Our guest today examines the beliefs, weaknesses, and practices that shape education in this country. She also looks at the myths that have been invented to explain why these traditions don't work. Dr. Berens discusses how behavioral science and neuroscience transform the effectiveness of educational practices. Finally, we discuss how parents can advocate for their teens when their educational experience is not working for them. Kimberly Nix Berens, Ph.D., is a scientist-educator and Founder of Fit Learning. She co-created a powerful instruction system based on behavioral science and the Technology of Teaching, which has transformed the learning abilities of thousands of children worldwide, including those who are struggling, average, gifted, or learning disabled.   For more than 20 years, her system of instruction has produced one year’s worth of academic growth in only 40 hours of training. Her learning programs effectively target such essential areas as early learning skills, basic classroom readiness, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, comprehension, inferential language, basic and advanced mathematics, logical problem solving, grammar, and expressive writing.   From her early beginnings in a broom closet at the University of Nevada – Reno, Dr. Berens has helped grow Fit Learning to an organization with more than 30 locations worldwide. She currently lives in Long Island with her husband and two children, where she oversees Fit Learning locations in Long Island, New York City, and Connecticut. Blind Spots: Why students fail and the science that can save them is her first book. Find out more at: https://www.drkimberlyberens.com/ Follow Dr. Berens at https://www.instagram.com/drkberens/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does your teen feel entitled to have whatever they want? How would you rate your teen's financial IQ? In other words, does your teen understand and manage financial matters effectively? Our featured guest, Nancy Tengler a seasoned investor and mother, shares her unique approach to improving the financial IQ of children. Drawing from personal experiences, she turned every shopping trip into an investment research exercise for her son and daughter. While some moments were embarrassing, the lasting impact is evident as her adult children manage investments with the acumen of professionals. Tune in as our guest underscores the importance of leveraging everyday experiences to build financial knowledge. Practical tips for listeners include incorporating investment research into daily activities, discussing brands and trends with friends and teens, and fostering financial literacy through opening brokerage accounts for teens. Nancy Tengler’s career as a portfolio manager spans 40 years; she is currently the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Laffer Tengler Investments. Nancy is a passionate advocate for women’s financial literacy and she leads the firm’s Women & Wealth initiative. Nancy is a sought-after TV and print financial commentator on local and national media outlets. She lives in Incline Village, NV with her 2 labs and hikes the Tahoe Trail daily.   In this podcast episode, we delve into the empowering rise of female investors, exploring the estimate that women now control over 50% of global wealth and the transformative impact on financial decision-making. With 95% of women poised to become primary financial decision-makers, we uncover key insights to empower them with essential financial knowledge Follow and learn more about Nancy Tengler on Linkedin and on her Websites https://www.linkedin.com/company/laffertengler/  https://laffertengler.com/nancy-tengler/  https://nancytengler.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast is published the week of Thanksgiving and so we pause to consider what we are thankful for. In the book - WAKE UP GRATEFUL: THE TRANSFORMATIVE PRACTICE OF TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED- author KRISTI NELSON provides a groundbreaking exploration of what it means to live gratefully and bring awareness into every moment of every day. When 33-year-old Kristi Nelson was diagnosed with stage IV cancer, her entire perspective changed. In Wake Up Grateful, Nelson describes how this wake-up call about the brevity of life helped her reframe her existence as a gift full of welcome surprises and love, teaching readers how to similarly transform their mindset and daily practice of living.  Kristi's guidance, drawing on 5 core principles, teaches us to cherish our connection to ourselves, others, and the world to practice and embody a grateful life. She gives us 5 practices that will help our teens cultivate gratefulness. Kristi discusses the difference between gratitude and gratefulness and why this distinction is important. KRISTI NELSON is the executive director of A Network for Grateful Living. She has spent more than 30 years in nonprofit leadership, development, and consulting, working at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and the Soul of Money Institute. Nelson is a Stage IV cancer survivor and lives with her family in western Massachusetts. To learn more about Kristi: https://grateful.org/kristi-nelson/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What parent is not struggling to get their teen off their phones or to get them to stop gaming? Most teens struggle to switch from the online world back into the real world. This is why your teen gets angry with you when you tell them to get off the phone or have a fit when you take their phone at night. But some teens surpass the normal struggles and become addicted to gaming or social media and choose that over interacting in the real world. In this episode, we talk about the 8 signs that your teens are at risk for technology addiction and how to break those digital chains. We also talk about the 4 steps for parenting in the digital age. Michael Jacobus is an internationally renowned Camp Director and youth development specialist. With a passion for empowering young minds, he founded Reset Summer Camp to combat the challenges of screen addiction after witnessing its impact on his own family. As a parent who once dealt with a gaming-addicted child, Michael's journey makes him a relatable advocate. Reset Summer Camp offers an immersive clinical program on a university campus, blending a summer camp atmosphere with therapy to help participants detox and develop vital life skills. Michael and his dedicated team are on a mission to create a healthier, more balanced future for our youth. Contact Michael at ([email protected]) Find out more about Reset Summer Camp: https://www.resetsummercamp.com/our-team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teens take pictures all day long. Teens take selfies all day long. How can teens get past selfies? Today we talk to a very interesting human being who is a national geographic explorer. She mentors teens and young adults teaching them how to tell their stories through photos. We discuss how we can meet our teens through selfies and take them deeper to explore the story they really want to tell. KIRSTEN ELSTNER is a distinguished National Geographic Explorer and the visionary founder of National Geographic Photo Camp, an initiative that has empowered young photographers across the globe for two decades. With a career spanning over 30 years in the field of photography, Kirsten has been a trailblazer in using visual storytelling as a tool for social impact. Under her leadership, Photo Camp has expanded to more than 35 countries, mentoring thousands of teens and young adults in the art of photography and narrative. Her work has been instrumental in giving a voice to underrepresented communities, allowing them to share their unique perspectives through compelling images and stories. Kirsten's accolades include numerous awards and her work has been featured in prominent publications. As she looks to the future, Kirsten remains committed to fostering the next generation of storytellers, amplifying voices that need to be heard. Find out more about National Geographic Photo Camp https://explorer-directory.nationalgeographic.org/kirsten-elstner https://www.instagram.com/ngphotocamp/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The idea for this podcast came out of one of the discussions from my Moms Moving Forward group. We were talking about how being a mom forces us to grow and become more aware of our unconscious patterns. A couple of moms in the group shared how the Enneagram helped them understand their personality type. This helped them see their unique strengths but also it enabled them to see their blindspots which had negatively impacted their mothering. Becoming aware of these blindspots or unconscious patterns allowed them to change the pattern and have a much more rewarding relationship with their son or daughter. I wanted to bring in a guest who is an expert on the Enneagram to explain what it is and how it can be useful to you. Enneagram is not a religion; it’s a tool to help you understand your personality type. Elaine Bailey Anderson is the owner and founder of Coach Brilliant, a coaching academy that serves professional coaches, and service-based business owners, offering training and certifications, as well as business and marketing strategy. Elaine is an Accredited Professional with the International Enneagram Association with over 30 years of professional expertise in Human Resource Development. As a professional Leadership Development Consultant, Elaine has designed programs in leadership, coaching, and behavioral skills, delivering training to Fortune 500 companies and small businesses around the world, and working with thousands of executives, managers, and leaders. You can contact Elaine at: [email protected] or www.coachbrilliant.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainejbailey/ Want to know your personality type? You can have a one-on-one coaching session with Elaine to find out your Enneagram type. (Normally this is $250 but for our listeners, Elaine is offering it for $150.) Type in Coupon Code: TYPINGMOM Link: https://coachbrilliant.com/uncover-your-enneagram-type/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk to an expert on adolescence and eating disorders. We cover a lot of territory, from what teens need for their brain and overall health, to what moms can do when their teens skip meals. What are healthy snacks for teens? When should parents be concerned with weight gain? Or if they should be concerned? We also explore the signs of eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia, binge eating) and what moms can do. How do eating disorders look different in teenage boys? Dr. Anna B. Tanner is Vice President of Child and Adolescent Medicine for Accanto Health, with brands Veritas Collaborative and the Emily Program. She is a board-certified Pediatrician who has specialized in the care of complicated adolescent patients, in particular patients with eating disorders, for almost 25 years. Dr. Tanner completed medical school and residency at Vanderbilt University, and then remained there to serve on the Pediatrics faculty in the Division of Young Adult and Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Tanner has been very involved in advocacy and education efforts and serves on national and international committees for eating disorders education. She speaks frequently across the United States on the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders, especially as they affect children and young adolescents, and contributed a book chapter on that topic in the 4th edition of Dr. Philip S. Mehler’s Eating Disorders: A Comprehensive Guide to Medical Care and Complications. Dr. Tanner currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics for Emory University School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine. She is co-chair of the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED) Medical Care Standards Committee and a member of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) Curriculum Committee. Dr. Tanner is a Fellow in the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM), a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and a Certified Eating Disorders Supervisor. She has been named by Atlanta magazine as a “Top Doctor” every year from 2013 to 2023 and named by Castle Connelly as an Exceptional Woman in Medicine and one of America’s Most Honored Doctors. Email Dr. Anna Tanner at [email protected] Learn more at https://veritascollaborative.com/about-veritas/leadership-team/anna-tanner/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is a wonderful human being and has so much well-earned wisdom to share with us in this episode and she is also a relatable and engaging writer. Which you can find in her recently published book, Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood. I love her viral quote: “Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you are living." Our guest today Rachel Marie Martin is the founder of the social media community Finding Joy™, author of both Mom Enough and The Brave Art of Motherhood, and a founding partner in Audience Industries – a company designed to train and equip entrepreneurs in their ventures. Her articles have been translated into over 25 languages, her site reaches millions of visitors per month and she has a robust, engaged Facebook community. Her content has been featured in The Huffington Post, The Today Show, PopSugar, Motherly, and many more. She speaks worldwide encouraging moms and entrepreneurs to live each day with purpose and drive. Beyond that, she’s a mom to seven and calls Nashville, Tennessee, her home. Follow Rachel Marie on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/findingjoyblog Find out more at: https://findingjoy.net/author/rachel-marie-martin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode will talk about fathers and teen sons and teen daughters. We’ll answer questions like What is unique about the father-son relationship? What are some of the mistakes that fathers make with their sons and their daughters? And how to turn that around. Find out how moms can give parenting advice to dads so that they will listen.  Our guest today is Luke Entrup Luke teaches his clients to cultivate the clarity of the mind, to discover the wisdom of the body, and to harness passion as the jet fuel of their transformation. He works as a coach and teacher. He takes clients through major life transitions and rites of passage, acting as the bridge between who they are today and who they dream to be tomorrow. He is a frequent speaker on the topic of reintroducing rites of passage into our culture. He is the founder of the Father-Son Connection Experience, a weekend rite of passage for boys and their father figures. Find out more about Luke at www.fathersonconnection.com and www.lukeentrup.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is your teen's and young adult's self-esteem? How is your self-esteem? Today we are going to talk about how to build self-esteem and confidence in our teens and in ourselves. Ruth Klein is an author and founder of the nonprofit Universal Mom, which works to help children and teens uncover their talents through the art of writing. With her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology with an emphasis on Health, Consciousness, and healing, Ruth is passionate about helping youth reach their full potential by believing in themselves. Prior to founding Universal Mom, for 22 years Ruth led the nonprofit Self-Esteem Council, which went into high schools to work with sophomores & juniors. In less than 10 hours, they changed student’s perceptions of their lives, increasing their self-esteem and confidence. Many of the students they worked with had the confidence to apply for summer jobs, get involved in school activities the following year, and apply to college when previously, college was not even on their radar. Outside of her non-profit work, Ruth has a successful career that spans over thirty years, she has helped her clients create a 360° Brand and convert their expertise and content into best-selling books that have gone on to be high-ticket programs, TedX speeches, PBS specials, TV guest spots, 5 figure speaking engagements. The author of 7 best-selling books, her upcoming release for parents is titled, Conscious Connection, and is slated for an early 2024 release. Find out more at: https://universalmom.org/ and https://ruthklein.com/ Follow on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ruth.klein/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is mothering your dream job? What will you do when your kids leave home? If you've been out of the workforce because you are a stay-at-home mom, do you feel like no one will hire you? Are you bored with your job yet afraid to leave it because you need to pay the bills? You're going to love our next guest and his book, Time to Move On: The 7 Career Myths Keeping You From Finding Your Dream Job. Mustafa Ammar is the founder and CEO of “The Passion MBA”, a global coaching company. He is also a life-coach who coached hundreds of professionals around the world to find their dream careers and build their dream businesses, by applying his coaching methodology “The Passion Blueprint”. Mustafa is also the author of “Time to Move On” Mustafa lived several career lives in one single life. He started his career as a pharmacist out of a passion for chemistry, then he became an international diplomat out of a passion for building bridges among different cultures and traveling the world, where he worked in China, Malawi, and the United Nations. He then worked as an investment specialist at The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), where he was in charge of business development and bringing investments to various regions including Africa, The Middle East & Latin America. Mustafa successfully brought more than $1.1 billion worth of finance in infrastructure projects in the Middle East alone during his tenure at AIIB. Mustafa holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with distinction from Alliance Manchester Business School in the UK. He also holds another master's degree in diplomatic studies & negotiations and a BA in pharmaceutical sciences. Contact Mustafa and learn more at: https://mustafaammar.com/ Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thepassionmba/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's hard navigating teens and sports. How much do you make them practice? What if you were counting on a scholarship for college and your teen decides to quit swimming? Having several teens play sports can be stressful on a home and relationships with shuttling to practices and games. What if your teen wants to play soccer and they don't have natural ability? How much do you push them? This is such an important discussion about the common mistakes parents make and what you should do instead. Our guest today is Dan Blewett. Dan is a former professional baseball player, speaker, online entrepreneur and the author of four books. His most recent, This Slump Shall Pass, teaches mental skills to athletes of all sports. A resident of Washington, D.C., his focus is on teaching young people the mental and physical skills they need to have happy, successful sports careers. He reaches athletes, coaches and parents through his YouTube channels and on social media, where he has 130,000 followers combined across his platforms. In addition to teaching sport skills, Dan uses his wide audience to advocate for play and youth sports reform. His writing, videos, speaking and other work can be found at Danblewett.com and his social media handles @CoachDanBlewett.         Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"What can I do to get my teen to ______?" "How do I get my teen to care about their homework, their grades, their future? At the heart of all of this is motivation. Nothing frustrates a mom more than an unmotivated teen. So what can we do? Why are so many teens unmotivated? So much drama comes from trying to get your teen to do what they are supposed to do. How do you motivate them without it being a big blow up? Our guest today is a mom, a well-respected researcher and an experienced clinician. Dr. Ellen Braaten is an experienced and prominent psychologist, researcher, speaker, and author. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) and the Kessler Family Chair in Pediatric Neuropsychological Assessment at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). She also holds an appointment of Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School (HMS). She is the author of The Child Clinician’s Report-Writing Handbook and How to Find Mental Health Care for Your Child, and co-author of the bestselling book, Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up and Straight Talk About Psychological Testing for Kids. Her newest book is Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less: How to Rekindle Your Child’s Motivation. She earned her MA from the University of Colorado and her PhD from Colorado State University. Learn more at https://www.ellenbraatenphd.com/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do any moms want to break free from overwhelm this school year? Our guest today Jenna Hermans has recently released her new book, Chaos to Calm: 5 Ways Busy Parents Can Break Free from Overwhelm. With a master’s degree in organizational management and over a decade of experience running human resources, through Chaos to Calm Jenna uses easy-to-implement strategic tools and philosophies to guide busy parents and help them streamline the endless tasks they face every day. By creating more time and less stress, they can spend more hours appreciating their family, making sure they have what they need, and giving themselves the space they need and live their lives with intention and joy. Chapters are targeted at Efficiency, Habits, Communication, Community, and Self-Care, and include how-tos and simple small tasks anyone can take to lower the frenetic pace of every day. In this episode, we dive into how moms can be more energy-efficient, time-efficient, and task-efficient. We explore healthy habits that bring you calm and how to trash the ones that don’t serve you. You will love all the practical tips that you can apply right away. Learn more about Jenna at https://jennahermans.com/  Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jennazhermans/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can Neurofeedback help teens? In this episode we talk about what is brainwave dysregulation and how that manifests with teens. We explore what Neurofeedback is and how it can be helpful to all teens especially teens who have adhd , anxiety, trauma, and depression. Our guest today Dianne Kosto is an industry-leading expert and visionary, is the Founder and CEO of SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training. Recognized as a compassionate “Mom on a Mission,” Dianne is dedicated to making Neurofeedback technology accessible to families and individuals worldwide. Drawing from her personal journey and the trauma her family endured due to brainwave dysregulation, she is committed to helping others avoid similar challenges. Dianne has been a trusted mentor and consultant for Neurofeedback providers across the continent, transcending various professions since 2010. Her invaluable expertise continues to guide and inspire through SYMMETRY’s SAGE Advisors division. Dianne Kosto’s path has been marked by unwavering resolve and a profound dedication to improving the quality of lives through Neurofeedback. Her personal and professional journey is chronicled in her upcoming book, ‘From Trauma to Triumph: A Mom’s Mission with Neurofeedback,' which is set to launch on 9.9.23. It is a testament to her commitment to helping each brain learn to better regulate, and in ., helping each person pave their own path from trauma to triumph. Contact Dianne at  844-272-4666 , [email protected], symmetryneuropt.com  Follow Dianne at: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SymmetryNeuroPT/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/symmetryneuropt/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you like your teens to have better manners and show respect to you, your home, and others? My guest today literally wrote the book. Brooke Romney is a writer, speaker and leader of an online community who helps moms of teens and tweens create meaningful, healthy and enjoyable relationships with their children through practical application, education and community. Her goal is for every family to feel confident and connected. The mother of four boys ages tween to adult, Brooke knows parenting perfection isn’t real and takes an honest and hopeful approach with her audience. Her best-selling book 52 Modern Manners for Today’s Teens (Volumes 1 & 2) provides weekly tips to help parents and teens navigate the complexities of today’s world. The follow-up, 52 Modern Manners for Kids, will feature tips for kids and tweens aged four to 12 and is set to release this August. Brooke's work has been featured in The Washington Post, Scary Mommy and Forbes. Brooke and her family live in Utah. Here are some examples of her modern manners for teens Be inclusive You attract what you put out into the world Say thank you Be reliable Reply Work with integrity Look up smile and say hello Don’t be annoying In this episode she shares her secrets to getting teens to actually listen (and not blow you off) and follow through with these manners. Follow Brooke on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brookeromneywrites/ and https://brookeromney.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When should you start thinking about college? How do you reach your teens college goals without draining your bank account? How do you earn scholarships regardless of family income? What colleges offer the best scholarships and financial aid? What are the best paths to medical school? Law school? Grad school? Our guest today answers these questions. For over 40 years, DR. KUNI BEASLEY has been helping students reach their college goals. Since 2011, Dr. Beasley and his team have helped students earn over $300 million in scholarships and grants, with students admitted to the top institutions in the country to include the Ivy League (Harvard, Cornell, etc.), Service Academies (West Point, Annapolis, etc.), and Top Tier colleges (MIT, Stanford, Duke, etc.). His SAT/ ACT Prep program has been used in public and private schools in over 20 states. Dr. Beasley was the Dean of the New College Preparatory Academy with 22 sites across the country from Springfield, MA, to Hot Springs, AR, to Palm Springs, CA. Dr. Beasley has a BS from Texas Christian University (Go Frogs), an MBA from Oklahoma City University, a Doctor of Ministry from Tyndale Seminary, and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington. He went to college 22 years and paid for only one semester. To learn more: https://www.beasleycollegeprep.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are there any anxious mothers out there? Have you ever been shamed for being an anxious mother? Well, I definitely have been an anxious mom, just ask my daughter. Actually I have never met a mom especially a mom of a teen who hasn’t had to deal with anxious thoughts. Moms are going to worry. the challenge is how to make anxiety useful and not be a constant source of agony. In this episode we talk about how to get curious about anxiety and learn from it. Joining us today is Yael Goldstein-Love. She is the author of the novels The Passion of Tasha Darsky, described as “showing signs of brooding genius” by The New York Times, and The Possibilities, forthcoming in July. She also practices psychotherapy, with a particular interest in the transition to parenthood, and is working toward her doctorate in clinical psychology. Her dissertation research focuses on how mothers experience their anxiety for the unknown futures of their children. She is a graduate of Harvard University and currently attends The Wright Institute. Her writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal Speakeasy Blog, The Atlantic online, The Forward, Commentary, and other places. She lives with her six-year-old son and a very patient cat in Berkeley, CA. Here are a couple of quotes from Yael's article on maternal anxiety. "There is a mismatch between the primal maternal drive to protect our offspring and our knowledge that we’re largely powerless to do so, and this gap between what we long to do as mothers taxed with seeing the next generation in, and what we can realistically do as human beings, is one of the more brutal gifts of evolution. No wonder anxiety is such a fundamental part of motherhood." "We don’t often think about the sheer existential heft of caring for a child, and how anxiety is baked right into it. To honor this aspect of mothering would be to look head-on at realities we all find harrowing: that life is fragile, we never know what’s coming next, we suffer, and in the end we die. Maternal worry gets at the heart of what is terrifying about being alive, and about loving." Learn more at: https://www.yaelgoldsteinlove.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m excited to have Hunter Clarke Fields (AKA Mindful Mama) back with us today, to tell us about her new book, Raising Good Humans Every Day. Hunter shares some very practical tips to help us busy and often stressed moms to come back to calm. Make sure you stay to the end of the episode where she shares a wonderful meditation that you will want to listen to over and over again. Hunter Clarke-Fields MSAE, E-RYT (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a Mindfulness Mentor, Mindful Mama Podcast Host, Mom, Global Speaker, and Number 1 Bestselling Author of “Raising Good Humans” with a New Book: “Raising Good Humans Every Day” (Aug 1, 2023). Hunter has over 20 years of experience in meditation and yoga practices, and helps moms bring more calm and family cooperation into their daily lives. She is a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, the creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training, and has taught mindfulness to thousands worldwide, including a recent trip to Egypt. Hunter presents talks on parenting, is a certified teacher of Parent Effectiveness Training. In addition, Hunter coaches smart, accomplished, over-stressed individuals on how to cultivate mindfulness. Hunter is the mother of two active daughters, who challenge her every day to hone her craft! Her work has appeared in CNBC Make It, Parade, Paleontology, Motherhood Moment, The Hollywood Digest, along with on ABC Portland, NBC Milwaukee, and CBS South Bend,Kansas Public Radio, and many podcasts. And as part of her self-care, Hunter likes to do Scottish country dancing. Learn more about Hunter at https://MindfulMamaMentor.com Follow Hunter on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmamamentor/?hl=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever thought, "What was my teen thinking?" In this episode, we explore the upside and downside of the teenage brain. I interview a knowledgeable and fellow therapist who is a parent to teens and is a therapist to teens. She is also an author and wrote Your Amazing Teen Brain which is written for teens but is good for moms as well. If you have a teen that can get lost in big feelings and get caught in negative automatic thoughts this book will help them understand their brain and give them tools to change their brain in a positive way. Her book is full of interesting research like how teens can increase their IQ through effortful work. Let me introduce you to Elisa Nebolsine. In addition to her clinical work, Elisa serves as an adjunct faculty at the Beck Institute in Philadelphia, and at Catholic University’s graduate school of social work. Additionally, Elisa teaches and consults on cognitive behavioral therapy and clinical practice with children and adolescents both locally and nationally. Elisa earned her master’s degree in clinical social work from Smith College, and she has been working with kids, teens, and young adults for the past twenty-five years. She has been featured in publications ranging from the Atlantic to NPR, and has been named a Washingtonian (DC) “Top Therapist” in multiple categories.  Contact Elisa at https://www.cbtforkids.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we talk about healthy eating vs. disordered eating in our teens. What are the signs of disordered eating and when should parents be concerned? What can moms do if they think their teen has disordered eating or an eating disorder? And we'll talk about how moms can be helpful and how well-meaning moms make things worse. Our guests today are Juna Gjata and Edward Phillips MD. JUNA GJATA graduated from Harvard in 2017, with degrees in cognitive neuroscience and a minor in music. She is a concert pianist and composer. Gjata created and hosts the health podcast Food, We Need to Talk. She lives in Cambridge, MA. EDWARD M. PHILLIPS MD, is Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School and Founder of the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine. He has trained over 25,000 clinicians from 115 countries. He lives in Needham, MA. They recently published FOOD, WE NEED TO TALK: The Science-Based, Humor-Laced Last Word on Eating, Diet and Making Peace with Your Body (on-sale July 11, 2023 from St. Martin’s Press). In Juna’s own words, “I want this book to be the book I wish I had at eighteen before I started all the crazy diets and plans. I want it to communicate the basics of nutrition, exercise, fat loss, metabolism and health – all the things that I thought were not well understood and largely out of my control.” Perfect for fans of the Maintenance Phase podcast, Food, We Need to Talk provides all the information, and more, for readers to make informed decisions about their health journeys, whether their goal is looking, feeling, or living better. Find out more at: https://www.foodweneedtotalk.com/about Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part of being a good therapist is being a good listener and providing a safe place for moms to open up and tell me their truth. Moms tell me many hard and challenging stories and though the stories are different there is a common thread. It's not obvious to mom at first but when I expose this hidden thread, there is a sense of being seen and relief. And what is the thread? ANGUISH If you are a mom and anguish over your kids, I want you to know you are not alone. Many moms silently suffer with big feelings of anguish. You see something in your teen that you feel shame about or are worried about. You hide this from others because you don’t want to be judged and it would feel too awful to tell anyone else. So you isolate in your anguish. Here's what’s normal moms---- you can love your teen and the teenage years, you can be proud of their accomplishments and think they are amazing AND your teens will struggle, make some choices that scare you, make you sad, and pushes against your values. All these things cause us anguish. In this episode I define anguish and how moms experience it. Anguish can be brutal on moms. Moms can't completely escape anguish but your can dial down the severity. I give you five practical ways you can contain the anguish and not let it dominate your life.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you spend more time connecting or correcting your teen? Do you feel that most of your interactions with your teen turn into a long drawn out battle. Our guest lives her message. Andee Martineau, a mom of 6, a reformed yeller, a bestselling author, and the creator of Connect Method Parenting: a breakthrough parenting framework that leverages connection as the primary mechanism for influencing children. Her approach helps parents discover why their kids don’t listen and shows them the step-by-step process of regaining influence and building relationships that will last a lifetime. With hands-on experience raising her own children (ages 14-23), intensive coursework in developmental psychology, and years of experience in parenting coaching, Andee has been able to help thousands of parents learn the parenting methodology that gets their kids to WANT to listen. Her goal is to help parents stay calm, confident, and connected no matter what their kids are doing, and build strong relationships through every phase and stage. Andee recently published Connect Method Parenting:How to Get Your Kids to Want to Listen to You Without the Yelling, Ultimatums and Bribes. In this episode Andee talks about... how parenting is not correcting control the controllable's parenting“report card doesn’t include your child's behavior. why I love D’s F’s and bombed tests.. how to connect consistently and choose connection even when you want to yell Contact Andee at https://connectmethodparenting.com/ Follow Andee on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/andeemartineau/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You are going to love this episode. Today we are going to dive into a teenager's emotional life. I think what makes parenting teens so challenging is dealing with their intense emotions. Sometimes you're the target of their emotional storms and sometimes they turn their emotions inward. You worry about them being depressed or anxious. How many times have we brought up a simple request to our teen, but it turns out to be not so simple because it triggers a huge emotional response? Moms can find themselves avoiding talking about important topics because they don’t know how to handle their emotions. I invited Dr. Lisa Damour, the author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, to talk about this nuanced subject of teenage emotions. In this episode we focus on her chapter called Managing Emotions, Part One: Helping Teens Express Their Emotions and the following chapter called Managing Emotions, Part Two: Helping Teens Regain Emotional Control Recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association, Lisa Damour, Ph.D., co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, writes about adolescents for the The New York Times, appears as a regular contributor to CBS News, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and maintains a clinical practice. She is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents, Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. She and her husband have two daughters and live in Shaker Heights, Ohio. To find out more about the Emotional Lives of Teenagers go to https://drlisadamour.com/  And while you are there go to the tab that says How Can I Help to get your downloadable bookmarks. Follow Lisa on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lisa.damour/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does an emotionally intelligent teen look like? Can you teach your teens to be more emotionally intelligent?  Why are self-awareness, self-regulation, and awareness of others foundational for emotional intelligence? Dr. Melanie is a licensed clinical psychologist and life coach specializing in working with Gen Z-ers who are eager to embrace their authentic selves. With 16 years of experience in the field of mental health and 9 years specifically dedicated to supporting tweens, teens, and young adults, she has developed innovative programs that foster self-confidence, goal-setting, and mental wellness. She holds a PsyD in clinical psychology from Adler University and a master's degree in counseling from Roosevelt University. Additionally, she is a licensed psychologist in 27 states through the Psychology Inter-jurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). Dr. Melanie's expertise in youth mental health was recognized when she was invited to speak on a White House panel addressing the mental health needs of young people. Dr. Melanie is the author of The Emotionally Intelligent Teen: Skills to Help You Deal with What You Feel, Build Stronger Relationships, and Boost Self-Confidence, which offers teens proven-effective tools for developing emotional intelligence—the ability to identify and express their emotions in healthy ways. The book is set to be released on December 1st. Contact Dr. Melanie at Website: https://www.destinationyou. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmelaniemcnally/       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do 57% of our teen girls struggle with persistent sadness?  To answer this question I brought in Dr. Orie who is the author of What's Getting into My Daughter?: 7 Golden Rules for Helping Her Thrive through the New Challenges of Young Womanhood  DR. ORIE ACHONWA is best known as the health authority for a new generation. She has appeared on CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, eHealth Radio, and other well-known networks, media outlets, and panels to share her perspectives on various health topics and lifestyle medicine. Thrive Global named her a female founder to watch and she also received a Healthcare Innovation Award from United Healthcare. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Orie is active in several projects focused on the future of our collective well-being. The City of Dallas recognized her with a Community Service Award and she's also been featured in Entrepreneur and Authority Magazine’s Women in Wellness series. In this episode, we talk about some of her favorite Golden Rules for helping our daughters thrive. contact Dr. Orie at [email protected] drorie.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk about the ABC’s to Developing Warrior Confidence & Becoming Bully Proof  With us today is Bully Proof Expert, Master Rich Grogan, a 6th Degree Black Belt& Master Martial Artist with 40 years Martial Arts experience. He has spent the last 30 years of his life teaching, coaching & educating kids & adults with the power of hope, courage & confidence to believe in themselves to overcome their fears to stand up to bullying, and stand out in the crowd to become Bully Proof. In addition, he’s the host of the Grogan’s Bully Proof Podcast, a certified Ziglar Speaker, Trainer & Life Coach, and the founder of Grogan’s Martial Arts, one of the largest martial arts academies in the Midwest. He is a Christian, father of three and loving husband. Who is the meanest, nastiest, cruelest bully anyone will ever face?  What do you mean that believing in yourself & becoming bully proof is an inside job? Bullying is never going away? Then how do we stop it? How does the right mindset & positive mental attitude develop self-confidence? How does someone who’s lacking confidence & self-worth start believing in themselves?  Email: [email protected] Website: https://grogansbullyproof.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warriorconfidence  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warriorconfidence/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do if your teen has a food allergy or sensitivity? Our guest today has created delicious recipes without gluten, dairy, or processed sugars. She has five teenage daughters who are the biggest critics in the world and they agree that these recipes are amazing. Cristy Kisner is the owner and creative culinary visionary behind Cristy’s Kitchen, a gluten-free and dairy-free organic bakery and café that was the subject of a viral post and fundraiser on Humans of New York. She lives with her husband and five daughters in Roswell, Georgia.  She has just released her book, Cristy’s Kitchen: More Than 130 Scrumptious and Nourishing Recipes Without Gluten, Dairy or Processed Sugars. Cristy says, "When my second daughter was very young, I discovered that she was gluten intolerant. As there was no school to learn how to cook gluten-free, I started researching and experimenting to understand how the chemistry of the ingredients works, investigating the power of each ingredient, the benefits of organic food, and the need to read the labels of everything I bought in the supermarket, so, my goal was to create gluten-free recipes that were delicious but also nutritious. I started creating healthy lunch boxes that her classmates made fun of at first, but in the end, they liked them so much that the school moms asked me to give them baking classes to learn how to make nutritious muffins and cookies." To learn more visit: https://www.cristyskitchenga.com/ Follow on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cristyskitchenga/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you think it’s possible to parent teens without anger? Our guest today thinks so. Renée Mill is a senior clinical psychologist, author, and corporate speaker who is passionate about helping people overcome anxiety and stress. With over 20 years of experience, she has become a leading expert in the field of mental health and emotional intelligence. Renée is the author of three best-selling books: Anxiety Free, Drug-Free, Parenting Without Anger, and No Sweat Parenting. Her work has been featured on various media outlets, including The Today Show, Sunrise, and The Morning Show. In this episode, Renee challenges the idea that anger is necessary for parenting. She also talks about the six beliefs that stir rage. Personalizing: It's all about me! Generalizing: My teen is doomed! Exceptionalizing: This is so bad, it's out of the ordinary! Catastrophizing: This is a disaster! Romanticising: But my life was supposed to be perfect! What else can go wrong? Woe is me! Renee treats anxiety without medication and tells us how she differs from traditional methods. She gives us several cognitive and behavioral tools that help overcome anxiety and stress. Contact Renee Mill at https://anxietysolutionscbt.com/about/renee-mill/ Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063633678077 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The middle school years can be tough on our kid's self-esteem. So how can you build confidence in your tween? Where does self-confidence come from? Is it possible for tweens to be self-aware and become attuned to their conscience? How do you help your tween deal with failures, disappointment, and hard emotions? Our guests today have a passion for middle school kids to bloom fully. Katie, Becky, and Allie are three moms who know what it's like to raise a family, with a total of 17 children between them. They're also successful businesswomen as co-founders of "I Believe in Me," an online mentoring program for tween girls. The program focuses on strengthening and protecting girls in today's uncertain and often destructive social climate. With backgrounds in business, health, and beauty, Katie, Becky, and Allie have the perfect combination of skills to mentor girls during this critical time in their lives. Katie is the CEO of Singers Company, which has been building confidence in little girls through singing and dancing for over 30 years. Becky is a fitness trainer and habits coach who empowers women of all ages with systems and strategies to organize their lives. Allie is a beauty business owner who is passionate about helping girls and women look and feel confident. Their unique mentoring program, "I Believe in Me," promotes self-motivation and resilience through a garden-themed approach. https://www.bloomfully.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ibelieveinmegirls/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I recently asked a mom about her summer plans, and she said, "I can't even go there." I completely understand this, we are so busy with the craziness of May that we can't see past the end of school. We may think about signing our kids up for camp or planning the family vacation and that's about it. But if you want to set yourself up for success this summer you need to be intentional about what you want before you are in the middle of the summer. These questions can help. What do you need to recover from the school year? What are your top priorities or values for the summer? What season am I in? (Knowing this helps shape your expectations.) How can I improve my relationship with my teen this summer?  What does my kid need this summer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The college admissions process can be stressful and intimidating for both parents and teens. I've brought in an expert who can help us understand what today's colleges are really looking for. This episode will give you practical and tactical advice. .Sam Hassell holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and is a published research scientist, having spent four years in psychology and neuroscience research at Columbia University. In his research, he investigated topics such as vicarious emotion processing; the role of mindset in influencing various domains from physical performance to mental experience; and the effects of misinformation. Building upon his experiences in academia and over a decade in educational services, Sam spearheaded the Great Minds Advising program, a premium college consulting service at Westchester Prep, where he is also currently an owner. His college advising team leverages cutting-edge strategy and insight into the college review process while helping students intricately craft the intellectual depth, niches, and admissions stories that set them apart at even the most elite colleges. For the most recent 2022-23 application cycle, 100% of the Great Minds Advising team’s students applied early decision and were accepted. Over the past 3 years, Sam and his team’s students have earned admission to Columbia, Yale, Stanford, Penn, Duke, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, WashU, UC-Berkeley, and many other top institutions, gained admission to the Ivy League at a rate of 11x the national average, and earned over $1M in merit scholarships. Episode Highlights: The unique challenges of students applying in 2023 and beyond Is taking optional tests an advantage for college applicants Difference between hard factors or metrics versus soft factors in admissions Does putting pressure on our teens make any difference  Ideal age for students and parents to start thinking about college admissions and where a child's passions and abilities lie Encouragement to the listeners Contact Sam: website: westchesterprep.com company email: [email protected] email (mine): [email protected] company phone: (914) 495-8648   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we keep our teens safe from sexting and sextortion? More importantly, how can our kids recover from the utter humiliation and shame when a sext has been shared around school, or a teen has been exploited by a predator? Parents need to know about the rise in cases of online child/teen “sextortion” in which adult predators posing as minors on social media and gaming networks essentially trick kids into sending them explicit images and then turn around to threaten them with exposure if they don’t pay.  According to the FBI, which recently issued a rare public safety alert to parents about this alarming trend, there were 18,000 reported cases of child sextortion last year alone.   Despite the subject matter, this is an uplifting and comforting episode that focuses on protecting our teens and how teens can recover when they've been exploited. Our guest today is Jennifer Kelman - Jennifer Kelman is a mental health expert on JustAnswer, where she has provided online support to those in need since 2012. In addition to her work on JustAnswer, Kelman has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for more than 30 years and maintains a private practice specializing in relationships, parenting, and children’s mental health issues. She is also a children’s book author having written three books that delicately weave in themes of trust, vulnerability, and hope in her stories. Kelman has lectured extensively around the country and appeared on news and television programs covering a range of issues including relationships, parenting, body-image, eating disorders and children’s mental health. For more information about Jennifer’s work on JustAnswer, visit You can contact Jennifer at: https://www.justanswer.com/relationship/expert-therapistjen/ https://www.jenniferkelman.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are going to talk about all things ADHD. If you have a child that has problems focusing, frequently forgets things, and procrastinates, well they may have ADHD. In this episode, I interview an international expert on ADHD. We talk about the best treatment for ADHD. We discuss medications and their pros and cons. We even talk about why there was an Adderal shortage. You will find this podcast very helpful. Dr. Ann Childress, MDDr. Childress is president of the Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Inc. where about 80% of her practice is research-based. She also has adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine and Touro University of Nevada College of Medicine. She is board certified in psychiatry, with a subspecialty in child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Childress has authored more than 80 articles in scientific journals and a book chapter. As a co-principal investigator, she has participated in more than 180 clinical trials. Her research has focused on the treatment of children and adolescents with mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, autism, and Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. Dr. Childress is President-elect of the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders, Education Director for the Nevada Psychiatric Association, a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Childress is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of ADHD. You can contact Dr. Ann Childress at https://www.drannchildress.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does your tween, teen, or college student struggle with taking tests? Are they struggling with the ACT or SAT? Today more and more teens struggle with test anxiety. It’s a real thing. A little anxiety can help your performance but too much anxiety will hurt your test scores. One of the reasons that test anxiety is on the rise, is there is so much pressure over test results. It feels like it's high stakes and when something feels high stakes, you feel anxious. The higher the stakes the more anxiety you have. Our guest today is ASHLEY HARLOW, PH.D., MB Dr. Ashley Harlow is a licensed child and adolescent psychologist and a nationally-certified school psychologist on the Behavioral Health team at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. He has served in his role at Children's since 2010 and provides individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, and parents in primary care and school settings. Dr. Harlow works with families facing common behavioral and psychological concerns, including tantrums, aggression, noncompliance, toileting, and sleep disruption, as well as anxiety, depression, and adjustment distress. Dr. Harlow received his Ph.D. in school psychology from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Learn more about Dr. Harlow at https://www.childrensomaha.org/provider/ashley-harlow-phd-mba/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I love this next guest. I love metaphors. I love humor. And I love authenticity and she has all three. If you ever have felt buried under a mother load, you will really enjoy this real conversation. We talk about invisible battles, toxic positivity, and how moms crave real. MEREDITH ETHINGTON is a mother, author, and founder of the Perfection Pending blog, which presents mothers with encouragement, humor, and heart. Her debut book, Mom Life: Perfection Pending was published through Absolute Love Publishing and debuted online as the #1 choice in the motherhood category. She is the co-owner and editor at FilterFreeParents.com. Meredith resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, and you can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, where she encourages mothers to laugh at themselves and admit that while parenting is the best thing ever, it’s also the hardest job on earth. Learn more about Meridith and her newest book Mother Load at https://perfectionpending.net/about-meredith-ethington/ Follow Meridith at https://www.instagram.com/perfectpending/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Our society has a technology problem. Many want to disconnect from screens but can’t help themselves. These days we spend more time online than ever. Some turn to self-help-measures to limit their usage, yet repeatedly fail, while parents feel particularly powerless to help their children." Gaia Bernstein Gaia Bernstein is a Law Professor, Co-Director of the Institute for Privacy Protection and Co-Director of the Gibbons Institute for Law Science and Technology at the Seton Hall University School of Law. She writes teaches and lectures in the intersection of law, technology, health and privacy. Gaia is also the mother of three children who grew up in a world of smartphones, iPads and social networks. Her recent book: Unwired: Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologies shatters the illusion that we can control how much time we spend on our screens by resorting to self-help measures. Unwired shifts the responsibility for a solution from users to the technology industry, which designs its products to addict. The book draws out the legal action that can pressure the technology industry to re-design its products to reduce technology over-use. Gaia has academic degrees in both law and psychology. Her research combines findings from psychology, sociology, science and technology studies with law and policy. Gaia’s research has been featured extensively by the media including the New York Times, Forbes, ABC News and Psychology Today. Gaia has spearheaded the development of the Seton Hall University School of Law Institute for Privacy Protection’s Student-Parent Outreach Program. The nationally acclaimed Outreach Program addresses over-use of screens by focusing on developing a healthy online-offline balance and the impact on privacy and online reputation. It was featured by the Washington Post, CBS Morning News and Common-Sense Media. To find out more about Unwired go to : https://gaiabernstein.com/ Follow Gaia at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaia-bernstein/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When should I let my teen have a smartphone? When can they have social media apps? When are they ready to handle the social media world? How do I prepare them and most importantly how do I protect them? In this episode I bring you and expert and a mom of an 8th grade boy. So she lives in this stuff professionally and personally. ·      Titania Jordan is the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parent Officer of Bark Technologies, an online safety company that helps keep kids safe online and in real life. ·      A renowned thought leader on digital parenting, Titania has contributed to pieces in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Huffington Post, Fox Business, Daily Mail, USA Today, Vogue, and more. Her first book, Parenting in a Tech World, was published in 2020 and quickly became a bestseller on Amazon. Titania was also featured in the 2020 documentary Childhood 2.0. She also frequently appears as a subject matter expert on nationally broadcasted programs such as the TODAY Show, Steve Harvey, The Doctors, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Fox News, Sirius XM Radio, and CNBC. Follow Titania on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titaniajordan/ Learn more about Bark at: https://www.bark.us/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you make sense of your life as a mom? In our culture today we often think of motherhood as one continuous report card where each day we ask ourselves, "Am I a good mom or bad mom?" But this report card has no B’s, C’s or even D’s . It's either we give ourselves a "A" for good mom or "F " for being a bad mom. So what is the criteria for our daily grading scale of "A" or "F" ? Most often our grade is based on how well our teen is behaving or performing. The reasoning here is that if your teen is doing well you are a good mom if they aren't then you are a bad mom. This is a terrible way to assess our effectiveness or worthiness as a mother. It's full of judgment. As you know the life of a mom is complex. Parenting is complex, It's more like a 10,000 word puzzle. The only way to make sense of your life as a mom is through story. And each of our stories has multiple chapters. Your story is not over when your teen graduates from high school or even college. Actually there are more chapters with your son or daughter after they graduate from high school than before. I believe your life as a mom is really an epic adventure. There are tests, trials and ordeals to navigate through but there are also hidden treasures and a reward to discover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you like your teen to smile more? Could your teen improve their social skills? Does your teen have the social skills needed to be successful in their job. And what can parents do to help improve these much needed life skills.  My guest today has some great advice for us and he models what he talks about.  Kirt Manecke is the author of the book, audiobook and online course Smile & Succeed for Teens: Must-Know People Skills for Today’s Wired World, and the Parent’s Guide for Smile & Succeed for Teens. Winner of the Mom’s Choice Gold Award, and Teachers’ Choice Award Smile & Succeed for Teens is a quick, easy read to help teens master social and career skills for success. Kirt is the former owner of an award-winning start-up specialty retail business and is an expert in sales and fundraising. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Northville in Michigan and enjoys volunteering with animal welfare and land conservation organizations. To learn more go to https://www.smilethebook.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can't always go to a tropical island to escape stress. (But wouldn't that be nice) You can't get rid of all the stress but you can start dialing it down one click at a time. Stress disempowers us. Stress sets us up for drama. Stress steals the joy out of our relationships. In this episode I give you 3 practical ways to dial down the teen stress. Be kind to yourself Dial down the drama Be intentional instead of reactive, specifically about the way you think about your teen and how you spend time with them. This episode is full of tips and takeaways that will dial down your teen stress today. We live in a stressful culture. Stress has become the new normal. We rush from one thing to another with no downtime. We need to be proactive to resist this trend. Why is dialing down the stress so important? Everything we've longed for, everything we've hoped for, everything we've prayed for is on the other side of stress. Don't let stress rob you of these precious teenage years. In this episode I mentioned my 7-Week Power Your Parenting Program that is starting on February 27th. If you would like to know more click this link. https://colleenogrady.com/joinpyp/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have a great episode for you. we are going to talk about toxic relationships. We will answer questions like, "What is a “toxic relationship?" "How do you know if a relationship is toxic or not?" "What does a toxic relationship look like?" This interview will help you help your teens, and give you tips on how to talk to them about their relationship. If you are in a difficult relationship this will help educate you what is healthy and what is toxic. I think you will find this podcast very empowering. Dr. Heidi Brocke is a Toxic Relationship Awareness & Healing Specialist. After spending 14 years in an extremely emotionally and narcissistically abusive relationship she broke the chains and turned her past into her passion; She left her 24 years career in healthcare to use her life experience and education to be the person she needed when she herself was trapped in the darkness of an unhealthy relationship to provide hope, healing, and freedom to those whose lives have been affected by toxic relation-ships, emotional abuse, and narcissistic behaviors. Through education, she presents the understanding needed to empower others to walk through fear and into their freedom.Today she has helped hundreds rid and heal their toxic relationships and hosts the popular podcast, It’s not Normal, It’s Toxic-rid your life of toxic people - with over a million downloads worldwide. She’s an international keynote speaker, recipient of Empowering Women in Business of The Year award by Inspiring Lives Magazine, and has been featured in both Forbes and Time Magazines for the dedication given to her clients and for her work in the toxic relationship area. To contact Dr. Heidi or take her Toxicity Profile Analysis and Quiz go to https://coachingwithdrheidi.com/ Follow Dr. Heidi on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithdrheidi/          Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moms, how would you like to find more time for yourself? Would you like to find some tried and true systems that can help you get rid of the chaos, and bring order, peace and joy to your home? Well, I interview the perfect guest who is the founder of Mama Systems. Laura Hernandez walks her talks. Laura is a home management coach and founder of Mama Systems. She is the mother of ten children. In just five years, her and her husband added six children to their family - three biological and three through adoption. Four of her kids attend public school, and they have home-school five children, and Laura also manages 20+ appointments a week for her four special needs children. Laura is passionate and dedicated to helping women bring more peace to their homes. Designing customized systems that help a family run more smoothly and reduce a mother's daily workload is Laura’s specialty. Find out more about Mama Systems at https://www.mamasystems.net/  Laura has a free Self-Care Guide for our listeners at https://www.mamasystems.net/poweryourparenting Follow Laura on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mamasystems/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you sick of the constant arguing not only with your teens but also with your husband, father or partner. Would you like to put an end to arguing, or at least dial it down? Well I brought in amazing guests to talk about it. Our guests today are Linda and Charlie Bloom Married since 1972, Linda and Charlie Bloom have been working with groups, individuals, couples and organizations to enhance the quality of their relationships and communication skills since 1975. They both have Master’s degrees in Clinical Social Work and have lectured, led seminars and provided consultation at universities and learning institutes throughout the United States as well as internationally. They have written and published four books, Happily Ever After…and 39 Other Myths about Love: Breaking Through to the Relationship of Your Dreams, 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married: Simple Lessons to Make Love Last, Secrets of Great Marriages: Real Stories from Real Couples about Lasting Love, and That Which Doesn’t Kill Us: How One Couple Became Stronger in the Broken Places. Their organization, Bloomwork is dedicated to promoting healthy, fulfilling, and successful relationships for individuals, couples and organizations. Their newest book was just released, An End to Arguing: 101 Valuable Lessons for all Relationships. For great content and to learn more about Linda and Charlie's work go to https://bloomwork.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can parents do to raise confident and resilient teens? How do you reduce sibling rivalry? How can you stop being the homework/screentime/food/sleep warden? To address these issues I have invited Sue G. Groner to be our guest. As the founder of The Parenting Mentor, a multifaceted platform for parents looking for guidance in raising emotionally healthy, self-resilient children, Sue provides simple and effective parenting strategies. With the goal of reducing everyday stress and anxiety that inevitably comes from being a parent, Sue provides a roadmap that shifts perspective to help parents be happier and more relaxed.  Sue is the author of Parenting with Sanity and Joy. 101 Simple Strategies,  the host of The Parenting Mentor Sessions Podcast and a certified Positive Discipline parent educator. She is also the creator of the CLEARR™, a method of parenting developed through years of trial (and her fair share of errors!). CLEARR™ adheres to the belief that parenting strategies should be grounded in six important pillars: Communication, Love, Empathy, Awareness, Rules, and Respect. To learn more about Sue https://theparentingmentor.com/ Follow Sue on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theparentingmentor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Am I getting parenting right? Most parents at any and every stage find themselves asking this question.  To explore this question, I invited Sandra Stanley to be my guest. Moms you are going to love this episode. Sandra Stanley received her bachelor of science degree from Georgia Tech and master of arts from Dallas Theological Seminary. Sandra has a heart for foster kids and foster families, as she and Andy have been foster parents since 2010. Her ministry passion is promoting foster care in the local church. Much of her time these days is spent working on various writing projects and continuing her involvement with Fostering Together, the foster care initiative at North Point Ministries. Sandra and her husband Andy Stanley just published their new book Parenting Getting It Right which we dive into today. Their it, their north star which we talk a lot about in this show is parenting with the relationship in mind. I couldn’t agree more. To connect with Sandra and learn more about her book Parenting: Getting It Right go to https://www.sandrastanley.com/ Connect with Sandra on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sandrawstanley/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WOO HOO this is my 200th episode! Because of YOU my amazing listeners is the reason that there are 200 episodes. I so love and appreciate you! What does mothering look like from a wholehearted foundation? You still do the hard part of parenting. You still monitor your teen, set boundaries and guidelines. But this is only one facet of your relationship with your teen. You are not just a mother machine that hustles for productivity or perfectionism. You show up as a wholehearted human being. Your whole self shows up with your family. Your passionate, spontaneous, playful, fun side gets to show up too. You get to share who you are, your interests. If your teen only sees you with an angry face they are not seeing the many facets of you. You want them to see you smile and laugh as well as being serious and firm. When you are mothering from a wholehearted foundation you see your whole child. You see their heart too. You don’t just hyper-focus on their grades. You see them in a wholehearted way. You see their sense of humor and pay attention to their inside jokes. You are sensitive to where they are vulnerable and what breaks their heart and what lights them up. You can discern the difference between procrastination and when they are truly afraid or hurt. You see the many facets that make them their unique self. When you mother from a wholehearted foundation you will find that you enjoy your teen and your life a lot more.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do your teens suffer from technology abuse? And how would you know where your teens are in the technology use continuum? To answer these questions I have interviewed Dr. Lisa Strohman. Dr. Lisa Strohman has widely become known for her advocacy and education around mental wellness as it relates to our digital lives. She has worked with thousands of parents, schools, and children around the globe. An attorney, clinical psychologist, and author, Dr. Strohman established the Digital Citizen Academy, a non-profit program offered to schools with an in-home plan that educates, empowers, and inspires balance and prosocial use of technology.   Her newest book Digital Distress: Growing Up Online was just released in 2021. The first book of its kind to focus specifically on Gen Z, highlighting how children, who have grown up with technology as ubiquitous as air, are impacted by the challenges of growing up in a digital world. We talk about process addictions and the brain and how technology can hijack the structure of the teenage brain. We explore the behavior factors, physical symptoms, emotional symptoms, and interpersonal effects of technology abuse. We look at the alarming statistics of teens and pornography. This podcast is full of practical advice to empower parents and teens to resist technology abuse. Contact Dr. Lisa Strohman at https://drlisastrohman.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices