School, meals, bills, and crazy schedules fill a parent's plate to the edge! Get help from the parenting expert and author who understand that you want to be a great parent amid life's chaos. The Parent's Plate host, Brenda Nixon, M.A., is mission-driven to empower parents through education and encouragement. Every Tuesday she chats with exciting guests and callers about anything on a parent's plate from breastfeeding to child actors to buying your teen a car. This hour will empower you to handle that messy plate and raise good kids! Listen Tuesdays at 10 AM(EST)! Free Call-in line: 877-864-4869.

   The former Kansas City FOX TV4 parenting expert, mom and author of several books including the award-winning The Birth to Five Book, Brenda Nixon, is quoted in Parenting, Good Housekeeping and numerous magazines. She is a nationally recognized speaker to parents and childcare professionals from schools to synagogues, businesses to bookstores, conferences to churches. Audiences rave that Brenda "engages, educates, and encourages!" When she's not on the road speaking, she's home in Ohio with her husband, a mini-doxie, and near her three 20-something kids. Named "Mom of the Week" by Lifetime Entertainment in September 2009, Brenda was invited to the State Library of Ohio to showcase The Birth to Five Book and meet Ohio's govenor in 2010. Get more parenting help at her blog http://brendanixononparenting.blogspot.com. Hear Brenda live every Tuesday at 10 AM(EST) here on The Parent's Plate.

Took in a homeless person?

"Adopted" a college student for the year?

Became parents to a foster child?

Non-traditional adoptions is our focus Tuesday, with internationally-known speaker, author, and adoption expert Sherry Eldridge. Sherri will also share compelling stories of adoption as well as her own experience as an adoptee.

Sherrie is a reunited adoptee and founder and president of Jewel Among Jewels Adoption Network, Inc. (JAJANI), an educational organization designed to inspire and educate through writing and speaking, those touched by adoption www.sherrieeldridge.com.

Dee Yoder, who adopted an X-Amish gal as her daughter, joins Sherri and me in this lively, enlightening exchange. Dee reveals that the Amish life is not simple; but one of strict conformity, harsh judgment, and oppression. Dee graciously opened her heart and home to her "daughter" who has found Christian freedom and acceptance in the "English" Yoder home.

I chime in with stories and our learning curve since "adopting" my son -- a 19 year-old who left his New York Amish community and is painfully shunned by his family. He lives with us, is a cherished part of our Nixon household, and teaches us about his upbringing and the romanicized misunderstandings people have of Amish. Dee and I enjoy, what we consider, cross-cultural adoptions.

But no adoption is easy! There's criticism and challenges along the way. Whatever your situation you will find hope and help in this revealing, unusual show.

Want to learn? Want to be empowered as a parent? The Parent's Plate, every Tuesday, 10 am (EST), is your hour of empowerment. Tell your friends and co-workers to listen too!

♥Remember these two basic points:
1. Children grieve differently than adults, and
2. They’ll struggle with grief both now and in the future.

Stacy Harp, M.S., Marriage and Family Therapist and President of California-based Active Christian Media says, “Children perceive death differently than adults because they are not fully developed intellectually or emotionally. It is very important to be sensitive to when they want to communicate, and also to be comfortable enough with them to discuss the topic yourself."

How can you help a child grieve in healthy ways? My article "Guiding Kids Through Grief" offers age-appropriate ways
https://www.cbn.com/family/parenting/Nixon_ChildrenGrief.aspx?option=print

Bereavement is a time span following the death of a loved one. Grief is the emotion, which is expressed in a variety of ways and can last for months or years. Want more info? Then you'll want to hear this empowering episode of The Parent's Plate!

My guest host, author, speaker, and mom Karen Whiting, www.karenwhiting.com talks about grief and swaps tips with author of Will I Ever Be Whole Again?: Surviving the Death of Someone You Love, Sandra P. Aldrich, www.sandraaldrich.com. Sandra's husband died when her two children were young. Both these women are inspiring, informative, and sensitive.

If you have - or know of - a child who suffered the death of a parent, friend, or relative, this is the show to hear! I encourage you to call co-workers and friends and listen. Bookmark this episode so you have the info at your fingertips. This show will help you be the skillful, loving parent to help your child grieve.♥

Got Teens?

Here's help!

Licensed psychologist and certified life coach, the effervescent Georgia Shaffer www.georgiashaffer.com fills in as host for me on this episode. She'll reveal fascinating facts and insights on teenagers as she chats along with charming Janet McHenry, a high school teacher and author www.janetmchenry.com. Janet's mission is to "get you looking up." She is author of Prayer Changes Teens: How to Parent from Your Knees.

You can rely on The Parent's Plate to empower you in the enormous and sacred task of childrearing! Tune in every Tuesday 10 am (EST) for the live show and call in to meet our guests or ask questions of host Brenda Nixon, M.A., 877-864-4869. If you miss a show - or want to hear it again - click its podcast (at right).

Do you try to be the wonderful wife, magnificent mom, happy homemaker, excellent entrepreneur and fabulous friend?

Tuesday, August 10 at 10 am (EST), my pal, author, and speaker, Pamela Sonnenmoser www.pamelasonnenmoser.com, guest hosts The Parent's Plate show. Pam steps up to the mic for me to interview the always delightful award-winning author Kathi Macias, of How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons? 

Her book is a laugh-out-loud read and Kathi is too! She'll reveal how moms can get it all together and keep everything under control even if loose cannons are rolling around the house.

If you listen to the live airing at 10 am (EST), feel free to call in at our studio line 877-864-4869 with your question, comment or story! If you miss the live airing, come back anytime and listen to this show's podcast (click show title at right).

Author, licensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania, and certified life coach, Georgia Shaffer is my guest host Tuesday, August 3, on The Parent's Plate show.

Her books include Taking Out Your Emotional Trash, which will be released in September 2010, How NOT to Date a Loser and A Gift of Mourning Glories: Restoring Your Life after Loss.

Georgia is featured in the film "Letters to God" and is on the teaching team of American Association of Christian Counselors’ (AACC) Life Coaching Training series and their DVD series, Challenging Cancer.

Georgia's friend and our fellow writer Gayle Roper will phone in to ask Georgia fascinating and provocative questions which will help parents encourage their children to express feelings constructively. Georgia's answers will reveal ways to

©     eliminate persistent, toxic emotions

©     experience greater intimacy in relationships

©     handle life’s ups and downs more easily

©     introduce more hope and joy into your life