<![CDATA[Lives Touched Coaching - Blog]]>Tue, 12 May 2026 15:23:31 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[The One Skill Every Child Needs to Learn (It's Not Reading or Math)]]>Tue, 05 May 2026 11:00:00 GMThttps://www.livestouchedcoaching.com/blog/the-one-skill-every-child-needs-to-learn-its-not-reading-or-mathIf your child could only develop ONE skill this year - just one - what would you choose?
Reading fluency? Math skills? Better behavior? Social skills?
Here's what I'd choose: the skill of asking for help.
I know, I know. That doesn't sound as impressive as "my kid is an advanced reader" or "my daughter is a star soccer player."
But hear me out.

The Foundation Skill
Think about every other skill your child will learn in their lifetime.
Learning to drive? Easier when they can ask the instructor questions. Struggling with homework? Manageable when they know how to seek support. Relationship problems in high school? Solvable when they can reach out to trusted adults. College challenges? Career setbacks? Parenting their own kids someday?
Every single challenge gets more manageable when someone knows how to ask for help.

But We Accidentally Teach the OppositeWe often accidentally discourage this crucial skill. I know I've done it.
We say things like:
  • "Try to figure it out yourself"
  • "You're such a big kid, you can handle this"
  • "Don't always come running to me"
  • "Be independent!"
We praise the child who doesn't ask for help. We celebrate when they "do it all by themselves."
And slowly, we teach them that asking for help means you're not capable enough.
What If We Flipped This?What if in addition to celebrating independence, we celebrated smart help-seeking?
What if we said:
  • "Great job asking for help when you needed it!"
  • "I'm proud of you for knowing when to reach out"
  • "That was smart thinking - asking questions when you're confused"
What if we modeled asking for help ourselves?
"I'm going to ask Dad to help me figure this out." "I need to call Grandma for her recipe because I can't remember the ingredients." "I'm going to ask my friend for advice."
This Week's Challenge
Pay attention to how your child asks for help - and celebrate it when they do.
Notice when they come to you with a problem, ask a question, or admit they're stuck on something.
Instead of immediately jumping to "try harder" or "figure it out yourself," try saying:
"I'm glad you asked me. It’s smart to get support when you need it."
The skill of asking for help isn't a weakness. It's wisdom.
And it might be the most important thing they learn this year.


Need help with your own parenting challenges?
Sometimes we need to model the very skill we're trying to teach our kids. If you're feeling stuck with parenting struggles and could use support, that's exactly what I'm here for.
Frazzled to Joyful gives you ongoing coaching support, or start with a 55-minute Brainstorming Session to talk through what's challenging you most.
Asking for help? It's a skill worth celebrating at any age.

Here's to raising kids who know when and how to reach out. 💚
Warmly,
Dana
P.S. What's one area where you could model asking for help this week? Sometimes the best teaching happens when our kids see us seeking support too.]]><![CDATA[Small Family Adventures: How a Dusty Ping Pong Table Created Perfect Spring Memories]]>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMThttps://www.livestouchedcoaching.com/blog/small-family-adventures-how-a-dusty-ping-pong-table-created-perfect-spring-memoriesThis week our family had a ping pong tournament.
Now, before you picture some elaborate event, let me set the scene: Our ping pong table usually sits in the basement collecting dust. Honestly, I forget it's there most of the time.
But that day I suggested we plan a fun little family tournament. It turned into a great evening with team names, mascots, trash talk, and tons of laughter. (My golden retriever was my team mascot and trusty ping pong partner.)
That dusty ping pong table became a mini adventure. 

Spring = Adventure Season
Spring is perfect for these small adventures. Everything is waking up, including our desire to try something different.

Maybe yours looks like:
  • Going mushroom hunting and photographing each one you find
  • Taking a nature walk with the goal of finding heart-shaped rocks
  • Having a picnic in your front yard instead of your kitchen
  • Planting something together and documenting its growth
  • Building the world's most elaborate blanket fort
  • Having a backward dinner (dessert first!)

Small adventures aren't about the activity. They're about the intention.

Why Small Adventures Matter
Connection: When you do something slightly out of the ordinary together, everyone perks up. Suddenly you're all present, all engaged, all discovering something new at the same time.
Memories: Your kids won't remember the Tuesday you watched TV together. But they'll remember the Sunday you had that epic ping pong tournament where Dad's victory dance was questionable and Mom kept "accidentally" hitting the ball too hard.
Modeling: You show your family that adventures don't require passports or big budgets. They require curiosity and a willingness to break the routine.
Joy: There's something magical about saying "Why not?" instead of "We don't usually do that."

The Secret Ingredient:
The secret to small adventures? Permission to be a little silly.
Permission to turn your living room into a camping site. Permission to have ice cream for breakfast just because. Permission to take photos of every mushroom you see like you're a nature documentary crew.
When you give yourself permission to be playful, your whole family follows.

This Week's Challenge:
​Look around your house. What's been sitting there unused? What could become your family's next mini adventure?
Maybe it's that deck of cards that could become a poker night. Maybe it's those art supplies that could become a family mural project. Maybe it's just deciding that tonight, dinner happens on the floor with a picnic blanket.
Small adventures are everywhere. They're just waiting for you to say yes.​​
Want support making family life feel more joyful and less overwhelming?
Sometimes the biggest barrier to family fun is the stress that makes everything feel hard.
Frazzled to Joyful helps you find your way to more moments like these - where your family actually enjoys being together.
Start with a 55-minute Brainstorminlivestouchedcoaching.podia.com/brainstorming-sessiong Session and let's figure out what's blocking the joy in your home.
Here's to dusty ping pong tables and the adventures hiding in plain sight. 💚
​
What small adventure will you say yes to this week?
Warmly,
Dana
P.S. The real winner of our tournament? The family connection. The actual ping pong scores? Already forgotten. The memory of us all being silly together? That's sticking around.
Brainstorm Session
]]><![CDATA[Parent Coach Training Reviews: Real Stories from New Graduates (They Stopped Thinking and Started Doing)]]>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMThttps://www.livestouchedcoaching.com/blog/parent-coach-training-reviews-real-stories-from-new-graduates-they-stopped-thinking-and-started-doingA year ago, these women were exactly where you might be right now - thinking about becoming a parent coach, wondering if they could really do it.
Here's what they're saying now:
"It has opened a lot of new possibilities for me that I had not thought I'd be able to have before." - Shannon
"I feel very equipped as a Parent Coach and ready to start my own ripple effect." - Amber
"I came away with the skills to help other families — and my own family experienced growth and healing too." - Andrea
"After finishing the course, I feel very equipped as a Parent Coach and ready to start my own ripple effect on the families I work with." - Recent Graduate

What Changed Everything?They stopped thinking and started doing.
They stopped waiting for the "perfect time." They stopped questioning if they were qualified enough. They stopped letting fear make the decision.

They took the leap.

The Gap Between Dreaming and DoingYou know what I've learned? The gap between wanting something and actually starting isn't about capability. It's about courage.

Every person who's gone through The Ripple Effect certification had the same thoughts you're having:
"What if I'm not cut out for this?" "What if I don't know enough?" "What if it's not the right time?"

The difference between them and people who stay stuck in the thinking phase?
They decided that the regret of not trying was worse than the fear of starting.

Your TurnSeptember 2026 is the only Ripple Effect cohort I'm offering for the 2026-27 school year.
You can spend the next few months thinking about it, weighing pros and cons, waiting for certainty that will never come.
Or you can decide that this is your year.
Andrea didn't just gain skills to help other families - her own family experienced growth and healing too. That transformation starts the moment you commit, not the moment you graduate.
Shannon discovered possibilities she never thought she could have. Amber feels equipped and ready to create her ripple effect.

What's your story going to be?
The Adventure You Keep Thinking AboutThis month we've talked about adventures - family adventures, summer adventures, and YOUR adventure.

Maybe your adventure is turning your heart for families into meaningful, flexible work.
Maybe it's time to stop thinking and start doing.
​
Early bird pricing: $4,497 (payment plan available until July) Self-paced materials: Start immediately
Group sessions: Begin mid-September
No-obligation application below:
No-obligation application
Still thinking about it? Email me to book a 15-minute call and let's turn thinking into action
A year from now, you'll either be where you are today, or you'll be one of the coaches sharing your transformation story. 
Fear is not a sign you shouldn't do something. Fear is a sign that something matters to you. Let it fuel you forward, not hold you back.

Warmly,
Dana
]]><![CDATA[Moms, What's Your Adventure This Year? Permission to Want More for Yourself]]>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMThttps://www.livestouchedcoaching.com/blog/moms-whats-your-adventure-this-year-permission-to-want-more-for-yourselfWe've talked about summer planning and family adventures. Now I want to talk about something closer to your heart:
What's YOUR adventure this year?
Not your kids' activities. Not family trips. Yours.
When's the last time you did something new just for you? Something that stretched you, excited you, made you feel alive in a way that had nothing to do with being someone's mom or employee?
It's Okay to Want MoreI meet so many women who whisper this to me:
"I love my family, but I want something more for myself." "I feel guilty saying it, but I'm ready for a new challenge." "I have so much to give, but I don't know where to start."
Let me tell you something: It's okay to want more.
You can love your family AND want something that's just yours. You can be grateful for what you have AND ready for what's next. You can be a devoted parent AND pursue your own dreams.
What's Calling to You?Maybe it's:
  • Learning something new you've always been curious about
  • Starting a side business that excites you
  • Going back to school or getting a certification
  • Volunteering for a cause you care about
  • Taking on a creative project
  • Pursuing work that feels meaningful instead of just necessary
The question isn't whether you deserve it (you do). The question is: What's calling to you?
Your Adventure Could Change EverythingHere's what I've learned from watching women step into new adventures:
It's never just about the thing itself. It's about what happens to you when you say yes to yourself.
When you honor what's calling to you:
  • You model possibility for your children
  • You show up with more energy in all areas of life
  • You remember who you are beyond your roles
  • You create ripples of inspiration around you
This Could Be Your YearWhat if 2026 was the year you stopped thinking about your adventure and started living it?
For some of you, that adventure might be becoming a parent coach.

The Ripple Effect certification turns your heart for helping families into meaningful, flexible work. It's 16 weeks from wondering "Could I do this?" to knowing "I am doing this."

September 2026 is the only cohort I'm offering in the 2026-27 school year and registration is open now.
But whether your adventure is coaching families or something completely different - the message is the same:

You're allowed to want more. You're allowed to pursue it. You're allowed to take up space with your dreams.

This Week's QuestionWhat adventure has been whispering to you?
Don't overthink it. Don't worry about logistics. Just listen to what's calling.
Then take one small step toward it.

You deserve to feel excited about your own life again.
Ready to explore parent coaching as your adventure?

September 2026 Ripple Effect
Questions about whether this could be right for you? Just send me a message or click the link to learn more. 

Here's to the adventure that's waiting for you. 💚
Warmly,
Dana
P.S. Sometimes our biggest adventure starts with the smallest step. What's one tiny thing you can do this week toward what's calling you?
Learn more
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]]><![CDATA[Simple Family Adventure Ideas: Creating Big Summer Memories Without Big Plans]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMThttps://www.livestouchedcoaching.com/blog/simple-family-adventure-ideas-creating-big-summer-memories-without-big-plansLast week we talked about giving yourself permission to NOT overschedule summer.
This week? Let's flip it and talk about adding something new - but just one thing.
What's one new adventure your family could try this summer?
I'm not talking about elaborate vacation plans or expensive activities that require months of planning.
I'm talking about small adventures. Simple ones. The kind that create big memories without big stress.
Adventure Doesn't Have to Be BigMaybe it's:
  • Visiting a new park you've driven past a hundred times
  • Trying a different ice cream shop across town
  • Camping in your backyard for one night
  • Taking a picnic to somewhere you've never been
  • Exploring a hiking trail that's been on your "someday" list
  • Visiting a farmer's market in a nearby town
The magic isn't in the size of the adventure. It's in the newness of it together.
Why New Adventures MatterWhen we do the same things in the same places, life can feel a little... flat.
But when you try something new together, everyone perks up a little. You're all navigating unfamiliar territory. You're all discovering something at the same time.
Those are the moments that stick.
One of my favorite childhood memories was when my parents let us go swimming in our daytime clothes! No waiting to change into swim suits... we just ran right in!
Start Small, Dream BigThis week, ask your family:
"What's one new thing we could try this summer?"
Let everyone contribute ideas. Write them down. Then pick one - just one - that feels doable and fun.
It doesn't have to be perfect. Just something new.
Maybe it becomes a tradition. Maybe it's a one-time thing. Either way, you've created a memory and shown your family that adventures are always possible.

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