Episode 133: Kids Stuck Inside For The Winter? With Kaley Metler

Children  0:00  
We think you should know that Imperfect Heroes Podcast is a production of Little Hearts Academy USA,

DJ Stutz  0:09  
You're listening to Episode 133 of Imperfect Heroes Insights into Parenting, the perfect podcast for imperfect people looking to find joy in their experience of raising children in an imperfect world. And I'm your host DJ Stutz.

Welcome, everybody, and thank you so much for joining us on Imperfect Heroes. And it's just so nice to take a breath, I think after the holidays, and I don't know, if you've got your stuff down, I've got my stuff down, thank you husband, he kind of just as that can stand up being up too long. So it's taking a breath, and we enjoyed the holidays. But it's kind of nice to get back into a normal scheme of things. Before we get started, though, I wanted to share with you, some of you I know, failed during the holidays to buy the best Christmas present ever. But that's okay. Because you can make up for it. It's still available. And that is my book. Roman is Bigger. And so it's just a fun children's book. And it's about a little boy named Roman, who is trying to find the right words to express how he is truly feeling. So he's not mad, he's bigger than mad. He is not happy. He is bigger than happy. And it goes on. And so he's understanding how finding the right word not only helps him to feel better, but it's helping others understand how he is truly feeling inside. And so they can react in appropriate ways. You can get it on Amazon. It's called Roman is Bigger. So if you didn't get it already, jump on the bandwagon and just enjoy the book with your kiddos. And we'd love to have you here. We're so happy. If you want to see just our beautiful faces and our interactions. You can always watch us on YouTube and Rob also on Rumble. Our channel Imperfect Heroes and on YouTube, it is Little Hearts Academy USA. And so you can always check us out there. 

All right, I have a great guest and we are talking about a topic that is so near and dear to my heart. And that is just our outdoor spaces and let's get those kids outside. And I know it's January. That's an excuse to not send our kids outside or go outside with them. And Kaley Metler you live in Canada, and so you know about getting your kids outside and cold weather, right? Yes, yes. Well, I know when growing up, I grew up in Los Angeles. And it's funny that if it was below 70 degrees, and I came to school without my warm coat, my mom got a phone call. DJ forgot her coat, she can you bring that down? Like 6568. And my mom would have to bring my coat so I could go play outside because clearly I needed it. It depends on where you live and what your body's used to. But we're in the throes of winter right now. And so really, they need that outdoor experience even though it's cold. And you are just an expert on that. Let's talk a little bit Kaley about what you do and what you have going on.

Kaley Metler  3:40  
Okay, so yes, I am a part Canadian. Now. I am a dual citizen. I lived in Arizona, I grew up in the heat. And now I live in the cold... Totally two different climates. We tell you I moved here January 1, and I stayed in a basement all winter. I didn't know how people function school. My husband and I had met in Texas. And then we got engaged. So I moved here. But then I got pregnant with my first child in 2008. And so I would walk up and down my road here and just ask God just praying like God, what do you see for me? How are you going to use me? And then fitness came in my mind. So God put that on my heart. And so I went to be a personal trainer. So I started doing that. And during COVID is when I started a youth sports program. So it was for the homeschoolers and community. So this little group, it was really fun. We just called it sports and we would do all season so at that time, you weren't allowed to gather and that sort of thing. So I just said the kids they really need to get outdoors. This is crazy. So we started gathering at a local park and we would do things like bass kickball we would do track and field, we would do flag football, and it just started to grow on. And yeah, we would just mix it up. So we usually do the sport for about, like, an hour. And then we would do a game for the last 15 minutes, I would every week, I would let one kid choose a different game. So they wanted to play tag, or they wanted to play octopus or something like that. And then some skills training. And yeah, just play the sport. So it was a lot of fun. And then we would finish with devotional time, and for which it was really near and dear to my heart, it was just to give back to the community. So yeah, that was my little adventure there. So I

DJ Stutz  5:39  
really appreciate you reaching out to the homeschooling communities as well, because I think that's one of the things that parents really worry about when they start homeschooling is, you know, how do I get this physical activity? How do I get the social part in where they're making friends and interacting with friends? And really the answer is programs like that, where they have that ability to meet once or twice a week, and they're getting to learn about different sports. They're getting to learn about their bodies, how to strengthen their bodies and take care of their bodies. And then they have that social interaction piece that is just so important for them. So what a great opportunity. But I have that question, though is in Canada, what did you do during those winter months?

Kaley Metler  6:29  
Good question. Good question. So the winter, we kind of brainstorm with like, Oh, we don't want to quit. Because if you find a program and you can meet consistently, that really is the key to really warm a good bond. And so one of the families had a big pond. And that was amazing, because we could all fit on this big pond. And we would make sure it was frozen. Sure, no, we don't want to lose anyone through the water. So we, we make sure if it was nice and hard, and then he would bring his tractor and move off the snow. So yeah, we would do that. That was occasionally a big hit was the skating loop. So we have a really nice loop at our local park. So it's just kind of like a little shaped kind of like a jelly bean, but a big Jelly Bean. And that was really fun for the kids. We could skate. So we just skated and they really, really love that. So we're gonna do that again this winter. We would toboggan to which is sledding or getting on. And we would do that the hill here. And that was super fun. So we'd sometimes skate and toboggan folks. And we'd I'd send out a weekly email and just say, Okay, guys, this is what we're doing is we're meeting and everyone would show up. And it was really, really fun. And a lot of the parents were involved too. So that was super fun when we had a parents participating as well. So it was a family friendly event. So

DJ Stutz  7:55  
right, right. So many years ago, we live in Las Vegas for 20 years. And after that we lived in Denver for 14 years. And then now we live here in beautiful Chester Idaho with a population of 255. So I know. I know, actually. But when we were in Las Vegas, I was called a parenting facilitator. And I did these parenting workshops for the Division of Family and Youth Services did that for 16 years. And I had this one time where I had this dad and we were talking on the first day of the series, what's your biggest challenge and he was saying that he had a son who really wanted to play baseball. We didn't worry about snow much there. So he said that his son wanted to play baseball, but it was so expensive, and he did not have the money to do it. And so we brainstorm some ideas and stuff. And by the end of the series, we were sharing and so what he wound up doing is he had some time in the evenings with his son. And he said, You know what, we're having baseball practice, grab your mitt, and just he and his son and he was working with him. He knew about baseball. So you know about batting stances and pitching and catching and he was teaching them about the different positions. And then some of the neighborhood kids saw you playing baseball? Yeah. Can I play? Yeah. And so by the end of I think it was like an eight week class. He had all these little kids that were coming out wanting to play with them. And then he even had some parents that were coming out and when the parents started joining in and having fun, and at the end they were just having their own little baseball game with the kids and the parents and the mommies brought food, you know, and they just had it at the local park. And and they just had a blast and it didn't cost anybody anything but their time, which is like their most valuable resource And he turned this need of Him. And by acting on it, it expanded into this community thing. And the kids were getting outside and they were getting the fun things. And it was a low income area. And they just had a great time together building community getting to know each other as neighbors, making friends. And so when I hear about you doing something like that, and then talking about parents getting involved, too, it's I just get tingles. It's just such an amazing opportunity. Yeah. And so now tobogganing, and you know, in the US, we might call it tubing, or, you know, a line Yes. To being, we're going to train. Yeah. So what kind of places would you find them to go to Bing or tobogganing?

Kaley Metler  10:49  
So we have a little hill. So it's not very big. It's probably, oh, let's see, like a 20 foot vertical. So just so it's not big. But yeah, you know, have lots of fun. I mean, I find you but we have a really, really big hill to here as well. So that's at the local park. Where else do we have where we're not too hilly here, but and then at some of the family's house, they have nice hills as well, if they're off, they're kind of to host us. All. Right. So

DJ Stutz  11:27  
I think it was a couple of years ago on the news. And I think this guy lived in Wisconsin, something like that, but a frozen tundra. And he spent a couple of weeks and just out there working every spare moment he had building up with the snow, and he made this amazing little tubing track.

Kaley Metler  11:46  
Wow. Yeah, yeah.

DJ Stutz  11:50  
Yes. And he had like these scaffoldings that he used to build it up. And he was throwing snow up there on it, you know, and doing all this stuff. And it was such a hit in the neighborhood. Kids were like, Oh, of course, he's the data of the year in the neighborhood. Oh, and the local news came out and did a whole piece on it and stuff. And so I thought that he had something that he does every year now just because of all the positive.

Kaley Metler  12:14  
Johnson. Yes, yes.

DJ Stutz  12:17  
But I mean, there's always ways that you can figure out, maybe someone has a big dog and harness them up. Can

Kaley Metler  12:26  
we go? Yeah, mana they can get pulled on that bush? Sure,

DJ Stutz  12:32  
wouldn't it? No. Oh, I know.

Kaley Metler  12:35  
Here we go. Let's go. Yeah.

DJ Stutz  12:37  
Wow. So I don't usually do this. But I just wanted to insert something right here into the conversation, did you notice that she was talking about parent involvement and getting the parents coming and being involved with some of that play. And when we were talking about that dad that got a lose run, setup. So I've got a couple of links that I'm gonna put down in the show notes. And they go to some YouTube videos, and one is the news story that I was talking about. And another one is one of a dad going out and seeing that the park didn't really have any much fun. And the snow was kind of not there real well. So he started working and he got a snow blower and, but what he noticed was as he got work and the dad crew or whatever you want to call it came out and all of a sudden, the stats were coming out to help and build this fun snow lose run for the kids. And so if you want to look at those, they're right there. And you can see how they did it and how they got going. It's an amazing thing. Once you get started, if you're in the front yard, if you're at the park, if you're at a green space in your neighborhood, once you get going, you'll start seeing maybe some other dads or parents coming to get involved and be part of the project. It's so much fun. You can get your friends involved, you can even she did create a newsletter, or do a social media post for your neighborhood and say, Hey, I'm going out. I'm gonna do this. Come join me if you have the time, and just invite other people. And it'll be really interesting to see you start showing up. You're going to make more friends, you're going to have a good time your kids are going to make more friends. They're going to have a great time, so I highly recommend it. Okay, I'm gonna go back to our interview. Talk to you later. There's a town just north of me. I mean, it's it's a big town. It's got 1000 people, but it is a thriving metropolis, but that's yes. Huge. Yes, it actually has restaurant. They have a day in February that they have horse slays and dog slugs and it's a big competition and people decorate and they just have fun. So kids don't care is my thing.

Kaley Metler  14:56  
They don't care. No, they don't get cold. I mean most of them I can't say All right, but they don't even want to wear their coats have their time and their parents. They're like, I'm fine. They don't get cold near as much as we do, because I guess Yeah, little bodies moving and brain or heart rate tire and they just go.

DJ Stutz  15:14  
Well, and I remember, I mean, going back to being a kid in Los Angeles, they made sure we had our coats, and we'd go out with our coats, and they'd just be thrown on the ground on the blacktop in a big pile, or when I was teaching school in Denver, so 20 degrees was the cutoff for a. So if it was lower than 20 degrees, then that was an inside Play Day, but it'd be 3030 degrees 30 to 35. I mean, that's chilly. And all the teachers are out, bundled up, and the kids are like, thrown off their coats. And it's like, Guys, it's freezing. I'm hot, I'm hot. And you'd see some teachers just like you have to wear your coat and, and there we go. They're just miserable. And then I heard for here where I am here. So we're just about an hour away from Yellowstone National Park. And they don't have snow days, per se, they have cold days. So it's 20. Below, then they canceled school, or the wind can be a real factor in the winter here. So 20 below, but I have a friend in Alaska, and they don't let the kids go out for recess anymore if it's 20 below, okay, so it's just interesting that tolerance levels, depending on where you live right on what you consider cold or too cold or whatever. But I'm just telling you, the kids, even if they're outside, I think for 10 minutes, getting them outside getting that fresh air and having that opportunity to move around, build a snowman, build a Snow Dragon, or whatever it is that you want to build. But getting them involved and outside is just so important for their breathing. And they're cleansing their whole body, you know, and they still like swings, even though it's freezing cold. Oh, yeah. Yeah, they still like climbing trees. Yeah, yeah,

Kaley Metler  17:09  
I trained that one girl and my daughter in the winter. And we just went back in the bush and we would find logs. And we would do push ups, pull ups, and we would try to walk on a log, and then there would be frozen spots. And we would try to skate and we would do mountain climbers on the ice, it was so much and then I found just in the ditch off our road, they were jumping in snow. We found lots of things. So that brings up a good point. Someone once told me and this is very true. There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. So I think it's more so true. For the parents that don't want to get the kids get cozy inside to when they like to watch TV or, or that I think it's more us we have to be an example of getting outside and we started running all year round outside whenever we would here and they do it and they love it. And the one she's never been healthier because she didn't get a cold the whole winter because that cold there really can help your immune system and there's a lot of research coming in on the Cairo therapy. So going out in the cold side barefoot all the time I walked my chickens in my barefoot in the snow. It's cold. Some days I can make it all the way there sometimes half barefoot

DJ Stutz  18:23  
in the snow. Yeah, see? Yeah, I like to be outside in the cold. But I don't do barefoot and

Kaley Metler  18:33  
give it a try. DJ. That is so funny. That shower.

DJ Stutz  18:40  
Yeah, yeah, if you look and do some of the research, and I encourage my listeners and watchers to do that, and look into the benefits of a cold shower, or that cold walk in the mornings. And I think to giving the kids a chance to go outside and look at what do you have around you? Do you have trees and branches and maybe some rocks or whatever and say, Wow, what can we use? Like we need to build an obstacle course and get them involved and let them do that. So outside of Las Vegas did. Most people wouldn't know this. But there is a ski resort. That's about a half an hour, maybe 40 minutes outside of downtown Las Vegas, and but it's up on Mount Charleston. And there's a community of people who live there year round and they get snow and stuff. Well never heard of who I know. Well, the name of the ski resort is called Lee Canyon and Lee Canyon. But up on Mount Charleston, they have this little one room schoolhouse. And so you have all these grades in a room and usually there's between 17 and 25 just depending on how many kids are there but that many kids in the whole school but they are outside a lot. And so they do like building and the kids are building forts on their recess and working together and solving problems. And they love it. And so my oldest daughter lived up there for a couple of years. And so my grandkids got to go to this school and they loved it. And going up, but giving your kids that opportunity when you can. I mean, if you had a big city and a high rise, that might be a little more difficult, or get them to the park and let them see what are the natural elements, I guess, that we have out here. And what can we do with some of these? For sure? Yeah. And I look down to take

Kaley Metler  20:41  
the lead. Yeah, let them explore and play and make up games. My son and his best friend live next door and I tell you, these boys, they make up so many crazy games. I have no idea what they're doing, but they still do it. We were in Ottawa at the hockey tournament and they were at golf town, they have little things you can try out the putters Ooh, yeah, they were they were they had a good laugh because they said, I'm thinking come after us, because we're just 14 and 15. Are they going to let us play with these 300 ollar putters, and I said, I don't know, we'll just give it a go. And so they're there. They're making up some games. So they have their balls, okay, you're gonna go here and here and here. And I'm just like, it's so awesome to see them really just creative play. And they say that's what makes the best athletes as well as when you let them create in place. It is pretty cool. What will it do if

DJ Stutz  21:35  
actually, these are the guys then that make the best business men and women as they get older? Because this is such an important part that we're losing in society? Is that opportunity for kids to play, come up with their own games come up with their own rules. And without adult intervention, and you watch and kids will start. No, no, no, that's not our rule. We decided, you know, and, or maybe they're building, they'll let you go, Oh, they will. They will. And they enforce it themselves. And you're just like, yes, yeah. Or they start arguing about something. It's like, Oh, let's see where this goes. Instead of jumping in right away, it's great to stand back and say, they'll figure it out. And for me, I'm the oldest of seven. And I have five little brothers and one little sister. We got home from school, and the rule was, change your clothes and get outside. Yes, mom was busy getting things done. Yeah, that's what we did. And we would be in her hair. And even living in Los Angeles, it was weird, because we had an apricot orchard on one side of us. And then we had just as open field later on there. Some homes were built on that. But when we were young, when we were little, it was just this open field that eventually four homes were built on. But we'd go out in the field, and we would play football and we would be hunters looking for Mormons that were out there. And there were plenty of those. And we would just do these things. We would dig holes, and we would play war. And we were digging foxholes. You know, we were just doing things that were very physical, then after dinner was homework time, right? But we came home, back then we came home to mom, right? Not to some after school program where things are set up. Now you go play basketball, now you go to this, but just we were left to our own devices. And Saturdays, you'd get up we had our chores to do. But the goal was get them done to get out of the house as fast as possible. And then we took off on our bikes. And heaven knows where I know where we went. Finding the biggest hill to ride our bikes down. Oh, yeah, doubt the best Hill to ride your bikes down, though how to stop light at the bottom of it. So we learned about timing. And so we learned when to get going so that we'd hit that green light when we got to the bottom. And yeah, and so you learning all of these things, construction sites, they're not working on Saturday. So you know, we just helped them along with every go, oh, we could build a ramp right here and use all of these things. And but that's all part of being able to have that time where you're on your own without an adult saying you do this or you do that there. And I know that we have to watch our kids and pay attention and teach them about safety and watch out and what are the things you have to watch for. But the reality is, I had Gosh, this was like almost no, it would be about a year ago. I had a guy on Tyson. Right. And he was with Operation Underground Railroad and we were talking about how do you balance giving your kids that freedom outside that is so important in their development and keeping them safe. So And he said, what's really good? That's a hard thing because parents worry and stuff. But the thing is, they're much less likely to be harmed by a stranger than by someone actually within their family or someone they know. Wow.

Kaley Metler  25:11  
That's an interesting fact. Yeah. Yeah. Very well. That's thinking, Well,

DJ Stutz  25:18  
yeah, let that sink in for a minute. It's just that important piece of wanting to get them outside. Doesn't matter the weather, they'll let you know.

Kaley Metler  25:27  
You guys are still

DJ Stutz  25:30  
timer timer. You haven't been out? Not not guilty? Because

Kaley Metler  25:35  
I shouldn't be out there too. I mean, sometimes, but yeah, of course, we have to get dinner ready. We've got to do our if we're working like I have a business, I have to do my stuff. So I'm trying my best to do bits and pieces of time together. But yeah, it's it's a struggle. If you get into that groove of them just staying inside, then it's really hard to get them out. So right, start young and make expectations. You're trying your best to get them outside of the oven. Yeah, I mean, finding a group of friends, like you said, is is really good, too. When you go outside, right? You could find those neighborhood kids off. That's so such a blessing to her. You've

DJ Stutz  26:17  
got that if you can get that. And I have a niece. She's also the eldest of seven, but we're just a generation apart. She's my niece. And I have five boys and two girls in her family as five girls and two boys. But she has two little kids. She's expecting her third, and they just moved from Michigan to northern Utah. And so her kids started school and they've got this, you know, the biker gang, right? But it's, it's pedaling and kids. And she said, It's the most amazing thing. And she took a video of how they'll start down the street. And as they write down, like another kid joins in, and another kid, and they wait for the group to hit their house. It's almost like it's choreographed the way they all join in. And by the time they're down at the end of the road, they've got like, 15 kids got different ages. But they're all heading to school. Yeah. And they all just ride together. And what

Kaley Metler  27:14  
can for sure happen in the city? For sure. Yeah, if you're spread out in the country, that's where you have to get a little more organized. And yeah, try to

DJ Stutz  27:24  
Yeah, well, in our schools are so far away. It's bus and they got to take the bus because Yeah. If there's not even a gas station in our town, trust me, there's no school. They're either going to the town north or to the town south. Right. Okay. Go to school. But once they get home, though, no, there's kids, and they're on the dirt road. And they've got their dogs and they all ride their bikes together and go throw things in the canal. And

Kaley Metler  27:54  
exactly, yeah, no stick in the stream and watch it go by. I remember doing that. Exactly.

DJ Stutz  27:58  
Yeah, yeah. And in the summer, you'll see kids just floating down the canal. Tubes. Yeah. But there's a bunch of them. So they're kind of watching out for each other. And

Kaley Metler  28:10  
it's good when you have a group for sure. So

DJ Stutz  28:12  
good. So good. Yeah. So Kaylee, what is it way that our listeners and watchers can get a hold of you and learn more about what you do?

Kaley Metler  28:23  
Sure. Yeah. My website is www dot kgs. Transformation fitness. So my name is Kelly, Jo. Kashmira. Joe so KJS transformation fitness. I know it's a long name. And then I'm on Instagram as well. Same name kgs, underscore transformation, underscore fitness. And I make some YouTube videos. And yeah, Facebook is as well transform your body 22 Yeah, I'm definitely my passion now is to really help us with their confidence. Because when I was playing sports, I found that I was really lacking in confidence. So I'm part of Todd durkins mastermind group. And every time I go there, I have visions of really helping the kids. So God has placed me here I know to do that. So my little spot is to help them with their self confidence. And yeah, just really helped kids thrive and have a really good positive mindset. So

DJ Stutz  29:27  
and I love that faith part of it. And that's just so important is helping them with that connection to God as well. So thank you for that. And so Kelly, I ask my guests the same question at the end of every episode. So you are not exempt. But we know that they're ready. Okay. Got it. We know that there are no perfect parents. They don't exist never have. Even Mary and Joseph were mortal. Right. So some parents seemed To be more successful than others, though, how would you describe a successful parent,

Kaley Metler  30:05  
I would describe a successful parent by your kids coming back to see you whenever you've raised them. They want to still spend time with you. That's how I would describe and they want to talk to you. They want to share their view. So I love

DJ Stutz  30:21  
it. Yeah. And I'll tell you, that is such a joyful part of life. Because you really not there to be their friend when they're younger, or even when they're teens. But you are when they become mommies and daddies of their own. And, and it's just a fun change, it doesn't mean that you still don't shake your head sometimes know

Kaley Metler  30:46  
why I'm sure that happened,

DJ Stutz  30:48  
Oh, that's not going to help you any, you just have a different friendship and an enjoyable time. And but I'll tell you, though, I still do miss those times of dealing with tantrums and rushing to you do you do and the chaos and all of that you do wind up missing a take the time to breathe and enjoy the time that you're in, I think is probably the best advice I have to give for anyone. Thanks, anyway. And you're great. Thank you so much for choosing to spend this time. And so for my listeners, I do have joy of talking to other parents and helping them through. And so I give everybody a free one one 50-minute. I hate to call them consultations, but just a conversation. Because yeah, yeah, just get it. Let's get to know each other and share our joys and our things. So if you're interested in having that the link is in the shownotes. Or you can just register on my website, which is www.LittleHeartsAcademyUSA.com. And I would love to have conversations with you. And so there's my calendar link is down in the show notes. You can just go straight there book a time, that's good for you. And let's get to know each other a little better. So Kaley, it's great to see you. And thank you for all that you're doing. Thanks for reminding us about our kids need to get outside, even in the winter, even in the winter, even in the winter. And just thanks for spending this time with us.

Kaley Metler  32:25  
Oh, it was an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for having me. This is my first podcast. Really? You did great.

DJ Stutz  32:32  
pleased. That's fantastic. Oh, that's great. You're

Kaley Metler  32:37  
so easy to talk to thank you so much for Thank you.

DJ Stutz  32:40  
Thank you and to everyone else until next week. Let's find joy in parenting. Bye everyone.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai