Do you find yourself having mini adult meltdowns from time to time? Where you just lose it and yell and get angry for seemingly no reason? (the feeling of "breaking.") Or a strong sense that you just have to get out of the house, away from your life, no matter what.

When our kids go off to college for the first time, it's a HUGE and sudden shift in our relationship with them. Up until now, we've been able to protect and shelter them from the worst of what life has to offer. But now they are on their own for the first time. They might struggle to make friends. They might struggle to manage their schedule. And sometimes we feel so helpless.

You don't have to be helpless, but you do have the chance to learn a new kind of relationship with your child. Tune in to our conversation with Licensed Clinical Social Worker Catherine Johnson to learn what you can do to be a support for your child but also give them the room to spread their wings.

---

Thank you to our sponsor, Revere Health, for making this podcast possible. Learn more at www.reverehealth.com

One of the hardest things as parents is feeling helpless when we know our child has to come in contact with another adult who may be harsh or punitive. For example: if you are divorced and your child is court-ordered to spend weekends with their other parent. What can you possibly do to help your child feel strong, loved, and protected?

Today I talked with Kelli Stout, who works as a therapist at the Children's Justice Center in downtown Provo. Every day she supports the survivors of child abuse. She gives us ideas of how we can make our home a haven, how we can validate our child's right to their safety, and what's most important to do in our relationship with our child. Listen now to learn more.

------

Kelli also recommends two books for further reading: 1) The Yes Brain by Dan Siegel and Tina Payne and 2) What Happened to You by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry.

-----

Thank you to our sponsor, Revere Health, for making this podcast possible. Learn more at www.reverehealth.com

"The boundaries you set for your kid make more sense when you do feel connected to them."

A lot of us were parented in a very top-down way: "do what I say or you're grounded" kind of a mindset. 

You might feel like you want to do a different kind of parenting. But the shift is not an easy one! 

Today we're talking to a very average, but very stellar, parent Kristina Pexton. Kristina walks us through her journey of trying to figure out how to connect with her kids and give her best even when up against all the normal parts of being a human. You'll find some inspiration here for your own journey to being the kind of parent you really want to be.

In addition to being a parent who tries her best, Kristina is also the Family Life Commissioner for the Utah PTA.

---

Thank you to our sponsor, Revere Health, for making this podcast possible. Learn more at www.reverehealth.com

Your child's pediatrician is one of the most important players in supporting your child through anxiety or depression. They can prescribe medications, help you understand the chemical nature of what's happening with your child, and help you make sure all their physical needs are met (like helping them sleep or eat better). 

But how can you make this relationship as optimal as possible? What does a pediatrician want you to know about how to work with them? This week, I talk with family doctor Dr. Dana Munn from Revere Health about how you can partner with your child's doctor to figure out solutions that will be best for your child. 

---

Thank you to our sponsor, Revere Health, for making this podcast possible. Learn more at www.reverehealth.com

As we go out and teach EveryDay Strong in the community, there are a lot of parents who are very worried about their teenager who struggles to carry on a conversation. Basic social skills are the foundation for everything else in life, like getting a job or having meaningful relationships. But if you can't even talk to your teenager about how they can't talk to people, what are you supposed to do?

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Jay Snyder talks with us this week about how the difficulty itself can be the path forward. That might sound a little strange, so tune in now for wisdom about how creating safety and patience can help you unravel this tricky situation. 

------

Thank you to our sponsor, Revere Health, for making this podcast possible. Learn more at www.reverehealth.com

You probably know this feeling: a child in your life needs professional help but you have no idea where to start. Psychiatrist? Psychologist? Therapist? LCSW? LMFT? CMHC? What do these acronyms even mean? Will my insurance cover it? What do I do if I don't have insurance?

Listen now to hear Wendy's advice, and learn more about this program at www.namiut.org/resources/mentoring or by calling 801-323-9900 (M-F 9 AM - 4:15 PM).

Much gratitude to our Season 3 sponsor, Revere Health. Learn more at reverehealth.com.

This week I spoke with Rachel Mortensen, who currently serves as Miss Eagle Mountain, about what went well for her and her mental health during the pandemic. She shares some particularly insightful ideas about how having support beyond just your parents can make an incredible difference for our well-being. 

Bullying is something we don't ever want to see happen in our schools. Unfortunately, it still does from time to time. When it does, how can we meet the emotional needs of the kid being bullied? And how can we think about meeting the bully's needs for safety, connection, and confidence to help her or him make better choices? 

School counselor Lynnete Nielson gives us her perspective and some tricks.

---

Learn more about EveryDay Strong at www.everydaystrong.org. 

Homework procrastination. It haunts parents across the world. The fights at the kitchen table, the refusal to cooperate. Sometimes, though, this behavior can be a sign of deeper anxieties--or even minor trauma--that we don't know about.

So how can focusing on emotional security and a sense of peace and safety get better results with our kids' homework? Therapist Derek Larsen is here to tell us how he approaches this tough but all-too-common dilemma.

-----

Learn more about EveryDay Strong at www.everydaystrong.org