonder whether your child respects you at all.
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Dr. Caroline explain why respect isn't something children automatically have for adults. It's something they learn through consistent leadership, clear boundaries, connection, and practice.
They discuss the habits that quietly weaken parental authority, including negotiating every rule, repeating instructions without following through, avoiding conflict, allowing screens to replace family connection, and expecting counsellors or diagnoses to solve parenting challenges.
You'll also learn practical ways to strengthen your relationship through family rituals, shared fun, predictable boundaries, calm communication, and leading with confidence instead of control.
If you're tired of constant arguments and want your child to listen because they trust your leadership rather than fear your reactions, this episode offers practical strategies you can start using today.
Homework Ideas
This episode is highly practical. Andrew and Caroline encourage parents to focus less on getting immediate obedience and more on building leadership over time.
Choose one family rule that regularly turns into an argument.
Rewrite it so it's:
clear
predictable
enforceable
Avoid creating new rules in the heat of frustration.
Establish a boundary 
Instead of repeating yourself, state the expectation once and state the consequence once. A consequence is something you can enforce, something YOU are going to do. For example, if you tell your child the expectation is that they turn off their screen at dinner, the consequence of not following through is that you will take their screen away until the next day. 
To be most successful, remain emotionally neutral. 
Follow through calmly and consistently. Notice how much less talking is required.
Protect one family ritual this week.
Ideas include:
family dinner
Sunday brunch
breakfast together
evening walk
dessert together
cleaning up dinner together
The activity matters less than being consistently present together.
Add one moment of fun every day.
It doesn't need to be elaborate.
Try:
sending a funny meme
cooking together
taking a walk
sharing music
playing cards
telling funny stories
Small shared moments build connection. 

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Schools teach algebra, chemistry, and history, but many children graduate without knowing how to earn, manage, save, or spend money wisely. That leaves one important question: who is teaching the financial skills they'll rely on for the rest of their lives?
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Dr. Caroline sit down with financial educator Vince Shorb, founder of the National Financial Educators Council, to explore simple ways families can build financial confidence at home.
This conversation is packed with practical ideas that fit naturally into everyday family life.
You'll learn why financial literacy doesn't require complicated investing lessons, how small daily conversations create lasting habits, and why involving children in real financial decisions can prepare them for adulthood long before they leave home.
Whether your child is five or preparing for university, this episode offers realistic strategies that help children develop confidence, responsibility, and important skills that will set them up for future success.

In this episode you'll learn:
Why financial literacy begins long before a first job
Simple ways to teach earning, saving and spending
How chores can become valuable life lessons
Why everyday shopping trips create teachable moments
Helping teens prepare for cars, university and credit
Career exploration before choosing post-secondary education
How parents can teach money skills, even if they weren't taught themselves

About Vince Shorb
Vince Shorb is one of the country’s leading advocates for promoting financial literacy and a thought leader in teaching and scaling financial education programming. After spending 15 years in financial services working one-on-one with more than 20,000 people, he founded the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) – an organization dedicated to combating the financial illiteracy epidemic. Shorb has led the NFEC in the development of 2,500 financial literacy programs and more than 80 financial literacy assets. He has been featured in publications on USA Today, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, CNN Money, MarketWatch, Fox Business, Huffington Post, NASDAQ, and Business Insider. 
Connect with Vince:  
Website:
National Financial Educators Council
https://financialeducatorscouncil.org
LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinceshorb/ 

Homework Activities

This episode encourages families to move beyond talking about money only when there's a purchase to make. These simple activities help children build confidence through real experiences rather than lectures.
1. Hold a Monthly Family Money Meeting
Choose one day each month to sit together for 20–30 minutes.
Discuss:
What everyone is saving for
What goals were reached this month
One financial lesson learned
One goal for next month
Keep the conversation positive and focused on learning, not judgement.
2. Create a Family Chore Economy
Instead of assigning chores without discussion, involve children in deciding how they can contribute to the household.
Together:
List household jobs.
Let children choose responsibilities that interest them.
Attach a reasonable financial reward.
"Pay" them monthly.
Divide earnings into categories like:Saving
Spending
Giving
Future Goals

3. Practise Opportunity Cost While Shopping
At the grocery store, ask questions like:
Which cereal gives us better value?
Is the larger package actually cheaper?
Do we need this today?
If we buy this, what are we giving up?
The goal isn't saving every dollar.
It's helping children begin weighing choices.
4. Compare Household Bills
Choose one utility bill each month.
Challenge the family to reduce usage over the next month.
Examples:
Electricity
Water
Natural gas
If everyone meets the goal, use part of the savings for a family activity.
Examples:
Bowling
Ice cream
Mini golf
Movie night
5. Research a Future Purchase

Before buying something significant, have your child investigate the full cost.
Ideas include:
First vehicle
Laptop
Phone
Sports equipment
Ask them to calculate:
Purchase price
Insurance
Maintenance
Fuel or charging costs
Accessories
Repairs
Ongoing monthly expenses
This teaches ownership rather than simply buying.
6. Career Conversation Challenge
Each month, invite someone to talk about their work.
Ideas include:
Grandparents
Family friends
Neighbours
Local business owners
Ask:
What does your job involve?
What do you enjoy?
What skills are important?
How did you get started?
This broadens children's understanding of career possibilities before post-secondary decisions.

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Respect doesn't suddenly appear during the teenage years. Responsibility, honesty, gratitude, and consideration for others are skills children learn through repeated teaching, consistent expectations, and everyday family interactions.
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Dr. Caroline explore why many families struggle with disrespect, constant negotiations, and boundary battles. They explain why discipline should be viewed as teaching rather than punishment and why calm, confident leadership creates far better results than power struggles.
You'll hear practical examples of setting limits around chores, honesty, screen time, family responsibilities, and respectful communication while staying connected to your child. They also discuss why children need explicit instruction instead of assuming they already know what respectful behaviour looks like.
If you're tired of repeating yourself, negotiating every request, or wondering why consequences don't seem to work, this episode offers practical strategies that help children build responsibility while strengthening family relationships.
Homework for Families

This week's challenge isn't about adding more rules.
It's about becoming more intentional with the rules you already have.
1. Choose Three Family Expectations
Instead of correcting everything, identify the three behaviours that matter most in your home.
Examples:
We speak respectfully.
We tell the truth.
We clean up our own mess.
Write them somewhere everyone can see.
2. Replace "Don't..." With "Do..."
Notice how often instructions begin with:
Don't yell.
Don't hit.
Don't leave your shoes there.
Replace them with clear instruction.
Examples:
Use respectful words.
Keep your hands to yourself.
Put your shoes in the basket.
Children learn faster when they know exactly what success looks like.
3. Decide Your Follow Through Before the Problem Happens
Ask yourself:
"If my child doesn't follow this expectation, what will I calmly do?"
Notice the question isn't:
"What will I make my child do?"
It's:
"What action will I consistently take?"
4. Catch Helpful Behaviour
This week, intentionally notice one helpful behaviour each day.
Examples:
"Thanks for putting your dishes away."
"I noticed you told me the truth."
"I appreciated how calmly you handled that."
Positive reinforcement helps repeat behaviours you want to see again.
5. Model Repair
If you lose your patience this week:
Own it.
Apologise.
Explain what you'll do differently next time.
Children learn as much from watching adults repair mistakes as they do from watching adults succeed.

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Can the Words We Teach Our Kids Change Their Relationships?

Should children always reply "It's okay" when someone apologizes?
A conversation sparked by Brené Brown opens the door to a much bigger discussion about the language we teach children and the messages those words carry.
Andrew and Dr. Caroline explores why genuine apologies matter, why accountability should never disappear just because someone says "sorry," and how everyday interactions shape children's relationships for years to come.
They also discuss:
why "I'm sorry" can become meaningless
teaching children to solve problems together instead of blaming
using I statements without creating defensiveness
helping children feel heard during conflict
modelling respectful communication every day
why listening may be one of the most valuable relationship skills we can teach
Whether you're helping siblings work through conflict or supporting teens as they build friendships, this episode offers practical ideas for raising children who communicate with honesty, empathy and respect.
Homework Ideas

Homework 1: Listen Before Responding
Choose one conversation this week where your goal is simply to listen without interrupting, correcting or fixing.
Homework 2: Practise I Statements
Replace blame with ownership.
Instead of:
"You never listen."
Try:
"I'm feeling frustrated because..."
Homework 3: Brainstorm Together
The next time a family problem comes up:
define the problem together
write down every idea
don't dismiss suggestions immediately
choose one solution to test for a few days
Homework 4: Model Everyday Respect
Notice the small interactions children see:
greeting neighbours
thanking cashiers
holding doors
acknowledging others
These moments teach social skills more than formal lessons.
Homework 5: Rethink Apologies
The next time someone apologizes:
Rather than automatically saying "It's okay,"
try:
"Thank you for apologizing."
Notice how the conversation feels different.

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When Is It Okay for Kids to Lie? A Parent's Guide to Honesty, Friendship, and Boundaries
As parents, we tell our kids to be honest. Then one day they use us as the excuse to get out of plans with friends.
So what happens when honesty feels harder than a harmless excuse?
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Dr. Caroline tackle a surprisingly complicated parenting question: Is it ever okay to teach kids to lie?
The conversation starts with a teenage daughter blaming "strict mom" to avoid a social outing and quickly turns into a bigger discussion about friendships, people-pleasing, social pressure, and why some kids feel the need to avoid telling the truth.
Andrew and Dr. Caroline share personal stories, parenting mistakes, and real-life examples while exploring:
The difference between protecting yourself and protecting someone else's feelings
How parents unintentionally model social avoidance
When "little white lies" become a warning sign
Helping teens recognize friendships that leave them feeling exhausted
Teaching children how to identify healthy relationships
Why honesty isn't always as simple as it sounds
If you've ever wondered whether your child is avoiding conflict, struggling with friendships, or having trouble setting boundaries, this episode offers practical conversations you can start today.
Listen now and discover how teaching honesty sometimes starts with helping kids understand themselves first.

Homework Ideas

Activity 1: Friendship Energy Audit

Draw a circle with lines extending outward like a wheel.
For each friend, rate them from 0-10 on:
Trust
Fun
Kindness
Reliability
Shared Interests
Feeling Accepted
Feeling Drained After Spending Time Together
Discuss:
Which friendships score highest?
Which friendships leave you exhausted?
Which friendships make you excited to make plans?

Activity 2: The "Why Am I Avoiding This?" Conversation

If your child wants to cancel plans:
Ask:
What are you hoping to avoid?
What are you worried might happen?
Do you usually enjoy time with this person?
Is this about being tired or about the relationship itself?

Activity 3: Honesty vs Kindness Scenarios

Review situations together:
A friend gets a haircut you dislike.
Someone invites you somewhere you don't want to go.
A friend asks for your opinion on something you dislike.
Discuss:
What is truthful?
What is kind?
Can both exist at the same time?

Activity 4: Relationship Non-Negotiables List

Ask your teen to identify:
5 qualities they want in close friends.
3 behaviours they won't accept.
Examples:
Respect
Loyalty
Trustworthiness
Inclusion
Accountability

Activity 5: Spot the Pattern

Track social activities for two weeks.
After each outing, rate:
Excitement before (1-10)
Enjoyment during (1-10)
Mood after (1-10)
Review patterns together.

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