It can be easy to allow technology to get in the way of intentional family time, especially in this season.

Join host, Barb Roose, and special guest Arlene Pellicane for a discussion all about screen time! Arlene will empower you with the tools you need to make positive changes. Through stories, science, and wisdom, you’ll discover how to take back your home from an overdependence on screens. Plus, you’ll learn to teach the five A+ skills that every child needs to master: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology, and attention.

Big Ideas From Today's Show

1. Screen time is not neutral. 

The time that your child spends on a screen directly impacts their brain and overall health. Technology has an addictive nature and can derail children emotionally, physically and spiritually. Boundaries are crucial to protect your child from the potential dangers of screen time.

2. Screen time can either be digital candy or digital vegetables. 

Screen time can be profitable such as watching sermons, learning a new skill, or connecting with loved ones (digital vegetables) but it can also be extremely unproductive or even harmful such as excessive binging, turning to technology as a constant distraction, and accessing inappropriate content (digital candy).

3. As a parent, you get to set the rules.

It can be easy to give into our children when they want to spend time on screens, but Arlene encourages us to remember our authority and responsibility as parents. You get to set the boundaries for your children. Will you allow them to have cell phones? Can they create social media accounts? How much television can they watch during the week? You decide!

The A+ Social Skills:

1. Affection

Does your child feel loved? Is your child capable of showing genuine affection other than just liking a post or sending an emoji?

2. Appreciation

Does your child show gratitude rather than entitlement?

3. Anger Management

Is your child capable of managing their anger? Are you willing to stand in your authority as a parent even when your child gets angry?

4. Apology

Can your child apologize when they have done wrong?

5. Attention

Is your child capable of staying attentive or are they prone to distraction? Arlene shares that our attention span has decreased by 40% in the last 20 years. Your child's attention will vary depending on age, but ensuring that they are not consumed with screen time and spending more time on tasks such as reading can help with this. 

About Our Guest Arlene Pellicane

Arlene Pellicane is a speaker and author of several books including Screen Kids, Grandparenting Screen Kids, Parents Rising, and 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife.

Arlene has been a featured guest on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, The 700 Club, and Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah. She hosts The Happy Home podcast and writes regularly for Proverbs 31 Ministries and Girlfriends in God.

Arlene earned her BA from Biola University and her Masters in Journalism from Regent University. Arlene lives in San Diego with her husband James and their three children.

Links from today's episode:

Arlene's Website

arlenepellicane.com

happyhomeuniversity.com

Screen Kids: 5 Relational Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech-Driven World

Grab your copy here.

Grandparenting Screen Kids: How to Help, What to Say, and Where to Begin

Purchase the book here.

Better Together host Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author with a passion to help women live beautifully strong and courageous in Jesus' name. She's the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

A lot happened this year! So, I’m putting a pin in my annual self-reflection because this is a tough year to self-evaluate. During a world-wide pandemic, I survived. I should probably call the year a success on that point alone and keep it movin'.  Still, I’m an Enneagram Three, so it’s REALLY hard not to self-evaluate!

After a much-needed nap, I got the bright idea to move from self-evaluation to survival tips. What helped me get through 2020? That’s much easier for me to identify. Here they are:

✔️ Friends – Cue the “Friends” theme show music and sing the line with me: “When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year / I’ll be there for you/ ‘Cause you’re there for me, too.” There’s a whole tribe of you who’ve been there for me. Thank you.

✔️ My Girls - They've been so brave this year. I'm really proud of them!

✔️ Devotion Time – Here’s a stack of the Bible studies that I did this year for my own personal devotion time. While I’m a Christian writer, my professional work is not substitute for my own necessary spiritual work. Thank you to these friends who brilliantly wrote content that helped me get better this year.

✔️ Walking – Bless. Walking is one of my MVPs for 2020. It’s the one thing that the pandemic didn’t take away. It preserved my mental health over and over again.

✔️ Reading – Books helped me escape the pressure of the pandemic on many-a-day. One of my top books this year is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. As a writer and creator, I floated on her words and stories.

✔️ Gratitude – Wearing “gratitude glasses” and giving thanks each day for God’s love, provision and preservation pushed back a lot of anxiety and worry.

✔️ Farmer’s Market –Each Saturday, my soul soaked up the bright colors, fresh vegetables and the enduring human spirit at my downtown farmer’s market. I can’t wait to go back!

✔️ Healthy Food – I’m generally a healthy eater. Thanks to grocery pick-up during the quarantine, I could stick with healthy eating.

😂 Finally, memes. To all of the meme creators out there who made us laugh when 2020 life wasn’t funny at all, thank you.

👉🏾 What about you? What got you through this wild year? Who do you want to shout out and thank?

Big Ideas From Today's Show

Tip #1: Be careful that you aren't only having transactional conversations about money.

When discussing the topic of money, talk about more than just what you two would like to buy in the future or have purchased in the past. Ask questions like, "What was money like when you grew up?" or "Where did your values and beliefs about money come from?"

Tip #2: The question rarely changes; the answer often does.

With each change in age, your circumstances change as well. The fundamental questions about money span across all age groups, but depending on life circumstances (married, single, position in life, etc.), the answers will change.

Tip #3: When you fight, notice whether it is over a belief or habit, or over transparency, power or intimacy.

When you get into a fight with your spouse about money, take a step back to determine what you are truly upset about. It can be easy to attack your spouse without realizing that you are actually upset about something deeper. Are you fighting about a lack of transparency in how your spouse handled money? Do you feel like you are being neglected and not permitted to make any decisions about how money is spent? Take the time to discover the real issue and then tackle that together.

About Our Guest Jacquette Timmons

Jacquette Timmons focuses on the human side of money. She works as a financial behaviorist and is committed to getting you to see that you don't manage money - you manage your choices around money. In addition to being an author ("Financial Intimacy: How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate”) and frequent blogger, Jacquette is also the creator of The Comfort Circle™ - a dinner series, where she hosts discussions about money, business and life over food and wine - and “Pricing Made Human™.” Whether PMH is presented as a masterclass, 1-day small group retreat, mastermind or VIP Day, it is designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners tackle the question, "What should I charge for this?," from all sides: the financial, the emotional, the personal, so they can price more confidently, strategically, and in such a way that propels their business and life forward. She is also the host of the podcast, "More Than Money." Her work has been featured on Minnesota Public Radio, SiriusXM, "Good Morning America," CNN, NPR and the Wall Street Journal. She holds an MBA in finance from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Business and an undergrad in marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She lives in Brooklyn, NY and can be seen running in Prospect Park most days of the week.

Links from today's episode:

Jacquette's Website

www.jacquettetimmons.com

Financial Intimacy: How to Create a Healthy Relationship with Your Money and Your Mate

Grab your copy here.

Better Together host Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author with a passion to help women live beautifully strong and courageous in Jesus' name. She's the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

Big Ideas From Today's Show

1. This generation is passionate.

Something beautiful about the Milennial and Gen Z generations is that they are passionate. Many have used this passion for good and committed themselves to learning about and tackling various issues head on include racial healing and sex trafficking.

2. They are growing and gaining resilience and perseverance. 

Despite being labeled as "entitled" and "lazy", this generation has been growing in resilience and perseverance, particularly this year with navigating Covid-19.

3. Our young people need authentic vulnerability. 

It can be easy for the younger generations to feel like those who are older cannot relate to their struggles. Our young people crave authentic vulnerability and to know that those who are older understand what they are walking through. Be willing to share your story and answer their questions.

5. This generation is still seeking God.

God is still at work in this generation. Young people are seeking Him and calling out for revival and a return to the Word.

6. Pray for your them. 

If there is someone you know who is walking away from the faith, talk to them, listen, and most importantly, pray! The Lord is able to draw them back to Himself.

About Our Guest Anna Garas

Anna Garas is a high school teacher. Having worked with young people with various spiritual and mental health struggles, she is interested in getting her counselling qualifications. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, telling them funny stories or having deep conversations. She loves adventures, especially in beautiful places. In terms of ministry, she has a passion for youth and missions, waiting for the day when there are no more unreached people groups; she also longs to see the abolition of human trafficking.

Links from today's episode:

Anna's Novels

Grab your copy of Anna's novels here.

Steadfast: A College Girl's Guide to Standing Firm

Grab your copy here.

Better Together host Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author with a passion to help women live beautifully strong and courageous in Jesus' name. She's the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.

If you are looking for tasty, healthy meals to make this Christmas, you will enjoy this episode of Better Together! Cooking is Lisa Lewis’ jam and she has been a part of First Place for Health wellness weeks and events for many years. She’s not afraid to take whisks. 

Join host Barb Roose on this episode of Better Together Facebook Live, for a time of fun and Christmas cooking with guest, Lisa Lewis!

Lisa's Tasty Recipes:

1. Christmas Tree Salad

What You'll Need (this recipe is customizable depending on your preferences)

Swiss Chard (you can also use kale)

Walnuts

Cranberries

Pecans

3/4 cup of red grapes (cut in half)

2 peeled and separated mandarin oranges

Optional: Pomegranate

Dressing:

1 tbsp of maple syrup

1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar

2 tbsp of olive oil

1 pinch of cayenne pepper

Directions:

Chop the swiss chard and put it in a bowl, making sure that it is dry.

Add your toppings (walnuts, cranberries, pecans, red grapes, mandarin oranges, etc.) and toss.

Mix your dressing in a separate bowl by combining all ingredients and whisking them together.

Pour dressing on top of salad and mix.

Pile your Christmas salad on top of a serving plate to look tall like a Christmas tree. If you'd like to add a star on top, cut one out of a slice of bread, toast it and place on top of your salad.

2. Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Honey Siracha Sauce

What You'll Need 

1 pound of Brussel Sprouts

2 tbsp of olive oil

1 pinch of salt

Dressing: 

1 tbsp of siracha

3 tbsp of honey

Directions:

Cut the ends off your brussel sprouts. Cut your sprouts in half and peel off the leaves.

Place your brussel sprouts and the leaves in a bowl.

Add olive oil and salt into the bowl and mix until your brussel sprouts are covered.

Place your brussel sprouts a good distance apart on the baking pan with the cut side down and place in the oven. Do not use parchment paper!

Roast at 425 F for 15-20 minutes.

Once finished, place your sprouts in a bowl.

Whisk your siracha and honey in a separate bowl and pour on top of your roasted brussel sprouts.

Mix them together and place on your serving tray.

About Our Guest Lisa Lewis

Lisa Lewis works with First Place for Health, a Christ-centered whole person, wellness organization. This organization focuses on not just the physical, but the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of a person. She is also the author of the Healthy Happy Cooking cookbook.

Links from today's episode:

Lisa's Website

healthyhappycooking.com

Healthy Happy Cooking Cookbook

Grab your copy here.

Better Together host Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author with a passion to help women live beautifully strong and courageous in Jesus' name. She's the author of multiple books and Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Visit Barb's online home at barbroose.com.