Wonder In The Weeds

I keep referencing “explicit parenting” on the show, so this week I finally explain what I mean.It started with a little book I wrote over a decade ago, Explicit Parenting: Tips from the Trenches for Raising Good and Happy Humans. It pulled together everything I know as a teacher, doula, childbirth educator, and trauma therapist, plus what I’ve lived as a wife and mom. Over the years it turned into a framework I use for parenting, relationships, and honestly just living.The name throws people off (yes, “explicit” gets funny reactions online), but the idea is simple: say the thing. Don’t make your kids, or anyone, guess at your meaning. The less we leave for interpretation, the better off we are. Kids who aren’t given the explanation will fill in the blanks themselves, and they usually fill them in with “I must be the problem.” We don’t want that.In this episode I walk through the four pillars:* Tuning In. Know yourself first. Your triggers, your strengths, your expectations, your attachment style. None of the rest works without this.* Know Your Relationships. Get clear on your expectations and boundaries, and focus on the relationship you want long-term, not just the milestones. Come back to the relationship.* Lead With Curiosity, Not Judgment. Swap “they always do this” for “I wonder why they’re doing this.” Kids rarely mean to hurt you as much as we assume.* Consistency and Persistence. The hardest one, and the easiest once the first three are solid. Show up the same way, and when you mess up, repair it.The glue holding it all together is grace, for yourself and everyone else. And if you’re worried about whether you’re doing this parenting thing right, that worry is the proof you’re already doing a great job.Timestamps0:09 Why this episode1:08 The little book that started it4:03 Where “explicit” comes from5:55 Just say it: don’t make kids interpret8:20 The four pillars9:08 Pillar 1: Tuning In10:13 Pillar 2: Know Your Relationships15:47 Pillar 3: Curiosity over judgment20:00 Pillar 4: Consistency and persistence23:04 Grace as the glue24:57 If you worry about it, you’re already doing great26:45 OutroReflection posts and show musings drop on Substack twice a week. Join the paid Women of Wonder community for Monday discussion prompts and monthly live calls. Join here: https://thewonder.life/show/ Get full access to Cristie Ritz-King, PsyD at critzking.substack.com/subscribe

It has been a difficult start to the year. Between navigating the emotions of an empty nest and processing the intense events unfolding locally in Minneapolis, the "weeds" of life feel particularly overgrown this week. In this episode, we discuss the feeling of living through a firehose of crisis events and how to maintain your mental well-being when the news cycle feels relentless.We explore the reality of collective trauma and why it often feels like we don’t know where to look or how to help. More importantly, we talk about the antidote to this anxiety: taking action. However, action must be balanced with grace. You cannot do it all, and that is okay. Finally, we touch on the toxicity of social media scrolling during difficult times and why real-world human connection is the wonder we need right now.Key Topics:The Reality of Crisis Fatigue: Managing the overwhelm of local and global news.Action as an Antidote: How doing one small thing can lower anxiety, provided you accept you cannot fix everything.The Trap of the Scroll: Why social media often fuels anger rather than connection and how to step back.Real-World Connection: The importance of "touching grass" and interacting with actual neighbors to restore your faith in humanity.Resources:Join the Women of Wonder community: A safe space for connection without the algorithms. ➡️Join Our community: https://wonder.myflodesk.com/womenofwonder Get full access to Cristie Ritz-King, PsyD at critzking.substack.com/subscribe

If you are about to buy a new planner or sign up for a gym membership because you feel like you need to "fix" yourself, press pause. In this episode, I explain why the commercialized version of New Year’s resolutions is often just a trap designed to make you feel like you aren't good enough.I spent years (and thousands of dollars) trying to organize and plan my way into being a "better" person, but it never led to lasting happiness. Today, I’m sharing the alternative that actually works: a "More of/Less of" audit inspired by a financial strategy from my friend Brittany Ross.We also discuss why you cannot "curate" joy but must intentionally look for it, and I share a personal story about a 24-hour hotel stay with high school friends that taught me why you shouldn't try to manufacture deep connections.In this episode:The Resolution Trap: Why the pressure to "change" is often a sales tactic.The "More of/Less of" List: A simple method to audit your life based on feelings, not productivity.Body Intelligence: How to use the "chest tap" to identify what true motivation feels like physically.Friendship Reality: Why sitting in a hotel room with old friends beats an elaborate vacation with new ones.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro: Why I Hate New Year’s Resolutions0:46 - The "Not Good Enough" Scam02:14 - I Spent Thousands on Planners (And Failed)07:52 - The "Finance Rule" That Fixed My Life (Brittany Ross)11:37 - How To Audit Your Feelings (The Chest Tap)14:40 - Why "Mindset Shifts" Are Often Oversimplified 18:34 - The Hotel Story: What True Friendship Looks Like23:55 - How To Join The "Women of Wonder" CommunityJoin the Community: The Women of Wonder community is where we leave the judgment at the door. If you want more laughter, less pressure, and a place to celebrate yourself judgment-free, join us here: https://wonder.myflodesk.com/womenofwonder Get full access to Cristie Ritz-King, PsyD at critzking.substack.com/subscribe

Are Warner Bros and movies as we know them over? We break down the Netflix vs. Paramount acquisition battle, the death of movie theaters, and why we are going back to buying DVDs.Full Summary:In this episode of the Wonder in the Weeds podcast , we dive into the chaotic news surrounding the potential acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Is Netflix about to buy HBO Max, or will Paramount Skydance force a hostile takeover?.We explore what these massive mergers mean for the future of cinema—not just for the stars, but for the crew members, writers, and artists who actually make the films. We also discuss the "Disneyfication" of AMC theaters , why original movies like Ryan Coogler's Sinners are becoming rare risks , and why the era of streaming has us returning to physical media and DVDs.In This Episode:The Merger Chaos: Understanding the Netflix bid vs. the Paramount Skydance hostile takeover.The Theater Crisis: How block-booking by giants like Disney is pushing indie films out of theaters.Worker Protection: Why consolidation hurts the "below the line" workers (grips, lighting, makeup) most.Digital Ownership: Why streaming services deleting shows like Gilmore Girls proves you need to own physical copies.⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps:00:00 Intro: Is this a Solo Podcast Now?04:47 The News: Netflix vs. Paramount Skydance Explained05:59 What is a "Hostile Takeover"?08:38 The Death of Theaters: The Disney/AMC Monopoly13:09 How Mergers Kill Jobs (It’s Not Just Actors)17:31 Can Original Movies Survive? (The Sinners Case Study)22:29 Why We Are Going Back to DVDs & Physical Media33:35 Wonder of the Week: Embracing Winter & NostalgiaMentioned in this Video:Movies: Sinners (Ryan Coogler/Michael B. Jordan) , The Godfather.Companies: Warner Bros Discovery, Netflix, Paramount Skydance, Disney, AMC.Sources: Morning Brew.#WarnerBros #Netflix #PhysicalMedia #Cinema #FilmIndustry #Podcast Get full access to Cristie Ritz-King, PsyD at critzking.substack.com/subscribe

Online CommunityOur Women of Wonder community is a safe place to say the quiet stuff out loud, free from judgment.Women helping other women is a tried-and-true approach for empowerment and success, not to mention laughter and love. W.o.W. offers continuous support and resources, plus access to Dr. Cristie, for a low-cost membership.➡️Join Our community: https://wonder.myflodesk.com/womenofwonderWelcome to a very special episode and potentially the start of a new series I’m calling "XYZ". Why? Because I am a Gen X mom, and today I’m sitting down with my Gen Z daughter, Faith King.We decided to leave this conversation raw and unfiltered mic bumps, dog snores, and all because that is real life. We’re digging into the weeds of the generational divide, debating everything from the "latchkey kid" mentality versus the "hovering parent" model to the massive events that shaped us differently, like 9/11 and COVID.We also get into the pressure of the "Turkey Timer" that feeling that there’s a little button waiting to pop up and tell you it’s time to get married, buy a house, and have babies. Spoiler alert: Faith reminds me that for her generation, the housing bubble and the economy have moved those goalposts significantly.Finally, we wrap up with a "Wonder" that surprised us both: the kids are putting down their screens and bringing back Cat's Cradle.In this episode:The "XYZ" Dynamic: Can a Gen X mom really be friends with her Gen Z kids?Shaping Events: How the Challenger explosion and 9/11 compare to growing up during a global lockdown.The "Turkey Timer": Why the old timeline for adulthood doesn't apply to Gen Z.The Wonder: A simple piece of string is winning the battle against technology.If you’re Gen Z and you felt seen by this episode, or if you’re a parent trying to understand your adult kids, please share this with a friend! Get full access to Cristie Ritz-King, PsyD at critzking.substack.com/subscribe