raising teens Archives - www.thebrainymoms.com

Open Education: Your Child Deserves a Learning Path as Unique as They Are | Matt Bowman

Homeschooling or thinking about it? Wondering if ‘open education’ is right for your homeschooled child? What if everything we thought we knew about education was designed for a world that no longer exists? Matt Bowman, founder of OpenEd and international bestselling author, joins Dr. Amy and Sandy on this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast to challenge the foundations of traditional education and offer a refreshingly practical alternative for today’s families who are homeschooling or considering it.

After watching all five of his children develop in completely different ways despite growing up in the same household, Matt realized that education shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all—it should be as unique as each child.

The conversation dives deep into why standard education often fails to meet individual needs. Matt explains how our current system was originally modeled after military training methods imported from Europe over 200 years ago—designed to produce obedient soldiers rather than creative, independent thinkers. This standardization approach stands in stark contrast to how children actually learn and develop.

“The real tragedy,” Matt shares, “is that this system not only fails to measure what matters in education—creativity, continuous progress, critical thinking, skill development—it actively works against it.” For parents whose children are struggling, unhappy, or just not thriving, Matt offers a revolutionary yet simple starting point: take two weeks to try something different. Give your child space to explore their interests without pressure, and watch what naturally emerges.

One of the most powerful insights Matt shares is reframing our understanding of failure. While traditional education treats failure as something to avoid at all costs, successful athletes, musicians, and entrepreneurs embrace it as essential to growth. Teaching children to see challenges as “not yet” rather than failure fundamentally transforms their relationship with learning.

With AI rapidly changing our economic landscape, the skills that matter most aren’t standardized test scores but creativity, adaptability, and entrepreneurial thinking. Matt encourages parents to tap into community resources—museums, local businesses, nature, arts programs—and integrate them into core education rather than treating them as mere enrichment.

For families ready to explore alternatives, Matt reminds us that small changes can make an enormous difference. Whether it’s adjusting schedules, exploring interests, or incorporating entrepreneurship, the goal isn’t to replicate school at home but to create learning experiences that honor each child’s unique path.

Join us to get inspired about personalizing an education that works for your unique child.

Podcast

Present, Not Perfect: How to Support Your Teen’s Mental Health Journey | Jenn Robb

Amy Moore, PhD

When your child is drowning in mental health struggles, the weight of helplessness can feel crushing. Where do you turn? How do you fight a battle you can’t even see? Nurse practitioner and author Jen Robb knows this battlefield intimately. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, she tells Dr. Amy all about it.

“We were the white picket fence, typical all-American kind of family,” Jenn shares, describing how her daughter Chloe’s mental health crisis blindsided their family. Like many parents, Jen initially retreated into silence, carrying the burden alone rather than risking judgment from others. That isolation nearly broke her.

Through raw vulnerability, Jenn guides listeners through the transformative journey from silent suffering to empowered advocacy. She challenges the notion that doctors always know best, encouraging parents to respectfully question treatment plans and seek providers who address root causes rather than simply medicating symptoms. “Your child doesn’t have a voice in that circumstance,” she reminds us. “No one is going to fight as hard for your child as you will.”

The path forward isn’t about perfection but presence. Jenn’s powerful reminder that “your child doesn’t need a perfect mom; they need a present mom” liberates parents from impossible standards while focusing on what truly matters – showing up emotionally and physically while allowing children space to feel their feelings. This delicate balance requires setting healthy boundaries not just for our children, but for ourselves as parents.

Perhaps most profound is Jenn’s perspective on surrender. After a terrifying incident where Chloe was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning, Jenn describes hearing God whisper, “As much as you love her, I love her more.” This spiritual surrender didn’t mean abandoning responsibility, but rather acknowledging her limitations and finding strength beyond herself.

Whether you’re currently navigating teen mental health challenges or simply want to be prepared, Jenn’s practical wisdom on supporting brain health through technology boundaries, sleep hygiene, and proper nutrition offers valuable tools for every family. Connect with Jenn’s supportive community at warriormomcoach.net and discover how to become the warrior your child needs during their darkest battles.

Podcast

The Sex Talk: Tips for Discussing Sex, Intimacy, and Consent With Your Kids with guest, Clint Davis, MS, LPC

Amy Moore, PhD

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Teri welcome back marriage and family therapist and trauma expert Clint Davis for the third time. He’s appeared on two previous seasons of the podcast to discuss things like pornography and the dangers of social media for kids. Today, he joined us to discuss the topic of talking to your kids about sex and shares some wonderful insights from his new book, “Building Better Bridges: A Guide to Having Difficult Conversations that Can Save Our Children.”

Podcast

Raising Resilient Teens in an Era of Anxiety with guest Erica Komisar, LCSW

Amy Moore, PhD

If you’re a parent of tweens or teens, you’ve probably wondered about the difference between “typical” teen angst—that is, normal worries, fears, and struggles associated with adolescence—and when there’s a deeper issue that might require talk therapy (or possibly, medication). Today, psychoanalyst and clinical social worker Erica Komisar joins us to share her experience and knowledge from more than 30 years in private practice. Hear what she has to say about identifying teens’ challenges and struggles, when to seek outside help, how to provide support at home, and the best circumstances to have deeper conversations with your teen. Listen as Dr. Amy, Teri, and Erica discuss everything from boundaries and flexibility to brain development and how parents can serve as the emotional regulators for their teens as they navigate the transition to adulthood.

Podcast

Help Your Teen Feel Connected, Competent, and Confident with guest Dr. Melanie McNally

Amy Moore, PhD

If your teen is struggling with “big emotions” like anxiety, anger, frustration, or a lack of direction, we encourage you to listen this podcast episode where Dr. Amy and Dr. Jody interview licensed clinical psychologist and life coach Dr. Melanie McNally. We got some great take-aways about everything from self-awareness and awareness of others to self-regulation and setting goals and the role that parents can play in supporting their teen without grabbing the reins entirely. Don’t miss this episode with Dr. Melanie as she walks us through tips to help teens build vital skills to carry them through the transition to adulthood and beyond.

Podcast

Helping Your Teen To Choose Their Own Unique Path in an Academically Competitive World with guest Cindy Muchnick, M.A.

Amy Moore, PhD

Community college? Gap year? Four-year private university? Today’s teens are facing overwhelming pressure to follow a traditional path from high school to college, often with little regard for their readiness, motivation, or interest. Cindy Muchnick, co-author of “The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen’s Wellness & Academic Journey in Today’s Competitive World” joined Dr. Amy and Sandy on the Brainy Moms podcast to share some advice on how to preserve your relationship with your teen while navigating a competitive academic environment. If you’re looking for insights on how to foster grit, resilience, and independence in your teen while also learning to listen to their feelings and fears, this episode will hit the spot! Combining her years of experience as a college admissions expert, high school teacher, and mother of four, Cindy offered some concrete strategies to help you navigate these crucial years and help guide your teen to THEIR preferred experience after high school.

Podcast

Managing Anxiety about School Shootings & Other Traumatic Experiences with guest Stacie Boyar, LMHC, MS Ed

Amy Moore, PhD

With so many scary things happening in the world today, it’s easy to understand why kids are struggling with anxiety. On this episode of Brainy Moms, Teri and I interview licensed mental health counselor, Stacie Boyar, LMHC, MS Ed, who shares tips and specific strategies for managing anxiety. She’s uniquely qualified to give advice on this topic as a therapist in Parkland, FL who worked with teens from the Stoneman Douglas high school shooting.

We talk about effective therapies for anxiety like CBT and EMDR and also learn at-home breathing and grounding techniques that we AND our kids can use whenever we’re feeling stressed or anxious about anything at all. Join us for this fantastic conversation with the author of You’re Not the Boss of Me, a book for teens on conquering anxiety.

Podcast

A Radical Parenting Partnership with Your Teen – with author Lainie Liberti

Amy Moore, PhD

On this episode of Brainy Moms, Dr. Amy and Teri interview Lainie Liberti, teen mentor and author of the book, Seen, Heard, and Understood: Parenting and Partnering with Teens for Greater Mental Health. Lainie shares a radical approach to relating to teens through a partnership parenting paradigm. Although unconventional, it’s an approach that promotes connection and cooperation with your teen. Based on ideas from her book, Lainie explains the benefits of knowing your teen’s love language, creating shared family values, and partnering in problem solving as a family. Join us for this conversation about a truly unique approach to raising teens.

Podcast

5 Things Parents of Teens Need to Know with guest Kim Duckworth

Amy Moore, PhD

Wondering what you need to know to be a successful parent of a teenager? On this episode of Brainy Moms, Dr. Amy and Teri interview Kim Duckworth, author of the bestselling book, Parents, Are You Ready? The Practical Guide to Launching a Successful High School Student.

Kim shares 5 things that successful parents of teens should know including how to help your teen find their superpower—or their uniqueness. Kim’s an expert in college readiness and admissions and her tips are just what parents of teens—like we are—need to hear!

Podcast

Parenting Teenage Girls: Expert Tips from a Teen Life Coach with guest Sheri Gazitt, MA

Amy Moore, PhD

On this episode of Brainy Moms, Dr. Amy and Teri interview teen life coach Sheri Gazitt. Coach Sheri talked to us about some difficult topics that parents and teens face like friendship issues, why friends are so important to them, social media and perfectionism, and why teen girls pull away from their moms. She shares the importance of knowing their love language and even gives us some insights into the science of the teenage mind. Her specialty is teen girls, but this episode is relevant for parents of teen boys as well.

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