Parenting Teens: The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have Podcast

"The greatest impact on children are the unlived lives of adults.”  Carl Jung - In our last five parenting mantras, Laura Gauld, co-author of the book, The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have, mentions this quote.  “We need the help of others to get to our own greatness as parents,” she says. The mantras in this podcast are about living the kind of life as a parent that will inspire our children; that will model character for them; and that will show our kids our spirit.

61: Kristin Harman, Exceptional Parenting: Seeing Teens in a Multidimensional Way

This is a great way to help ourselves, as parents, keep our kids from manipulating us says author, Laura Gauld. The mantras in today’s podcast are: 91. View each day as an opportunity for growth 92. Do the unexpected (and keep your child off guard.) 93. Let go of perfection. 94. Take hold of excellence 95. Be a good friend and make new friends.

When big parenting issues come up, do you ever think “…if only he/she would just do it my way? Then we could solve this and move on!” As you well know, it doesn’t usually happen this way. “Kids highlight the real challenge in the family: the one between the parenting partners,” writes Vicki in this wonderful hands-on book. So how do we meld ideas on parenting in order to co-parent? This book (and this podcast) will help get you started.

We learn in today’s podcast with speaker and author, Laura Gauld, that the word “accept” is an important part of parenting. Laura talks about accepting what our own parents gave us, taking a look at how we listen, and actually reaching out and seeking honesty about how others see us.

Are you trying to be “the perfect mom?” Think you’re “not very good at being a mother…?” Today I talk with Dr. Sheryl Ziegler, author of "Mommy Burnout: How to Reclaim Your Life and Raise Healthier Children in the Process." Burnout has its symptoms and it has its remedies, and Dr. Ziegler is an expert in both. In our podcast, she talks about how burnout can affect so many parts of a woman’s life: friendships, partnerships, work, and of course, our kids.

“We will be parents until we breathe our last breath.” - Laura Gauld This parenting fundamental and the mantras that explain it teach us the importance of continuing to grow and change as parents. We are never too old to look at our own attitudes and change the ones that might be holding us back; or to take risks in our lives.

“Our conscience is the compass of our destiny.”   - Laura Gauld So how do we teach conscience to our kids? Advice on that, and the last five mantras of Parenting Fundamental # 4 are discussed in today’s podcast with Laura. 76. Let your conscience be your guide. 77. See the small moments of inspiration. 78. The darkest times bring about the deepest lessons. 79. Do not compare yourself or your child to others. 80. Trust in a higher power.

We talk about grit in the Biggest Job Workshops, and in part 2 of our conversation with Rebecca Mannis, a learning specialist who founded Ivy-Prep, we learn that grit is something that can be intentionally taught to kids. “There are ways in which we can step back & understand what our responses are and appreciate our experience”, she says. “Encourage your kids to appreciate why it is they may be feeling a certain way; encourage them to try something even if it brings up discomfort.”

In this interview, Dr. Rebecca Mannis of Ivy Prep Learning Center talks about how students come to understand how they learn best and how to work effectively on their own at home and at school. This is called “metacognitive awareness – awareness of one’s own thought process.” She explains her field and puts everything into terms any parent can understand. There are specific ways parents and teachers can help kids become their own best guides. And it’s all closely related to unique potential!

“Parenting is messy,” says Laura Gauld. When I think about this, it’s really true! Parenting is messy. Just accepting this might make the job a little easier, don’t you think? We might not get so caught up in how we look as a parent or how we’re doing at the job. It’s also important to remember that humor and humility are two very important traits in parenting.

This is an intriguing question that Neha Gupta, founder of Elite Private Tutors and College Shortcuts answers on her blog at www.eliteprivatetutors.com. Neha’s enthusiasm for what she does shines through in what she shares with us about how to motivate students, how to give them confidence, and her warning about how the common app might make every applicant common. “What is that thing that makes you, you?” she asks students?

I know you’ve heard this said before, or in different ways, but hang on to this mantra, as it’s so important. Hang on, too, to the vision you have for your child. Sometimes they may say they don’t have a vision for themselves, or they don’t care, but they do; “every child wants to be somebody.” Today’s mantras are important (aren’t they all?) – but they can escape our memories and our practice of parenting when we get caught up in so much “every day stuff.”

Parenting Fundamental 4: Have faith in your child’s unique potential and the larger forces at work. This 4th fundamental is a wonderful tool to help us as parents let go when things go off track – getting out of the way so our kids can experience some short-term struggles for long-term gain, including learning something about themselves and acquiring some grit and some courage.

Did you know that a college application only gets minutes in front of admissions officers? How do you construct an application that stands out in this sea of competition? Today we are speaking with Amber Jin, the founder of Get Into Ivy, about the college application process - from the number one mistake students make, to must-have elements that will help them make an impression on admissions officers.