How do you raise kids who approach the world with curiosity, compassion, and the drive to make their communities more supportive and inclusive?
Today, we’re talking to Gillian’s dear friend Lauren Hough Williams about how her childhood shaped her into an expert in building systems where everyone has a place.
In this episode, we dig into how Lauren’s position as the eldest of five siblings helped to create her community mindset. We discuss the role of privilege and its attendant sense of safety in facilitating risk-taking. And, we learn how Lauren’s mom crafted a happy, chaotic home, all the while imparting wisdom and sly humor in equal measures. We also learn how professional experts in childhood become “experts” in their own home, winning some and losing some as we try to parent well and bring our professional knowledge into our parenting our own kids.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
- How volunteer basketball games helped teenage Lauren recognize that inclusive environments benefit everyone
- How Lauren’s family and early education modeled community orientation and compassion as core values
- How Lauren’s parents created a supportive, safe environment inside the inherent chaos of a large family
- What Lauren learned from her mom about letting go of perfectionism and urgency, and maintaining a sense of humor as a parent
- Why Lauren’s professional life as an educator and coach doesn’t seamlessly integrate into her parenting
Learn more about Lauren Hough Williams:
Connect with Gillian Boudreau, PhD.:
Connect with Rob Galligan, PhD.:
What is I Hate You. What's For Dinner? ?
On I Hate You. What's For Dinner? we explore whether childhood explains everything. We'll ask our biggest questions about love and hate, rage and fear, and the awesome and mundane that all get smushed together when we're growing up.
Tune in to make better sense of childhood, parenthood, and life in general.