There are so many things we want our teenagers to learn, including good values and healthy living strategies. Open conversations can help with both of these. Popular media is a great spark for starting a conversation and gives our kids a safe space to talk about ideas. Martha Hunt Handler's book Winter of the Wolf, published by our sponsor Green Leaf Book Group, provides opportunities to discuss [...]
We hear a lot about mindfulness these days. It seems like everywhere we turn someone is telling us to be mindful. But what does that really mean? Does mindfulness in parenting really work? How do we incorporate it into our busy lives? Today Corinne Coppola and Charisse Minerva Spencer from iBme (Inward Bound Mindfulness Education) will talk to Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler about [...]
We hear a lot about our children needing to be more resilient, better able to handle challenges and disappointments. One way a parent can help is to build self-confidence in your teenager. Self-confidence can help them take reasonable risks and reach for goals. It can change the way they see themselves and interact with the world. Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler interviews Dr. Melanie [...]
Today's show is very short and has 2 segments focused on what we can do to help others. The first segment is about one of our sponsors and how they help us make a difference and save lives. In the second, Sandy takes a look at what she's learned from the events of the last couple weeks. She shares her thoughts and plans for her parenting and for the podcast so we can work together to change our [...]
Diet culture is making it hard for our teens to interact with food in a healthy way. It turns food choices into moral judgements and cultivates eating disorders. Our kids feel judged for their body weight, exercise habits, and food choices and it's harming their self-esteem, health, and even their relationships with us. Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler talks with therapists Zoe Bisbing [...]
Teens do many things that baffle parents. We shake our heads and wonder why they do the things they do. But when they engage in risky behavior it scares us. When parents are scared we can over react or take a stance that makes things worse. Find out why our teenagers engage in risky behavior. Learn methods of dealing with those situations as well as the anxiety that is plaguing teens today. Mighty[...]
A universal truth is parents want to be close to their kids. But when our kids become teenagers it can be tricky to find ways to strengthen family bonds. One way to do it is to spend meaningful time together, and a great way to do that is to volunteer as a family. On today’s episode of the Mighty Parenting podcast, Sandy Fowler chats with Jenny Friedman from Doing Good Together. They explore the[...]
When asked what we want for our children, most parents say we want them to be happy. However, we also want them to be good, kind, responsible people. That's the premise behind Kara Kinney Cartwright's new book Just Don't Be An Assh*le: A Surprisingly Necessary Guide to Being a Good Guy. It's a straight-to-the-point conversation with our teenage sons about the unspoken rules of life. Kara brings [...]
Children’s emotional and physical health are one and the same. The health of the body impacts our emotions and thoughts. Conversely, our thoughts and feelings impact the body. As our teenagers grow up they experience intense emotions and may even have thoughts of suicide. Actually, 17% of high school students have thought about suicide. Fortunately, parents are in a position to help. Dr. Lia [...]
Parents are suddenly thrust into the position of teacher. Not only that, but they have to do it while adhering to someone else's schedule and plan. Coping with learning at home is pushing many parents over the edge and causing their stress levels to soar. There are a lot of tips out there for managing logistics but there is more to it than that. Sandy Fowler shares insights and a mindset that [...]