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
Jen is Zen - The kind of person who...
Have you ever let go of the limiting beliefs holding you back and truly allowed yourself to dream? In this Jen is Zen episode, we explore what happens when you suspend your disbelief and give yourself permission to imagine the life you truly want.
We often think self-esteem comes from achieving big milestones—landing the job, losing the weight, earning the degree—but true confidence is built in the small, daily commitments we make to ourselves. The way we treat ourselves when no one is watching, the tiny habits we follow through on, and the promises we keep to ourselves shape the way we see who we are.
In this episode, we ask:
🔹 What kind of person do I need to become to have the life I want?
🔹 How do I shift the stories I tell myself about what’s possible?
🔹 What is one small daily action I can take to start trusting myself more?
By building the habit of keeping small promises—whether it’s making your bed, drinking more water, or sticking to a simple self-care routine—you create a new narrative of self-trust and empowerment. Because you are the kind of person who follows through. And that is where real transformation begins.
So today, I challenge you to suspend your disbelief. Dream big. Then, take one small step toward becoming the version of yourself who actually lives that dream.
✨ Join the March Matrenaissance movement! If you haven’t already, listen to the main Matrenaissance episode from last week, and stay tuned as I bring you conversations with women just like you—women who have transformed their lives and are ready to share what they’ve learned.
📢 Let’s keep the conversation going!
💌 Take the Matrenaissance survey: www.reframing-me.com
📲 Follow along @ReframingMe everywhere
📧 Want to share your story? Email me at jen@reframing-me.com
You are the kind of person who…? Let’s rewrite that story together.
Please help me with my Matrenaissance Identity Theory of Communication research by completing a completely anonymous survey at https://forms.gle/WunxbwZ7L1MmvWEF6
This research has been approved by the UNCW Institutional Review Board.
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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