Us and Kids

Us and Kids Us and Kids is your encouragement and support while you balance your marriage with the energy it takes to raise kiddos. Join us!

Podcasts, printables, and a Communication Program are here to help you truly be married forever while parenting together! A video and workbook program that shows practical ways to have a good and better marriage while parenting together. Developed by an experienced marriage and family therapist and counselor, the US AND KIDS COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM is effective. It teaches better communication skil

ls between both spouses and parents with children, plus how to grow and strengthen emotional and relationship skills. The program helps new parents adjust to their first child and parenthood struggles. It can help parenting a difficult child or toddler and lower the marriage friction that comes with such stress. It can prevent a bad marriage or divorce from creeping into a happy marriage.

04/17/2026

How does a stronger marriage create calmer kids?
It’s easy to feel like marriage + young kids = chaos. And sometimes… it does.
But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
When parents take the lead in staying connected as a couple—not just managing life as co-parents—everything begins to shift.
Kids feel more secure when they see kindness and cooperation between mom and dad.
Parents feel relief when they can “switch hats” and be spouses again, even in the middle of parenting.
Think about those small, everyday moments:
After dinner, the kids are finally playing for a minute… and the two of you clean up together. There’s a “thank you,” maybe a wink, maybe a quick kiss.
Those moments matter more than you think.
They help reset your mind from the overwhelm.
They restore connection.
They give you just enough calm and kindness to step back into parenting well.
Does it take intention? Absolutely.
Does it make a difference? 100%.
Because when you calm, your kids calm.
When you connect, your kids connect.
When you communicate, they learn how to relate.
A strong, lasting marriage isn’t separate from parenting—it’s one of the greatest gifts you can give your kids.

04/13/2026

Connection lives in touch.
In gentle, thoughtful actions.
In tenderness.
Because connection is communication.
It gives life and energy to our words, our needs, our presence.
From it flows kindness, compassion, courage, and grace—
shaping wiser words and better decisions.
Connection creates giggles, nurtures softness,
and even strengthens resilience.
So take a few seconds today…
To truly see someone.
To reach out.
To pause and feel.
There’s something powerful in that moment—
with anyone, any age, anywhere. 💛

04/09/2026

If you’re in the thick of raising young children right now, there’s something important you should know:
You’re not the only one who feels like your marriage has quietly taken a back seat.
Between unpredictable infant schedules, toddler tantrums, endless needs, and the sheer exhaustion that comes with it all, many couples find themselves shifting into survival mode. Days become about getting through—making meals, managing meltdowns, keeping everyone safe and somewhat rested.
And somewhere in the middle of all that… connection fades.
Not because you don’t care.
Not because your relationship isn’t strong.
But because your energy is spent.
A question I often hear (even if it’s not said out loud) is this:
“Is it even realistic to expect connection in this season?”
After a long, chaotic week, is it reasonable to think you can truly reconnect?
After months—or years—of interrupted sleep, constant responsibility, and shifting roles… is connection still possible?
The honest answer is: yes.
But maybe not in the way you expect.
Many couples unknowingly wait for the “right moment” to reconnect—
A date night.
A weekend away.
A deep conversation when the kids are finally asleep and the house is quiet.
Those things are meaningful, and they have their place.
But if you rely on them as your only source of connection, you may find yourself waiting a very long time.
Because in this season of life, those moments can be rare.
What often gets overlooked is this truth:
Connection isn’t something you save for when life slows down.
Connection is what helps life feel more manageable right now.
It’s not an extra task on your list.
It’s actually the fuel that makes everything else—communication, parenting, problem-solving—work more smoothly.
When couples stay connected, even in small ways, something shifts.
Conversations feel less tense.
Misunderstandings don’t escalate as quickly.
You feel more like a team instead of two exhausted individuals trying to keep up.
And your children feel it too.

Want help developing your connections? Then, let's connect! Link is in my bio - talk soon!

04/06/2026

Connection isn’t always easy.
Especially for introverts who’ve spent the whole day being “on.”
So what does connection really look like?
Maybe it’s a kind glance…
A quiet space gifted without asking…
Lowered lights, softened sounds—an unspoken “you can breathe here.”
Connection lives in touch.
In gentle, thoughtful actions.
In tenderness.
Because connection is communication.
It gives life and energy to our words, our needs, our presence.
From it flows kindness, compassion, courage, and grace—
shaping wiser words and better decisions.
Connection creates giggles, nurtures softness,
and even strengthens resilience.
So take a few seconds today…
To truly see someone.
To reach out.
To pause and feel.
There’s something powerful in that moment—
with anyone, any age, anywhere. 💛

04/05/2026

Simply said: I am not perfect… although I sometimes wish I was.
I’m not always nice, kind, truthful, or forgiving. But I also don’t want those things to hold me back or weigh me down.
That’s why the Jesus of the Bible is so precious to me.
He is always kind, truthful, and forgiving.
He is helpful, merciful, and wise.
He is love—and He loves all people, all the time.
It’s not always easy to comprehend.
But it is easy to admit when I’m wrong.
And it is incredibly strengthening to experience His forgiveness, His love, and His power.
He promises to be with me everywhere I go—never distracted, never distant, never unaware. Always present.
Always bringing wisdom, hope, courage, grace, truth, and love.
And honestly… that kind of presence makes life feel safe and deeply satisfying.
It’s everything I need for life to be FUN:
Fulfilling, Unlimited in conversations and experiences, and Naturally good.

04/03/2026

Want to know more about this historic event and how it can also be a part of your story? Let's connect! Link in bio - Friendly and free!

03/31/2026

Some couples are barely holding it together right now… and no one is talking about it.
If you have young kids, you know the feeling—
The unpredictable infant days…
The toddler chaos and tantrums…
The constant needs, noise, and exhaustion…
It’s easy to believe:
“We just don’t have the energy to connect anymore.”
But here’s the truth—
Connection isn’t something you do after life calms down.
Connection is what creates the calm.
So what does real reconnection actually look like?
Not a perfect date night.
Not a long, deep conversation at the end of a draining day.
It looks like the small things:
• A genuine smile across the room
• A quick touch passing in the kitchen
• A wink, a hug, a kiss for no reason
• Kind tones, even when you're tired
• Encouraging words instead of criticism
• Letting go of scorekeeping, sarcasm, and eye-rolls
It sounds simple… but it’s powerful.
Because when you stay connected:
You share the emotional load.
You create safety.
You parent with more creativity and calm.
Your kids feel it too—they become more secure, more responsive, more at ease.
And when things feel uncertain?
Choose curiosity over assumptions.
Grace over frustration.
Appreciation over silence.
Turn toward each other—again and again.
Because without connection, everything gets harder:
Communication breaks down.
Conflict gets messy.
Distance grows quietly.
But with connection?
Even the hardest days soften a little.
So yes—
Reconnect daily. Even briefly. Even imperfectly.
Less struggle.
More ease.
More smiles… even when you're running on empty.

03/27/2026

Messy hands. Chocolate faces. Brownie batter everywhere. 🍫
And somehow… your brain goes straight to:
How am I getting those clothes clean?
Who else is going to see this mess?
What about dinner, work, everything else…?
Meanwhile, your kids?
They’re just living their best lives. 😄
Here’s the thing—this kind of messy, hands-on play is exactly what helps their brains grow. It’s tactile, it’s joyful, and yes… it’s a little chaotic.
But knowing that doesn’t always calm the stress in your head.
So instead of fighting it, try this:
✨ Expect the mess before it starts
✨ Quick prep (clean hands + clear space)
✨ Let go of “perfect” for a moment
✨ Trust that cleanup will happen (even if it’s not by you 😉)
Because in the middle of all that gooey chocolate…
they’re building connection, friendships, and memories that stick.
And honestly? The giggles are worth it.
So cheers to whoever helps clean up—Grandma, your partner, a sitter… or YOU 💛
You’re doing more than making brownies. You’re making moments.

(But...if those moments mostly give you headaches and screams/tears you are trying to swallow, let's connect...we can find a way to calm even with the chaos! https://calendly.com/usandkids/fun-session...no costs, no sales.

03/24/2026

That quick kiss on the cheek… 💋
Sometimes it’s sweet.
Sometimes it’s routine.
Sometimes it’s just trying to keep the peace.
But your eyes?
They tell the real story—
love, longing, connection, support… all the things we don’t always say out loud.
Here’s the truth:
It’s the little things that shape a relationship.
Just like pennies, smiles, or even calories…
they add up over time.
But here’s the catch—
they don’t always add up to what we want.
So it’s worth asking:
What are my “little things” building?
Because the right small moments—
✨ a real hug
✨ eye contact
✨ a genuine “how are you?”
✨ a few seconds longer of presence
Those are the things that build real love in real, everyday life 💛
Want a few simple ways to make your “little things” count?
Check out the link to this short, worthwhile quiz...in bio 🔗

https://bit.ly/click-quick-quiz-sm

03/14/2026

Osh...w**ds! They can sneak in and grow before you even had a chance to look!
That happens in our relationships too!
Disgust, Dismay, discontent can grow when we are tired, not feeling heard, understood or unwanted.
When we can slow down enough to connect and calmly create a conversation that is more about care than about correctness, then our brains and beings become more calm.
The w**d of the D's is being snuffed out, and the connection of care and compassion let our hearts and minds grow...strong, deep...and soft, playful and refreshing!
This is truth for adults...and for kiddos.
No D-w**ds.
Just C's of compassion, connection, creativity and care.
For you...as you grow your family today!
~ Jan

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Grand Rapids, MI

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Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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+16169563155

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