Reframing Me - Self-Development & Parenting Teens for Midlife Moms

Your kids are growing up - but so are you. Reframing Me is the podcast for moms of teens ready to reframe family, identity, and self-development in midlife.

Parenting teens is hard -and parenting while rediscovering yourself in midlife can feel even harder. Reframing Me is the parenting podcast for moms raising teenagers who are also navigating the transition out of hands-on motherhood, identity shifts, and the search for balance, fulfillment, and self-development.

Hosted by Dr. Jennifer Brubaker, a Communication Studies professor, mom of three teens, and intrapersonal communication expert, each episode blends family communication strategies, honest conversations about parenting teens, and self-reflection tools to help moms strengthen family relationships while rediscovering who they are as women.

Together we’ll talk about the issues moms face but don’t always say out loud: changing family dynamics, feeling invisible, letting go of control, and creating new purpose. Through research, theory, and compassionate conversation, you’ll find support, strategies, and a sense of community in this season of parenting and personal growth.

Join the Reframing Me community to connect with other midlife moms, share your stories, and reframe how you see yourself, your family, and your future.

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

All Episodes

Reframing Me - Self-Development & Parenting Teens for Midlife Moms

Surviving Winter and the Second Semester Blues

February 04, 2025 • Jennifer Brubaker • Episode 182

0:00 | 46:12

Send a text

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
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!