Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens Casey O'Roarty

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
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My guests today are Jaya Ramesh and Priya Saaral. Jaya and Priya have a lot in common, including being the co-authors of their new book, “Parenting at the Intersections.” This is a deeply emotional topic for them, both personally and professionally.  

Many people are discussing the experience of neurodivergence, and many people are discussing being a person of color, but where are the resources for neurodivergent people of color? Jaya and Priya have so much wisdom to share, from asking for what your child needs until they get it, what people who aren’t raising neurodivergent children of color need to know, and why & how to be there for all kids, not just your kid. 

We dig deep into how we can expand our definition of what’s “normal,” so that we can be less judgmental, especially when there are systems in place working against that, and how hard it can be for adolescents to find their strengths when we are so focused on deficits.  

Takeaways from the show

How do you hold the feedback about your child from their school? 

How do you make it work when public school is the only option? 

Asking for what you or your child(ren) needs until you get it 

Checking your biases

What do people who aren’t raising neurodivergent children of color need to know? 

Being curious, empathetic, & compassionate 

Being in it for all kids, not just your kid 

Expanding our definition of “normal” so we can be less judgmental 

Moving away from neurotypical expectations, narratives, & timelines 

Holding that space for our child(ren) when they show up differently


For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.
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Ooh, I have some fun during this week's solo show... If I could go back to parenting my kids through middle school I would take my own advice and do it differently. The beauty of hindsight. Lucky for YOU I am sharing all of my thoughts around parenting during middle school years today on the show!
Find the full show notes and info about sponsors at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/Eps-484-the-real-work-of-parenting-during-the-middle-school-years
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My friend Douglas Haddad is here this week to chat about all things middle school, with a focus on encouraging discouraged learners.  

Douglas has been teaching for over 24 years (at ONE school!), and I love his commitment to his students. Douglas shares what he’s seen changing during that period, like higher anxiety & social media misuse, and what’s stayed the same, like a child’s need to feel loved, heard, and understood.   

Douglas shares his wisdom on keeping middle schoolers encouraged & engaged: making sure they understand the systems in place around them, how we can help when our kid isn’t connecting with a teacher, collaborating on family agreements, and helping our tweens grow their tolerance for discomfort.  

Takeaways from the show

What’s different between middle school today & when you were a tween? 

“Loved, heard, and understood” 

What does discouragement look like in the classroom? 

Wait Until 8th Pledge 

Does your child know & understand the systems in place around them? 

How to help foster connection between your child & their teachers 

Family contracts, charters, agreements, & meetings 

Being available without an agenda or judgment 

Setting & celebrating small goals 

Scaffolding for our kiddos to grow their tolerance for discomfort


For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.
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It is so easy, when we aren't paying attention, to let our minds slide into all the worst-case scenarios, the worst possible outcomes, "dead in a ditch." I know, I've been there, and it ISN'T USEFUL. It isn't an empowered or encouraged parenting mindset during the teen years. So how do we shift?? Listen to this episode and find out!

Get more show notes and info about sponsors at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/Eps-482-Shifting-from-worst-case-scenarios-to-trusting-process-teens/

Join the FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jcforparentsofteens
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Amy & Christy are back for part 2 of our conversation, and we’re talking about pornography.  

Please believe us: your kid is going to see porn. Some families are more aware & ready for this moment than others, so what can you do and say to prepare? You can’t prevent the exposure or know how your child will react, but we can get ready for it and start the conversation now. Pornography is all over the place and often hidden, and unfortunately kids view that as Sex Ed & think that pornography is what sex with a partner will be like for them - they assume that hardcore porn is real life. Seeing these images train their brain; watching porn today is very different from running into an issue of Playboy when we were kids, and it’s impossible to avoid.  

So what do we say to our kids? What’s the magic word? Christy shares the way she uses values to talk to her teen, and Amy explains how to keep the conversation around other kids to break through to your own teen. We touch on monitoring software & sugar dating. The good news here is that there are many resources available for families to use, and it can get better. 

Takeaways from the show

Your kids will see pornography 

Pornography is different than when you were a kid 

Kids often keep it a secret if they see pornographic material. Let them know they won’t be in trouble!  

Pornography is often in hidden, unexpected spaces

Kids see pornography as Sex Ed 

Pornography trains their growing brain - including the themes of misogyny, racism, & shame around their bodies 

Don’t tell yourself, “it won’t happen to my kid” 

Porn is harder to avoid today than it was to find in the ‘80s 

What do we say to our kids about this? 

Conversations about pornography need to start early - earlier than you think! Keep them short & frequent

Using monitoring software


For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.
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