May is a month full of birthdays — Taurus birthdays.
My biggest kid, followed by my sister in law, my Mom, my man, and then me. If you know anything about Taurus’, it’s that we can be strong willed, stubborn, and sensitive — to name just a few.
The big kid turned 8 this year… EIGHT! For one, where does the time go? And for two, please slow down! At 8 years old my boy stands only a head shorter than me, and wears the same size shoe. It’s nuts! We also share many of the same personality traits, and sadly not the great ones.
Since my separation from his dad a few years ago, I’ve found that my sensitive little man is, well — sensitive. He’s also, well — a little man, and sometimes talking to Mom about feelings just isn’t something that he’s interested in. I’ve recently found there to be a ton of amazing teachable content on Netflix to help bridge tough discussions.
Talk about ParentingWin!
Now, as great as it would be to plunk my sensitive little man in front of the TV and have him leave the couch a more caring, empowered person, that’s unlikely to happen. What I have discovered however is that shows like Fuller House, often contain thought provoking stories of overcoming peer pressure, or how The Adventures of Puss in Boots does a great job in modelling self-love. The kids and I can watch these shows together as a family and then casually chat at the end about any thoughts, feelings, or relateable experiences that we’ve had that are similar to what we’ve just watched.
Questions like “What would you have done”, or “Have you ever been in a situation where” are great conversation starters and help ensure my kids don’t feel like they’re being nagged, poked or prodded to participate in conversation.
Here are some of my favourite family-friendly shows that explore a range of real-life issues with equal measures of humour, angst and heart.
Sibling Rivalry
Watch Ep. S1E1: Babee’s Room
Buzzabee and Rubee compete over who Babee (their new sibling) gets to room with. Mom and dad must explain to Buzzabee and Rubee that Babee needs to grow up before she can share a room.
Following the Rules
Watch Ep. S1E6: Stormy Weather/ Baba’s Adventure/ Rock Music
Mama tells Oona and Baba to stay close with a storm approaching. After ignoring her advice, Oona and Baba get stuck in a seagull nest during the heavy thunderstorms.
Self-Love
Watch Ep. S1E13: Star
After Dulcinea feels like no one in the group needs her help, she tries to use a newly-discovered wishing star to show her worth — but fails — showing her that her presence alone has lit up her friends’ lives all along.
Peer Pressure
Watch Ep. S1E6: The Legend of El Explosivo
After getting grounded for sneaking off to Bobby Popko’s house, Jackson realizes he needs to stand up for what he knows is right and not give in to please his friend.
How to you tackle those tough conversations with your kids?
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