Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens

This week’s podcast is a SOLO show!!Takeaways from the show: The refreshing new start of 2021 Relationships strengthening  Choosing into feeling grateful for things that exist in your life Possibilities of the present moment Practice returning to the present moment again and again Feelings about the new year What are you willing to surrender to this year What Joyful Courage stands for Growth is the purpose of everything in life Tending to relationships that matter in our life The importance of taking an opportunity to grow New mini summit with an opportunity of a VIP pass Think about what you want to create this year For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Ian O’Roarty.Ian is my youngest child, he turned 15 October 30th, and is a freshman in high school. He is the baby in the house, and taller than us all. He is passionate about basketball, loves his friends, and has melted my mama heart since day one. I say that Ian is my “positive discipline” kid because he was the one who was always game to create a routine, or role play a situation, he was willing.I’d say that Ian and I are very close, I will let him share his experience during the interview… He has always been really open with me, and it doesn’t seem like that is really anything that we haven’t talked about… He loves family time, when we are all together, and is super stoked to have his drivers permit.I am honored that he is willing to come share candidly with all of you on the podcast.Takeaways from the show: Coping with covid Challenges in the last year Being a close relationship with your parents Having a sibling who is going through mental health issues Messaging on swearing in our house Reading agreements Screen time  Thoughts from a teen about watching the Social Dilemma Video games and limits Managing screen time with online school What it means to Ian to “be a man” Toxic masculinity Goals for the future Advice to parents raising sons For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s podcast is a SOLO show!!!Takeaways from the show: Beta group Introducing the next mini summit Discovering your most authentic way of being Being responsible for yourself and how you show up Connection to self, family, and community Surrender to being imperfect Teens teach us that flexibility is imperative Trust that things are temporary Create a safe environment so your teen can share what they want from an authentic and open place Caregiving is always in motion Owning discovery around money Trusting the unfolding of life Be with what comes up, feel your feels For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Rowan O’Roarty.Rowan is my oldest child, she will be 18 in January, and one of my biggest teachers of personal growth. As we all do, we learn who we are as parents, through our relationships with our children. Rowan made me a mom, and continues to influence who I am in the world as I navigate what it means to mother her.Rowan has been through her own journey of personal discovery over the past few years, maneuvering mental health challenges, dropping out of school, completing her GED, and stepping in to big responsibility while her dad and I were gone for 2 months going through my husband's cancer treatment.I am honored that she is willing to come share herself and her journey so candidly with you all today.Takeaways from the show: Where the anxiety started When Rowan became aware of her anxiety Things we did that helped Rowan cope with depression and anxiety Panic attacks  Navigating anxiety attacks and how parents can be supportive What depression feels like Things parents can do that are helpful to their teen’s mental health Dialectical behavioral therapy Realizing only YOU can change your experience What Rowan has learned about herself these past few years Mental health and high school Rowan’s freshman year Opting into online school Dropping out of school and gaining parent’s support The GED test Plans for the future For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week is a SOLO show! Takeaways from the show: Gratitude Grow through what you go through Shifting to be grateful for the experiences you’re put through Working on self regulation Model for your kids what effective problem solving looks like Embodying the life you’re living Allowing fear or resentfulness to change into gratitude and strength Doing the work to be in a different headspace when the same problems show up Personal growth isn’t linear Practicing being mindful For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Jennifer Variste’s desire for pediatrics began at a very young age because her visits to her pediatrician were usually positive experiences. Later she fulfilled her dream and obtained her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She went on to complete a pediatric residency at UT Houston Health Science Center. After residency, she returned to practice in her hometown of College Station, Texas. Dr. Variste is grateful for the five years she spent treating families there and for the relationships and connections she made. She now practices in Spring, Texas at Family First Pediatrics. As a board-certified pediatrician her passion is to empower moms and dads to raise their kids to lead happy, healthy lives full of precious memories and discovery. She desires to create the same positive experiences for her patients that she had with her pediatrician as a young child.For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s episode was a solo show!!Takeaways from the show: The emotional experience of this past week Hope trust and gratitude Willingness to try something different Choosing to be your best self What it means to have hope Believing you can have what you want Embodying your beliefs Being intentional with your thoughts Manifesting what you want in life Right now is the time to feel connected Changing your inner dialogue so it aligns with what you want Our kids always long for belonging and significance Trusting the process Keeping the faith Being grateful for the challenges in 2020 Focusing on the good coming out of your struggles There is more than one path and narrative your teens will go on For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I am so excited to welcome my guest, Maureen Muldoon.Maureen is a a spiritual Pied Piper, shameless storyteller and speaker who is transforming the way people think of church, sex, spirituality, and creativity. Actress, author, activist, she celebrates the miracles that live beneath the mundane and is devoted to helping others to CREATE their most engaged and unapologetic life. Today we are going to talk about her experience of mothering a transgender son.Takeaways from the show: Raising a transgender child Coping with society’s opinions  A parent’s role in understanding  How acceptance changes your child Kids wanting to be acknowledged for how they seem themselves Self expression Sitting with the suicide rate as a mom of a transgender son Finding a greater peace of mind Letting go of deciding what identifiers you bring forth in your children Becoming aware of the ways you tell your narrative  Things parents without transgender kids don’t understand Being gentle to parents who don’t understand so they can be gentle to your child out in the world Keeping an open mind and an open space to listen to your child How you can be more supportive of families with transgender kids See you next week! :)Find Maureen:Website | SpeakEasy CommunityWhat does joyful courage mean to you?Joyful courage means innocence, where everyone's innocent. No one's guilty. Everyone's allowed to take up as much space as possible.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s podcast is a solo show!!Takeaways from the show: What is a trigger How our histories determine different triggers  Dealing with situations that trigger you Making it right after you get upset Breaking down what it feels like to get triggered Willingness to reflect on your own emotions  Being a good role model for handling emotions to your kids Teen’s moods affecting our own How our teens trigger us like no other Recognizing your experience  The importance of connecting with your kids Having compassion and curiosity while in conversation How crucial it is to stay nonjudgemental  See you next week! :) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bellamy Shoffner is a single parent, writer, and equity advocate specializing in fostering thoughtful connection and conversation among communities. Shoffner’s Revolutionary Humans produces a magazine, retreats, and free community events. All for parents and educators committed to social justice.This past summer the Joyful Courage community raised $800 in support of Bellamy and her work – I am so honored for the chance to connect with her here on the podcast.Takeaways from the show Social justice Passive reading vs. retaining the information Hold the Line magazine Teaching our kids to be accepting of each other's differences Creating a world where kids can are out of harm’s way based on any part of their identity Acceptance vs tolerance Challenges of being a single parent  How outside help isn’t always appreciated Teasing apart tokenization Putting in the work to understand social justice Key things parents can do to fold racial awareness into parenting their kids Taking people as they are and see what happens Having relationship with vulnerability Dealing with people who have opposing views  Find Bellamy:Website | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices