Reframing Me
So many prepare us for the transition to motherhood, but no one prepares us for how hard the transition out is, and once our kids become teens, it also can feel very solitary. The issues we face with teens are often ones we need to talk about, yet feel we can't or shouldn't. Together, we can create a community of women who, faced with growing children and changing families, are relearning how to mom, and relearning who they are as women. Grounded in family communication theory, join Dr. Jennifer Brubaker to have those conversations to help you better understand this new chapter of your life. Episodes focus on both family communication with our teens and reflection and self discovery. Dr. Brubaker has her Ph.D in Communication Studies and is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she has taught for 17 years. Prior to UNCW, she taught at The Ohio State University, Kent State University and the University of Toledo. Originally from Ohio, Jen lives in Wilmington, NC, with her husband, three children, three dogs, cat and a menagerie of small animals. She loves spending time with her family, traveling and all things fitness, sports and wellness. Reach out with your questions, issues or experiences to begin the conversation. Or reach out to say hi and let me know you’re listening :) Join the Reframing Me: The Podcast Community Facebook group to connect with others who are looking to relearn how to parent, now that their kids are teens, and rediscover who they are as women, beyond the framework of motherhood. Send emails to jen@reframing-me.com; or on socials: Reframing Me on FacebookAND join the Facebook group Reframing Me: The Podcast Community; @reframingme on Instagram; Reframing Me on YouTube @reframingme on TikTok
Reframing Me
New Year, Same Me: Top 10 Tips for Parenting Teens
Welcome to 2025!
Happy New Year! Apparently, today is National Quitters' Day because it's the time (one week-ish into the new year) when people fall from their resolutions, which is why, we should abandon "new year, new me" and embrace "new year, same me, new mindset." In this first podcast episode of the year, we discuss a top 10, best of, practical parenting strategies to build stronger, more positive relationships with our teenagers in the new year. The list encourages parents to focus on personal growth through gratitude and mindset shifts instead of traditional New Year’s resolutions. Key advice includes not taking teens' behavior personally, actively listening, showing trust, validating emotions, and balancing stability with flexibility in family dynamics. The episode emphasizes creating a supportive environment by staying calm, offering space, and accepting teens for who they are. It also highlights how raising your personal energy and mindset positively impacts family relationships, encouraging parents to "be the thermostat, not the thermometer" in their homes (last year's intention) and focus on being "grateful for the opportunity" and that "belief is the thermostat for what we can achieve" (which are intentions I am still considering for this year).
Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @reframingme and on TikTok @reframingme
I hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a review, catch up on any missed episodes, and be sure to follow the show, so you don't miss new content!
