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Invisible labor is the unseen work that keeps families, relationships, and workplaces running smoothly, yet it often goes unrecognized. Tasks like scheduling appointments, handling logistics, emotional support, and household responsibilities are rarely acknowledged as productivity, but they are the foundation that makes visible accomplishments possible.

Sociologists call this the mental load - the constant planning, anticipating, and remembering that disproportionately falls on women and mothers. This hidden work includes coordinating family schedules, preparing meals, managing healthcare, and smoothing over everyday challenges. While invisible labor may not produce immediate, measurable results, it creates stability, trust, and the conditions that allow others to succeed.

Reframing productivity means valuing not only visible outcomes but also the unseen contributions that build strong families and balanced lives. Recognizing invisible labor as real accomplishment challenges the cultural belief that worth is tied only to tangible output. Invisible does not mean nothing - it is essential, powerful, and deserving of acknowledgment.

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***My new book is available now on Amazon!! Reframe the Moment: Choose Your Zen!***

Three years ago, this podcast began as a way to make sense of parenting teenagers and the shifts that happen in midlife. Since then, it’s become a space for exploring both family communication and personal rediscovery. In this episode, I share the journey of starting Reframing Me, what I’ve learned along the way, and why this community matters for moms raising teens who are also redefining who they are as women. 

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Too often we save things for “someday” - the outfit, the earrings, the nice dishes, or even the opportunities that matter most. This reflection explores how waiting for the perfect time can keep us from experiencing joy and growth right now. A reminder that the present moment is all we truly have, and sometimes the best thing we can do is simply use the sticker. 

***My new book "Reframe the Moment: Choose Your Zen" is available right now on Amazon! If you enjoy this Jen is Zen, there are 67 more very much like it to return to again and again***

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Back-to-school season brings big shifts for everyone - middle schoolers learning their place, high schoolers chasing independence, college students finding their footing, and moms adjusting to the changes at home. This episode explores why these transitions feel so heavy, how family systems shift when kids grow and launch, and what it means to navigate both the chaos and the quiet that follow. 

Thank you so much for being here! ***My new book is available now on Amazon!! Reframe the Moment: Choose Your Zen!*** Order now!

Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @reframingme and on TikTok @reframingme
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Marking 20 years at UNCW and 25 years in the classroom, this reflection looks back at what I wish I could have told my 23-year-old self. Words and thoughts have power - they can be tools that build the life we want or weapons that tear us, and others, down. This episode is a reminder to choose them wisely. 

Order Reframe the Moment: Choose Your Zen and 'Twas the Night Before Move In NOW!!

Thank you so much for being here!!

Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @reframingme and on TikTok @reframingme
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The launching stage of family life - as we empty the nest - brings both growth and grief. As kids step into independence, parents often face a quieter house, shifting family roles, and the ache of ambiguous loss - missing someone who is still “kind of here.” This episode explores how the ReFRAME model can help midlife women navigate these changes, reconnect with their identity, and find meaning in the swirl of transition. Drawing on Family Life Cycle Theory and the concept of ambiguous loss, it offers a guide to grounding, clarity, and peace in seasons of change. 

Order Reframe the Moment: Choose Your Zen and 'Twas the Night Before Move In NOW!! 

Thank you so much for being here!!

Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @reframingme and on TikTok @reframingme
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It doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. You are better, stronger, and smarter than you think you are. If you are going to make assumptions about your abilities, why not assume the best?

This week, I launched my book - Reframe the Moment: Choose Your Zen. I was so excited to share it with everyone that I posted a super cute reel announcing the book, and the response was amazing! So many kind words. So much support. People liked and commented and shared – they sent me so many amazing messages – they even bought lots of copies. I was so very happy, excited, and proud of myself all day.

And then… the spiral hit.

Because now? All of a sudden I realized – ummm… People I know are going to read this. What if it's not good? But you know what? It IS good. It IS powerful. It WILL help people.

We all doubt ourselves, but we are better, stronger, and smarter than we think we are. So, if we are going to make assumptions about our abilities, why not assume the best?

Order your copy of Reframe the Moment: Choose Your Zen here now! Also on www.reframing-me.com

Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @reframingme and on TikTok @reframingme
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Thank you for being here! Get excited! my new book is almost here!

Are you a sharent? Do you share pictures, stories, videos and information about your kids online? Many of us do it regularly without ever thinking about how it impacts our kids. As the Facebook generation hits their "digital coming of age," we are starting to see the consequences of our oversharemting. 

What about teens who overshare?

And the big question - should you wait to give your kids social media access??

Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @reframingme and on TikTok @reframingme
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Thank you so much for being here! Get excited! My new book is coming soon! Ordering info to follow!

Practice the Pause. There’s a big difference between our reaction and our response. We can’t do much about our reactions, but can you practice the pause before responding? In that slight pause, we can often see a very different response, which can lead to a very different result.

We can’t control what our day brings - unexpected texts, disappointing nails, or 11th-hour to-do lists - but we can control how we respond..

Because life’s too short to hate your nails.

Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @reframingme and on TikTok @reframingme
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Exercise is medicine for our body and soul, but what if it's the secret ingredient you've been missing in your family? A communication tool that fosters trust, emotional regulation, and lifelong bonding. Exercise is an unexpected but powerful way to build connection with your teen through movement.

Whether you're walking side by side, cheering from the sidelines, or swapping stories about your workouts over dinner, shared fitness experiences can become an emotional bridge in the often-complicated world of parenting teens.

You’ll learn why co-exercising (or even just talking about it) can help teens open up, why modeling movement matters during menopause and midlife, and how to talk about fitness in a way that supports self-esteem and avoids body shame.

If you’ve ever struggled to connect with your teen - or wondered how to prioritize your own health without guilt - this episode is for you. Tune in to reframe fitness as more than a habit. It’s a heart-centered strategy for growing stronger - together.

fitness and parenting teens, menopause and exercise, co-exercising with teens, how to connect with teenagers, family fitness, emotional regulation in teens, parent-teen bonding, reframing midlife, Jen Brubaker podcast, Reframing Me

Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @reframingme and on TikTok @reframingme
I hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a review, catch up on any missed episodes, and be sure to follow the show, so you don't miss new content!