Podcasts about mighty parenting

In 2020, I had the privilege of being a guest speaker on Sandy Fowler's podcast “Mighty Parenting” for a candid discussion about youth mental health, suicide prevention, and the critical role parents play in supporting their children through emotional challenges. I thought it would be interesting to blow the dust off this episode where I was being interviewed by Sandy. As a medical professional deeply committed to improving mental health care in primary care settings, I shared insights specifically for parents about how to recognize warning signs, have difficult conversations, and access appropriate resources. That conversation became a pivotal moment in my career, sparking my desire to reach a broader audience through podcasting… Pediatric Meltdown was born!Today, as the host of Pediatric Meltdown, I continue to build upon that mission, but I thought it would be worth revisiting this discussion that served as a catalyst for my current role as a podcast host. During our conversation, we tackled the crucial topic of youth suicide prevention, breaking down barriers to communication, and providing practical tools for parents to support their children's mental well-being. Unfortunately, with the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic, this discussion remains as relevant today as it was then, perhaps even more so. [00:05- 21:59] Brain Development & Behavior Teen brains function differently from adult brainsRole of prefrontal cortex in decision makingImpact of developing brain on behaviorUnderstanding cognitive limitations [22:00 -32:45] Suicide Prevention StrategiesProper approach to discussing suicidal thoughtsImportance of staying calm during difficult conversationsAvailable crisis resourcesSteps for emergency [32:46 - 42:51] Mental Health Statistics25% of youth screen positive for depressionAnnual screening recommendations for ages 12+15% experience suicidal thoughtsImplementation of 54321 coping technique[42:52 - 53:02] Action Steps for Parents Creating safe environment for emotional expressionUnderstanding brain development impactUsing emotional scale assessments (1-5)Knowing when to seek helpGo to https://lifeaftercorporatepodcast.com/ for all episodes169. Lisa Durante's Strategy for Mastering Your Content Marketing Plan!153 A 3-Step Guide to Skyrocketing Your Income137 Marketing, Management, and Metrics: The Keys to Consistent SuccessTweetable Quotes:"But in terms of completed suicides, it's firearms, and the really sad thing is, suffocation mostly by hanging is the most common and becoming more common and that one, of course, is really hard to restrict because you can hang yourself with so many items." … Dr. Lia Gaggino on the harsh reality of suicide methods “"If you set the stage that it's okay to talk about your thoughts and feelings, then and and that's just a habit that you've had all along, then I think it makes the conversation easier." … Dr. Lia Gaggino on communicating with kids about Mental Health**TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST**SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this podcast to other growing entrepreneurs! Get weekly tips on how to create more money and meaning doing work you love and be one of the many growing entrepreneurs in our community. Connect...

Judy Davis is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, author, and host of the Mighty Parenting podcast.   Judy is the CEO of DASIUM, focusing on depression, addiction, and suicide prevention among teens and young adults.   She highlights a widespread lack of awareness among parents regarding the mental health challenges their children face, especially related to technology and social media.   Judy launched the Mighty Parenting Podcast to address relevant parenting topics, including mental health, communication, and stress management.   Judy emphasizes that many parents lack the tools to help their kids cope with modern pressures, leading to a greater need for resources and community support.   She explains the importance of not giving up despite the challenges and self-doubt. Website: Davis Inspired  Podcast: Mighty Parenting Podcast   Previous Episode: iam168-motivational-speaker-podcaster-and-author-helps-clients-cope-with-unique-societal-challenges   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!

Young & Sandy dive into topics such as her entrepreneurial journey that led her to parent coaching, living all around the world and moving with kids, and taking life circumstances and rolling with the punches.Please enjoy & subscribe! ABOUT OUR GUEST:Sandy Fowler is a Stress Relief Coach, Yoga Nidra meditation guide, & host of the Mighty Parenting podcast. She's a wife, mom, and business owner whose passion is teaching people to make powerful choices that remove stress and increase calm. Her natural curiosity paired with her down-to-earth, practical approach to living, working, and parenting allows her to help people take their lives back from the busyness of modern-day living. They learn how to ditch stress, find calm, and spend their time doing what matters most, including taking care of themselves so they can be the parent they want to be.Hand-in-hand with her stress-relief work, Sandy helps people relax and be calm with Yoga Nidra guided meditations. She leads individuals, groups, and organizations through this simple experience where all participants have to do is lie down (or sit) and listen. Learn more and connect with Sandy at sandyfowler.com and listen to Mighty Parenting at mightyparenting.com or on your favorite podcast player.STUFF WE LOVE:Attention founders and investors:Two12.co is the best cap table and fundraising toolkit. Use code TGDS for 25% off!https://bit.ly/3Q7wHsnTry Young's online recording studio!https://riverside.fm/homepage?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=youngLooking to outsource graphic design? Try Young's favorite resource, Penji: unlimited designs for one fixed cost from some of the world's top design talent!https://penji.co/pricing/?affiliate=3I86N6MSF5358220Learn more about us!Our website: https://thegirldadshow.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGirlDadShow/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGirlDadShowShop here for The Girl Dad Show products: https://thegirldadshow.com/collections*If you click on our links, we may receive a tiny commission AND… most of the time, you will receive an offer. Win/Win! The products that The Girl Dad Show recommends are the ones we believe in.

As parents, we want our kids to grow up happy, healthy, and successful. But there's so much conflicting data and advice out there on everything from parenting techniques to college prep to what a happy, successful life means. So how are we supposed to figure out what works for us? Sandy Fowler joins us today, not just as the Mighty Parenting podcast host, but as a speaker and stress-relief coach, to help us answer that question. She summarizes and shares info from guest experts in her past interviews so we can get some answers on how to handle various teen behaviors, improve our relationships with our kids—and raise successful, healthy, happy teenagers. Our Guest: Sandy Fowler Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 234 From Sandy: Over 200 experts have shared tips on parenting and they all have one thing in common--we need to be calm in order to parent well. Sandy Fowler specializes in helping women reclaim their calm. Learn how you can start right now at www.ReclaimingCalm.com

We're all well familiar with ads, TV commercials, and magazines full of tips and examples of how girls and women can get and maintain that “perfect body”; it's an unfortunate staple of our culture uplifting one body type above all others as the “ideal.” However, that staple is not limited to girls and women only—there's no shortage of movies, magazines and commercials outlining the “perfect body” type for boys and men as well. Author and body image expert Dr. Charlotte Markey joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler for a serious discussion on how conversations about boys and body image are important, how to be more open and show your sons it's okay to be vulnerable sometimes, and how to help them understand and become comfortable with their body type, whatever type that may be. Our Guest: Charlotte Markey Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 233 From Sandy: Are you stressed but don't have time to deal with it? Grab Sandy Fowler's complimentary lesson at http://sandyfowler.com/notime to find out how to start feeling better today. Our Sponsor:  Troomi—cell phones that help your child learn to live online safely and in a healthy way while giving parents peace of mind. Visit troomi.com and use the code MIGHTYPARENTING to save $50

It's a constant around the world that nobody knows what they're getting into when they first become parents. Parenting problems pop up everywhere and it's exhausting at times, trying to maintain a decent relationship with your teen while still being an authority figure. So when our teens are struggling or lashing out or having issues, we tend to assume that they're the problem. Sometimes they are—but sometimes they're not. Parenting coach Kim Muench joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to discuss how our own limiting beliefs about ourselves may have influenced how we parent our children, how focusing solely on behavior can create power struggles, and how we can alter our parenting style to parent with our kids instead of over them. Our Guest: Kim Muench Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 232 From Sandy: Are you stressed but don't have time to deal with it? Grab Sandy Fowler's complimentary lesson at http://sandyfowler.com/notime to find out how to start feeling better today. Our Sponsor:  Troomi—cell phones that help your child learn to live online safely and in a healthy way while giving parents peace of mind. Visit Troomi.com and use the code MIGHTYPARENTING to save $50

Sorry about the mishap! The audio has been updated. Enjoy! COVID-19 charged into our world in 2019 and upended our entire lives, regardless of where we lived, how much we made, or whether we had kids or not. Now, three years later, we're living in a world irrevocably changed and maybe we should be used to that by now—but those changes certainly haven't made parenting any easier or less stressful. Parenting consultant Carol Muleta is raising twin teens and knows intimately the struggles of parenting in the pandemic. She joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to share parenting strategies, tips for regaining the joy in raising a child, and a reminder that we are not alone and never have been in this effort—even if it feels like we are. Our Guest: Carol Muleta Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 231 From Sandy: Are you stressed but don't have time to deal with it? Grab Sandy Fowler's complimentary lesson at http://sandyfowler.com/notime to find out how to start feeling better today. Our Sponsor:  Troomi—cell phones that help your child learn to live online safely and in a healthy way while giving parents peace of mind. Visit Troomi.com and use the code MIGHTYPARENTING to save $50

COVID-19 charged into our world in 2019 and upended our entire lives, regardless of where we lived, how much we made, or whether we had kids or not. Now, three years later, we're living in a world irrevocably changed and maybe we should be used to that by now—but those changes certainly haven't made parenting any easier or less stressful. Parenting consultant Carol Muleta is raising twin teens and knows intimately the struggles of parenting in the pandemic. She joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to share parenting strategies, tips for regaining the joy in raising a child, and a reminder that we are not alone and never have been in this effort—even if it feels like we are. Our Guest: Carol Muleta Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 231 From Sandy: Are you stressed but don't have time to deal with it? Grab Sandy Fowler's complimentary lesson at http://sandyfowler.com/notime to find out how to start feeling better today. Our Sponsor:  Troomi—cell phones that help your child learn to live online safely and in a healthy way while giving parents peace of mind. Visit Troomi.com and use the code MIGHTYPARENTING to save $50  

When you're juggling a million things - work, kids, appointments, keeping up with the house, laundry, cooking, not to mention the people in your life and all of their needs—you end up exhausted, stressed and longing for calm or your next vacation. “The thing is, you have calm inside you, it just gets covered up with the thoughts, worry, and activity. And that's good news because it means you can bring out your calm, even if you feel like you're too busy,” says, Sandy Fowler, a Stress-relief Coach, Divine Sleep® Yoga Nidra Meditation Guide, and Co-founder of Mighty Parenting. She talks about raising teens and parenting young adults, and discusses the most overlooked parenting strategy - stress relief. What you will learn in this episode: How stress relief is actually a parenting strategy Common mistakes parents make when planning their time How to prioritize to lower your stress level How to employ stress relief techniques when you have a stressed out child   Learn more about the top things parents are struggling with right now: Letting their child be who they are Communicating well Taking care of themselves   Simple Strategies to Relieve Stress & Find Time for What Matters Most  sandyfowler.com  Real Talk About Raising Teens and Parenting Young Adults  MightyParenting.com   More about the Host - Dr. Karin Jakubowski is an elementary public school principal and certified life coach. She is passionate about helping moms first take care of themselves to be their best for their kids. She helps moms with a problem solving process when their child is experiencing challenging behaviors. She practices mindfulness personally and at school teaching students breathing and awareness techniques to help them manage their own stress to be happy and healthy!   Check out her NEW Course - Happy Kids, Not Perfect Kids (Click Here) Follow Karin on social -  https://www.facebook.com/educationalimpactacademy Karin's YouTube Channel Instagram - JakubowskiKarin Twitter - @KarinJakubowski Click here to get her free video course “First Steps to Happy Kids” www.educationalimpactacademy.com

We've had to adjust to (and sometimes struggle with) the rapid changes in economics, information distribution and communication in the past few decades—but our kids have had this from the beginning. Generation Z is the first generation to have grown up alongside the digital age; from when they were young, they've had access to the internet, computers, cell phones and other forms of digital connection. How has this upbringing shaped their worldview, morals, and plans for the future? And how can we better connect with our kids when our childhoods were so very different? John Della Volpe joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to discuss our gen z kids (including insights from his book FIGHT: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America)—how they think; what they care about; their influence in social media, economics and politics; and how we can develop mutual understanding between different generations. Our Guest: John Della Volpe Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 230 Our Sponsors:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults (and even parents!) Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats. Troomi—cell phones that help your child learn to live online safely and in a healthy way while giving parents peace of mind. Visit troomi.com and use the code MIGHTYPARENTING to save $50.

It's said that once something is on the internet, it's there forever. Given the rise of the digital age and how intertwined the internet is in our teens' lives, it's not a surprise that they post things constantly—the key is that they're not always aware of the consequences, short- and long-term, of certain comments, posted videos or shared photos on their reputations and futures. Evan Nierman makes his living in PR management and crisis resolution for clients around the world; today he's joining Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to discuss how teens can fall into social media pit traps, what the legal consequences might be for seemingly innocuous actions, and how we as parents can pull our teens up before they go too far and get into serious trouble. Our Guest: Evan Nierman Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 229 Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults (and even parents!) Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats. Troomi—cell phones that help your child learn to live online safely and in a healthy way while giving parents peace of mind. Visit Troomi.com and use the code MIGHTYPARENTING to save $50

It's common to hear college students joking about pulling all-nighters and drinking truly unwise amounts of caffeine to get through classes and clubs and survive that one irritating professor who likes assigning ten-page papers every week. However, this trend of increasingly sleep deprived teenagers is not limited to college students alone; in 2018, the CDC declared a global public health crisis for high school students after many studies showed they too were sleeping far too little to be healthy. Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright join Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler this week to discuss this juvenile sleepless epidemic (including their upcoming book Generation Sleepless) and how to combat it with our own teens, including adjusting nighttime routines, family screen time, and social media habits. Learn how to help your own sleep deprived teenager and get them back to a healthy schedule. Our Guests: Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 228 Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults (and even parents!) Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats.

We don't want to believe that we could lose our children to something that we can't fight for them; unfortunately, depression, addiction and suicidal tendencies have become significantly more evident in teenagers around the world in recent years. And that is terrifying to every one of us who have teens of our own. How do you fight your child's own mind? Judy Davis is one such parent, who nearly lost her son to addiction and suicide before she even realized he was struggling so much. She returns to Mighty Parenting, joining Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to share her story and her son's—a story of hope for parents, to remind us that suicide prevention is possible and so is recovery, be it from addiction, depression, or other mental and physical illnesses. With the right tools and support for yourself and your child, you can help them save themselves—and maybe one day, they can save others too. Our Guest: Judy Davis Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 227 Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults (and even parents!) Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats.

One of the major problems our kids have with education after high school is that there are so many options to choose from, and those options don't narrow much if they decide they want to go to college—there's everything from the degree type, to the area of study, to the scholarship and financial aid options, to the commute, and so on. Student mentor Emma B Perez is back to answer parents' and students' most burning question: What is the best way to choose a college? She joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to give us choices and answers to narrow down our kids' options and reduce their stress levels surrounding choosing the next step in their future. Our Guest: Emma B Perez Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 226 Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults (and even parents!) Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats.

Being confident and being bold are not, in fact, the same qualities. Confidence is a state of mind; boldness is taking action. However, both of these are all too often difficult for our kids to develop for themselves. Entrepreneur and author Fred Joyal joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler and explains to us how we can adjust our parenting styles to increase confidence and encourage boldness in our kids, to help them find security in themselves and take joy in life even when societal norms would dictate otherwise. Our Guest: Fred Joyal Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 225 Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults (and even parents!) Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats.

When we were in high school and college, smoking a joint of marijuana was a way to be cool, to get a little high and have a little fun. Today's marijuana is a very different beast. Laura Stack lost her son to suicide after he became addicted to marijuana; today, she joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to discuss how marijuana has changed from our school days, what it means to smoke marijuana today, and how we can protect our kids from addiction and worse. Our Guest: Laura Stack Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 224 Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults (and even parents!) Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats.

The first thing to remember is that trauma is experienced differently and means different things to every individual. There is no comparison or contest; understanding trauma means understanding yourself and what affects you. Meditation teacher and trauma student Sara Shapouri joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to help us recognize that, to help us understand how events and acts like racial micro-aggressions can build up to a traumatic point, to see where trauma hides in wisdom passed from generation to generation; and to show us that there is no shame or weakness in having experienced it. Our Guest: Sara Shapouri Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 223 Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults (and even parents!) Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats.

Here's a little fun fact: nobody knows what they're doing when they're holding that first child and thinking, oh my god, I'm a parent. There's no universal parenting manual, and it's easy to spiral into guilt thinking you're screwing up all the time. But that doesn't mean there isn't help. Heather Chauvin, author of Dying to Be a Good Mother, joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler in discussing how to deal with guilt and shame, and how to keep them from preventing you from giving your kids the best life that you can. Our Guest: Heather Chauvin Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 222 Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults (and even parents!) Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats.

Everyone is assigned a gender when they're born. For some people that's fine, and they keep using that gender in their lives. For others, it's not—it's uncomfortable or downright painful, and they're not sure why, or what other options they have to feel truly comfortable with themselves. Rae McDaniel has experienced this and understands it; they're here with Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to discuss what gender means, the gender and sexuality spectrum, and how you can work with your child to understand their struggle and help them feel safe as they explore this part of living for the first time. Our Guest: Rae McDaniel Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 221 Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults. Visit iBme.com/mightyparenting  to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats.

The beliefs we learn when we're young form the cornerstone of our morals, opinions, speech and behaviors for the rest of our lives. So how do we make sure that our children internalize beliefs that will help, not hinder, their futures? Shelly Lefkoe is here to show us how beliefs affect behavior; she talks with Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler on learned beliefs and behaviors, common beliefs that can be harmful, and opening up your child to share what they believe and how you can guide them forward in their life. Our Guest: Shelly Lefkoe Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 220  Our Sponsor:  Inward Bound Mindfulness Education — Mindfulness courses and retreats for teens and adults  iBme offers online and in-person retreats, mindfulness courses, and weekly meditations tailored for various communities of teens and young adults. Visit iBme.com to learn more and register for programs, including in-person summer retreats.

People tell us that constant push back is normal for teenagers and parents need to be grateful because it means they're growing up. But this push back can leave parents feeling disconnected from their teen. And what happens when the pushback takes the form of breaking curfew, failing exams, and talking back, or constantly butting heads? We can feel like we're living in a constant struggle. What if there was a different way, one that helped your child grow and mature while fostering a deeper connection between you and them? Ellen Gottlieb has that alternative path and she's sharing it with Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler.  They discuss how to set boundaries for teens using conscious parenting techniques and show parents how to deepen connection while keeping teens safe. Our Guest: Ellen Gottlieb Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 219 From Sandy: It's easier to listen and connect with your teenager when you are calm. Grab Sandy's complimentary lesson on finding calm at https://sandyfowler.com   

For those of us juggling parenthood, adulthood, work and COVID-19 habits, cooking often seems like just one more item on the to-do list, and many times gets dropped in favor of take-out when we just can't find the time. Chef Kibby talks us through taking that chore and using it for connecting with teens. He and Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler discuss the power of cooking with others, the life skills our teens gain from cooking, and how we can use everything from shopping to preparation to eating together to strengthen our relationships with our kids. Our Guest: Chef Kibby Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 218 From Sandy: It's easier to listen and connect with your teenager when you are calm. Grab Sandy's complimentary lesson on finding calm at https://sandyfowler.com 

There's nothing quite so intimidating for teens as putting themselves out there and interviewing for their first job, whether it's waiting tables or fixing computers. Choosing a career can be a complicated process with a number of factors from personal skills to college class choices. Career and life design coach Emma B Perez knows this and is here to help us, parents and teens alike. Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler interviews Emma about changing freelance job market trends, varied options for education after high school, and how our teens need to look at choosing a career path for their futures. Our Guest: Emma B Perez Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 217 From Sandy:  It's easier to listen and connect with your teenager when you are calm. Grab Sandy's complimentary lesson on finding calm at https://sandyfowler.com 

Is your teen trampling over your last nerve? Do you get tired of constantly feeling like the disciplinarian, where your relationship with your teen gets more strained by the day? Dr. Karin Jakubowski knows how that feels, and she joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler in discussing dealing with challenging behaviors in our teens. We learn how to stay calm, how to be patient, how to interpret those behaviors, how to connect, and how to strengthen that strained relationship. Our Guest: Dr. Karin Jakubowski Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 216 From Sandy: It's easier to listen and connect with your teenager when you are calm. Grab Sandy's complimentary lesson on finding calm at https://sandyfowler.com 

Marriage is a beautiful commitment, but that doesn't mean that every moment is going to be easy and wonderful. Yana Gil de Montes has been married for over 15 years and she and her partner were getting mired down in complaints, stress and fear regarding each other and their marriage. Yana talks with Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler about how to make a better marriage through self-reflection, communication, and showing up as a partner and spouse. Let's teach our teens what a healthy marriage looks like, and how to go about fixing an unhealthy one. Our Guest: Yana Gil de Montes Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 215 From Sandy:  It's easier to listen and connect with your teenager when you are calm. Grab Sandy's complimentary lesson on finding calm at https://sandyfowler.com 

Does your teen struggle with finding their purpose in life? It's common to get caught in thought spirals of existentialism and lose motivation because we lose our direction. But purpose doesn't have to be this enormous responsibility or the entire reason we think we exist. It's unique to every person, yes—but this giftedness, this pattern of behavior, can be as simple as wanting to write a book or as complex as wanting to solve world hunger in their lifetime. Bill Hendricks and Bev Hendricks Godby join Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler in discussing how we can learn to consider “giftedness” as purpose, beyond the often incorrect cultural synonym “genius,” and how we can apply our understanding to our teens, help them find purpose, and raise happier, more self-confident and more emotionally stable young adults. Our Guests: Bill Hendricks and Bev Hendricks Godby Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 214   It's easier to listen and connect with your teenager when you are calm. Grab Sandy's complimentary lesson on finding calm at https://sandyfowler.com    Is your teenager undecided about a career? Help them get unstuck and go from undecided to excited http://www.emmabperez.com/undecided2excitedmightyparenting.html 

Many of the socially pivotal moments in history were triggered by, driven by or accompanied with protests, small or large. The Black Lives Matter Movement is the most recent socially pivotal moment in U.S. history and has driven many teens to start or join protests and start asking questions about racism, black culture and black cultural history, and their role in this movement. Veronica Chambers, author of Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter,  joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler to discuss peaceful protesting, various methods of protesting, why it matters, how powerful it can be—and how to help our kids understand what they think and feel about the issues behind protests. Let's show our kids how they as individuals can come together to effect real change in the world.  Our Guest: Veronica Chambers Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 213 From Sandy: It's easier to listen and connect with your teenager when you are calm. Grab Sandy's complimentary lesson on finding calm at https://sandyfowler.com 

Rights of passage, especially those of transitioning from a teenager to an adult, are often critical to our teens' self-identities and their motivation to move in the world. Our society has been shifting, however, and many of those rights of passage don't quite fit anymore, which leaves our teens floundering and stuck. Dr. Mark Schillinger joins Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler in discussing how our current society and cultural habits have impacted our teens' emotions, habits and future plans and how we can help motivate boys and girls into moving forward and finding who they can be as adults in today's world. Our Guest: Dr. Mark Schillinger Detailed Show Notes and Support at MightyParenting.com episode 212 From Sandy: It's easier to listen and connect with your teenager when you are calm. Grab Sandy's complimentary lesson on finding calm at https://sandyfowler.com 

Discover how learning styles and learning mindsets may be holding your child back. In this Mighty Parenting podcast episode, co-hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler talk with learning and education expert Kimberly Kassner. They'll be getting tips and strategies parents can use to support and help their teenagers and college students succeed while building their self-esteem. In Real Talk we are digging into yelling; what it really is, what it does to our kids and our relationships, and what you can do about it. Our Guest:  Kimberly Kassner From Our Sponsor DASIUM: When our kids have low self-esteem it can impact their susceptibility to abuse alcohol, prescription drugs, street drugs, food, sex, etc. Helping our children find and build on their strengths helps them build self-esteem. Parents can help by not gushing with constant praise or offering insincere praise, rather give them choices in their life, encourage them to take on challenges and go after goals. When they encounter failures, remind them anyone who achieves anything fails and ask them what they learned from the experience and what they will do differently next time. If you are concerned or want to know what to watch out for and how to handle signs of trouble, get Warning Signs: A Parenting Guide for Discovering if Your Teen is at Risk for Depression, Addiction, or Suicide. It's available at DASIUM.net/store and on Amazon. Show Notes: Visit MightyParentingPodcast.com and select episode 26. Support: Visit MightyParenting.com for tools, community, inspiration, and support.

The teen years can be filled with challenges, including parenting power struggles. If you're tired of fighting with your teen, at the end of your rope, or just can't figure out how to get them to do what they need to do, listen to this episode of the Mighty Parenting podcast. Hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler interview Neil D. Brown to uncover how to end the parenting power struggle once and for all. Then, in Real Talk, Judy and Sandy give an inside look into their lives and the things that keep them from doing what they need to do to take care of themselves. From guilt to responsibility, they are tackling it all. Our Guest:  Neil D. Brown From Our Sponsor DASIUM: Communication is key to a healthy relationship with your teen and good communication starts with listening. Listen to what your teen has to say without judgement, without trying to figure our what you're going to say next, and without disapproving body language. Take on an attitude of interest and curiosity then quietly listen. Show Notes: Visit MightyParentingPodcast.com and select episode 25. Support: Visit MightyParenting.com for tools, community, inspiration, and support.

As parents, we want the best for our kids, and overcoming obstacles to success is so important in the teen years. In today's culture, there is huge pressure to succeed and both parents and teens feel it. So what causes our kids to fail? What roadblocks could stop them? In today's Mighty Parenting podcast, Sandy Fowler and Judy Davis find out what parents of teens need to know as they interview Shannon Evans about overcoming obstacles to success. Listen in to discover how your parenting style impacts your kids and affects their resilience. Real Talk: Parenting is harder on some days than others, and it isn't always because of our kids. When parents are depleted they tend to focus on everything that is not working well and they have a harder time simply finding their way through the day. Listen in as Judy and Sandy discuss the issue and share solutions to help you enjoy your life more. A Favorite Quote from the Show: Research shows that tenacity is a greater prediction of success than test scores. Show Notes: Visit MightyParentingPodcast.com and select episode 24. Support: Visit MightyParenting.com for tools, community, inspiration, and support.

Emotional eating has become a widespread problem and it's one that affects parents and teens alike. We've watched stress levels rise in ourselves and in our children, but along with that we have not really learned new ways to handle that stress or all the other feelings we experience on a daily basis. So what happens? We use food to deal with our emotions and get into a pattern of emotional eating. When parents try to stop their teenager's emotional eating it can lead to a power struggle. This can have a profound effect on the parent-child relationship and it's hijacking our families. Karen R. Koenig, an expert in eating psychology, shares insights with Mighty Parenting podcast co-hosts, Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler. They dig into the why and how of emotional eating as well as looking at what we can do for ourselves and our teens. Real Talk: Have you ever found yourself making statements like, “Kids today…” or “Teenagers are always…” then finishing off those statements with a negative observation? It's a common occurrence and in today's Real Talk, Judy and Sandy look at what happens when we do this. They discuss why this is an issue and what can happen instead.   A Favorite Quote from the Show: If we don't have effective life skills for dealing with stress and distress, then we turn to food.   Show Notes: Visit MightyParentingPodcast.com and select episode 23  Support: Visit MightyParenting.com for tools, community, inspiration, and support.  

Show Notes: Parents want the best for their kids and that includes a secure job and a financially stable future. But, are you supporting your child's future? Culturally we've been taught that there is one path to that goal and we push our kids to follow it. But what happens when our child doesn't feel it's the right path for them? In that case, parental expectations can put incredible pressure on our kids, causing stress, anxiety, family discord, and maybe even depression. No parent wants to create stress in their child's life, but it can be scary to wonder “What if my child doesn't want to go to college?”, and you may not even be sure about options other than college. On this episode of the Mighty Parenting podcast, hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler explore these ideas. They help you look to see if you are supporting your child's future. They will discuss parental expectations and the effect on kids, options for life after high school, and how to talk to your child about their future.   A Favorite Quote from the Show: Kids excel when they have personal motivation and a desire to achieve a goal.   High Points: There are rising rates of anxiety and depression in teens. One contributing factor is parents' expectations. Your belief system is affecting what you want for your child and how you interact with them, even if you don't realize it. Kids excel when they have personal motivation and a desire to achieve a goal. When parents are comfortable with the path their child is heading down then parents won't have anxiety and will find it easy to be supportive. When parents don't agree with their child's path, they feel anxious and put pressure on their child. You can talk to your child and ask them if you are doing anything that is stressing them out. Ask your child, “What do you see for your future? What interests you?” If your child won't fill out their applications for college or scholarships, that can be a sign that this is not the right path or the right time for them to attend. Some kids aren't ready for college yet at 17 or 18. Consider having a conversation with them about what the other options are. There are 30,000,000 jobs that pay an average of $55,000/year that don't require a bachelor's degree. Kids can earn a certificate or an associate degree, attend culinary school or trade school, start a small business or learn on the job. Ask yourself what you want for your child then remember that there is more than one way to get there. If you're seeing that your child is feeling a lot of stress about their future, use this 3-step action plan: Be open to the idea that there are other options and there isn't one path your child needs to travel to reach their goals. Encourage your child to come up with their own plan. Allow your child to experience the consequences of their choices. This allows them to grow and become the adult you want them to be. Many of our kids are going to hold jobs that don't exist right now. The most important things for our kids to learn to be successful in the workplace are how to: Find information Communicate with others what they know and what they need.   Our Guests: Judy Davis, aka The Direction Diva, is a sought after motivational speaker, entrepreneur, author, and host of the Mighty Parenting Podcast. She is a small business and teen suicide prevention expert as well as an influencer in the military spouse community. Judy is passionate about providing programs and resources to families across the nation and is the CEO of DASIUM – a brand leading the way in depression, addiction and suicide prevention in teens and young adults. A recipient of the 2016 Dove Real Beauty Award, Judy has also been quoted, featured, and profiled in a variety of publications and interviews including Smart Money Magazine, Hiring America TV, The Jim Bohannan show, Dr. Laura Berman Show, and more. She is regularly featured as a parenting and military lifestyle expert/guest on radio shows and panels highlighting the challenges and issues facing families today. Sandy Fowler is a wife, mom, and business owner whose passion is teaching people to make powerful choices that impact their lives and businesses in the best way. At DASIUM, she guides parents and organizations in preventing depression, addiction, and suicide in teens and young adults. At Mighty Parenting, she helps parents learn skills that help them create an emotionally healthy family. And at Simple Strategies, she walks people through the process of identifying and quantifying their highest priorities then making them front and center in their life. She has been quoted on Lifetimemoms.com and SheKnows.com, featured in a cover story in the Detroit Free Press Twist Magazine, published in Mompreneur magazine and the Clarkston News. Sandy is a co-creator of The Keys to Getting What You Want: 4 Little Known Communication Secrets, and the creator of the Calendar Magic coaching program. She authored two books that use her principles to guide moms through the holiday season. You can connect with her at SandyFowler.com. To learn more or connect with our guests, visit DASIUM.net Sandy's available resources: Take Back Your Life Coaching Reduce Christmas Stress Books – The Christmas Secret & Christmas Magic Judy's available resources: Warning Signs: Is Your Teen At Risk? Right Side Up Motivational Speaker for your next event: Visit TheDirectionDiva   Tips & Info from our Sponsors: From DASIUM:  Raising a teenager feels like a whole different world and can create a lot of worry or anxiety for parents. While we know you have many things to do, at the core of it you want to have a good relationship—one where they know you have their back and will listen. Focus on open communication, listening rather than telling or solving—and doing it without judgement. If you are wondering whether behavior changes are normal or cause for concern, want a little help in dealing with stress or anxiety, or just need some tips for communicating with your teen, get our Parent Support Kit. It has what you need as you build an emotionally healthy life for your family.   Support: For more parenting support visit MightyParenting.com  

Parents deal with many problems; getting-out-the-door-in-the-morning struggles, arguments about when homework will get done, and you might have a child who is chronically late. It can be incredibly frustrating and exhausting to face a parenting problem like this. What parents don't realize is that many of the struggles and battles they have with their teen stem from problems with time management. Time management for teens is a life skill that affects all areas of a child's life—and the parent's too! It's something all parents need to teach their kids but we don't get much direction on how to do that but that problem is solved right here. Mighty Parenting hosts interview time management for teens expert Leslie Josel. Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler pick Leslie's brain to find out what stops our teens from having good skills and what we can do about it. Real Talk: We interact with many people throughout our days and you may see a teen who seems to be struggling, in trouble, or heading for trouble. When a situation like this hits your radar you may wonder what to do; should you approach the teen? Talk to the parent? How will they react? Is it any of my business? These are good questions and exactly what Judy and Sandy are exploring in Real Talk.   A Favorite Quote from the Show: The key question to ask your teen to help them learn to bridge time is, “What is your plan?”   High Points Interview: Time management is a brain-based behavior so if your teen is time management challenged then their capabilities are going to be 30% less than their chronological age in the area of that deficiency (your 16 year old will have 15 year old will have 10 year old capabilities). When a teen has an executive challenge, kids know what to do but can't do what they know. Being time aware, able to see time, means understanding how time flows, how long things take and how to set up plans for future events. One indicator that your child is not time aware is if they function well in school but it falls apart at home. In school they are supported in many ways in seeing time move but that structure doesn't exist at home. Students live in 2 worlds. They live in the Now, right now, this moment. And they see the “not now”, the future whether it's 5 minutes, 5 days, or 5 years. To them, Not Now is waaaay over there, way in the future. Making kids time aware means helping them understand that time exists beyond the now. The breakdown comes in trying to connect Now to Not Now. When kids are walking out of the house parents tend to use “Oh, by the way” and “Don't forget”. Never really asking your child, how are you going to remember what I'm asking you? Parents are busy but she's laying down the Leslie Law and telling us that we have to spend time teaching our kids to be time aware. This is a crucial life skill and it will impact them way more than the grade they got on their 9th grade test on Mesopotamia. We need to hang analog clocks, the old face clocks, in every room our teen spends time in. These clocks let kids see time move. The most important room is the bathroom. The key question to ask your teen to help them learn to bridge time is, “What is your plan?” What is your plan after soccer? What is your plan after school? What is your plan after your shower? What is your plan to get your report done because we're going to Grandma's Sunday? Your brain needs to be exercised just like every muscle in your body. If you are listing off the things your child needs to do or telling them what to take with them running out the door, the only brain being exercised is yours. Don't use Mom Minutes. When we say, “Just one minute” and it's twenty minutes then it makes it hard for kids to learn to see time. Parents need to respect time and reflect that in the way we talk about it. How the heck do I teach my kid time management when I'm having trouble with my own? One tip is for the parent to speak their mental processing. Literally speak out loud all the thoughts you run through in figuring out time management. It can help the parent and the child learns at the same time.   High Points Real Talk: We interact with many people throughout our days and you may see a teen who seems to be struggling, in trouble, or heading for trouble. Adults wonder what to do when they see this. It used to be that adults in our neighborhood, church, and community would support parents, telling them what their kids were up to or even reprimanding the kids directly. But our culture has shifted and adults are now afraid to get involved with other kids. Parents have become defensive about their kids and tend erect protective walls if approached. So what can you do if you see a teen you are concerned about, one who is in emotional pain, in danger, or at-risk? Our response is that personally, we understand there may be backlash, we could upset a neighbor or lose a friend. This would be unpleasant, but we can live with it. What we cannot live with is the fallout that can happen if we don't say anything. We can affect the parents' response and lessen negative fallout in the way we deliver the message. Judy shares ideas for softening the message and helping parents hear it. Essentially, we want to focus on being non-judgmental and come from a place of concern. Do it by being factual, authentic, and letting them know you care. Wondering whether to say something? Follow the rule of Better Safe Than Sorry. If our teen brings the concern to us we can help them learn to think through the options. We can help them see various ways to speak to their friend or the parent.   Our Guest: Leslie is an academic/life coach, an award-winning author and internationally acclaimed speaker. She is the creator of the award-winning Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management®, a planner that helps students develop and master time management skills, and the author of “What's the Deal with Teens and Time Management”, a parents' step-by-step guide to help teach their students the time management skills they need to succeed in school, home and in life. A respected resource on ADHD and Executive Functioning in students, Leslie writes a weekly column called “Dear Organizing Coach by Leslie Josel” for ADDitude Magazine, and is also a contributing writer for Family Circle Magazine. She brought “Order Out of Chaos” to life from a very personal mission. Leslie is the mother of a time-and-organizationally-challenged teen who was diagnosed with ADHD. She founded the company 15 years ago with the goal of providing professional organizing, time management and coaching services; parent and family education, products and resources to families and their students to help them bring order out of chaos to their lives.   More from our Guest: To learn more or connect with Leslie, visit https://orderoochaos.com/   Tips & Info from our Sponsors: From DASIUM: Raising a teenager can create a lot of worry or anxiety for parents. It's a whole different world than when they were young. At the core of it you want to have a good relationship—one where they know you have their back and will listen when they need it most. Focus on open communication, listening rather than lecturing or feeling the need to fix it. And do so without judgement. Still worried? We understand. Teens go through a lot of phases so how do you know if their behavior is a phase or a sign that a problem is growing? Get Warning Signs: A Parenting Guide for Discovering if Your Child is At Risk for Depression, Addiction, or Suicide. Learn what is cause for concern and what will pass. Get information on next steps and ideas for handling problems if they arise.

There's no doubt that 13 Reasons Why is controversial. Whether you love it, hate it, or are avoiding it, recognizing that it is part of our children's world will help you manage their exposure and deal with any reactions. There's a lot going on here and since the first season hit there has been a lot of controversy. Mighty Parenting Podcast hosts, Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler, have been digging in. Here they are sharing all of the inside scoop with you from what people say is good and bad, to what kids are saying about it, to the potential fallout. You'll be well informed, knowing just what parents need to know about 13 Reasons Why including what pitfalls to watch out for and even the questions to ask your child when you have the important conversations this show is prompting from families and our society.

When bullying occurs, parents and schools take action and invoke discipline to end bullying. But what if there was a different path, a more effective way of handling things? What if we ask, “Why do kids bully?” then use the answer to discover and deal with the root cause? On this episode of the Mighty Parenting podcast we get a fresh perspective on preventing bullying. Hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler interview Dr. Charlotte Reznick to understand why kids bully. They discuss what parents can do to work with schools and other parents to stop bullying as well as what to do if you see bullying behaviors in your own child. Parents often wonder why do kids bully, but today you learn to use the answer to protect and empower your child while creating a safer, kinder environment. In Real Talk, Sandy and Judy dig into the frustration and disappointment parents often feel during summer vacation. They'll discuss a simple method for creating a harmonious summer and preventing disappointment and attitude issues that can ruin your summer.   A Favorite Quote from the Show: (Real Talk) The best way to nurture a relationship with your child as they get into their teen and adult years is to respect where they are different from you. If you don't do that, you set yourself up for them to build their life away from you.   Our Guest: Charlotte Reznick PhD is a foremost authority on how to engage with and develop mindfulness, meditation, and imagination for children and teens. She is author of the Los Angeles Times bestselling book, The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success and contributing author of the chapter “Imagery as a Therapeutic Tool with Children" to Transformative Imagery: Cultivating Imagination for Healing, Change, and Growth. Dr. Reznick is a child educational psychologist, a former UCLA Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology, and was named Imagery International's Person of the Year in 2012 for the global impact of her work. Dr. Reznick has a 30-year meditation practice and is the creator of Imagery For Kids: Breakthrough for Learning, Creativity, and Empowerment, a mindful, positive coping skills program. In addition to her private practice in Los Angeles, California, she creates therapeutic meditation CDs for children, teens, and parents, blogs for Psychology Today and Huffington Post, is a frequent media consultant, and teaches workshops internationally on the healing power of child and adolescent imagination.   Tips & Info from our Sponsors: From DASIUM:  Raising a teenager feels like a whole different world and can create a lot of worry or anxiety for parents. While we know you have many things to do, at the core of it you want to have a good relationship—one where they know you have their back and will listen. Focus on open communication, listening rather than telling or solving—and doing it without judgement. If you are wondering whether behavior changes are normal or cause for concern, want a little help in dealing with stress or anxiety, or just need some tips for communicating with your teen, get our Parent Support Kit. It has what you need as you build an emotionally healthy life for your family. More show notes on our podcast page

Parents dream about, or dread, the day their child moves out of the house. But are they ready? Will they pay their bills? Will they eat well? Have clean clothes? Make good decisions? Parenting our teens so they can launch can be a daunting task but it is essential to helping our kids succeed. Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler interview Dennis Trittin on the Mighty Parenting podcast to find out the mistakes parents make and how those affect their teenagers. They'll look at simple solutions and essential things parents must do to parent teens so they can launch. In Real Talk we're taking a look at Mother's Day. Many moms end up disappointed, frustrated, or hurt on Mother's Day. Judy and Sandy talk about how you can avoid the hurt and get what you want.   Our Guest: Dennis Trittin is the founder, President, and CEO of LifeSmart Publishing and author of Parenting for the Launch and What I Wish I Knew at 18. His mission is to inspire and equip the next generation with the leadership and life skills they need to succeed in adulthood. Through books, curriculum, speaking engagements, and his blog, Dennis serves young people around the world and the parents, educators, and mentors guiding them.  Previously, Dennis served as Director of Research and Strategy at Russell Investments where he spent 28 years managing $35 billion and evaluating successful leaders around the globe. From this unique perspective, Dennis is now sharing these powerful leadership insights with teens and young adults. Dennis and Jeanne, his wife of 35 years, have two grown children who are living their dream in Gig Harbor, Washington. They enjoy the company of family and friends and are avid golfers and active volunteers in their community.   A Favorite Quote from the Show: Parents need to move from the driver's seat to the passenger's seat in their child's life.   Tips & Info from our Sponsors: From DASIUM: Raising a teenager can create a lot of worry or anxiety for parents. It's a whole different world than when they were young. At the core of it you want to have a good relationship—one where they know you have their back and will listen when they need it most. Focus on open communication, listening rather than lecturing or feeling the need to fix it. And do so without judgement.  Still worried? We understand. Teens go through a lot of phases so how do you know if their behavior is a phase or a sign that a problem is growing? Get Warning Signs: A Parenting Guide for Discovering if Your Child is At Risk for Depression, Addiction, or Suicide. Learn what is cause for concern and what will pass. Get information on next steps and ideas for handling problems if they arise.

From the time our children can share a toy, friendships take on a role in their lives. As our children become teenagers, that role grows and friends take on a central place. Those teen friendships are very different from the ones in preschool and there are things parents are wondering: What is happening? How can I help? How can I get them to be friends with the right kids? Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler are getting answers to those questions and more from teen friendship expert Annie Fox. On this Mighty Parenting podcast, Annie will give us a peek inside the world of teen friendships and tell us exactly what parents need to know. Real Talk explores a life skill. There are many life skills which parents need to teach their kids but there's one we rarely think of—protecting your identity. Did you know, 10% of children under the age of 19 have had their identity stolen? In today's Real Talk, Judy and Sandy discuss how to handle this with your teen or young adult.   A Favorite Quote from the Show: Parents are not supposed to have the whole picture of what's happening in our teen's friendships. The goal isn't to know everything, it's to teach our kids to make good choices.   Our Guest: Annie Fox, M.Ed., an award-winning author and educator in the realm of character development and SEL (Social and Emotional Learning), has been a trusted online adviser to teens and parents since 1997. Host of the popular podcast Family Confidential, Annie's books include: The Girls' Q&A Book on Friendship, Teaching Kids to Be Good People and the ground-breaking Middle School Confidential™ book and app series.   Tips & Info from our Sponsors: DASIUM: Raising a teenager can create a lot of worry or anxiety for parents. It's a whole different world than when they were young. At the core of it you want to have a good relationship—one where they know you have their back and will listen when they need it most. Focus on open communication, listening rather than lecturing or feeling the need to fix it. And do so without judgement. Still worried? We understand. Teens go through a lot of phases so how do you know if their behavior is a phase or a sign that a problem is growing? Get Warning Signs: A Parenting Guide for Discovering if Your Child is At Risk for Depression, Addiction, or Suicide. Learn what is cause for concern and what will pass. Get information on next steps and ideas for handling problems if they arise.   More show notes on our podcast page

Your teen's life is full of disappointment; losing a friend, getting a bad grade, not making the team, missing the shot, losing a job, having privileges taken away, losing an opportunity, and so much more. Parents may dismiss these as “no big deal” but oftentimes kids don't know how to handle loss and the grief that comes with it. Helping our teenager deal with loss in an essential parenting skill. We need to help them learn to be resilient, make sense of it, work it into the fabric of their life, and move forward. Not being able to handle loss may lead our teen to using unhealthy coping strategies and even dysfunctional behavior. Grief expert Mark Hundley shares expert advice for teaching our children how to identify their strengths and move through loss in a healthy way. Listen in as he shares his wisdom with Mighty Parenting podcast hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler. Tis the season for our kids to celebrate. Prom and graduation season is an exciting time but even the most responsible teens can find themselves in a sticky situation. Listen to the Real Talk segment to discover the conversation every parent must have with their teen and tips for keeping them safe.   Guest bio: Mark Hundley, LPC - Supervisor, has worked with people of all ages since 1971 in various venues: Youth and family ministry Public education Private counseling practice. He earned his B.A. in Sociology from Hardin-Simmons University and his Master's in Counseling from the University of North Texas. Mark has an expertise in the field of loss and grief and works with individuals, families and corporate bodies to create and implement strategies for powerful living in the aftermath of tragedy, trauma and loss. He is a founder of the Journey of Hope Grief Support Center in Plano, TX, a non-profit agency that provides free group grief support to children, adolescents and their parents or adult caregivers. Currently, Mark serves on the counseling staff at Plano Senior High School, works with clients in private practice and provides supervision for LPC Interns.   A Favorite Quote from the Show: If your teenager shows resistance it's a red flag for parents to ask: 1) How are you feeling? 2) What caused that to happen?   Tips & Info from our Sponsors: DASIUM: Raising a teenager feels like a whole different world and can create a lot of worry or anxiety for parents. While we know you have many things to do, at the core of it you want to have a good relationship—one where they know you have their back and will listen. Focus on open communication, listening rather than telling or solving—and doing it without judgement. If you are wondering whether behavior changes are normal or cause for concern, want a little help in dealing with stress or anxiety, or just need some tips for communicating with your teen, get our Parent Support Kit. It has what you need as you build an emotionally healthy life for your family. More show notes on our podcast page

Parenting is the most wonderful and most exhausting job you will ever love. But why is it so tiring? Is there anything we can do to change that? How can you stop being exhausted by parenting your teen? Erin Leyba explores this situation with Mighty Parenting podcast hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler. They dig into the reasons you are exhausted by parenting your teen while Erin shares tips for making things better and for bringing the joy back into your life. One of the things that's so wearing in parenting a teenager is driving them to all of their activities and outings. Many parents look forward to the day their teen gets a drivers' license and even more so to the day they have their own car to drive. In Real Talk, Judy and Sandy dig into this idea, exploring the pros and cons and sharing a different perspective on what it means to buy your teenager a car.  

If you are a parent who avoids talking sex to your teenager, you are not alone. Most parents stop having these conversations when kids hit puberty, but kids really need them in their teen years and even into their twenties. But what do we need to discuss? How do you broach the subject? What do we do if we're embarrassed or we don't even understand the terminology they are using? Mighty Parenting podcast hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler get the facts on discussing sex with your kids from sex education expert Cath Hakansan. Find out the mistakes parents make, what our teens really want to know, how to talk so it won't be embarrassing, and simple ways to set the tone for open conversation. Then join Judy and Sandy in Real Talk where they get real about family dinners. Find out what happened to Sandy's family when their busy lives ended their family dinners and what you can do instead.

Parenting teens has never been an easy task. In today's world, when your child struggles with stressors, triggers, ADHD, depression, anxiety, or something else, it can be downright overwhelming. When family dynamics aren't smooth, or extended family object to your choices, it only gets harder. Hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler dig into this area gaining insight, getting you tips, and helping you find a new perspective for dealing with difficult family. Their guest on the Mighty Parenting podcast, Dr. Eric Maisel, shares a different view on dealing with your teen's behavior as well as the lessons we need for powerful communication with both our teen and family as a whole. The conversation continues in Real Talk where Judy and Sandy deal with the crazy busyness of family life with teenagers. Having a good, working family calendar can help you to know where your kids are, when people will be available, and just stay connected, even with your twentysomethings after they move out. It can also lower your stress and create connection. Hear Judy and Sandy share a simple tool for managing the family calendar that won't turn one parent into “the keeper of the box”.

On today's Mighty Parenting podcast, Judy and Sandy take us into the world of coping strategies for stress. Managing stress and anxiety is an ever-growing challenge for teens and twentysomethings in today's world, and many of them either don't have the skills to do it or they are using coping strategies that will harm them. Join the DASIUM co-founders, Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler, as they discuss what coping strategies for stress are as well as shed light on what's healthy and what can lead to trouble. They will share the three building blocks that parents of teens need in order to help their children be emotionally healthy and set them up for success. The conversation continues in Real Talk as Judy and Sandy dive into the world of grades and self-esteem. The University of Michigan released a study showing a correlation between lower grades and lower self-esteem. Our hosts will do a deep dive, share personal experiences as well as tips for bucking that trend.  

Parents need more support during the teen and early adult years than they do at any other time. Our kids are growing, facing new adventures and new obstacles. We have to find new ways to parent through the struggles, but this is a time when parents feel pushed away and left out. Principal and Educational consultant Janice Case joins Mighty Parenting podcast hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler to help us explore the issues, to understand what's happening in our kids' lives, how it's different from what we experienced and the ways that impacts our parenting. She'll teach us why we need a network and how to create a support system that makes the job of parenting our teens easier. One challenging aspect of parenting through the teen years is staying connected to our kids, letting them know we love them. In Real Talk, Judy and Sandy share simple ideas for maintaining and building connection with our kids through their teens and into their twenties.

Divorce is never easy, and the impact of divorce can hit us hard, especially our kids. Kids may act out, exes may clash instead of communicating, or everyone may struggle with the different parenting styles in the two households. Whatever happens, parents just want to make sure their children are okay. Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler help you do that on the Mighty Parenting podcast where they interview The Stepmom Coach, Claudette Chenevert, about the things to watch for as well as tips and strategies for parenting our kids after divorce. Then Judy and Sandy get down to earth in their Real Talk segment where they dig into grades and the new study detailing their effect on your child's self-esteem. Hear real world options for making sure your kids are doing well.

Teachers, coaches, mentors, counselors and support staff help us educate our kids and identify problems at school. They are the people we reach out to when our child is struggling, but what happens when you don't see eye to eye on the best way to support your teen? Advocacy expert Meg Flanagan is this week's guest on the Mighty Parenting podcast. Listen in as hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler find out the do's and don'ts and best practices for partnering to eliminate problems at school and working effectively to meet your child's needs.

Social Media is a way of life for our kids. Our teens and twentysomethings are connected more than ever, and parents need to be prepared. In today's Mighty Parenting podcast, expert Mandy Majors of NextTalk shares her practical approach to cyberparenting. Hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler will find out what parents need to do beyond parental controls. They'll get the inside scoop on helping our tweens, teens and twentysomethings navigate handling the social media world of cyber bullying, sex, and everything in-between. They're getting all the details and the practical solutions to this relevant topic to help you parent in the twenty-first century. Every parent faces overwhelm at some time and volunteering is a huge contributor to the stress and busyness of our lives. Judy picks Sandy's brain for solutions to this parenting problem in today's Real Talk segment. Find out the sneaky aspect of this problem, how a painful decision stops us, and simple strategies for getting through it.

Parents struggle with guilt and shame from things we did and things we didn't do in raising our kids. By the time they're teenagers all those parenting mistakes can add up, for us and them. And when that happens the emotional baggage that goes with it can cause problems in your relationship with your teen or twenty-something. On this week's Mighty Parenting podcast, Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler interview forgiveness expert Cliff Edwards, uncovering the truth about some of those teen behaviors that worry you, finding out what you can do to prevent problems, and tips for repairing any damage done to you, your kids and your relationship. In Real Talk, Judy and Sandy chat about a little thing we all do that contributes to our own stress and depletes our happiness. The good news is that when we change this little habit we not only make our lives better, we take some of the pressure off our kids.

Grades, winning, being a leader, joining the right club, getting into the college of your choice, being liked on social media, what to do and who to be, these are all things that create huge pressure for our teens and twentysomethings. One of the ways they are dealing with that pressure is by overusing and abusing prescription medications. This is a sneaky situation that takes parents by surprise. Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler, 2 of the co-founders of DASIUM and co-hosts of the Mighty Parenting podcast, are diving into the problem of prescription drug misuse and abuse; taking a look at who is at risk and what parents can do to prevent it. And in Real Talk, Judy and Sandy explore family vacations. They're talking about how to get the family vacation you really want and how to talk to your teen about it. 

Raising teens and parenting young adults in today's world presents huge challenges for parents. The Mighty Parenting podcast provides solutions and strategies. Co-hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler interview experts, share stories and get real, raw and relevant as they dig in to the problems of parenting in the 21st century.