First Step Podcast Podcast

Every parent wants to be a great parent, but you can’t parent every child the same way. Kathleen Edelman has devoted more than three decades to researching, developing assessments, and teaching people to better understand their wiring. In this 5-part series, she will help you better identify the temperament of your child and will give you helpful advice as you parent them in their uniqueness. Follow Kathleen Edelman @isaidyouheard.   Additional Resources: Temperament Digital Assessment https://isaidyouheard.study/assessment   I Said This, You Heard That - Workbook https://amzn.to/2RQVTWi   This podcast is hosted by our Atlanta-area churches. If you would like to see more parenting content or if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.   Browns Bridge Community Church Cumming, GA https://brownsbridge.org/ @brownsbridge   Buckhead Church Atlanta, GA https://buckheadchurch.org/ @buckheadchurch   Decatur City Church Decatur, GA https://decaturcity.org/ @decaturcity   East

Are you parenting a yellow? Yellow temperament kids are known for being fun, talkative, and great with people. But have you ever tried to communicate with them? They can also be easily distracted, talk over you, or just not listen.  In the second episode of our Color Temperament series, we will talk with expert Kathleen Edelman and discover the most crucial need of your yellow child. It will help you have better communication and connection as you parent your family’s “social butterfly!” Follow Kathleen Edelman @isaidyouheard.   Additional Resources: Temperament Digital Assessment https://isaidyouheard.study/assessment   I Said This, You Heard That - Workbook https://amzn.to/2RQVTWi   This podcast is hosted by our Atlanta-area churches. If you would like to see more parenting content or if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.   Browns Bridge Community Church Cumming, GA https://brownsbridge.org/ @brownsbridge   Buckhead Church Atlanta, GA https://buckheadchurch.org/ @

Are you parenting a red? Red temperament kids are known for being independent, adventurous, responsible, and determined. They can also be a little bossy! In the third episode of our Color Temperament series, we will talk with expert Kathleen Edelman and discover the most crucial need of your red child. It will help you have better communication and connection as you parent your family’s “CEO.”   Follow Kathleen Edelman @isaidyouheard.   Additional Resources: Temperament Digital Assessment https://isaidyouheard.study/assessment   I Said This, You Heard That - Workbook https://amzn.to/2RQVTWi   This podcast is hosted by our Atlanta-area churches. If you would like to see more parenting content or if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.   Browns Bridge Community Church Cumming, GA https://brownsbridge.org/ @brownsbridge   Buckhead Church Atlanta, GA https://buckheadchurch.org/ @buckheadchurch   Decatur City Church Decatur, GA https://decaturcity.org/ @decaturcity  

Are you parenting a blue? Blue temperament kids are known to be good friends, detailed, creative, and careful. But they also love their routines and schedules. Have you ever tried to spontaneously leave the house only to be met with resistance and questions? “Where are we going?” “How long will it take?” “What shoes do I need?” In the fourth episode of our Color Temperament series, we will talk with expert Kathleen Edelman and discover the most crucial need of your blue child. It will help you have better communication and connection as you parent your “cautious analyzer.” Follow Kathleen Edelman @isaidyouheard.   Additional Resources: Temperament Digital Assessment https://isaidyouheard.study/assessment   I Said This, You Heard That - Workbook https://amzn.to/2RQVTWi   This podcast is hosted by our Atlanta-area churches. If you would like to see more parenting content or if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.   Browns Bridge Community Church Cumming, GA https://brownsbridg

Are you parenting a green? Green temperament kids are super chill, easy to get along with, and are generally happy and well-behaved. Sounds like a dream, right? But those greens don’t like to be rushed and tend to have a bit of a stubborn side. In the final episode of our Color Temperament series, we will talk with expert Kathleen Edelman and discover the most crucial need of your green child. It will help you have better communication and connection as you parent your family’s “peacemaker.” Follow Kathleen Edelman @isaidyouheard.   Additional Resources: Temperament Digital Assessment https://isaidyouheard.study/assessment   I Said This, You Heard That - Workbook https://amzn.to/2RQVTWi   This podcast is hosted by our Atlanta-area churches. If you would like to see more parenting content or if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.   Browns Bridge Community Church Cumming, GA https://brownsbridge.org/ @brownsbridge   Buckhead Church Atlanta, GA https://buckheadchurch.org/

Can you imagine how the world would change if we raised up a generation of kids who were able to see the needs of others and felt compelled to do something to help? In this interview, we talk with Bryan Apinis, the father of four, the Director of Intersect and the Be Rich campaign that champions the cause of generosity and compassion for all our area churches. He has spent years working with his team to provide opportunities for our families and kids to give, serve, and love others. And what an impact this initiative has had on our world! We’ll talk about practical ways you can begin teaching your kids to see the needs of those around them and simple things you can do to help them get involved and serve. We all know that serving others not only helps the person who has a need, but it also does something very important in us! Let’s raise up kids who give, serve, and love others! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The early years are the training ground for teaching kids to be responsible—to make wise choices, to take care of their stuff, and to take care of their friends. While they are young, the stakes are low. But we all know that as they grow, their ability to be responsible for their things, for their money, and for their loved ones—becomes much more important. In this interview, we will talk with Josh Horwege, the father of three and the founder/owner of several Dojos in our community. He is passionate about investing in the lives of kids and students and helping them develop the life skills they need to succeed. We’ll discuss some practical tactics he has applied to help his own kids learn responsibility, as well as tested strategies and building blocks he has used with hundreds of kids in our community to help them learn and grow. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Parents! When your child has a healthy relationship with you, it gives them a secure foundation to try new things and gain confidence as they grow more independent. It’s no surprise that your bond with them is important to their overall well-being! There is a very interesting tool called the 4 S’s of a Healthy Relationship that we think will be helpful for you as build a strong bond with your child.  In this episode of our podcast, we will hear from Board Certified Therapist, Chinwe Williams as she talks to us about the things we can do consistently to foster a healthy relationship with our child. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Never before has school caused more anxiety and questions for parents than this year. Join us as we interview Rebecca Williams, principal of Webb Bridge Middle School, the #1 ranking middle school in Georgia. With 23 years of experience, Rebecca will share how we can help our kids start strong and stay strong this school year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Loneliness is one of the biggest issues facing our society and it has the power to exacerbate feelings of depression and isolation in our kids and teenagers. In our crazy current world, it’s something we need to be watching for with our kids. Our kids are also logging record amounts of screen time, which can be even more isolating. But it’s not all bad news. There are many things you can do to support your child and help encourage connection. In Episode 22, we will talk with board certified therapist, Chinwe Williams about how to navigate screen time with your child, and tangible things you can do encourages healthy interactions for your child at home and with their peers.

Parenting is rewarding. It’s often fun—but it isn’t easy. Feeling tired, overwhelmed, and stressed can easily become part of your everyday, but it doesn’t have to.  In this episode, best selling author, Rebekah Lyons, shares practical information on how to get better sleep, the impact of technology on our stress levels, and the importance of play. This interview and her book, Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose are full of habits and rhythms that you can incorporate into your everyday life.

Being a parent is a tough but important job. Whether you’re a single parent, married, or co-parenting, it’s crucial that you aren’t the only influence for your child as they are learning and growing. In Episode 20, Kendra Fleming and Karen Stubbs talk about the importance of not parenting alone. Karen shares her story as it pertains to this topic as well as some of the best ways she’s found to involve others in parenting her children. In 2011, Karen founded Birds on a Wire, a ministry for moms. It has reached hundreds of moms all over the world and aims to help them parent with confidence. Karen has four children and is also a wonderful grandmother. Her heart is to encourage, equip, and cheer on women in their journeys of motherhood. Connect with Birds on a Wire Website // Instagram // Facebook // Resources Connect with Waumba Land Instagram // Facebook

Christmas is coming! It’s the time of year when you’re shopping for the perfect gifts, baking treats, prepping for parties, and trying to create the most magical memories with your family. In the midst of it all, you also want your preschooler to be learning about the true meaning of Christmas. You want them to know that we are celebrating the birthday of Jesus! In Episode 19, Kendra Fleming shares some great ideas to help you create super fun and meaningful experiences for your preschooler this holiday season. Here are just a few of them:       Keep a basket of Christmas books by your tree.       Make a paper chain Christmas countdown.       Bake a birthday cake for Jesus.       Have a dance party with your favorite Christmas songs. Spotify Christmas playlist 10 Ideas for Christmas Fun blog post Amazon shopping list Connect with Waumba Land Instagram // Facebook

Divorce or separation is never easy on families, especially when children are involved. And changes that involve transitioning between two homes can be especially difficult. Preschoolers are wired to crave consistency and routine, so it’s normal for them to face challenges as they navigate a new normal. We know parents want to get this right, but it’s hard to know where to start! In Episode 18, Kendra Fleming and Erin Nicolas discuss what it looks like to help your preschooler ease through the transition between two homes. They talk about seven great things you can do to help your preschooler find consistency in the midst of big changes in your family. Erin is a registered Play Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor. Her areas of specialty include working with children struggling with anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, divorce, grief, behavioral issues, and/or self-esteem. She provides much knowledge and advice! After listening, we think you will walk away with some incredibly helpful inform

Conflict in marriage is inevitable, but learning how to best communicate with your spouse can help you manage it in a healthy way. The key to effective communication is understanding your temperament as well as your spouse’s. In Episode 17, Kendra Fleming talks with Kathleen Edelman about what temperaments are, the strengths and weaknesses of each, and how you can become a communication expert in your marriage. Kathleen is a Christian life coach and author. She has one goal in life: to help people learn to speak kindly to each other. She has spent 25 years coaching clients in the art of communication and is an expert in temperaments. Connect with Kathleen Website // Instagram // Facebook Connect with Waumba Land Instagram // Facebook

Being a parent is the most important job anyone will ever have, and being a new mom in today’s world can bring lots of challenges and struggles. In Episode 16, Kendra Fleming and Karen Stubbs talk about some of the top struggles of young moms and share practical advice on how to overcome these challenges. Karen Stubbs is the founder of Birds on a Wire, a ministry for moms that was created in 2011. Birds on a Wire has reached hundreds of moms all over the world and aims to help moms parent with confidence. Karen has four children and is also a wonderful grandmother. Her heart is to encourage, equip, and cheer on moms in their journey of motherhood. Connect with Birds on a Wire Website // Instagram // Facebook // Resources Learn more about Community Groups Connect with Waumba Land Instagram // Facebook

The toddler years are hard and, as a parent, it may seem impossible to find time to be intentional with your little one. It’s a crazy time when they are testing boundaries, running all over the place, and learning so much about the world around them. But it’s so important to slow down and create intentional connection times when you can speak truth to your child’s heart.  In Episode 15, Kendra Fleming and Jennifer Walker talk about bedtime being an ideal time to help set foundations in your child’s heart. They aren’t open to it all day, but right between awake and asleep, when stimulation levels are down, is a time when toddlers are the most open to instruction. Jennifer shares specific ideas for how this can happen and encourages parents to implement what works best for their family. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience as a pediatric nurse and has partnered with thousands of families to foster happy and healthy children. She has three boys of her own, including a set of twins! She’s one of the founder

We are all different, and understanding how your child is wired is so helpful as you parent them! In Episode 14, Kendra Fleming talks to Kathleen Edelman about temperaments and how you can become a communication expert as you parent your child. Kathleen provides great advice that will help you discover your child’s temperament and how best to parent them. Kathleen is a Christian Life Coach and Author. She has one goal in life: to help people learn to speak kindly to each other. She has spent 25 years coaching clients in the art of communication and is an expert in temperaments. Connect with Kathleen Website // Instagram // Facebook Connect with Waumba Land Instagram // Facebook

Having a newborn in your home is difficult! They require constant attention and sometimes it seems like the crying and sleepless nights will never end. It’s easy for parents of newborns to feel pressure to get it right as they try to figure out their new normal—especially with limitless voices that tell them the right and wrong way to parent. In Episode 13, Kendra Fleming talks to Jennifer Walker about how to take the pressure off when you bring a newborn into your home. Jennifer provides great advice that will hopefully make those early days a little bit easier, whether it’s your first baby or your fifth!   Jennifer has over 20 years of experience as a pediatric nurse and has partnered with thousands of families to foster happy and healthy children. She has three boys of her own, including a set of twins! She’s one of the founders of Moms on Call, a resource for parents of infants to 4-year-olds, and she wants to help parents take the guilt away and celebrate the differences their children bring to the wor

As parents, we don’t want our kids to feel stressed or sad. But, the reality is that they are guaranteed to experience things that cause them anxiety—and it can actually be good for them! We also know that sometimes preschoolers need extra help if they really start to struggle in these areas. What are the things that cause them stress? How can you tell if your child is really struggling? And how can you help?   In Episode 12, Kendra Fleming and Erin Nicolas discuss four great ways you can help your preschooler if you sense that anxiety and stress are problems for them. Erin is a registered Play Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor. Her areas of specialty include working with children struggling with anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, divorce, grief, behavioral issues, and self-esteem. She provides so much knowledge and advice and, after listening, we think you will walk away with some incredibly helpful information to help you parent your preschooler. Additional Resources Connect with Su