Jodie Maddox Coaching & Consulting

I PARTNER with parents and schools.

I EMPOWER them to make decisions within their sphere of influence.

I PROVIDE reliable support, with effective strategies, to gain desired results.

Email jodiemaddoxicoach@gmail.com

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Dear Friends,

As summer approaches and the school year winds down, many feel pressure to “make the most” of the months ahead, especially for our kids. But summer doesn’t need to be a boot camp for behavior, academics, or self-improvement.

When I asked my now-grown children what they loved most about their childhood summers, their memories were instant and joyful: cousins, Scout camp, neighborhood adventures, make-believe games, staying up late, spontaneous baking sessions, and never knowing what day it was. Not one mention of math packets or enrichment programs.

It reminded me that not all growth is measurable, and not all progress comes from more structure. Sometimes, the most meaningful development happens in the freedom of creating, playing, exploring, and just being present to the moment.

This month’s newsletter is your permission slip to let go of structured growth and perfectionism; and since May includes Mother’s Day, here’s your reminder: your presence matters far more than your perfection. What kids carry into adulthood isn’t the structure—it’s the love, laughter, and freedom to be themselves.

Instead of using the summer to polish every rough edge, what if we made room for exploration, wonder, scraped knees, messy popsicles, unstructured play, and abundant amounts of boredom? These are the summers kids will look back on with a smile. As a mom of two children on the other side of childhood, it felt good to hear them talk warmly about a few unstructured summer moments of growth and goodness, and I was so grateful that’s what they remembered first … Lord knows we did math packets too 😂.

Here’s to a perfectly imperfect summer—filled with sunshine, scraped knees, and a whole lot of heart.

With A Grateful Heart,

Jodie Maddox

Parent Coach & Education Consultant

When we talk about executive functioning, we often overlook a key skill: flexible thinking. This essential ability helps kids cope, pivot, self-regulate, and adapt. But how is it built?

Not through structure or checklists, but in quiet, unstructured moments of creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving. In today’s over-supervised, performance-driven world, we often forget that growth can happen organically during play, exploration, and time free of rubrics or results.

As summer approaches, it's easy to let perfectionism trap us in "fix it" mode and enrich every moment. But kids don’t need a perfectly planned summer; they need a present one.

Allowing children to release rigid expectations gives them the opportunity to develop confidence, resilience, and flexible thinking. Growth doesn't always appear polished—it can be messy, filled with failed attempts, moments of doubt, wonder, and laughter along the way.

As a parent coach, I often remind families to trade perfection for presence and see what truly flourishes.

Summer activities to help your child slow down, explore, and build healthy self-worth and flexibility:

• Have a “Messy Art” Day – No rules, just creativity.

• Create A Cooking Show Together—Let your child use whatever they want in the kitchen to create new exotic recipes (be okay with the fact that nothing will ever be eaten 🙂).

• Create a Summer “Boredom Box” – Let kids invent their own fun. Fill it with random odds and ends around the house. Encourage kids to use items in weird, unexpected ways.

• Plant a Small Garden or Herb Pot – Watch things grow at their own pace.
• Start a Family “Flop Jar” – Share funny or frustrating moments that didn’t go as planned.

• Build Something Out of Recyclables—Pinterest or Google are not allowed. All creation must be fueled by good old-fashioned trial and error.

• Go on an Unplanned Nature Walk – Let your child lead the way. Encourage them to create a map along the way, noting important landmarks and fun findings.

• Write and Illustrate a Story – Instead of reading books before bed, write a chapter (or voice record a chapter) each night. Ask your kids to illustrate the book during the day throughout the summer.

• Have a “No Plans, just PJ’s” Day a few times each month—Let spontaneity rule!

• Explore the library without books! - Libraries now offer 3D printers, sewing machines, power tool checkouts, T-shirt press, coffee shops, puzzles, and more!

• Service with a smile - Have fun creating art for senior citizens in residential care facilities, if possible, let the children deliver the art and discuss their vision with the patients.
  
  

These moments may seem small, but they send a big message: "You are enough—even when things aren't perfect or planned.". A message you want your child to carry with them, long after summer ends.

How can a smoothie teach independence, good decision making, build self-awareness, and self-worth?

Easy to Make:

• Quick Preparation: Kids can blend their favorite ingredients in minutes.

• Easy steps for endless options: Once kids get the hang of it, they can do it independently.

• Minimal Cleanup: Kids can build and clean once they know the routine, all on their own.

• Customizable: Kids can learn to use what's on hand, which promotes free choice and decision making.

Healthy and Nutritious:

• Packed with Vitamins: Helps to introduce kids to a variety of fruits and vegetables.

• Natural Sweetness: Rely on the natural sweetness of ripe fruits, avoiding added sugar.

• Dietary Flexibility: Easily adapt to dietary needs—gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.​

Fun for All Ages:

• Interactive: Kids can help choose ingredients and operate simple kitchen tools.

• Creative Expression: Experiment with colors and flavors, remind them to name their creations!

• Refreshing: A cool treat to beat the summer heat.

• Versatile - Can be frozen for a later treat or enjoyed in the moment. ​

Feeling alone? Overwhelmed with the amount of decisions you need to make for yourself, your family, and your job? Ready for change but you don't know where to start? I am here to help! I partner with parents and schools to help them create space for strategic change. Together in 10 short weeks, we will discover, dream, design, and make a plan that supports and empowers you!

Contact me today for your free consultation at jodiemaddoxicoach@gmail.com

Instructional coaching and education consulting isn’t just for new teachers—it’s a game-changer for educators at every stage. Whether you're refining classroom management, implementing new strategies, or building stronger team collaboration, coaching can help support your school! Need a thinking partner? Additional team member? Non-biased opinion with a fresh perspective or outside experience?

I can help:

- Provide Instructional Coach training for your lead teachers
- Facilitate strategic planning and goal-setting
- Provide leadership training for new administrators
- Oversee the onboarding of new teachers, teams, and policies
- Help create, plan, and implement building-specific professional development for August.
- Review, create, and implement building-specific handbooks, processes, and procedures
- Help manage and build a master schedule to support MTSS

Let’s grow together, with purpose and support every step of the way! Learn more at jodiemaddoxicoach.com

Email: jodiemaddoxicoach@gmail.com
Website: jodiemaddoxicoach.com
Phone: (913)908-8220
Facebook: facebook.com/Jodiemaddox-ParentCoach&consultant