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
Surviving Winter and the Second Semester Blues
Thank you so much for being here! Here in North Carolina, the U.S., the Northern Hemisphere it has felt like the winteriest of winters, but we have passed the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, so yay, us! What's been lighting up these dark days for me? Literally, a Happy Light! and magnesium! and intermittent fasting! So let's chat about them all... and don't forget our teens! Why are they feeling the second semester blues?? Let's chat about that too!
Also, check out Diagnosis: Senioritis and Soiling the Nest
In this episode of Reframing Me, Dr. Jennifer Brubaker shares how to navigate the winter blues, maintain emotional wellness, and support teens experiencing second-semester struggles. She reflects on surviving the long stretch of January and highlights three key strategies that have helped her feel better physically and mentally:
- Intermittent Fasting – Balancing eating and fasting periods to improve brain function, energy levels, and overall well-being.
- Magnesium Supplementation – Addressing common deficiencies that contribute to stress, poor sleep, and muscle fatigue.
- Light Therapy – Using a Happy Light to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and regulate mood and energy.
Dr. Brubaker also dives into the reasons why teens may struggle in the second semester, including seasonal depression, academic fatigue, shifting social dynamics, homesickness, burnout, and uncertainty about the future. She offers practical strategies for parents to support their teens through open communication, validation, and mental health check-ins.
🔹 Listen now to learn how to make the rest of winter more manageable for you and your family!
Keywords: seasonal affective disorder, second semester blues, intermittent fasting, magnesium benefits, light therapy, teen mental health, family communication, parental support, academic fatigue, burnout recovery
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
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