1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: It's the Happy Families Podcast. It's the podcast for the 2 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: time poor parent who just wants answers Now. 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 2: It can be very very easy in our busy lives 4 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 2: to just kind of think that everything's going well. But 5 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 2: what I've noticed is we've been really intentional about slowing 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 2: down and coming together in close confined is that the 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 2: connection has actually strengthened. 8 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: And now here's the stars of our show, my mum 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: and dad. It's the Happy Families Podcast. 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 3: This is Justin and Kylie Coulson, the parents of six children, 11 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 3: founder of Happy Families dot com dot you, and Fridays 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 3: are the best day of the week because well, two things. 13 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 3: Number One, the podcast is all about this idea of 14 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 3: I'll do better tomorrow. How can we learn from the 15 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 3: week that was so that we can be better parents, 16 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 3: be more intentional, more reflective, more engaged with our families 17 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 3: and other Two on a personal note, because we're living 18 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 3: a part of the moment, I get to come and 19 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 3: hang out with you and the kids. 20 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: It's a Friday. I'm spending the weekend on the coast. 21 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: Can we go to the beach? Please? Oh that's a 22 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: good yes, it is because you're there twice a day, 23 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: at least at the moment. 24 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 3: This is why the move is happening, by the way, 25 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 3: so that we can spend more time having these moments. 26 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: Hey, for those of you who are. 27 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 3: New to the podcast, our podcasts numbers are a reflection 28 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 3: of individuals, people, families who are listening to the podcasts 29 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 3: to make their family happier. And we've seen a really 30 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,839 Speaker 3: marked increase in the number of people who are listening 31 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 3: to the podcast this year. We're so grateful to you 32 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 3: for being here. If you're fairly new to the podcast. 33 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 3: Every Friday we reflect on what's happened in the week 34 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 3: and find ways that we can do more of the 35 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 3: good stuff and less of the bad stuff. And it's 36 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 3: a fairly short podcast really today because I want to 37 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 3: get up the cost I want to jump in the 38 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 3: car and come and be with you. So, Kylie, tell 39 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 3: me when you reflect on the week that was, is 40 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 3: there anything that's really stood out to you in terms 41 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 3: of how you can be better tomorrow, anything that's jumped 42 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 3: out at you as a learning. 43 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: The thing that stood out to me the most this week, 44 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 2: as we've navigated being in small, confined spaces, is that 45 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 2: the kids, for the most part, are actually getting on better. Wow, 46 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 2: it's been a little bit of an experiment on my 47 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: part for a little while now. I've actually suggested to 48 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 2: you that I would like to downsize. But we've also 49 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: had this concern that we've forgot all of these children 50 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,839 Speaker 2: still and they all would like to have their own 51 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 2: personal space. 52 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, so for context, it's probably worth mentioning we currently 53 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 3: have a home that has six bedrooms. Six bedrooms is 54 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 3: a big house, right, And you're now in a and 55 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 3: obviously multiple bathrooms to go along with those six bedrooms. 56 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 3: You're now in a three bedroom flat that has a 57 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 3: bathroom and. 58 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 1: A toilet, and that's it. 59 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 2: That's right. 60 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:38,399 Speaker 1: That's a massive downsize. 61 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,679 Speaker 2: We've got two children's bedrooms with two children in each 62 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 2: of those bedrooms. And what I'm watching, I'm literally watching 63 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 2: that the children that are sharing rooms. On the way 64 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: to the beach will walk together side by side and 65 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 2: talk the whole way there, and then they'll talk the 66 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 2: whole way home. They're in the water and they're spending 67 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 2: time together. Kids are looking after Emily because she's still 68 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 2: seven but is just loving being in the surf. Her 69 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 2: confidence and her ability to navigate the surf at the 70 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 2: moment has just exploded. It's been amazing watching it and 71 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 2: just watching the way the girls are navigating it has 72 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 2: been such a delight. 73 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: So that reminds me of the story. 74 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 3: We have some friends who moved to the United States 75 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 3: from Brisbane a number of years ago. They were going 76 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 3: across for two years for work for the dad, and 77 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 3: they made a similar choice. They moved from a really 78 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 3: large home into a townhouse in Pennsylvania, so there were 79 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 3: three bedrooms. They had three children with them and only 80 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 3: one living area, and they talked about how during that 81 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 3: two years living in that three bedroom townhouse with one 82 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 3: living area, they were kind of on top of each 83 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 3: other all the time, but it was good for their family. 84 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: They learned to get along. 85 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 3: And we started talking about downsizing after that, with the 86 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 3: idea that maybe kids don't need their own bedrooms, Maybe 87 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 3: it's good for them to be close to one another, 88 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 3: to bond, to attach themselves to their sisters, to their 89 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 3: family members. And it sounds like that's kind of what's 90 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 3: happening for you. Am I reading that right? 91 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 2: Yeah? It's interesting. I think that for children who are, 92 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 2: you know, socially driven, it's very easy for them to 93 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 2: get their social fix. You know that they'll come into 94 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 2: the family when they want to, and they'll they'll make 95 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: it happen. But for children who are a little bit 96 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 2: slower to warm or struggle to initiate, being isolated in 97 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: their own room while they think that it's actually what 98 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 2: they want, is actually detrimental to their well being. And 99 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 2: we've definitely seen this week as one of our children 100 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: in particular, who really kind of just feels like she's 101 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 2: a little bit on the outer Now that she's sharing 102 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 2: a room again, her behavior has changed dramatically and the 103 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 2: family's happier for it. 104 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 3: After the break, we're going to find out how leeches 105 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 3: and coastal rainforests combined with Queensland humidity to make for 106 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 3: an adventure that definitely will help us to be better tomorrow. 107 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: It's their Happy Families. 108 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 4: Podcast for a happier family, Try a Happy Families membership, 109 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 4: because a happy family doesn't just happen. Details at happy 110 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 4: families dot com dot au. 111 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 2: It's the Happy Families Podcast, the podcast for the time 112 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 2: poor parent who just wants answers now. And today we 113 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: are sharing our reflections of the week that was. 114 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 3: And we're doing it via zoom because Kylie's on the 115 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 3: coast and I'm in Brisbane, but not for much longer. 116 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 3: The last weekend that I was with you on the coast, 117 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 3: we caught up with some people that we don't know 118 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 3: really well, but they were really welcoming when they found 119 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,479 Speaker 3: out that we were there. We've got a pre existing 120 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 3: relationship with them, and they said, hey, every Sunday afternoon 121 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 3: we go for a really nice, easy walk. 122 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 1: In the hints Land. 123 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 3: We kind of step into the rainforest and just explore 124 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 3: somewhere beautiful and maybe you'd like to join us. And 125 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 3: you know what, Kylie, we said yes, because isn't it 126 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 3: great to have friends who are willing to invite you 127 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 3: along to do things? 128 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 1: And it was just it was great to be together. 129 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 3: It was really nice to get to know some new 130 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 3: people and get the kids talking to some potentially new 131 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 3: friends because they had kids similar ages to ours. 132 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: But the reality is it was hot. 133 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 3: In fact, it wasn't just hot, it was humid, like stinking, sweaty, 134 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 3: gross humid. And once we got there, we discovered that 135 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 3: they didn't really know where they were going. We had 136 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 3: no idea where we were going, and within a short 137 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 3: while we were sort of navigating wet paths with big 138 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 3: mud poddles right across them and sort of doing a 139 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 3: bit of bush bashing to be able to get around 140 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 3: the puddles. And none of us were dressed in thongs. Yeah, 141 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 3: none of us, by the way, for our non Australian friends, thongs. 142 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 3: When we say we went for a bushwalk in our thongs, 143 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 3: I just want to clarify we're not talking about underwear. 144 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 3: We're talking about the things you put on your foot. 145 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 3: Most people call them jamdles, yeah, jandles, that kind of 146 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 3: thing or something similar. So we're walking in our thongs 147 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 3: along these bush tracks and within a few minutes we've 148 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 3: got leech covering our kids feet and in people's just 149 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,359 Speaker 3: everywhere leeches and people were noticing the leaches. So that 150 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 3: meant that there was a whole lot of blood, and 151 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 3: I mean it was just awful. 152 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: It was terrible. 153 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 3: And then the rain came, it started pouring down on us. Well, 154 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 3: it was an adventure and it was absolutely, in retrospect horrible, 155 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 3: and I loved every minute of it because the whole 156 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 3: time I was laughing thinking we're going to remember the 157 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 3: first Sunday that we spent on the coast once we 158 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 3: made that decision to move, We're going to remember this family. 159 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 3: We're going to remember the leeches, the rain, the humidity, 160 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 3: the puddles, the mess, the mud, the thongs, the whole lot. 161 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,239 Speaker 1: And isn't that what life's about. 162 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 3: We tend to remember the really well eventful experiences much 163 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 3: more than we remember the very comfortable coastal walk along 164 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 3: the beach. 165 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: Do you know what I mean? 166 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 2: Well, we're blood family now, there was so much blood. 167 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 2: We are just attached to each other now for life. 168 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 3: So the take home message life is an adventure. And 169 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 3: even if you don't feel like a because you're tired 170 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 3: and it's human and the weather's wrong, sometimes just getting 171 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 3: out there and doing something is fabulous. That's my take 172 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 3: home message. In Kylie, I'm guessing what's your take home 173 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 3: message when you think about this whole Let's get everyone 174 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 3: sharing rooms again. 175 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 2: For me, it's all about connection. It can be very 176 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 2: very easy in our busy lives to just kind of 177 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 2: think that everything's going well. But what I've noticed is 178 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 2: we've been really intentional about slomming down and coming together 179 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: in close confined is that the connection has actually strengthened. 180 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: And so as we move forward and we are looking 181 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 2: still looking for that dream home. I think that we'll 182 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 2: find that we're actually going to downsize. Huh you okay 183 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 2: with that? 184 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 1: Thanks for putting me on the spot in public. I 185 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: really appreciate that. 186 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,319 Speaker 3: The Happy Families podcast is produced by Justin Ruland from 187 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 3: Bridge Media. 188 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: Craig Bruce is our executive producer. 189 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 3: And we really hope that the ideas that we shared 190 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 3: with you today we'll give you some food for thought 191 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 3: about how you might make your family happier. For more 192 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 3: info on making your family happy, visit happy families dot 193 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 3: com dot a you 194 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: Hm