Just Winging It

Reading great parenting advice is one thing; using that advice isn't as easy. After exploring some ancient parenting techniques shared in "Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans" by Michaleen Doucleff in the last episode, Patrick and John chat about ways they've attempted to challenge themselves and adapt their style to test new (old) parenting practices.

What if much of what we take for granted as parenting in the US is... wrong? John and Patrick take a step back to consider how we even arrived at the modern day parenting playbook, and they dive further into the recent book, "Hunt Gather Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans" by Michaleen Doucleff to see what we have to learn from cultures that have kept up with ancient parenting techniques.

Some of our most basic parenting instincts focus on keeping children safe from danger. At the same time, in order to support our kids as they learn new skills we're often faced with the balancing act of introducing physical and mental risks. Patrick and John bring back Peter from the Midwest to explore the calculated risks involved in raising well-rounded kids who can grow with confidence and deal with danger; whether learning how to ride a bike or skateboard or develop street smarts to navigate the world.

Why does so much of parenting feel like a battle of wills? Getting kids to contribute around the house—or even clean up their own mess—is a struggle amplified to greater volumes now that we've been stuck home for so much of the last year. Thankfully, John and Patrick can tap a better resource then their own brains for this one. The new book, " Hunt Gather Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans" by Michaleen Doucleff could not have come at a better time. The dads dig into a few recent articles on the book to work through some new approaches they will undoubtedly report back on in future episodes.

Alright, so there's staying healthy and then there's trying to look good as the years start adding up. But what does looking good even mean anyway? Patrick and John bring on occupational therapist Joe Rich to share some tips and dig into what the heck we're all even trying to look like in the first place.

Pet adoptions are skyrocketing during our pandemic lives. In households already occupied with raising little beings, the choice to add animals into the mix gets complicated. So what goes into making the decision to bring a pet into our families now? John and Patrick reflect on their recent pet adoptions and add a bit of commentary on pet culture and animal ethics.

How are those new year exercise goals going? Just Winging It is back to lift you up! Or... maybe just to make you feel better about yourself? Patrick and John kick off season four with physical therapist Denis Long to talk about how to setup and stick with a good exercise routine while dadding in 2021.

What. A. Damn. Year. We're still adapting daily with the uncertainty of it all while also falling into all- too-familiar of a routine with life during the pandemic. What comes next? Patrick and John close out 2020 and season three of Just Winging It considering how and where to find joy during these tough times, reflecting back all the way to episode 22 when they discussed The Book Of Joy by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama.

The transition to the cold, dark months brings on some tough emotions even in a normal year. In this intense 2020, the impending winter feels particularly intense. John and Patrick sort through the latest parenting challenges brought on by the pandemic, how they're feeling about the upcoming season, and the concept of adult pandemic tantrums. Yeah, it's a thing.

The stakes for the 2020 US presidential election could not feel any higher. The results show a country torn in half. Where do we go from here? Just a couple days after the election was called for Biden, Patrick and John process the emotional rollercoaster and grapple with what comes next for our country and for the way we parent through the sharp political divide that persists between us.

Pandemic life has transformed our work and home lives for the indefinite future. With school back in session for several weeks now, a new rhythm is emerging. John and Patrick talk specifically about their work from home setup; while their wives are out working, the two dads balance working from home with getting kids through hybrid school schedules and abrupt quarantines.

One of the silver linings through this pandemic is the increased time we're all spending outdoors in nature. Isn't that where our children are supposed to spend their days anyway? The famed Pete From the Midwest comes on to probe into the subject with Patrick and John, exploring how meaningful nature has been for them growing up and now—and how they've managed to promote the outdoors with their kids.

Just like that, we've been just winging it for 100 episodes. In case you missed it, a lot has happened over the last 2.5 years since the show began. But we're not here to talk about world events right now. John and Patrick reflect back with listeners on the last 99 episodes; some of the funniest JWI moments, their favorite topics, and as a reminder of why the heck they're doing this in the first place.

Can you feel the anticipation? Just Winging It will celebrate 100 episodes soon! Send in your favorite Just Winging It moment--a time when you cry-laughed, had an aha moment, or simply smiled and nodded. Record your moment and email it to justwingingitdads@gmail.com so we can air it on our 100th episode and reflect back on our sheer brilliance.

Labor Day has passed, school is officially starting; so marks the transition from summer to what feels like a new year, and a new phase of life in a pandemic. Patrick and John go deeper to explore the rewiring of our brains and our lives as we settle into our adapted lifestyles this school year.

As the summer winds down, the reality ahead for families is sinking in. We're about to emerge from our relatively sheltered Spring and Summer to hunker down for school, work, and all that the Fall and Winter will bring. And maybe transform into something entirely new. John and Patrick unpack the emotional toll of the pandemic during this transitional time of year.

The Fall is approaching quickly and the reality of beginning a new school year amidst the pandemic is settling in. Patrick and John work through what's on every school age parent's mind right now; how the heck is school going to work this year?

Two years ago (episode 19), planning kids birthday parties was stressful enough. Somehow now with the pandemic backdrop, it has become both simpler and more complicated. John talks Patrick through his daughter's week of birthday parties and their strategy to manage expectations with their kids, while still celebrating their big day with friends and family.

The pace and scale of change around us is without precedent in our lifetime. So it's no surprise that change is manifesting in all sorts of ways, big and small, in our families. John and Patrick chat about some of the latest changes in their households, including a transition back to daycare, a new dog, and the beginning of a new career.

Getting outside with our families has been more important than ever. So why not take the time to teach our kids—and ourselves—some new outdoor activities? Patrick and John share their latest outdoor discoveries as they keep on working through how to take advantage of all this extra time with the kids.