It’s so easy for us parents to do things for our kids so they can avoid failure, or simply to help them get ahead. Sometimes we do it out of fear of them getting it wrong, worrying about their future, impatience, or even simply to be nice. In fact, it often feels like allowing our kids to fail or expecting them to figure things out on their own is mean by today's parenting standards. But are we really helping our kids when we take over? In this episode, Jessica Lahey, acclaimed author of The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed shares her insights on the role failure plays in fostering resilience and competence in our kids, and why middle school is the perfect time for parents to begin passing the reigns to our kids, whether they (or we) are ready or not.

Books mentioned in this episode:
How to Be a Happier Parent, KJ Dell'Antonia
How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims

About the Guest:
Jessica Lahey is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. Jess was awarded the Research Society on Alcohol’s Media Award for “outstanding journalistic efforts of writers who cover empirical research on alcohol” […] “for her book The Addiction Inoculation and advocacy for the recovery community.” Over twenty years, Jess has taught every grade from sixth to twelfth in both public and private schools, and spent five years teaching in a drug and alcohol rehab for adolescents in Vermont. She has written about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and her biweekly column “The Parent Teacher Conference” ran for three years at the New York Times. She designed and wrote the educational curriculum for Amazon Kids’ award-winning animated series The Stinky and Dirty Show, and was a 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee. Jess holds the dubious honor of having written an article that was later adapted as a writing prompt for the 2018 SAT. She co-hosts the #AmWriting podcast from her empty nest in Vermont.

Learn more about Jessica's work at www.jessicalahey.com.
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Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!       

Parenting through the middle school years can be hard. Step-parenting a blended family - even more challenging. In this episode, I talk with Amy Stone about her experiences parenting and step-parenting through the middle and high school years, as well what steps parents of blended families can do to create a family they love.

About the Guest:
Amy Stone is a mentor, educator and coach for stepparents, parents and adults who are looking for a feeling of happiness and satisfaction in a blended family. She is a mom, a stepmom, and a step-grandma. Her personal journey from single woman to wife, stepmom and mom pushed her to create a unique path to happiness that she shares with other stepparents today.

Learn more about Amy's work at https://www.amysaysso.com
Listen to the Amy Says So podcast.
Connect with Amy on FB.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!       

Does your daughter want to be a part of the elite group of popular girls at her school? Or is she a part of a popular group where she no longer feels like she can be herself? In this episode, child and adolescent therapist Hannah Leib walks us through the difference between popularity, power and authentic friendships in middle school. We discuss why some girls are pulled into the popularity trap, why great kids can be excluded, and how to support your daughter's self-confidence in a way that helps her develop authentic friendships.

About the Guest
Hannah Leib, LCSW, is a child and adolescent teen therapist whose passion stems from her own mental health battles throughout her childhood and teen years. In college, she started a mental health support group called Thrive, in which she led discussions on mental health and student life. It grew into a successful program, which then led her to achieve a Fulbright scholarship in Bulgaria in 2016 after she graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Pitzer College. She is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is dedicated to helping children and teens grow and glow into their best selves.

Learn more about Hannah's work at www.growandglowchildtherapyla.com.
Connect with Hannah on IG.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!      

So much weight sits on the shoulders of teen girls today in a society that pressures them to fit in a box influenced by social media and achievement culture. How do we help our girls break free from that mold, to become the strong, confident individuals they're meant to be? In today's episode, Chelsey Goodan, author of the new book, Underestimated: The Power and Wisdom of Teenage Girls, talks about what's really on the minds of teen girls and how we as parents can break through. Chelsea offers both an understanding of what teen girls want, as well as practical how to advice parents can implement with their teen today to improve her confidence and sense of identity.

About the Guest:
Chelsey Goodan has been an academic tutor and mentor for sixteen years, with a particular emphasis on the empowerment of teenage girls. She regularly speaks to audiences about gender justice, conducts workshops, and coaches parents on how to better understand and connect with their daughters. She is the founder of The Activist Cartel and the mentorship director of DemocraShe, a nonprofit that guides teenage girls from historically underrepresented communities into leadership positions. As an activist, she advises public figures, galvanizes volunteers, and organizes large-scale events for national nonprofits, while also serving on the board of A Call to Men, a nonprofit working to end gender-based violence. Her passion to explore humanity’s potential for authenticity, liberation, and empowerment permeates all of her work.

Learn more about Chelsey at https://www.chelseygoodan.com/.
Purchase Underestimated: The Power and Wisdom of Teenage Girls.
Connect with Chelsey on IG.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!     

Middle school prepares our kids for high school. High school prepares our kids for college. But does college always prepare our kids for life after college? In this episode,  I talk with Dr. Kevin J. Fleming, bestselling author of (Re)Defining the Goal and producer of multiple viral career planning videos including Success in the New Economy. Kevin discusses the 4 skills and 4 steps our kids need to obtain true career success, the limitations of traditional schooling in obtaining these skills, and what parents can do starting in middle school to help our kids prepare.

About the Guest:
Dr. Kevin J Fleming is an educator, speaker, producer of multiple, viral animation videos including Success in the New Economy, and author of the bestseller, (Re)Defining the Goal. Dissatisfied with the status quo, he has dedicated over two decades advancing career education forward as both a faculty member and administrator. Dr. Fleming serves as the Founder and CEO of Catapult, which delivers masterclasses to educators and schools helping to make all education relevant. Dr. Fleming is a passionate advocate ensuring all students intentionally equip their potential, enter the labor market with a competitive advantage, and find their purpose on purpose.

Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.
Check out Success in the New Economy and other career planning videos.
Check out (Re)Defining the Goal: The True Path to Career Readiness in the 21st Century.
Learn more about Kevin's work at www.kevinjfleming.com.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!    

In this episode, licensed therapist and author Keri Cooper speaks candidly about the teen girl anxiety crisis. Keri discusses the drivers of increased anxiety, what parents should look for, and the skills our teens need so they can build confidence and reduce fear and anxiety.


About the Guest
Keri Cooper LCSW is a therapist who works with teens. Her second book is a workbook for teens, Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Teen Needs To Know. She is a speaker and writer who helps educate teens and parents on the topics teens face in everyday life.
Learn more about Keri's work at https://kericooperholistictherapy.com/.
Connect with Keri on Instagram.
Buy Keri's books, Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Teen Needs to Know and Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Parent Needs to Know.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!        

Do you have to repeat yourself 100 times to get your middle schooler to clean her room, or maybe do her homework? Have you ever worried about your kid's future because she just doesn't show any motivation? In this episode, Andee Martineau, mother of six, reformed yeller, bestselling author and founder of the Connect Parenting Method, is talking to me about why bribes and ultimatums don't work to get our kids to do what we want them to do, and how we can motivate them instead.

About the Guest
Andee Martineau is a mom of 6, reformed yeller, bestselling author, and creator of Connect Method Parenting. She’s on a mission to help moms feel in control, bring the fun back into parenting, and ditch the yelling, corrections, and endless feelings of failure.

Learn more about Connect Method Parenting.
Listen to the Connect Method Parenting podcast.
Check out the Connect Method Parenting book.
Follow Andee on Instagram.
Follow Andee on Facebook.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!       

Every girl is impacted by changing friendships in middle school, and it's hard as a parent to know how and when to get involved. In this episode,  therapist and mom of four girls, Dr. Kimberley Palmiotto,  shares her experiences and observations about the evolving nature of friendships among middle school girls.  We discuss the role of peer influence and developing independence in shaping friendship dynamics, as well as parents' role in supporting our girls through conflict, growth, and cultivating new friendships.

About the Guest
Dr. Kimberley Palmiotto is a school psychologist, therapist, author, and founder of Nurturing Girls. She uses her decades of experience to educate and coach moms of teenage girls to help them navigate the emotional rollercoaster of puberty and adolescence.

Learn more about Nurturing Girls at https://www.nurturinggirls.com/.
Connect with Kimberley on TikTok.
Connect with Kimberley on Instagram.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!      

Tweens and teens often come with big emotions that seem to practically start overnight. It can be hard for parents to sit with their kid's big reactions without trying to control the emotion, solve the problem, or blow up themselves. In this episode, Aly Pain talks with us about why parents are uncomfortable with their kids emotions, and how mastering our own response is the key to establishing a healthy relationship with our kids. 

About the Guest
Growing up, Aly was the smart, fun girl on the outside and a frantic, anxious mess on the inside. She spent years healing the pain of dysfunctional family relationships, including eating disorders and a suicide attempt, to break the cycle raising her own teen boys.

In 2006, Aly returned to school to further develop her skills by becoming a Certified Life Coach and Certified Relationship Systems Coach - one of only 70 people in Canada to hold both designations. Aly's passion is empowering parents to build healthy, respectful relationships with their teens without giving up or giving in, even if they've tried everything and are at their wits end. She's built an online audience of over 570K followers and has been featured in the New York Post, ABC Nightly News and the Rachael Ray Show.

Connect with Aly Pain
Learn more about Aly's work on her website.
Connect with Aly on Instagram.
Follow Aly on TikTok.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!     

Our goal as parents is to raise healthy, confident, and competent adults! But it doesn't happen overnight. In this episode, Emily Edlynn, PhD, author of the new book Autonomy-Supportive Parenting, discusses why it's so important for us to let our kids do things for themselves in the middle school years. We talk about what controlling parenting looks like, how it negatively impacts our kids, as well as how we can support our middle schooler's autonomy without being a permissive parent.

About the Guest:
Dr. Emily Edlynn is a clinical psychologist specializing in children and adolescents who writes about parenting on her blog, The Art and Science of Mom. Emily has written a parenting advice column for Parents.com since 2019 and has also written articles for the Washington Post, Scary Mommy, and Motherly. Emily is currently the director of pediatric behavioral medicine at a private practice in Oak Park, IL, where she lives with her husband, three children, and two rescue dogs.

Connect with Emily Edlynn, PhD on Instagram.
Buy Autonomy-Supportive Parenting.
Learn more about Emily's work at https://www.emilyedlynnphd.com/.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter.  Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!