Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens Casey O'Roarty

I am so excited about my guest today - Alyse Levine!  We have one of the foremost college counseling experts in the country here today sharing her wisdom and tips to help adolescents fulfill their college goals & dreams. 

Alyse shares why she’s so passionate about college admissions & working with young people, and I ask what was surprising for her when going through the college admissions process with her own kiddo recently.  We dig into all-things admissions related: testing, grades, college essays, rescinded offers, and virtual opportunities & internships.  I ask Alyse what teens should be doing during the summer and how to discern good opportunities & programs, and we wrap up this week talking about setting expectations for our adolescents and how motivating it is when people are learning something they’re excited about. 

Key Takeaways from the show

Why work with a college admissions specialist or counselor? 

FAFSA, Merit Money, & scholarships 

How has grading changed since we were in school? 

Colleges rescinding offers 

College is a safe place to make some mistakes & grow resiliency 

What should teens be doing during summer breaks? 

Virtual internships & experiences 

What to look for in good summer programs & offerings 

Authenticity during the college admissions process 

The motivation that comes when we are learning things we’re excited about 

“There is a home and a college for everyone”


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

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