In 2018, I turned 40. For my birthday, I hiked myself to the top of Courthouse Peak. I paddled Silver Jack Reservoir. I took myself out to dinner and then I camped in my truck near Yankee Boy Basin. The next day, I joined several friends for an adventurous hike to the Opus Hut. We […]

This is so so so important and I’ve had several devastating conversations with friends THIS week about how our kids are NOT OK. Now is not that time to check out and let them run rampant on their phones, video games and social media. Set limits. Turn in phones every night. CHECK THEIR PHONES. Don’t […]

Denver moms: Are you or someone you love suffering from depression? My friend has long struggled with depression and in addition to regular therapy and an ever-changing cocktail of anti-depressants, she recently shared this post that is circulating about how to navigate depression. Sometimes even the most basic tasks seem overwhelming but baby steps can […]

The prolonged nature of the pandemic has brought chronic levels of stress and anxiety to many families. Though there appears to be an end in sight, we have a long way to go before things are back to normal. In these confusing times, we must be cognizant of how heightened stress and loss can impact […]

  Disagreements and parenting – two things that seem to hit just about every parent. The question is does it have to cripple your relationship? Does believing in time-out vs. sticker chore chart really need to be something that after years of not being resolved causes divorce?    Nope. It doesn’t. Let’s talk about why […]

Trigger warning for Denver domestic abuse and suicide. Names have been changed to protect the privacy of certain individuals. Read the backstory from this Denver mom, Emotional Terrorism: Coping When Your Ex Has Narcissistic Personality Disorder.  My tormentor’s ashes sit in a box in my house. I agreed to hold onto them until his brother, Larry, who […]

Hi! I’m Jolene Park. Gray Area Drinking expert, TED speaker, functional nutritionist, coach, training facilitator, podcaster, 20-year entrepreneur, writer. I’m also a stigma-smasher, a bit of a rebel, introvert and lone wolf who doesn’t always follow the crowd in life and business. I’m an enneagram 3, INFP and double Capricorn. The picture above was taken […]

Leaving Denver’s suburbs for a more “make-it-yourself” lifestyle to build our own farm in Colorado is not a choice one makes on a whim. It is a choice that happens over countless dreaming sessions with your partner and rehashing the same conversations in order to understand what that means to both of you. We made […]

My family did a quick family vacation to Bryce Canyon National Park last weekend. My son Bode is on our local Nordic ski team and we were delighted to explore the whimsical and colorful hoodoos on our skinny skis. I was surprised to see Bode still wore his mask and I told him he didn’t […]

Especially for toddlers, emotional meltdowns are inevitable. So, rather than trying to prevent them, it’s best to focus on some practical ways to manage tantrums, as they can be helpful to children learning to express their feelings and how to handle big emotions. Here are six tips for managing toddler meltdowns. Understand the Why Behind […]