From Chaos to Creativity with Kristine Pack of the Family Fun Pack

On today's episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Dr. Carla Marie Manley, a clinical psychologist and author from Sonoma County, California, talks with guest Kristine Pack. She is a YouTuber known for her YouTube channel "Family Fun Pack." The podcast aims to explore various aspects of family, love, and relationships. Christine discusses her YouTube channel and her experiences as a mother. The conversation focuses on her role in her family and her online presence.

Episode Highlights

• 01:34: Kristine shares how she manages the challenges of raising seven kids in the modern world.
• 01:52: Kristine explains that managing her seven children involves several strategies. She emphasizes the importance of having a schedule, although she notes that the schedule isn't overly strict. As long as she accomplishes what needs to be done on a daily basis for everyone, she's satisfied.
• 03:20: Dr. Carla Marie Manley expresses admiration for Kristine's courage to go on a month-long road trip with her family.
• 04:02: Managing Kristine's YouTube channel is a substantial commitment for everyone in her family, akin to a full-time job.
• 06:35: Kristine used to suffer from migraines but hasn't experienced one in years, which she attributes to her regular exercise regimen.
• 07:39: Kristine shares her YouTube journey. She explains that it all began in 2011 with a video she made for her mother-in-law, capturing their twins going to bed. At that time, she used YouTube to share the video as it was the most convenient option.
• 09:40: Given her losses, Christine decided to use YouTube as a backup for her videos. She began uploading videos to the platform, realizing that they wouldn't be deleted as she had feared. Encouraged by this, she uploaded several videos without any editing since she didn't know how to edit at the time. 
• 11:12: Kristine attributes the popularity to a combination of their family dynamic, the timing of the uploads, and the fact that vlogging wasn't as common then as it is now.
• 12:14: Kristine also reflects on how her approach to YouTube has changed. Initially, they didn't use ads on their videos because she found it rude, but they eventually embraced ads as a way to sustain their channel financially.
• 13:02: Kristine explains her perspective on finding fun in everyday life and how she portrays her family on their YouTube channel.
• 15:59: In today's world, many kids are exposed to adult concepts at a very young age, and she emphasizes the importance of allowing children to just be kids and enjoy their childhood without unnecessary exposure to adult issues.
• 20:16: Reading is not only educational but also provides opportunities for learning and growth, says Kristine.
• 23:07: Kristine prefers her children to use devices in common family spaces like the living room rather than isolating themselves with their devices.
• 23:43: Kristine explains that she is very mindful and observant when it comes to her children's device usage.
• 26:21: Kristine emphasizes the importance of being cautious about the games and platforms they use, avoiding any interaction with strangers, and promptly reporting any suspicious behavior.

 

 

3 Key Points

1. In her pursuit of self-care, Kristine joined a fitness class and later hired a personal trainer to help her on her journey.  Even though her busy schedule and frequent travels make it challenging, she remains committed to training when she's home.
2. Kristine talks about the unpredictable nature of technology and the challenges of preserving meaningful memories in a digital age.
3. Kristine talks about meditation and yoga books for kids, which can promote mindfulness and mental well-being from a young age.

Tweetable Quotes

• "Self-care isn't selfish but rather beneficial for the entire family system." - Kristine Pack
• "YouTube videos have gone from us uploading random stuff that's not edited to being a little bit edited to let's do challenges." - Kristine Pack
• "Focusing on good moments, like spending time together, doing household chores, and enjoying family life, is important for their viewers and helps create a positive atmosphere on their channel." - Kristine Pack
• "Children's books can be amazing sources of valuable lessons and insights for both children and parents." - Kristine Pack
• "Reading plays a significant role in her family's life, especially because they homeschool most of their children." - Kristine Pack

Resources Mentioned

• Helping Families be Happy Podcast Apple
• Podcast Editing