The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast

• Joyful Kids Start with You: How to Model Real Happiness

  Do your kids “catch” your stress—and you hate how quickly the mood at home drops?What if the fastest way to raise happy kids is to model authentic joy (not fake calm)—even while cleaning a messy kitchen?In this video, we unpack how parents set the emotional tone at home—and why your child has been watching you from birth to learn how to do life. You’ll learn how to raise your emotional baseline on purpose (water, breath, sunlight, movement), process triggers so you’re not pretending, and lead with real peace your kids can imitate. You can’t fake it—kids feel the truth—so let’s build the real thing.What you’ll learn:Modeling vs. masking: why kids imitate your state (and can’t be fooled)Story → state: how the meaning you give messes determines your moodMorning biochemistry reset: water, breath, sunlight, movement = instant upliftFrom nagging to leading: make chores joyful by choice, not drudgeryTriggers, then tools: journaling, breathwork, micro-meditations, and the “jukebox” swap (remove the old CD for good)Key Takeaways✅ Parents create the climate—kids grow the weather✅ Authentic calm beats performative patience (they can tell)✅ Biochemistry is leverage: hydrate, breathe, move, sunlight✅ Choose joy while you work—easier to recruit help✅ Process & replace triggers so old songs stop playingMemorable Quotes🗣 “The easiest way for our kids to feel joy is for parents to model it.”🗣 “We’re the adults. We have to be the adults.”🗣 “You can’t fake it. It has to really be there.”🗣 “Is it possible to have joy while I’m cleaning the mess? Yes.”🗣 “Happiness isn’t the reward at the end—it’s the way.”Chapters00:00 The Essence of Happiness in Family Life02:03 The Struggle Between Doing and Being03:09 Modeling Joy for Children03:47 The Role of Triggers in Parenting05:59 Choosing Emotions in Daily Life06:31 Finding Joy in Everyday Chores07:31 The Impact of Environment on Happiness09:47 Teaching Children Through Example11:09 Morning Routines: Setting the Tone for Positivity13:14 Processing Emotions: The Key to Emotional Freedom17:18 Authenticity in Parenting: The Importance of Genuine EmotionsRESOURCES:Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)Rachel’s ⁠⁠Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms⁠⁠Greg's ⁠⁠Recommended Reading List for Parents & Youth⁠⁠Join the 12-Week Habits Challenge for parents of kids 13+Don’t miss out on the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method class!Get Greg’s NEW Formidable Family Man BOOK!Get Rachel's ⁠⁠Family Systems & Charts⁠⁠Get Rachel’s Extraordinary Family Life PlannerFollow us on Instagram: ⁠@worldschoolfamily⁠ or ⁠@greg.denning⁠Gather with us at the ⁠World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort⁠ in Portugal

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• How to Stop Toddler Tantrums with Attachment (Without Burnout)

  Are your toddler’s meltdowns leaving you “touched out” and wondering how to stay calm? What if the fastest way to end tantrums is more connection—not more limits?In this video, we break down attachment parenting for toddlers—the practical, science-aligned way to reduce tantrums, boost cooperation, and rebuild calm (in you and your child). You’ll learn why kids imitate your emotions but can’t yet regulate them, how to be the adult in the room, and the exact strategies we used to go 16+ years without tantrums in our home.We’ll show you how to increase your capacity (food, sleep, recovery) so you’re not running on empty, plus simple co-regulation tools like cuddle-pauses, couch resets, and family calm breaks. Attachment isn’t coddling—it's how kids become secure and independent. When their emotional bucket is full, clinginess drops and behavior improves. Parenting isn’t convenient—but it can be effective.Key Takeaways✅ Attachment first makes every other parenting strategy work better✅ Capacity over boundaries: build yourself up so you can show up✅ Food & sleep are fuel for patience, presence, and self-control✅ Fill the bucket daily: secure kids act better and rebel less✅ Pause > push through: a 2-minute cuddle beats a 20-minute battleMemorable Quotes🗣 “We are the ones who have to be the adults.”🗣 “I don’t want it to be easy—I want it to be effective.”🗣 “Kids imitate without regulation—you must co-regulate.”🗣 “Parenting is never convenient—but it is transformational.”🗣 “Toddlers with full buckets don’t have tantrums.”Chapters00:00 Welcome & the “be the adult” principle02:04 Imitation without regulation (why kids escalate)06:15 Attachment disorders → behavior problems (and hope)10:22 Zero–Three: the critical window (and what if you missed it)13:40 Touched-out? Capacity, not limits17:18 Food & sleep: the fastest patience upgrade21:05 “Fill the bucket” method (quality + quantity time)26:30 Co-regulation: couch cuddle resets & calm breaks31:12 Rebuilding attachment with older kidsRESOURCES:Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)Rachel’s ⁠⁠Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms⁠⁠Greg's ⁠⁠Recommended Reading List for Parents & Youth⁠⁠Join the 12-Week Habits Challenge for parents of kids 13+Don’t miss out on the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method class!Get Greg’s NEW Formidable Family Man BOOK!Get Rachel's ⁠⁠Family Systems & Charts⁠⁠Get Rachel’s Extraordinary Family Life PlannerFollow us on Instagram: ⁠@worldschoolfamily⁠ or ⁠@greg.denning⁠Gather with us at the ⁠World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort⁠ in Portugal

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• Parenting Is a Skill: How Attachment Ends Tantrums & Rebellion

  Are you using “attachment parenting” — or accidentally doing permissive parenting?In this eye-opening conversation, Greg & Rachel Denning break down what true attachment parenting is (and isn’t). They share the skills, mindsets, and tools that helped them eliminate tantrums for 16 years and prevent teen rebellion—without yelling, shaming, or rigid control.You’ll learn why parenting is a specific, learnable skill, how to build secure attachment from baby to teen, and where popular advice (cry-it-out, forced “holding time,” over-scheduling, letting kids lead everything) quietly damages trust. You’ll also get a clear blueprint for connection with boundaries so kids feel safe, seen, and guided—and you feel calm, confident, and effective.Bottom line: Attachment is earned, not forced. Respect your child’s free will, meet real needs (sleep, food, attention), co-regulate big emotions, and set firm, sensible boundaries. That’s the evergreen approach that works in every generation.Key Takeaways✅ Parenting is a skill—unrelated to how good you are at business, sports, or leadership.✅ Attachment ≠ permissive. It’s connection + boundaries and kind + firm.✅ Attachment is earned, not forced. No cry-it-out or “holding until defeat.”✅ Respect free will while providing age-appropriate structure and safety.✅ Co-regulation first (your calm is contagious), then teach self-regulation.✅ Meet basics (sleep, nutrition, attention) before behavior battles.✅ Measure success by long-term trust and adult outcomes—not short-term compliance.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Attachment Parenting00:43 Clarifying Misunderstandings in Parenting02:04 The Importance of Parenting Skills03:09 Defining Success in Parenting04:39 Understanding Attachment Parenting05:23 The Dangers of Misapplied Parenting Techniques06:56 The Impact of Adoption on Attachment08:25 The Consequences of Control in Parenting11:28 The Role of Freedom in Child Development13:48 The Misconception of Holding Time16:10 The Impact of Sleep Training on Children17:59 Respecting Free Will in Parenting20:39 The Concept of Holding Time24:22 Understanding Boundaries and Safety28:24 Preparing Children for Adulthood31:24 The Lifelong Mentor-Mentee Relationship33:01 Building a Legacy of Good ParentingMemorable Quotes🗣 “Parenting is a skill—and a very specific one you can learn.”🗣 “Attachment is earned, not forced.”🗣 “Be kind and firm: connection with boundaries.”🗣 “Children push to find the boundary—when they find it, they feel safe.”🗣 “Your calm co-regulates their storm.”RESOURCES:Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)Rachel’s ⁠⁠Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms⁠⁠Greg's ⁠⁠Recommended Reading List for Parents & Youth⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@worldschoolfamily⁠ or ⁠@greg.denning⁠Don’t miss out on the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method class!Get Rachel's ⁠⁠Family Systems & Charts⁠⁠Get Rachel’s Extraordinary Family Life PlannerJOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE! Join the Formidable Family Man Masterclass and TribeGather with us at the ⁠World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort⁠ in Portugal

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• School, Pharma, Religion: Finding the Courage to Leave Institutions That Limit You & Your Family

  Do you ever feel like you’re doing “all the right things” but not seeing real results?In this episode, Greg & Rachel Denning challenge the sacred cows of school, pharma, and religion—not to burn it all down, but to help you keep what serves your family and release what doesn’t. You’ll learn how to shift from transactional box-checking to transformational growth, so your kids develop inner authority, critical thinking, and personal responsibility.Big idea: You can honor helpful traditions and raise kids who can question wisely, choose higher standards, and own their outcomes—in education, health, spirituality, and life.What we cover:• Why outsourcing your child’s education, spirituality, or health stalls growth• How to “keep the good” in institutions while ditching deadweight rules• The path from conformity to character—raising autodidacts who learn for life• Practical habits that create palpable progress in mind, body, spirit, and family cultureKey Takeaways✅ Transactional → Transformational: Results > routines.✅ Inner Authority: Teach kids to think, not just comply.✅ Keep & Elevate: Honor useful rules; raise the standard at home.✅ Autodidact Mindset: Light the fire, don’t fill the bucket.✅ Measure Progress: If outcomes don’t improve, change the method.Chapters00:00 Challenging Sacred Cows02:32 The Importance of Questioning Traditions04:58 Individual Authority and Personal Growth07:22 Outsourcing Education and Spirituality10:29 Transformational vs. Transactional Experiences13:05 The Role of Institutions in Personal Development15:25 The Quest for Holistic Progress18:27 Facing Fears and Embracing Truth21:28 The Labyrinth of Personal Growth28:40 Facing Fears and Doubts29:32 The Nature of True Education30:51 The Challenge of Conformity32:22 Resisting Authority Thoughtfully33:41 The Importance of Imagination35:03 Faith at the Edge of the Abyss36:18 Questioning Conventional Wisdom38:01 Learning from Others' Experiences40:41 Walking the Labyrinth of Faith41:48 Understanding Meta Truths44:10 The Concept of the Fringe46:44 Navigating the Lower and Upper Fringe49:03 Living Beyond Conformity50:31 Transformational Living Beyond the BasicsMemorable Quotes🗣 “You can’t outsource growth—nobody can do your pushups for you.”🗣 “If there’s no palpable progress, the method must change.”🗣 “Keep what’s good in tradition—raise the standard on everything else.”🗣 “Education isn’t filling a bucket; it’s lighting a fire.”RESOURCES:Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)Rachel’s ⁠⁠Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms⁠⁠Greg's ⁠⁠Recommended Reading List for Parents & Youth⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@worldschoolfamily⁠ or ⁠@greg.denning⁠Don’t miss out on the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method class!Get Rachel's ⁠⁠Family Systems & Charts⁠⁠Get Rachel’s Extraordinary Family Life PlannerJOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE! Join the Formidable Family Man Masterclass and TribeGather with us at the ⁠World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort⁠ in Portugal

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• Guiding vs. Controlling: Routines that Raise Self-Directed Kids

  Are you a driven mom who wants to be present—but you’re drowning in overwhelm and “control mode”?This conversation shows you how to get crystal-clear on your family vision, build secure attachment/connection, and set firm, kind boundaries so kids become self-directed—without you turning into the “mean, controlling parent.”In this candid episode, Greg and Rachel break down the yin–yang of parenting—high standards + healthy surrender—so you can lead your family without micromanaging. You’ll learn time-chunking, strategic disengagement, and simple charts & systems (starting with the morning routine) that create calm, predictable days. We also unpack why quality and quantity time (especially in key developmental years) is the foundation of trust, attachment, and influence.If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve tried everything,” this is your roadmap to clarity, consistency, and connection—without burnout.Key Takeaways✅ Vision first: You can’t hit a target you don’t have—define your family vision and align daily “micro-visions.”✅ Attachment over control: Connection creates cooperation; control breeds rebellion or resentment.✅ Quality and quantity time: Presence (especially ages 0–6, and up to 25) builds trust and influence.✅ Boundaries you honor: Time-chunking + strategic disengagement protect work and family time.✅ Systems over stress: Start with a morning routine chart; train, then let kids choose how within clear boundaries.✅ Lead without micromanaging: Be playful + firm on non-negotiables; give freedom on details.✅ The obstacle is the way: Overwhelm signals where to build skills and systems next.Memorable Quotes🗣 “You can’t hit a target you don’t have—or one you can’t see.”🗣 “Quality time isn’t enough—your kids need quality and quantity.”🗣 “Connection creates cooperation; control creates resentment.”🗣 “Set boundaries—and honor them. That’s how kids learn to trust you.”🗣 “The obstacle is the way. Skill up where you feel overwhelmed.”🗣 “Hold high standards; give freedom in the details.”Chapters00:00 Introduction to Extraordinary Family Life00:23 Vision and Clarity in Parenting04:13 Facing Obstacles in Family Life06:36 Quality vs. Quantity in Parenting08:56 Setting Boundaries as a Parent11:56 Strategic Time Management for Family Engagement13:00 Navigating Chaos with Calmness15:14 The Dangers of Control in Parenting18:30 The Irony of Control and Surrender19:58 Self-Awareness as a Catalyst for Change22:48 Learning Parenting as a Skill24:10 Balancing Control and Freedom26:25 Establishing Boundaries with Flexibility29:56 Teaching Independence through Routines34:20 Introduction to Extraordinary Family LifeRESOURCES:Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)Rachel’s ⁠⁠Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms⁠⁠Greg's ⁠⁠Recommended Reading List for Parents & Youth⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@worldschoolfamily⁠ or ⁠@greg.denning⁠Don’t miss out on the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method class!Get Rachel's ⁠⁠Family Systems & Charts⁠⁠Get Rachel’s Extraordinary Family Life PlannerJOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE! Join the Formidable Family Man Masterclass and TribeGather with us at the ⁠World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort⁠ in Portugal

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