

Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Casey O'Roarty
Welcome to the Joyful Courage Podcast - a place where parents of tweens and teens come to find inspiration, information and encouragement in the messy terrain of adolescenceThis season of parenting is no joke - and while the details of what we are all moving through might be slightly different, we are having a collective experience.This is a space where we center building relationship, nurturing life skills, and leaning into our own personal growth.My name is Casey O’Roarty, I am a parent coach, Positive Discipline LEad Trainer, and captain of the adolescent ship over at Sproutable. I am also a speaker and published author. I have been working with parents and families for over 20 years and continue to navigate being a mom with my own two young adult kids.I am honored that you are here… Please give back to the pod by sharing it with friends, or on social media, and rate and review on Apple or Spotify - work of mouth is how we grow!Thanks - enjoy the show!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 21, 2024 • 35min
Eps 472: The wobble of centering relationship and curiosity with our teens
I'm back with a brand new solo show, channeling wisdom and empowerment. Today I am reflecting on a workplace training experience and will emphasize the importance of nurturing relationships with teenagers amidst their complexities and challenges. I share insights on fostering understanding, transparency, and connection with teens, urging you all to navigate the wonkiness of adolescence with curiosity and presence.See more show notes and info about sponsors at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/Eps-472-The-wobble-of-centering-relationship-and-curiosity-with-our-teens/Share your takeaways in the Joyful Courage for Parents of Teens FB Group - click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 18, 2024 • 49min
Eps 471: Resetting unhealthy screen time habits with Michael Jacobus
My guest today is Michael Jacobus, and we’re talking about unhealthy screen time, social media overuse, gaming addiction, and his Reset Summer Camp program. Michael shares how his own son becoming addicted to video games and the lack of help & programs available inspired him to create Reset Summer Camp. We, as parents, did not know the Pandora’s Box we were opening when we first brought technology and social media into our homes. We end up feeling guilty and don’t know what to do. How and why would we? None of this was available when we were teens! Michael posits that over half of the teens in the US have an issue with screen time, and he shares some recommendations for screen time at home (including when you get big, emotional reactions to new limits). I ask Michael how to first open up this conversation with your teen, how to best roll out social media to younger teens, and we wrap up agreeing that screen time usage is an issue that is truly universal and in every home. Takeaways from the show
Gaming disorder is a real, diagnosable condition
Parents typically don’t know what to do about gaming disorder and other screen time addictions
Technology addiction or screen time addiction is a family problem
How do you differentiate between typical teen behavior and serious overuse of technology?
Checking your own screen time usage
Recommendations for screen time at home
The importance of good sleep
How to roll out social media to a young teen
Screen time is an issue in every household
For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 14, 2024 • 46min
Eps 470: Positive Discipline concepts for the adolescent years
This week I am taking us back to the core concepts of PD. For some of you, it will be a review, for others, it will be no - no matter, this show is sure to take EVERYONE deeper in their thinking about how we be in relationships with our kids as they move through the season of adolescence.For more show notes and sponsor info click here.To jump into the FB Group and share your takeaways, click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 11, 2024 • 45min
Eps 469: Endurance and evolution - The Art of Connected Parenting, part 6
Join Alanna Beebe, Julietta Skoog, & Casey O’Roarty, the three founders of Sproutable, as we dig deeper into finding the why of the work we do. This is the last episode of this limited series, and we’re excited to talk about leaning into perseverance. Parenting is messy! We’ve got to keep our growth mindset and get into the thick of it to build grit, resilience, and to evolve as parents. Get in the ring with these kiddos. Engage! We’re not going to get it exactly right; it’s going to be messy, and that’s part of the work. So often, we just want to get back to comfort, and we use our easiest tools without a pause to see what the situation really called for. Kids need for us to be in discomfort with them, not fix it for them! Alanna explains what mirror neurons are, where our empathy comes from, and why it’s so hard for us when our child(ren) are losing it. Casey digs into how our own history and inner-child affects our parenting, and Julietta shares what signals we need to keep our eyes open for. We often talk about fostering a growth mindset in our children, but how do we lean into a grown mindset when it comes to our parenting style? This is real neuroscience, and everyone can grow and change. What do you do when something doesn’t work? What can you learn in those tough moments and the parenting mistakes? You are capable of this! We wrap the Founders Series with a metaphor that we started with - how do we set our kids up for adulthood with a U-Haul full of tools instead of a U-Haul full of trauma? Kids don’t have to learn from painful experiences. We can teach life skills in a way that sets our child(ren) up with a loving, encouraging inner voice. We can be grateful for what we learned from our parents and still choose to parent differently. Takeaways from the show:
Leaning into perseverance
Fine tuning our inner listening
What does this moment actually need?
Being uncomfortable with your child
Truly accepting your kids starts with acceptance of yourself
Mirror neurons & empathy
Growth mindset
Staying hopeful
“We choose the challenge.”
Assuming positive intent, explaining intention, and collaborating with your child
“You get to choose what’s hard.”
Setting our kids up with a U-Haul of tools, not a U-Haul of trauma
Gratitude for the lessons your parents taught you (and choosing to parent differently)
There’s never been a better time for a parenting revolution, and we’re gaining momentum & resources
Dignity & respect for all
Sproutable’s mission statement
For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 7, 2024 • 49min
Eps 468: Teens, tweens and screens
Today I am attempting to have a conversation with listeners about the messiness being in relationship with our adolescents relationship with their screens. I know. It's so much - so annoying and not going anywhere and impossible and all the things. Or maybe you have it handled, if so shoot me a message and teach me your wisdom.If you have a tween or a teen, my guess is that you have some opinions on this whole thing - listen in to today's show to hear my take.For more shownotes and info about sponsors, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/Eps-468-Teens-tweens-and-screensTo check out the Teens and Screens mini summit, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/teens/positive-discipline-course-online/teens-screens/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 4, 2024 • 57min
Eps 467: Dropping into the practice - The Art of Connected Parenting, part 5
Join Alanna Beebe, Julietta Skoog, & Casey O’Roarty, the three founders of Sproutable, as we dig deeper into finding the why of the work we do. This week, we’re talking about when we’re doing all “the right” parenting moves, but we’re STILL having challenges. Spoiler alert: the challenges will change, but there will always be challenges. What we can change is how we handle, experience, & grow through those challenges. ALL families and ALL children bring challenges - it’s typical, it’s normal, it’s developmental. Julietta explains what the Continuum of Change is and why conscious parenting takes so much time, effort, & intention. It’s not easy! Julietta shares a detailed recounting of helping one of her children through a serious phobia and why she always has a dog treat in her pocket! We get into the importance of family meetings, helping children through anxiety, and how and when to hand the reins over to children to solve their problems. Casey shares a story about her son, and how we get to keep practicing these skills with our older children. We wrap today with a lovely quote from Maya Angelou and an invitation to envision showing up in a different way. The only thing you can control is how you show up. Join us next week for the last episode in the Founder Series and a deep dive into perseverance for the long term. Takeaways from the show
Challenges change, but they will always be there
“Magic 8”
What is useful? What is helpful?
Understanding where your child is developmentally
Being firm without being harmful
The Continuum of Change
Family Meetings
When and how to know when to let your child lead
Slice it thinner: What do you want? What’s your plan?
Trusting your child(ren)’s gifts & skills
Intrinsic motivation & practicing skills in the safety of home
They’ve got it! And if they don’t, they will figure it out!
“Fiercely committed, lovingly detached”
“This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before.” - Maya Angelou
For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 29, 2024 • 42min
Eps 466: Consciously practicing connection, curiosity, and presence with ourselves and others
Back again on the ride of the messiness of humaning. This week I am all of the place and talk about all the things that are showing up with parents who are just stepping into this work of parenting teens differently, about the ever evolving relationships we have with ourselves and the people in our life, and even a little bit of Buddhism woven in... Check it out!You can find all the show notes and information about our sponsors at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/Eps-466-Consciously-practicing-connection-curiosity-and-presence-with-ourselves-and-others/Join the FB Group conversation by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 26, 2024 • 55min
Eps 465: Being intentional - The Art of Connected Parenting, part 4
Join Alanna Beebe, Julietta Skoog, & Casey O’Roarty, the three founders of Sproutable, as we dig deeper into finding the why of the work we do. This week, we’re talking about goals & intentionality. Now that we’ve had a chance in the series to talk about our own parenting stories, touched on what’s going on with the fear, shame, & guilt that we all feel, and shared some tips for being okay with the messiness of parenting, now we can dig into being intentional and defining our parenting goals. There’s lots we can do to control kids - yes, punishment can work short term. But we want to do better than that - we want to be intentional, conscious parents. We have to step back and ask, “Why are we doing this? What’s my goal here? What’s my long-term intention? What do I want to bring to life in this interaction?” It all comes back to teaching and skill-building.Takeaways from the show
Clarifying what your goal is
Discipline means to teach
We can’t control outcomes, but we can be intentional in our actions & what we bring to the dynamic
“What does this moment need?”
Sometimes we’re the ones in the way of what needs to be taught
Willingness lives inside of intentionality
Creating a family charter
This is a long-term game - no quick fixes in parenting
What about when our parenting partner or village have different goals than we do?
You’re not the only person who will teach your child
Experiences are how kids grow
For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 22, 2024 • 51min
Eps 464: Crushes, dating and developing critical thinking
Back again with another solo show inspired by a member of the Living Joyful Courage membership group and her request for something about adolescents and dating. 😳 It's one of the many exciting and terrifying age appropriate areas of exploration and discovery for our kiddos - and we get to show up in a way that encourages their critical thinking and growth. This show gets into that.Mentioned during the show was the Sex Ed for Parents of Teens mini summit. Click here for info.Share your thoughts in the Joyful Courage for Parents of Teens FB Group.Find more show notes and info about our sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 19, 2024 • 51min
Eps 463: Perspective and imperfection - The Art of Connected Parenting, part 3
Join Alanna Beebe, Julietta Skoog, & Casey O’Roarty, the three founders of Sproutable, as we dig deeper into finding the why of the work we do. This week, we’re talking about shifting our perspective & embracing imperfection so we can learn and grow as parents and humans. Embracing the challenges is hard! When we have our compass of understanding development & trusting connection, we can move away from the shame & guilt we talked about last week. Find all the show notes and links mentioned, as well as info about our sponsors at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-463-perspective-and-imperfection-the-art-of-connected-parenting-part-3/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices