In this episode, I discuss 5 myths about middle school that I've come across through social media chatter or conversations with other moms.  Middle school comes with challenges due to adolescence and other forces that are at work.  However, it's also a great time for your daughter to establish new relationships, get involved and take risks with more rigorous academic material.  As parents, it's important to stay connected and keep the communication lines open with your middle schooler throughout this period.

Ep. 9 Show Notes:

1) Raising Girls to Lead web site: www.raisinggirlstolead.com

2) Click Here to Grab Your Free Download (Smart Mom's Middle School Success Guide)

3) Contact Marissa at: [email protected] and follow her on Instagram (@raisinggirlstolead)

Do you find it a challenge to engage a conversation with your tween or teen daughter?  Is it always a struggle to get a word out of her?  Striking up a conversation with a middler schooler can feel like being in the "Dark Ages."   In this episode, I discuss 20 questions to ask your daughter while breaking bread.  Studies show that families who dine together are happier and healthier.  One technique that I frequently use to keep the communication lines open with my teen daughter is to ask thought provoking questions during dinnertime.  Our family mealtime rule is to keep devices off the table to provide undivided attention.  The questions almost always lead to many lively conversations, lots of laughs and great insight.   Try these questions at dinner and other mealtimes with your daughter and family!

Ep. 8 Show Notes:

1) Raising Girls to Lead web site: www.raisinggirlstolead.com

2) Click Here to Grab Your Free Download (Smart Mom's Middle School Success Guide)

3) Contact Marissa at: [email protected] and follow her on Instagram (@raisinggirlstolead)

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In this episode, I discuss 10 fun ways to bond with your daughter as she journeys through middle school.  Our daughters need a healthy balance of work and play to be productive and successful students.  The examples in this episode provide other avenues for connecting with your daughter and building a stronger relationship with her.  Speaking from experience, these activities are great opportunities for teachable moments and are keys to unlock her heart.  As you and your daughter participate in these activities, what you're both getting out of them are self-care, self-love, boldness, bonding, creativity, connection, laughter, and excitement.

Ep. 7 Show Notes: 

1) Raising Girls to Lead web site: www.raisinggirlstolead.com 

2) Click Here to Grab Your Free Download (Smart Mom's Middle School Success Guide) 

3) Contact Marissa at: [email protected] and follow her on Instagram (@raisinggirlstolead)

In this episode, I discuss 10 volunteer activities that tween and teen girls can do year-round to get involved in their local communities. Volunteering to support local charities helps with building compassion, communication, empathy, self-confidence, and character.  These skills are essential for a lifetime success and leadership.  Listen to this episode if you're seeking ways to help your daughter develop a giving spirit.

Ep. 6 Show Notes:

1) Raising Girls to Lead web site: www.raisinggirlstolead.com

2) Click Here to Grab Your Free Download (Smart Mom's Middle School Success Guide)

3) Contact Marissa at: [email protected] and follow her on Instagram (@raisinggirlstolead)

In this episode, I provide tips and some insight on how to help your daughter prepare for the next school year during summer break.  Summertime is always a good period for students to keep their skills fresh and work on their shortcomings.  Practicing skills, reviewing concepts, reading, or taking courses for academic enrichment will equip your daughter with the capabilities that she needs to get ahead and gain confidence for the next grade level.   Summer preparation is also critical especially if your middle schooler will be taking advanced level courses.  If you're seeking specifics on the types of academic enrichment classes or skills that your daughter should try to master or learn over the summer, this episode is for you!

Ep. 5 Show Notes: 

1) Raising Girls to Lead web site: www.raisinggirlstolead.com

2) Click Here to Grab Your Free Download (Smart Mom's Middle School Success Guide)

3) Contact Marissa at: [email protected] and follow her on Instagram (@raisinggirlstolead)

In this episode, I provide 11 types of fun summer activities for tween and teen girls to help eliminate boredom.  Summer is a great time for a mental reset and for an academic detox.  It's also an opportunity for spending quality time with family and learning new skills.  The summer activities that are discussed in this episode will help keep your daughter happy, fit, and healthy!

Ep. 4 Show Notes:

1) Raising Girls to Lead web site: www.raisinggirlstolead.com 

2) Click Here to Grab Your Free Download (Smart Mom's Middle School Success Guide) 

3) Contact Marissa at: [email protected] and follow her on Instagram

In this episode, I provide several tips on how to raise your daughter to be a girl boss.  The tips address the life skills, confidence and entrepreneurial mindset that girls need in order to succeed in school, a career and life.  Additionally, this episode identifies some resources and well-known African American female role models.  

Ep. 3 Show Notes:

Middle school is a critical period that can shape your daughter's future. Her performance during these years will set the tone for her transition to high school, college, and beyond. The academic curriculum represents a dramatic shift and the workload tends to be more intense.

Middle school is a great opportunity to prepare and develop these skills before she enters high school and then the college of her dreams. In this episode, I cover 10 key ingredients for helping your middle school student achieve academic excellence and leadership.

Middle School is a challenging time for many youth as it comes with social and academic pressures.  For some moms, any mention of middle school drums up bad memories or brings on a wave of nervousness due to the many changes that come into play with adolescents. It can also consist of a mix of emotions, excitement, thrill, and fear. I'm here to help you navigate and ease into your daughter's middle school years. 

In this episode, I'll discuss the 11 conversations that you need to have with your daughter before she embarks on her middle school journey.

Welcome to my inaugural podcast episode. Raising Girls to Lead is a service that teaches moms tips, tools and strategies for raising smart, confident and emotionally stable black middle school girls.  The focus of today's podcast episode, is to discuss the origins of Raising Girls to Lead (RGTL) and my motivation for starting the service.  I am an African-American mom raising a middle school daughter.  After you've listened to this podcast, I would love to hear from you and get your feedback by sending it to my email address (listed below).