In this week’s episode, I’m talking with KJ Dell’Antonia, a mom of four, the former editor of the New York Times’ Motherlode column, and the author of the new book, How to Be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life and Loving (Almost) Every Minute. In our conversation, KJ shares what she learned about happiness while writing her book, tells us what she believes is getting in our way and prevents us from finding happiness in the day to day (even when things are hard), and shares some strategies for building more happiness into our daily lives. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
About KJ: Five years of editing the Motherlode column for the New York Times taught KJ Dell’Antonia this: family can be a source of joy, not stress. But for many of us, it’s not. Her reporting and research on parental happiness led to her new book, How to Be a Happier Parent. She writes regularly on the personal and policy aspects of parenthood for the New York Times and other publications and is the co-host of the #AmWriting podcast. KJ lives in New Hampshire with her husband, four children and assorted horses, chickens, dogs and cats.
THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:
- Why being “happier” is a worthy goal for all parents
- How leading with our kids’ deficits shapes our experience
- What’s getting in our way from being happier as parents
- How to make small changes to address challenges and weave more happiness into their daily life
- The importance of zooming out and getting clear on our big, personal goals
- Recognize how “in choice” we are in our parenting lives
- KJ’s thoughts on how to make screen time policies work better for families
- Why it’s okay (even good) for us as parents to be happy even when our kids aren’t
- KJ’s strategies for training our brain to go down the happiness path
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- How to Be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life and Loving (Almost) Every Minute by KJ Dell’Antonia
- Motherlode (now Well Family in the New York Times)
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