Growing Together- Navigating the Rollercoaster of Adolescence Together with Dr. Kimberley Palmiotto

Dr. Kimberley Palmiotto
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In "Growing Together," Dr. Kimberley Palmiotto guides moms through the ups and downs of raising tween and teen daughters. Each episode delves into the unique challenges and joys of adolescence, offering practical insights and expert advice to help mothers and daughters thrive together. With heartfelt conversations, expert guests, and real-world strategies, Dr. Palmiotto infuses her own experience as a mental health professional and mom of 4 girls to provide moms with the tools to understand their daughters’ development, foster open communication, and nurture resilient relationships. Tune in to discover how you can grow alongside your daughter in this transformative stage of life, tackling topics from friendship dynamics to emotional wellness, all while building a bond that lasts a lifetime. It's a rollercoaster, so let's ride it together!

  1. You Know Better...So Why Do You Still Lose It?

    APR 26

    You Know Better...So Why Do You Still Lose It?

    You’ve read the parenting books. You’ve listened to the podcasts. You know you’re supposed to stay calm, pause, and respond instead of react… so why does it all go out the window in the moment? In this honest and deeply relatable episode, we unpack the frustrating gap between knowing better and actually doing better when emotions run high with your daughter. If you’ve ever felt the surge of emotion rise before you can stop it… if you’ve walked away from an interaction thinking, “Why did I just lose it again?”… this conversation will help you start to understand why, and what might actually shift things in those heated moments. We’ll explore what’s really going on for you during conflict, why the tools you know don’t always feel accessible, and how to begin creating just enough space to respond differently, without expecting perfection. This episode isn’t about adding more pressure to “get it right.” It’s about giving you a new lens...one that replaces guilt with understanding, and overwhelm with small, powerful shifts. If you’re ready to stop questioning yourself and start approaching these moments with more awareness (and a lot more compassion), this one is for you ❤️

    10 min
  2. The Pressure to Sit It Out: Why Girls Choose Not to Participate

    APR 18

    The Pressure to Sit It Out: Why Girls Choose Not to Participate

    Why does your daughter suddenly back out of things she was excited about? One minute she’s making plans, picking out outfits, and looking forward to an event… and the next, it’s “boring,” “childish,” or “not a big deal.” In this episode, we unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface, and why this behavior is far more about brain development than attitude or indecision. Using a real-life example, Dr Kim walks you through two powerful and contrasting moments: A group of girls who chose not to go after peer influence shifted the narrative A group of younger girls who showed up, initially disengaged, but stayed long enough to experience a shift into connection and fun Through the lens of neuroscience, you’ll learn how the adolescent brain is wired to prioritize social belonging over enjoyment, and why experiences that might be fun can suddenly feel socially risky. You’ll also gain insight into: * Why girls label things as “boring” when it’s actually about fear of judgment * How peer pressure today often looks like pressure to not participate * What’s happening in your daughter’s brain when she scans, withdraws, or follows the group * The critical role of “staying power” in helping girls move from discomfort to enjoyment * How to support your daughter in building confidence, authenticity, and resilience in social situations Most importantly, this episode will help you shift your perspective, from frustration to understanding, so you can guide your daughter without pushing her away or dismissing the very real social pressures she’s navigating.

    13 min
  3. The Power of the Pause: Why Conversations With Your Teen Escalate So Fast

    MAR 14

    The Power of the Pause: Why Conversations With Your Teen Escalate So Fast

    Parenting teen girls can bring up big emotions, for them and for us. In this episode, Dr. Kimberly Palmiotto explores why conflict with our daughters can activate our nervous system so quickly and how a simple but powerful tool can change everything. Instead of reacting in the heat of the moment, learning to pause allows our brain to regulate, our voice to return to clarity, and our relationship with our daughter to stay intact. You’ll learn why pausing isn’t weakness, how it helps bring your thinking brain back online, and a simple three-breath tool you can use in real-time during tense parenting moments.

    12 min
  4. Raising Sexually Healthy Teens: Real Sex Ed Conversations That Work

    MAR 5

    Raising Sexually Healthy Teens: Real Sex Ed Conversations That Work

    Sex education with tweens and teens can feel so uncomfortable—especially when your daughter starts asking personal questions, sees something online, or starts dating. In this episode of The Nurturing Girls Podcast, Dr. Kimberley Palmiotto is joined by therapist and sex therapist Jillian Amodio for an honest, practical conversation about how to talk to your daughter about sex in a way that’s clear, compassionate, and grounded in real life. Together, they break down how sex ed is not one “big talk,” but an ongoing conversation that starts earlier than most parents think, beginning with anatomically correct language and building into deeper discussions as your child grows. Jillian shares how parents can check their own discomfort, shame, or fear first, and how to create a home where questions aren’t punished, so your daughter feels safe coming to you. You’ll also hear guidance on some of the most high-stakes topics facing teens today, including: * Consent (including how age of consent laws impact teen relationships) * Safe sex, STI prevention, and pregnancy prevention * Emotional readiness, pressure, and how to support your teen in making informed choices * Sex as both reproduction and pleasure, and why body knowledge matters * The reality of pornography as sex education, accidental exposure, and how it impacts dating * Sexting, digital safety, and why shame-based reactions shut teens down when they need you most If you’re a parent raising a tween or teen girl and you want to feel more confident talking about teen sexuality, boundaries, healthy relationships, online risks, and consent, this episode is your starting point. Find out more about Jillian at; www.JillianAmodio.com

    42 min
  5. Why Middle School Feels So Hard (And What’s Really Happening)

    JAN 16

    Why Middle School Feels So Hard (And What’s Really Happening)

    Middle school can feel like everything is falling apart, but what if it’s not a breakdown at all? In this episode, Dr. Kim reframes middle school, and puberty a renegotiation in the parent–child relationship. As your daughter’s brain undergoes major developmental changes, she’s wired to seek autonomy, peer belonging, and independence, often before she has the ability to use consistent emotional regulation. At the same time, this stage can activate our own unfinished business from adolescence, making the transition feel deeply personal and emotionally intense. Drawing on neuroscience, and research this episode explores: * What’s actually happening in the middle school brain * Why your nervous system gets activated right alongside your daughter’s * How autonomy, competence, and connection can coexist * Why control increases conflict—and connection supports regulation * How emotionally attuned parenting, curiosity, and repair build long-term trust You’ll leave understanding that this stage invites you to shift from control to presence and become her home base. Reflective, validating, and deeply supportive, this episode is for any parent who feels shaken by the middle school years and wants to stay connected without losing themselves in the process. Middle school is hard, but you’re not alone. www.NurturingGirls.com/RootandRise

    14 min
  6. When Holiday Magic Meets Holiday Meltdowns

    12/17/2025

    When Holiday Magic Meets Holiday Meltdowns

    The holidays are supposed to feel magical , but for many of us, they also bring overwhelm, moodiness, and emotional meltdowns with our teen girls. In this episode, we unpack why girls often struggle more during the holiday season and why what looks like attitude or ungratefulness is usually a nervous system that’s reached its limit. Between overstimulation, disrupted routines, social pressure, and emotional expectations, girls’ developing brains are pushed hard this time of year. And when their emotional bandwidth runs out, it often shows up as irritability, withdrawal, or sudden reactivity. You’ll learn: * How to recognize the difference between disrespect and dysregulation * What research says about emotional overload, routines, and regulation in girls * Practical, gentle ways moms can support their daughters without escalating conflict * Simple tools to help both you and your daughter feel calmer, more grounded, and more connected during the holidays This episode is a reminder that nothing is wrong with your daughter (or with you). She doesn’t need a perfect holiday, just understanding, predictability, and a safe place to land. If you’re parenting a tween or teen girl and the holidays feel emotionally intense, this episode will help you reframe what you’re seeing and respond with confidence, compassion, and connection.

    19 min
  7. Helping Girls Navigate Friendship Stress - with Coach Sheri

    11/25/2025

    Helping Girls Navigate Friendship Stress - with Coach Sheri

    In this episode, I sit down with Coach Sheri, from Teen-Wise, to unpack one of the most misunderstood challenges girls face today: relational aggression, the subtle but painful world of exclusion, friendship breakups, drama cycles, and the unspoken pressure girls feel to fit in. Sheri explains how relational aggression actually begins long before middle school, and then intensifies as girls become more emotionally invested in friendships. We explore why middle school becomes the “practice arena” for conflict, why even college-aged girls still struggle with mean girl dynamics, and how “mama drama” often reflects unresolved patterns from our own teen years . You’ll hear us break down: * Why exclusion hurts so deeply and what’s really happening when girls are ghosted or left out * Friendship breakups in middle school, why they happen, why they feel shocking, and how girls often use meanness to avoid difficult conversations *What moms should do first when their daughter is hurting (hint: support before solutions) * The loneliness spiral — and how to help girls avoid letting loneliness become their identity * ADHD as a friendship superpower and how girls with ADHD can harness their natural loyalty, enthusiasm, and connection skills without overwhelming peers It is a jam packed, but quick listen so, If you’re navigating girl drama, friendship changes, or emotional ups and downs in your home, this conversation will give you some clarity and compassion to understand and start helping your daughter.

    16 min
  8. Raising Her Without Losing You- Navigating Middle School Part 4

    11/04/2025

    Raising Her Without Losing You- Navigating Middle School Part 4

    Middle school is a season of deep change, not just for your daughter, but for you, as her mom. In the final episode of this 4-part series, Dr. Kimberly Palmiotto shifts the spotlight back to the heart of it all: Us as Moms. While your daughter is growing into herself, you may find yourself triggered, exhausted, or wondering where you went in the process. In this episode, we explore: * Why middle school can reactivate your own adolescent wounds * The emotional labor of mothering a tween girl (and why you feel so tired) * How to avoid self-abandonment while still showing up for her * The difference between modeling self-sacrifice and modeling self-respect * Three practical tools for grounding, boundary-setting, and emotional self-check-ins You'll also be invited into a powerful reflection practice to connect with your future self, the one who’s on the other side of this chapter and grateful for how you stayed grounded in your own growth, too. Because you’re not the same mom you were when she was little, and that’s a good thing! You're growing, too. And she needs to see that.

    15 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

In "Growing Together," Dr. Kimberley Palmiotto guides moms through the ups and downs of raising tween and teen daughters. Each episode delves into the unique challenges and joys of adolescence, offering practical insights and expert advice to help mothers and daughters thrive together. With heartfelt conversations, expert guests, and real-world strategies, Dr. Palmiotto infuses her own experience as a mental health professional and mom of 4 girls to provide moms with the tools to understand their daughters’ development, foster open communication, and nurture resilient relationships. Tune in to discover how you can grow alongside your daughter in this transformative stage of life, tackling topics from friendship dynamics to emotional wellness, all while building a bond that lasts a lifetime. It's a rollercoaster, so let's ride it together!

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