Family Confidential: Secrets of Successful Parenting with Annie Fox, M.Ed.

Is homophobia and gender-based teasing and bullying just "part of being a teen?" Or is that attitude part of the problem rather than part of the solution? Elizabeth J. Meyer, Ph.D. was a high school teacher for five years. The peer harassment she observed at her school led to her researching the connection between harassment, sexism, and homophobia. Annie and Liz discuss ways parents and educators can effectively support targeted students while helping harassers understand why their behavior is unacceptable.

About Elizabeth J. Meyer

Dr. Elizabeth J. Meyer has been working in and with K-12 schools as a professional educator since 1993. She is currently a professor in the School of Education at California Polytechnic State University and the author of Gender, Bullying, and Harassment: Strategies to End Sexism and Homophobia in Schools and Supporting Transgender & Gender Creative Youth: Schools, Families and Communities in Action. She gives presentations on related issues including: bullying & harassment (including cyber-bullying), law & policy, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) peoples' rights and inclusion to help develop safer and more inclusive school environments.

Dr. Meyer's current research include: understanding teachers' knowledge about gender and sexual diversity issues, understanding the experiences of gender creative and transgender youth in schools, implementing Seth's Law (AB 9) and the FAIR Education Act (California), and supporting youth leadership and community based social action. Learn more at http://ElizabethJMeyer.com.

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to good old Ben Franklin, we have a long tradition of public libraries in America. If you don't have one in your town, you've got one somewhere in your county. If you live in a large city, you've got many neighborhood branches to choose from. Go visit the library with your kids. They'll be welcomed by a librarian who encourages them to explore the books and bring home an armload. Library books open worlds for kids and they're free! Annie talks with children's librarian, Michelle Coxford, about the tremendous benefits of reading to your children and having your children read to you.

About Michelle Coxford

Michelle Coxford is the mom of two young boys, an avid reader, and the Regional Children's Librarian for Stanislaus County, California. In addition to her children's library duties, she provides Early Literacy lectures to local school district, Head Starts, and other community organizations. Michelle developed the "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" program currently being piloted in the Ceres branch library in Ceres, California.

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to good old Ben Franklin, we have a long tradition of public libraries in America. If you don't have one in your town, you've got one somewhere in your county. If you live in a large city, you've got many neighborhood branches to choose from. Go visit the library with your kids. They'll be welcomed by a librarian who encourages them to explore the books and bring home an armload. Library books open worlds for kids and they're free! Annie talks with children's librarian, Michelle Coxford, about the tremendous benefits of reading to your children and having your children read to you.

About Michelle Coxford

Michelle Coxford is the mom of two young boys, an avid reader, and the Regional Children's Librarian for Stanislaus County, California. In addition to her children's library duties, she provides Early Literacy lectures to local school district, Head Starts, and other community organizations. Michelle developed the "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" program currently being piloted in the Ceres branch library in Ceres, California.

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Tiffany Shlain admittedly loves technology. She has made a career of exploring how technology impacts our brain, our society, and our relationships. And yet, she says that the weekly Technology Shabbat she and her family practice, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, is "the best day of the week. Unplugging for a day makes time slow down and makes me feel more present with my family." Annie talks with Tiffany about the benefits of unplugging from the screen and tips for parents on how to bring the gift to of Technology Shabbat to every family.

About Tiffany Shlain

Tiffany Shlain is a filmmaker, founder of The Webby Awards, author, and speaker whose work explores navigating our connected world and thoughts on how to shape our future. She has been honored by Newsweek as one of the "Women Shaping the 21st Century" and singled out by NPR on their list of "Best Commencement Speeches, Ever." Tiffany's Emmy nominated hit series on AOL, The Future Starts Here, received over 20 million views and was just renewed for a second season launching Fall 2014. Check out two of The Future Starts Here episodes, Technology Shabbat and Tech Etiquette. Learn more about Tiffany Shlain at http://MoxieInstitute.org and http://TiffanyShlain.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Tiffany Shlain admittedly loves technology. She has made a career of exploring how technology impacts our brain, our society, and our relationships. And yet, she says that the weekly Technology Shabbat she and her family practice, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, is "the best day of the week. Unplugging for a day makes time slow down and makes me feel more present with my family." Annie talks with Tiffany about the benefits of unplugging from the screen and tips for parents on how to bring the gift to of Technology Shabbat to every family.

About Tiffany Shlain

Tiffany Shlain is a filmmaker, founder of The Webby Awards, author, and speaker whose work explores navigating our connected world and thoughts on how to shape our future. She has been honored by Newsweek as one of the "Women Shaping the 21st Century" and singled out by NPR on their list of "Best Commencement Speeches, Ever." Tiffany's Emmy nominated hit series on AOL, The Future Starts Here, received over 20 million views and was just renewed for a second season launching Fall 2014. Check out two of The Future Starts Here episodes, Technology Shabbat and Tech Etiquette. Learn more about Tiffany Shlain at http://MoxieInstitute.org and http://TiffanyShlain.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

When a child has a disability, each member of the family (including siblings) is powerfully affected. Annie talks with author Rachel Simon about her award-winning memoir, Riding the Bus With My Sister. They discuss Rachel's complex relationship with her sister Beth, an endearing, feisty, and independent woman who has an intellectual disability. They also talk about the Sibling Community and the support and resources they offer families and kids. This unpublished conversation was originally recorded on October 13, 2010.

About Rachel Simon

Rachel Simon is the award-winning author of six books and a nationally-recognized public speaker on issues related to diversity and disability. Her titles include The House on Teacher's Lane and the bestsellers The Story of Beautiful Girl and Riding The Bus With My Sister. Rachel's work has been adapted for theater, NPR, the Lifetime Channel, and Hallmark Hall of Fame, whose adaptation of Riding The Bus With My Sister starred Rosie O'Donnell and Andie McDowell, and was directed by Anjelica Huston. Learn more at http://RachelSimon.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

When a marriage falters, the conflicts and solutions are between both partners. Nevertheless, kids believe that somehow they caused the problems. Mom and Dad need to tell their kids there is nothing any child could have done, said, or thought about that caused parents to split up. Annie talks with therapist Wendy Young about helping parents and kids find a healthy way through this life-changing family event.

About Wendy Young

Wendy Young, LMSW, (Licensed Master of Social Work) is the mom of three, an award-winning child and adolescent therapist, and the Clinical Director at Comprehensive Counseling & Consulting in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Known for her creative interventions for kids' anger, grief and loss, and challenging behaviors, Wendy is the founder of Kidlutions: Solutions for Kids. She is also the co-author (with Dr. Lynne Kenney) of "Bloom: Helping Children Blossom". Learn more at http://Kidlutions.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

When a marriage falters, the conflicts and solutions are between both partners. Nevertheless, kids believe that somehow they caused the problems. Mom and Dad need to tell their kids there is nothing any child could have done, said, or thought about that caused parents to split up. Annie talks with therapist Wendy Young about helping parents and kids find a healthy way through this life-changing family event.

About Wendy Young

Wendy Young, LMSW, (Licensed Master of Social Work) is the mom of three, an award-winning child and adolescent therapist, and the Clinical Director at Comprehensive Counseling & Consulting in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Known for her creative interventions for kids' anger, grief and loss, and challenging behaviors, Wendy is the founder of Kidlutions: Solutions for Kids. She is also the co-author (with Dr. Lynne Kenney) of "Bloom: Helping Children Blossom". Learn more at http://Kidlutions.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Parenting is a joyful and often overwhelming journey through which no GPS can guide you. Annie talks with parenting blogger, podcaster and author, Natalie Cutler-Welsh about what most parents wish they'd been in on before they took the plunge. As Natalie says of herself and co-author Jacqueline Lockington, "We're not the experts, we're the best friends you never knew you had. The real deal for pregnancy, parenting and relationships."

About Natalie Cutler-Welsh

Natalie Cutler-Welsh (AKA Nat) is co-founder (with Jacqueline Lockington) of the If Only They'd Told Me blog and If Only They'd Told Me podcast where she and Jacqui have recorded 100+ episodes about parenting and relationships in the early years of having children. Nat recently started Go to Girl Social Media & Networking, a business that connects women in business. She's totally honest and open about helping others realize it's OK to find parenthood more challenging (and more amazing) than you ever thought possible.

Natalie is also co-author (with Jacqueline Lockington) of the parenting book "If Only They'd Told Me: Babies, Sex, and a Cup of Tea". Learn more at http://IfOnlyTheyToldMe.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.

Parenting is a joyful and often overwhelming journey through which no GPS can guide you. Annie talks with parenting blogger, podcaster and author, Natalie Cutler-Welsh about what most parents wish they'd been in on before they took the plunge. As Natalie says of herself and co-author Jacqueline Lockington, "We're not the experts, we're the best friends you never knew you had. The real deal for pregnancy, parenting and relationships."

About Natalie Cutler-Welsh

Natalie Cutler-Welsh (AKA Nat) is co-founder (with Jacqueline Lockington) of the If Only They'd Told Me blog and If Only They'd Told Me podcast where she and Jacqui have recorded 100+ episodes about parenting and relationships in the early years of having children. Nat recently started Go to Girl Social Media & Networking, a business that connects women in business. She's totally honest and open about helping others realize it's OK to find parenthood more challenging (and more amazing) than you ever thought possible.

Natalie is also co-author (with Jacqueline Lockington) of the parenting book "If Only They'd Told Me: Babies, Sex, and a Cup of Tea". Learn more at http://IfOnlyTheyToldMe.com

Copyright © 2009-2018 Annie Fox and Electric Eggplant. All Rights Reserved.