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Not Just a Goody 👟Two-Shoes👟 Family

Not Just a Goody 👟Two-Shoes👟 Family

Using Trickster Energy to get Unstuck

Danielle & Greg Neufeld
November 17, 2025

Hi friends,

This week, we’re exploring an unexpected (but so necessary!) aspect of family dynamics: trickster energy. The playful, inventive, and boundary-testing spirit that helps us stay adaptable when life feels rigid.

Trickster: noun, a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value.

We are not trying to teach dishonesty, but rather to tap into the trickster energy in order to cleverly pursue our goals.

For example, what would you do if your rollercoaster-loving 4-year-old dreams of going to Legoland for his birthday, but is one inch shy of the height requirement?

Do you stick to the rules? Cross your fingers for leniency? Or come up with a creative workaround? (Hint: we chose Door #3)

Trickster energy begins when we stop waiting for permission and trust our own capacity to improvise. It’s that self-trust that asks, “What if we got playful here?” and broadens our understanding of what’s possible.

We’re finding it to be an essential part of our (formerly 100% rule-following) family culture, and we hope you’ll explore it too.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How trickster energy is different from dishonesty or sneakiness

• Ways to help kids distinguish between safety rules and “rules of convenience”

• Why innovation and growth often require stepping outside the lines

• How trickster energy is most effective when guided by a moral compass

• Why cleverness is a top character trait we’re hoping to develop at home

• Why trickster energy works best as a family effort, not an individual pursuit

If you’re someone who has always played by the rules (hello, D 👋) or you’re raising a child who loves testing limits (hello, everyone 👋), this episode offers research, stories, and tools to help your family channel rule-bending in a way that fosters growth, not chaos.