My guests today are Ed Center and Jaimie Kelton, and they’re answering questions from YOU! This is a juicy one - we get into how to react when your LGBTQIA+ teen comes out, whose news that is to share with others, and what to do when people who don’t treat our adolescent(s) the way we’d like (cue Mama Bear). The latter half of the episode gets into online safety & pornography, the importance of knowing queer role models in real life, using TV & books as teaching tools, and talking about sex with our queer kids.Takeaways from the show What’s the preferred and most up-to-date language and acronym? Do we say queer?  What can straight parents do to best support their questioning or queer teen?  Coming out stories and reactions - whose news is this to share?  Coming out is an ongoing process. It is hard & scary!  We all hold internalized homophobia How do we handle family or friends who don’t support our queer teen?  “Choose love, choose love, choose love.”  Online safety  The importance of knowing real-life queer role models  Sex-ed & sex talks with our queer kids  Consent versus enthusiastic consent For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join me today and consider how we can better be with the unfolding. So many in the Joyful Courage community are moving through big things with their adolescents right now - end of school year, transition into summer, teen risk taking, having a tough time with relationship - it is all real and relevent. AND, what if the contrast and discomfort we're feeling is an indicator that we can expand our mindset and try and see things in a new way?For show notes and info about sponsors, go to https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-494-having-faith-when-we-feel-out-of-control/Join the Joyful Courage for Parents of Teens FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jcforparentsofteens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is my dear friend and the cofounder & managing director at Sproutable, Alanna Beebe! You’ll recognize Alanna from the Art of Connected Parenting series we did earlier this year.  I’m so excited that Alanna is here to kick off Pride! Alanna is an amazing parent, and she’s here to share some of her child’s gender journey with us. Alanna’s child, was born male, transitioned to female around age 3, and more recently has transitioned to nonbinary. I have so many questions for Alanna, and although her child is still an elementary-schooler, we can still learn from so much Alanna does and how she holds space for her own child. I ask how a 3 or 4 year old knows their gender, what going through this process was like for her as a mother, and where her fears & hopes are.  We hit on a lot this week: inclusive conversations & language, the political aspects that play in, how to best support your kiddo when unkind or unsafe things happen, how to make sure your message of love is getting through, using gender-neutral language, and how it looks differently supporting transgender teens versus transgender children. Takeaways from the show Alanna shares her child’s gender journey with us “Our kids can’t be in the world what they can’t see.”  What age do kids start to notice and identify with a gender?   What comes up for us as adults when we see our child(ren) questioning or transitioning their gender?   How do we have those constant, hard conversations around gender?   Making home a safe, loving place to come back to - as a parent, you are their safe space  How to stop yourself from future tripping (spoiler: it comes back to teaching those life skills!)  “All you have to do is love and accept the kid that’s in front of you.”  Transitioning is not rebelling!    What happens when we pushback? What happens when we give them space?  Supporting transgender teens & adolescents (even when we’re feeling fearful & unsure) For more details, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alright... We are going a bit sideways today. Or are we? Maybe we are going in the perfect direction... You'll have to let me know. I am sharing about our personal practice of dropping in with what is real and relevant for me as I work to drop into the present moment and be who I need to be for myself and others. Having a practice is what keeps me focused in on what matters most to me, it helps me to keep my inner compass pointed in the direction I live towards... We get a bit woo woo this week but I trust you to hear the takeaways you need.Find more about the episode and sponsors at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-492-exploring-inspiration-and-soul-care-on-the-journey-of-parenting-teens/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former school teachers turned homeschool advocates Maren Goerss and Angela Sizer discuss collaborating with teens on learning, effects of homeschooling post-Covid, school refusal, trusting kids with education choices, disinterested learners, grades purpose, leaning into strengths as a parent, and homeschooling kids with learning differences. Check out their book 'Think Differently about Learning' for more insights.

Drop in with me to explore what it takes to be with the ebb and flow of the season of parenting teens and tweens. It isn't for the faint of heart and it absolutely requires our development of self awareness, reflection and endurance. We have the power to shift how we are experiencing the challenges that are showing up with our young people if we are willing to go there. Listen to this episode for inspiration on the HOW.Find show notes and info about our sponsors at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-490-endurance-personal-growth-and-intersecting-with-our-adolescents-experienceJoin the discussion in the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jcforparentsofteens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Dr. Jenn Noble, and she’s here to talk about adolescent identity development and support us all in broadening our lens around the experience of mixed race kids and families.Dr. Jenn helps parents to see who their kids really are and helps teens express who they are to their parents. We all know teen identity development is a total rollercoaster! On one hand, we know our adolescents are growing up, but we sure like to hang onto who they were as children. Their experiences and perspectives are real, but they’re often dismissed.  As we dig into adolescent identity development, and Dr. Jenn reminds us that part of a teen’s job is to explore things, try things out, and push back with a safe place to land. I ask Dr. Jenn what parents can do to invite your teens to talk to you, how adolescents can read our agendas (even when we think we’re being open-minded!), and how this plays out differently in mixed race households.Takeaways from the show What should parents know about adolescent identity development?  Broadening our lens around the experience of mixed race kids and families Seeing your kid for who they are - how do we really get to know & see them?  Negative stereotypes around teens  Teens need to try & explore new things with a safe place to land  What makes adolescents feel open to talking and sharing more with parents  Code switching (cognitive flexibility)  Teens are seeking groups and are very sensitive to rejection  How can we best show up for mixed race teens?  Authentically affirming & complimenting teens’ experiences For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As our teens continue to get older, our role in relationship with them changes. It is hard to know where to lean in and where to let go. The good news is there is no "right way" to parent through the second half of the teen years and beyond - instead, we get to become ever better at intuiting what it is our young people need. During this episode, I go through the different eras of later adolescence and offer my thoughts on useful ways of showing up. Can't wait to hear what you think!Find all the show notes at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-488-thoughts-about-parenting-our-older-teens-and-baby-adults/Join the Joyful Courage Parents of Teens FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jcforparentsofteens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am so excited about my guest today - Alyse Levine!  We have one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country here today sharing her wisdom and tips to help adolescents fulfill their college goals & dreams. Alyse shares why she’s so passionate about college admissions & working with young people, and I ask what was surprising for her when going through the college admissions process with her own kiddo recently.  We dig into all-things admissions related: testing, grades, college essays, rescinded offers, and virtual opportunities & internships.  I ask Alyse what teens should be doing during the summer and how to discern good opportunities & programs, and we wrap up this week talking about setting expectations for our adolescents and how motivating it is when people are learning something they’re excited about.  Key Takeaways from the show Why work with a college admissions specialist or counselor?  FAFSA, Merit Money, & scholarships  How has grading changed since we were in school?  Colleges rescinding offers  College is a safe place to make some mistakes & grow resiliency  What should teens be doing during summer breaks?  Virtual internships & experiences  What to look for in good summer programs & offerings  Authenticity during the college admissions process  The motivation that comes when we are learning things we’re excited about  “There is a home and a college for everyone” For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surprise!!! My girl and podcast fave, Julietta Skoog, joins me today on a special Thursday show where we come down off of our high from leading our first ever Sproutable Retreat on the gorgeous California Coast. We talk about the highlights from the weekend as well as the power of parenting in community, creating time and structure for our own self-care, and shared a few funny stories... Listen in and let me know what you think.Find all the show notes and info about our sponsors here: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/Eps-486-The-beauty-of-parenting-in-community-with-Julietta-Skoog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices