A Toolkit for Families: Practical Wisdom That Makes You Closer to the People You Love

I’ve got a very special invitation for you today.

Grab a spot on the couch next to me and my family here in Southern Vermont. 

Join our family as our three kids discuss all the parenting mistakes Chris and I made – and the things we did that built trust and brought us all closer.

I’m really excited and proud to share this with you, even though there are moments where my kids absolutely school me.

They also share wisdom and insights that are so profound, you’ll hear Chris break down and cry.

This really isn’t a conversation about parenting at all. It’s about how you create a close and meaningful connection with anyone.

So whether you’re wondering how to get closer to your family or your friends, everything we discuss applies to all relationships.

This episode goes deep – we cover drinking, drugs, addiction, and what to do when teenagers stop talking to you or someone you love is dating someone that you don’t like.

And, since so many of you have written in asking about my approach to parenting after hearing our kids on various episodes of this podcast, I’m also sharing our parenting philosophy.

My family is getting real and raw in this discussion, and we’re inviting you to be a part. So join us. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this episode, and one thing you might want to consider is listening to it with your family. I guarantee you, it will spark very interesting discussions.

Xo Mel

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In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 0:32: Why I recorded today’s episode
• 3:25: Meet the Robbins family
• 6:02: You keep asking: How are my kids so open with me?
• 7:30: A frank discussion on drinking
• 12:33: Why people don’t listen to you
• 14:10: What Chris and I think the whole point of parenting really is
• 18:27: Let’s talk about addiction, including groundbreaking new research from Mt. Sinai
• 25:15: Our #1 piece of advice that will keep people honest with you
• 30:55: What we mean when we say people in your life are “lie detectors”
• 33:07: Why showing your feelings to loved ones is so powerful
• 36:58: How to build connection with anyone
• 40:52: When you keep repeating patterns you wish you could break
• 44:44: Why you need to let kids be themselves
• 50:52: Why you shouldn’t let people bounce from uncomfortable situations
• 52:39: “I don’t like who my kid is dating” – advice that applies for any relationship
• 1:01:52: Our #1 piece of advice for you

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Go deeper:

• For Closed Captions: Watch on YouTube and turn on “CC.” For instructions to turn on closed captions, click here.

• Washington Post: Eight ways parents can teach kids to be honest
• Research from Mt. Sinai around brain circuitry impairments and addiction; study is here
• Eric Barker: This Is How To Be An Emotionally Intelligent Parent
• American Psychological Association: Family Routines and Rituals
• Harvard Business School: Family Rituals Improve the Holidays
• Greater Good Magazine: Three Ways to Change Your Parenting in the Teenage Years