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

Our culture pressures mothers to conform to an ideal of "good mom." When our children are little we are often too busy with caregiving to think about who we are. As kids reach the point in their development where they aren't as dependent, we may find ourselves with more time for ourselves. According to Life Coach Caroline Greene, this new chapter of parenting can be accompanied by a "deflation and a loss of identity and feelings of loneliness, isolation, and confusion." For Caroline, ten years out of law school, she was still in the kitchen. She loved the life she and her husband built for their family, but she "wasn't happy or fulfilled." On top of that, because she knew she was so fortunate, she felt guilty. Annie talks with Caroline about honestly asking ourselves, not only "What kind of person do I want to be raising?" but also (and equally important) "What kind of person do I want to be?"

**Special offer for Family Confidential podcast listeners: To get a free copy of Caroline Greene's book "MATTER: How to Find Meaningful Work That's Right For You And Your Family" simply email [email protected] and put the word "Matter" in the subject line.

About Caroline Greene (@CarolineKGreene)

A self-proclaimed "recovering lawyer, chronic overachiever, and passionate truth-teller" Caroline Greene is crazy about helping women build lives that truly matter to them. A former prosector and big-firm litigator, and a stay-at-home mom turned life coach, Caroline knows first hand what it feels like to "get stuck into someone else's definition of success and what it feels like to lose your identity when you decide that definition might not be what you want anymore." Author of "Next: How to Start a Successful Business That's Right For You and Your Family", Caroline coaches women to help them find work they love and a balance that is right for them and their loved ones. Learn more at http://CarolineGreenCoaching.com

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

We hear a lot from parent educators about the importance of teaching kids to be "resilient." The "How?" part of the equation isn't always clear to us or to our kids. Too often teens (and adults) let a setback sink them into despair. Life coach Chester Hall tells the teens he works with "Even when you feel at the very bottom, and [you think] nothing can get worse, it's really hard to mess this [life] up. Even if you make some huge mistakes, there is always time to bounce back." Annie talks with Chester about helping young people get back up after a setback and continue moving forward.

About Chester Hall (@AG00dLife)

Chester is the Owner and Lead Life Coach of Good Life Coaching. He has 14+ years experience in the education field, as a classroom teacher and serving as a Prevention & Intervention Specialist for Accomack County Public Schools (Virginia). Chester focuses his efforts on anti-bullying, character education, encouraging positive student-to-teacher relationships, mentoring at-risk youth, truancy prevention, and threat assessment. He also is a member of the International Coach Federation and a member of the Black Life Coaches Network. Learn more at http://GoodLife-Coaching.com

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

We hear a lot from parent educators about the importance of teaching kids to be "resilient." The "How?" part of the equation isn't always clear to us or to our kids. Too often teens (and adults) let a setback sink them into despair. Life coach Chester Hall tells the teens he works with "Even when you feel at the very bottom, and [you think] nothing can get worse, it's really hard to mess this [life] up. Even if you make some huge mistakes, there is always time to bounce back." Annie talks with Chester about helping young people get back up after a setback and continue moving forward.

About Chester Hall (@AG00dLife)

Chester is the Owner and Lead Life Coach of Good Life Coaching. He has 14+ years experience in the education field, as a classroom teacher and serving as a Prevention & Intervention Specialist for Accomack County Public Schools (Virginia). Chester focuses his efforts on anti-bullying, character education, encouraging positive student-to-teacher relationships, mentoring at-risk youth, truancy prevention, and threat assessment. He also is a member of the International Coach Federation and a member of the Black Life Coaches Network. Learn more at http://GoodLife-Coaching.com

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

Research shows that how kids feel about being at school impacts their ability to do well at school. It comes down to something pretty simple: Kids need to feel welcome at school and that someone (a teacher) feels invested in their education. During this election cycle there has been an increase in the vitriol and nastiness and the racism, sexism, xenophobia that we and our young people are regularly hearing. The Southern Poverty Law Center has studied Hate in the Race (including the level of vitriol characterizing the contest for the presidency. They've also surveyed 2,000 teachers asking them how the presidential campaign was affecting their students and their teaching. According to author and educator, Rosalind Wiseman, "There have always been a couple of kids (in a class) who feel they have the right to insult and offend other kids. But those kids are now clearly emboldened by what they see and hear in the news." Teachers are instructed not to weigh in for or against any political candidate. So what are they to do to help their students create a culture of dignity? Annie talks to Rosalind about the need for adults to provide standards of morality and ethics for the children in their lives.

About Rosalind Wiseman (@CultureODignity)

Rosalind Wiseman has had only one job since graduating from college—to help communities shift the way we think about children and teens' emotional and physical wellbeing. As a teacher, thought leader, author, and media spokesperson on bullying, ethical leadership, the use of social media, and media literacy, she is in constant dialogue and collaboration with educators, parents, children, and teens.

Rosalind is the author of the flexible, dynamic curriculum Own It: Empowering adolescents to CONFRONT social cruelty, Bullying and Injustice. Owning Up Online is the companion website for teachers.

Rosalind's other books include: Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World—the groundbreaking, best-selling book that was the basis for the movie Mean Girls. Her latest book, Masterminds & Wingmen: Helping Our Boys Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World was published in September 2013. In addition, she wrote a free companion e-book for high school boys, entitled The Guide: Managing Douchebags, Recruiting Wingmen, and Attracting Who You Want and a school edition entitled, The Guide: Managing Jerks, Recruiting Wingmen, and Attracting Who You Want. Learn more at http://CulturesofDignity.com

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

Research shows that how kids feel about being at school impacts their ability to do well at school. It comes down to something pretty simple: Kids need to feel welcome at school and that someone (a teacher) feels invested in their education. During this election cycle there has been an increase in the vitriol and nastiness and the racism, sexism, xenophobia that we and our young people are regularly hearing. The Southern Poverty Law Center has studied Hate in the Race (including the level of vitriol characterizing the contest for the presidency. They've also surveyed 2,000 teachers asking them how the presidential campaign was affecting their students and their teaching. According to author and educator, Rosalind Wiseman, "There have always been a couple of kids (in a class) who feel they have the right to insult and offend other kids. But those kids are now clearly emboldened by what they see and hear in the news." Teachers are instructed not to weigh in for or against any political candidate. So what are they to do to help their students create a culture of dignity? Annie talks to Rosalind about the need for adults to provide standards of morality and ethics for the children in their lives.

About Rosalind Wiseman (@CultureODignity)

Rosalind Wiseman has had only one job since graduating from college—to help communities shift the way we think about children and teens' emotional and physical wellbeing. As a teacher, thought leader, author, and media spokesperson on bullying, ethical leadership, the use of social media, and media literacy, she is in constant dialogue and collaboration with educators, parents, children, and teens.

Rosalind is the author of the flexible, dynamic curriculum Own It: Empowering adolescents to CONFRONT social cruelty, Bullying and Injustice. Owning Up Online is the companion website for teachers.

Rosalind's other books include: Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World—the groundbreaking, best-selling book that was the basis for the movie Mean Girls. Her latest book, Masterminds & Wingmen: Helping Our Boys Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World was published in September 2013. In addition, she wrote a free companion e-book for high school boys, entitled The Guide: Managing Douchebags, Recruiting Wingmen, and Attracting Who You Want and a school edition entitled, The Guide: Managing Jerks, Recruiting Wingmen, and Attracting Who You Want. Learn more at http://CulturesofDignity.com

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

Middle school social interactions are often a series of very quick, very short conversations, taking place amidst a chaotic backdrop. If you're a kid with learning and attention issues who may not be able to read social cues well or find the right words for a quick response, you might find yourself in a fast-moving world where other kids don't respond to you in positive ways. "It's heart-breaking," says learning specialist Mark Griffin, "to watch a kid who really wants to be part of a group and that group is simply not willing to take him in." Annie talks with Mark about ways parents and schools can help kids with learning and/or attention issues build social skills.

About Mark Griffin

Mark Griffin, Ph.D., has been a professional in the field of learning disabilities for over 40 years. He was the founding headmaster of Eagle Hill School, a boarding and day school for children with specific learning disabilities in Greenwich, Connecticut, from 1975–2009.

Griffin is a member of the executive committee, board of directors and professional advisory board of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. He consults with foundations, parents and independent and public schools concerning various aspects of learning disabilities, school management and appropriate programming strategies for children with learning disabilities and attention issues. He also works closely with Understood.org, online resources for children with learning and attention issues. Learn more at Learn more at http://Understood.org/en/about/our-experts/mark-griffin

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

Middle school social interactions are often a series of very quick, very short conversations, taking place amidst a chaotic backdrop. If you're a kid with learning and attention issues who may not be able to read social cues well or find the right words for a quick response, you might find yourself in a fast-moving world where other kids don't respond to you in positive ways. "It's heart-breaking," says learning specialist Mark Griffin, "to watch a kid who really wants to be part of a group and that group is simply not willing to take him in." Annie talks with Mark about ways parents and schools can help kids with learning and/or attention issues build social skills.

About Mark Griffin

Mark Griffin, Ph.D., has been a professional in the field of learning disabilities for over 40 years. He was the founding headmaster of Eagle Hill School, a boarding and day school for children with specific learning disabilities in Greenwich, Connecticut, from 1975–2009.

Griffin is a member of the executive committee, board of directors and professional advisory board of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. He consults with foundations, parents and independent and public schools concerning various aspects of learning disabilities, school management and appropriate programming strategies for children with learning disabilities and attention issues. He also works closely with Understood.org, online resources for children with learning and attention issues. Learn more at Learn more at http://Understood.org/en/about/our-experts/mark-griffin

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

Most educators want nothing more than a positive school environment where all students feel respected and accepted. And yet, there are daily challenges to creating and maintaining such an environment. Dr. Jennifer Freed takes that challenge directly to students. "We decided the best way to improve climate of schools and communities was to empower teenagers themselves to be the leaders of climate and community, and we developed a training that teaches them, for example, how to intervene in bullying situations with humor and curiosity instead of hate." Annie talks with Jennifer about training teens to be peace builders.

About Jennifer Freed (@DrJenFreed)

Jennifer Freed, PhD, has worked with teenagers for more than thirty years. She is the co-founder/director of the highly successful teen program called AHA! (established in 1999 as a response to the Columbine massacre). AHA! serves more than 5000 families annually in California as it creates positive attitudes, social harmony, and bridges the achievement gap. Dr. Freed's books include the educational series "Become Your Best Self" as well as "The AHA! Method" as part of her efforts to bring outstanding social and emotional learning curriculum to teens and their families. Learn more at http://JenniferFreed.com

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

Most educators want nothing more than a positive school environment where all students feel respected and accepted. And yet, there are daily challenges to creating and maintaining such an environment. Dr. Jennifer Freed takes that challenge directly to students. "We decided the best way to improve climate of schools and communities was to empower teenagers themselves to be the leaders of climate and community, and we developed a training that teaches them, for example, how to intervene in bullying situations with humor and curiosity instead of hate." Annie talks with Jennifer about training teens to be peace builders.

About Jennifer Freed (@DrJenFreed)

Jennifer Freed, PhD, has worked with teenagers for more than thirty years. She is the co-founder/director of the highly successful teen program called AHA! (established in 1999 as a response to the Columbine massacre). AHA! serves more than 5000 families annually in California as it creates positive attitudes, social harmony, and bridges the achievement gap. Dr. Freed's books include the educational series "Become Your Best Self" as well as "The AHA! Method" as part of her efforts to bring outstanding social and emotional learning curriculum to teens and their families. Learn more at http://JenniferFreed.com

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

Everyone has heard the voice of his or her own "inner critic" taking pot shots at us during times of low self-confidence. For many girls and women that inner critic often mutters (or shouts) about how we look. A running internal monologue of body-shaming can become so ubiquitous we don't even know we're doing it. And yet, without awareness of this self-abuse, how can women truly gain the confidence we need to reach our full potential? How can we stop seeing other women as competitors in a universal beauty competition and start seeing them as friends, mentors, and sister in a support network? Annie talks with Naomi Katz, teacher and author of "Beautiful: Being an Empowered Young Woman", about Beautiful Project, her initiative to empower women to take action into our own hands, to understand that we are the builders of our culture and that we drive the changes that we wish to see, beginning with ourselves and echoing into our communities.

About Naomi Katz (@ModelSelfEsteem)

Naomi Katz is a writer and teacher and has been working with young women for over 15 years. She is the author of "Beautiful: Being an Empowered Young Woman", and founder of Beautiful Project, a curricular initiative dedicated to building self confidence among adolescent girls and young women. Her work is a call to attention, to recognize that we are the creators of our culture. She focuses on empowering ourselves to take action into our own hands, to understand that we are the builders of our culture and that we drive the changes that we wish to see, beginning with ourselves and echoing into our communities. learn more at http://BeautifulProject.net.

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