Moms of Tweens and Teens

Latest Episodes:

What Gen Z Wants Us to Know About the Teen Years, Interview with Zach Gottleib Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to the show today, and I’m so glad that you’re joining me.
If you have a tween or teen, I know without a doubt that there are days when you say to yourself, “What are they thinking?!”
One day I woke up, and I had an alien living in my house. This was my first rodeo with a tween, and it felt like things changed overnight. I had no idea what I was doing. And on top of that, my daughter wasn’t talking as much. She began fighting to be independent and became moody and wasn’t wanting to go to school. I didn’t understand what was going on or how to talk to her.
Today I have a very special guest joining us. Zach Gottlieb, who is an amazing 17-year-old who is the founder of Talk With Zach.
Zach has created this Gen Z movement and community to provide a safe space where teens don’t feel alone in what they’re going through. He openly talks about relationships coping with emotions and inspires mental well-being and to make the world a better place. His motto: “We can’t change what we don’t talk about.”
I can’t wait for you to hear what Zach has to share about what kids today want their parents and other adults to know about how their generation is doing—and the best ways to support them. And perhaps most crucially, we'll delve into the mental health crisis among teens and what Gen Z wants older generations to truly understand.
As parents, we often assume we know what's important to our kids, but what might we be missing? It's time to listen, learn, and bridge the gap.
Let’s jump right in!
What you will learn:

What’s the worst thing you can do to your teen when they confide in you?
What are some of the things teens want to talk about?
Why Zach says parents should stop sharing viral college acceptance videos.
What do most teens today want their parents and other adults to know about how their generation is doing—and the best ways to support them?
What does Gen-Z want older generations to know about the mental health crisis among teens right now?
As parents, we think we know what is important to our kids, but what might we be missing?

Where to find Zach:

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens
Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

How to Help Your Daughter Believe In Herself, Interview with Katie Parker from Bloomfully May 30, 2023

Show notes

Send a text

Hi Friend, and welcome to today's show. I'm so glad you've joined me.

If you have a tween or teen daughter, you know just how challenging these years can be. Filled with insecurity, self-doubt, and self-criticism, it's easy for our girls to lose sight of their own worth and potential.

I'm thrilled to introduce Katie Parker, the President and CEO of Bloomfully. Katie is truly passionate about building the confidence of young girls, tweens, and women. Her mission is to empower them to grow beyond the traps of comparing themselves, constant criticism, and overwhelming self-doubt. She firmly believes that every girl and every woman is unique and absolutely essential in this world.

Today, we delve into the topic of helping our daughters grow in self-confidence and empowering them to believe in themselves. It's a conversation that holds tremendous importance in today's society, and Katie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide us on this journey.

This episode will equip and encourage you and your daughter to embrace the incredible individuals you truly are.

Without further ado, let's jump right in and welcome Katie to the show.

What you will learn:

What are some suggestions to stop the negative self-talk and the comparison game?
What is the “Grow and Share” living pattern? And how does this create a happy tween?
What can we do to build up confidence in our daughters that will help her now and in the future?
Why are habits important, and how can moms start to teach habits to their kids?
When friends are mean and drama starts - what is the best way to handle it?
What are some things a mom can say to her daughter when friends are being mean?

Where to find Katie:

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens
Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Empowering Your Kid To Become Bully-Proof / Interview with Rich Grogan May 23, 2023

Show notes

Send a text

Master Rich Grogan is a Master Martial Artist, 6th Degree Black Belt, and a Bully Proof & Self-Defense Expert with over 40 years of experience. Having personally experienced bullying as a victim, bystander, and parent of his own child being bullied, he has made it his life’s work to empower kids, parents, teens, and adults with hope and the self-confidence to believe in themselves to Become Bully Proof.

Today we talk about Rich’s new book, Becoming Bully Proof.

Let’s dive in!

What you will learn:

Has bullying become worse in recent years?
How do we help to bully-proof our kids?
What are the ABCs of being bully-proof?
What are some of the common mistakes that we make as parents that disempower our kids when they are experiencing bullying?
What should parents say to empower their kids if they are being bullied?
What questions does every parent need to know the answer to regarding bullying?

Where to find Rich, his book and links mentioned in podcast:

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens
Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

The Motherload: Parenting Without Losing Your Ever-Loving Mind / Interview with Meredith Ethington May 16, 2023

Show notes

Send a text

Hi Friend,

If you are feeling tired today and weighed down by the daily grind of being a mom and all the responsibilities.

Or you’re feeling like a bad mom or here because you need some encouragement today. I’m so glad that you’re here listening because

My special guest today is Meredith Ethington, and you are going to feel super encouraged and reassured after listening.

Today, we get into the real, honest, and humorous about the job of being a mom.

Meredith is an award-winning writer and is here today to talk about her recently published book, The Mother Load, Surviving the Daily Grind Without Losing Your Ever-Loving Mind.

Her blog, Perfection Pending, and her writing are viewed by hundreds of thousands every day that want to see the real side of motherhood and know that they are not alone. She is the co-owner and editor at Filterfreeparents.com

In this episode, we talk about the mental load we carry as moms and the expectations we put on ourselves, as well as challenges with depression and anxiety and how to be present and show up for our kids.

The nuggets of wisdom Meredith shares will help you to feel a little less crazy and a whole lot less alone.
Let's dive in!

Where to buy Meredith's book and find her:

What you will learn:

The mental load we carry as moms.
Nuggets of wisdom to make us feel less crazy and a whole lot less alone.
What our deepest roots of desire are, and how that affects our parenting.
The expectations moms put on themselves.
The taboo subject of struggling with mental illness and challenges with depression and anxiety.
Understanding what our capacity for parenting is and how to set realistic dreams as a result.
What our kids really want from us and how we are missing it.

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens
Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

How To Support Your Teen to Get a Positive Vision For Their Future, Interview with Deepali Vyas May 09, 2023

Show notes

Send a text

Deepali Vee - yas is the founder and CEO of Fearless+.

Fearless+ is a digital platform that Deepali describes as LinkedIn Meets TikTok meets MasterClass.

I wish my kids would have had something like Fearless plus when they were in middle school and high school.

Fearless plus is kind of like a virtual resume that motivates and inspires kids to share their stories, hobbies and experiences. It’s a place where they develop the skills they need to be successful as well as connecting them with opportunities, mentors, colleges, and employers And it’s fun!

I am excited to have you hear more about Deepali and what she is doing to empower the next generation to succeed.

Let’s dive in!

What you will learn:

Which three character traits do kids need to develop in order to succeed?
What are the main challenges that students face today that make it difficult to succeed in school?
How does the Fearless+ platform help our kids?
How can parents help prepare their kids to help prepare for the reality of the real world?
How important is work experience?
What are some things parents can do to help their tweens and teens to be successful in school and in the real world?

Where to find Deepali:

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens
Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

How A Mom of Ten Found Systems That Worked and Now Helps Other Moms To Do The Same, Interview with Laura Hernandez Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

Send a text

Who here feels exhausted and overwhelmed with how much you have to get done on a daily basis?

Do you often feel disorganized and like you're flying by the seat of your pants most of the time?

Do you notice that you feel resentful a lot because you're tired of doing all the things, all the time, for all the people?

Well, help is here.

My special guest is Laura Hernandez, who is the founder of Mama Systems.

Laura and her husband, Tony, are raising ten children in the Dallas area. In the past four and a half years, they have added six new children to their family... three biologically and three through adoption.

Laura’s large and unconventional family forced her to create systems that helped her family run smoothly. As a result, it reduced her daily workload, and her house became a place of peace.

Today we talk about systems in our homes - why and how to create them and how it can reduce decision fatigue, restore our sanity and create peace in our homes.

Let’s dive in!

What you will learn:

How do moms decide which systems to implement?
What changes did you begin to see in your family once you implemented various systems?
What if you are a person that struggles with systems - where do you start?
How do you motivate your kids?
How would you encourage moms to get their kids on board, especially the mom that is starting this with older kids?
What are some tried and true systems that you have implemented that have created more peace and time for yourself?
How to teach your kids systems so they can become more independent and responsible.

Where to find Laura:

Laura's freebie to her self-care guide - https://www.mamasystems.net/self-care
Mamasystems.net
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens
Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

How To Support Your Daughter to Make Healthy Friendships During Middle School, Interview with Amy Weatherly Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

Send a text

Ugh. Middle school friends can be so challenging. And many of us, including myself, can carry the feelings of rejection or the belief that we won’t be accepted by “those” women, or something is wrong with me and I’m just not likable or pretty or funny or smart enough, and we feel isolated and lonely.

Today, my special guest is Amy Weatherly, who is so relatable, honest, and has a down-to-earth sense of humor.

Amy is on the show to talk about her latest book that she co-authored with Jess Johnson for our middle school girls about friendship, I'll Be There (And Let's Make Friendship Bracelets): A Girl's Guide to Making and Keeping Real-Life Friendships.

Amy and Jess created a Facebook page called Sister, I Am With You, which currently has over a million followers, where they get real about the ins and outs, the ups and down, and all the in-betweens of friendship.

You have probably seen her face on The Today Show, MSN.com, Good Morning America, Yahoo.com, Love What Matters, Focus on the Family, and of course, her own social media pages where she loves building communities of women who support each other fiercely.

Let’s dive in!

What you will learn:

Prioritizing friendships.
How social media has made us lonelier.
Why do so many of us struggle with being people pleasers?
Popularity vs. belonging.
Changing our mindset around friendships.
How we all struggle with friendships even if no one is talking about it.
Being a friend that is not easily offended.
How moms and caregivers can come alongside their tweens and teens when they are struggling with friendships.

Where to find Amy:

Book for 8-12-year-olds: I'll Be There (And Let's Make Friendship Bracelets): A Girl's Guide to Making and Keeping Real-Life Friendships.
Book for teens and adults: I'll Be There (But I'll Be Wearing Sweatpants)
Facebook Page Sister I Am With You: https://www.facebook.com/sisteriamwithyou/

Amy’s Facebook Page:

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens
Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

How to Support Your Middle Schooler Navigate Cliques,Friendships and the Weird Stuff with Jessica Speer Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

Send a text

Yes, there are cool things about middle school, like more independence, new friends, and new activities. But there’s plenty of hard stuff too, like cliques, harsh judgment, the whole “popularity” thing, and, of course, drama.
Today my special guest is Jessica Speer. Jessica is an award-winning author of books for kids and teens. She blends science, and stories, and unpacks tricky stuff that surfaces during childhood and adolescence. She has a master’s degree in social sciences and explores topics in ways that connect with kids.

We discuss some of the important topics facing middle schoolers today that are covered in her latest book Middle School―Safety Goggles Advised: Exploring the Weird Stuff from Gossip to Grades, Cliques to Crushes, and Popularity to Peer Pressure.

We discuss the tween/teen social dynamics and development.

Let’s dive in.

Jessica shares:

Why middle school is such a tricky time for so many kids - boys and girls.
What is happening socially that can tend to make the tween and teen years particularly difficult socially to navigate?
What some of the repeated themes are that middle schoolers face today.
Why changing friendships are so common in middle school, and how parents can support their kids during this time.
What she learned while interviewing middle schoolers about conflict and aggressive behavior.
Advice for moms that have a struggling middle schooler.

Links

Website: https://jessicaspeer.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-speer-46b6457/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_speer_author/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeerAuthor
Jessica’s Books: https://jessicaspeer.com/jessica-speer-books/

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens
Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

How to Support Our Teen Sons and Young Adults, Interview with Tim Williams Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Send a text

Tim Williams is the host of the podcast “Thrivehood.” His podcast offers a relevant life roadmap for boys and young men by providing them with practical advice, relatable stories, and a sense of community.

Also known as “Uncle Tim,” he provides seasoned wisdom sprinkled with offbeat humor as he provides advice on goal-setting, time management, and overcoming limiting beliefs.

Let’s dive in.

What you will learn:

Why is there so little support available for teen/tween boys?
What kinds of topics are covered on the Thrivehood podcast?
What do moms need to know about their son’s adolescent years?
How can moms get their sons talking and opening up to them?
What words of wisdom Tim has for fathers.

Links from episode

Podcast: https://www.thrivehoodpodcast.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thrivehoodpodcast
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thrivehoodpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivehood_podcast/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThrivehoodP

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens
Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health with Dr. Jennifer Fraser Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Send a text

I've been hearing from so many of you who have kids who are being bullied or have been bullied, and they are really struggling. I've also heard from many of you whose kid is the bully and acting out in abusive ways towards others.
Well, this is a fascinating episode that you want to listen to.
My special guest is Dr. Jennifer Fraser, who is the founder of The Bullied Brain (www.bulliedbrain.com). She is an award-winning teacher of 20 years, an international presenter, and a published author. Dr. Fraser is here today to talk about her latest book, The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health.
In this episode, Dr. Fraser explains what we need to understand about how all forms of bullying and abuse affect our tween's and teens’ brains and how to help both the bullied and the bully heal.
So much of what she shares is extremely helpful in explaining tweens' and teens' behavior, such as grades falling, trouble with problem-solving, wanting to play video games 24/7, anxiety, and skipping school. If we want to support our kids to heal, we need to understand the way the brain works.

"It appears that our bullying epidemic is not cured by blaming, shaming, and ostracizing. It is time for a revolution in how we think about and how we educate ourselves and children about bullying. It needs to be seen as a medical, not a moral problem, especially in childhood. It needs to be instantly identified. The perpetrator needs to be held accountable. Healing needs to begin."

So on that note, let’s dive in!

What you will learn:

What verbal abuse does to our children’s brains?
What happens to the brain when a child is bullied?
Why do kids abuse or bully other kids?
Why bullying is more than a moral issue – it’s a medical issue.
Why the way society deals with abuse is outdated, and what should we be doing instead?
What are some things parents can do when their child is being bullied?
Why it’s so easy for kids (and adults) to partake in cyberbullying. And what this does to our empathy for each other.
What happens to a child’s brain when a parent gives them the silent treatment?

Links from the episode: