Shows
Reframing MeExercise to Build a Stronger Relationship with your Teen: How Movement Connects UsSend us a textExercise 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 ab...2025-07-0935 minReframing MeSurviving Winter and the Second Semester BluesSend us a textThank you so much for being here! Here in North Carolina, the U.S., the Northern Hemisphere it has felt like the winteriest of winters, but we have passed the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, so yay, us! What's been lighting up these dark days for me? Literally, a Happy Light! and magnesium! and intermittent fasting! So let's chat about them all... and don't forget our teens! Why are they feeling the second semester blues?? Let's chat about that too!Also, check out Diagnosis: Senioritis and...2025-02-0546 minReframing MeSnow Day! The Bittersweet Push-Pull of Letting GoSend us a textThank you so much for being here!We had a rare snow week that has felt a bit bittersweet, so we're having a conversation about changes in family dynamics as children grow and leave home, and we're up in our feelings.I'll highlight some key theories—Family Systems Theory, Developmental Stage Theory, and the Stability-Change Relational Dialectic—to help parents understand and navigate these transitions. We'll also talk about how we can handle it, including removing guilt from teens, creating new traditions, open communication, and leaning into personal growth duri...2025-01-2534 minReframing MePart 2: The Robots Come in Peace: How we can use ChatGPT to manifest our dreams (and help with daily tasks)Send us a textWelcome back! Thank you for being here! In this part two, Dr. Jennifer Brubaker explores how AI tools like ChatGPT can empower personal growth, simplify daily tasks, and help moms envision and achieve their ideal life. Building on the previous episode, she shifts the focus from how teens can use AI to how moms can benefit from it, from goal-setting and visualization to practical uses like meal planning and financial organization. Jen shares her own experience with using AI for life planning and reflects on how it can be a powerful tool for...2024-12-1320 minReframing MePart 1: Are the Robots Taking Over? Helping your Teens with ChatGPTSend us a textThank you for being here! In Part 1 of this two-part episode, we have a conversation about Understanding AI to help teens use It responsibly.We look into the world of artificial intelligence and its impact on our lives, focusing on how moms can guide their teens to use AI tools like ChatGPT responsibly and effectively. Drawing parallels to the early days of the internet, Dr. Brubaker reframes the conversation around AI from fear to opportunity, emphasizing its role as a tool for learning, creativity, and productivity.Jen explores the...2024-12-1333 minReframing MeThe Thanksgiving Visit: 7 Tips for Enjoying Your College Student's VisitSend us a textIn this Thanksgiving episode, I am extra thankful for you being here! Many moms (including me!) are anxious to have their college students home for the holiday, but that doesn't mean it won't be without its possible challenges. We'll have a conversation exploring the joys and challenges of welcoming college freshmen back home for the holidays. As our families reconnect, we need to adapt to the changes our child has experienced in their first months at college, from newfound independence to identity growth, and how these shifts impact family dynamics, which have also...2024-11-2634 minReframing MeReframing the Conversation Part 6: Rebuilding RelationshipsSend us a textThank you for being here for this important and timely conversation! Part 6 is a discussion to guide communication and repair family relationships that have been damaged by political differences. It addresses the growing polarization in society, which has led to strained familial ties, and offers practical strategies for reconciliation. The focus is on understanding the deep emotional bonds within families and how political conflicts, though often surface-level, can exacerbate underlying emotional issues such as past resentments or betrayals.Key strategies for repairing relationships include practicing active listening, empathy, and setting clear...2024-09-2729 minReframing MeReframing the Conversation Part 5: Communicating with Political ExtremistsSend us a textThank you for being here for this important and timely conversation! Part 5 delves into the development of extreme political beliefs and the impact they have on personal relationships, particularly within families. It explores the roots of political extremism, including social alienation, emotional appeals, and the "us versus them" mindset. These factors often drive individuals to adopt extreme views, which are further fueled by disinformation, conspiracy theories, and the influence of charismatic leaders.Political extremism is marked by a rigid worldview that rejects compromise and sees opponents as enemies. This episode explains...2024-09-2734 minReframing MeReframing the Conversation Part 4: Healthy Political CommunicationSend us a textThank you for being here for this important and timely conversation! Part 4 discusses how to effectively communicate political views while managing conflicting opinions within relationships, especially in a highly polarized environment. It emphasizes the importance of civil discourse and provides practical strategies for fostering meaningful conversations without damaging relationships.Key communication skills highlighted include active listening, empathy, and maintaining a focus on understanding rather than trying to "win" the argument. The episode also discusses how political beliefs are often closely tied to personal identity, making it important to approach discussions with...2024-09-2743 minReframing MeReframing the Conversation Part 3: SocializationSend us a textThank you for being here for this important and timely conversation! Part 3 explores the critical role of media literacy and political socialization in shaping individuals' political perspectives. Political socialization, a lifelong process influenced by factors such as family, education, peers, religion, socioeconomic status, and major events, plays a central role in how individuals develop their political beliefs. Family is highlighted as the most influential factor, with schools and peer groups also playing key roles in fostering critical thinking and exposure to diverse ideas.Media, particularly social media, has transformed how political...2024-09-2737 minReframing MeReframing the Conversation Part 2: How Did We Get Here???Send us a textThank you for being here for this important and timely conversation! Part 2 explores the growing political polarization in society and its impact on family relationships, emphasizing the importance of understanding how political divisions have intensified. It traces the evolution of media, from traditional gatekeepers like newspapers and radio to the rise of social media, which has exacerbated political dissension by creating echo chambers and spreading misinformation. The episode explains how platforms like Facebook and Twitter have deepened societal divisions by reinforcing users' pre-existing beliefs, leading to selective exposure, perception, and retention of information.2024-09-2734 minReframing MeReframing the Conversation Part 1: Why is Reframing the Conversation Important?Send us a textThank you for being here for this important and timely conversation! Part 1 of this 6-part series highlights the growing polarization in society and its impact on family dynamics, especially when political differences lead to tension and conflict. It emphasizes the importance of reframing conversations around sensitive political topics to promote understanding and connection rather than division. The rise of political absolutism, where individuals adopt rigid "black-or-white" thinking, has created a significant strain on personal relationships.The episode explains how political beliefs have become closely tied to personal identity, with political affiliation...2024-09-2730 minReframing Me"I may not be Bey...:" Creating Good Habits in Yourself and Your TeensSend us a text"You have as many hours in a day as Beyonce." Uhhh, ok... I'm pretty sure hours/day isn't the only difference. But what is preventing you from living the life of your dreams or being who you'd like to be? Often we are standing in our own ways with our habits. Because the way we behave today is a great predictor of how we'll behave tomorrow. And a year from now. And five years from now. Much of our lives are governed by our habits. As for our teens, much of their future l...2023-09-1635 minReframing MeJen is Zen - My Uncertainty EraSend us a textWe have enterted our Uncertainty Era. I don't like uncertainty. But the fun in life is in the figuring out which way the story goes. So what’s the rush? Are we so focused on an end or on a goal that we are missing the magic of the process?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 @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a review, catch up on...2023-09-1308 minReframing MeJen is Zen - I Need you to EngageSend us a textCan you take the time to look at your life. At your relationships. At your goals. Are you still on the right path or do you need to adjust your course at all? Is there somewhere in your life that you need to engage? In the short Jen is Zen episodes, I hope you will take a few minutes to reflect or meditate on thoughts that will help to make you more zen too. Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, o...2023-09-0809 minReframing MeLa Vie est Belle - Parenting Teens through NegativitySend us a textParenting a negative teenager can be a really challenging experience. In this episode, we have a conversation about negativity, understanding and helping to break the negativity cycle, and five strategies that can help when you’re parenting a negative teenager – especially through a lens of empathy, which should help to promote a more optimistic outlook and help them to escape the cycle of negative thinking We all know that adolescence in and of itself is a period of such change and just trying to figure everything out, and as parents, it's so important for...2023-09-0737 minReframing MeJen is Zen - The Rough CornerSend us a textAs we strive for our favorite zen version of ourselves, we can have that rough corner. We can have that untamed, wild or chaotic part sometimes, and it doesn’t mean we’re failing on our journey. In fact, it’s healthy to see once in awhile. It’s good for us to remember that that’s also who we are and teach us to accept those moments or those parts of us too. It keeps us in balance. So today, as you strive to be your favorite version of yourself, can you accept tha...2023-08-3013 minReframing MeIt's Not About the Socks. Metaphors and Communication: Tips to be a Better ListenerSend us a textDo you ever catch yourself or your teen being sad or angry or upset about something that seems really silly on the surface? Of course - we all do it. But if you actively listen, is it maybe something else entirely, and that thing that they're seemingly upset about - well, it's just a metaphor for what they're actually feeling. Metaphors play a role in family communication, and if we can better understand the difference between listening and hearing in communication, we can start to use all of this to better communicate and...2023-08-2737 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Why Yes?Send us a textThe most important step in creating yourself is realizing that you actually can. No matter your dream or goal or purpose or vision, the most important step in creating this version of you is when you realize that this version of you, is you. Stop with the laundry lists of "why nots" and ask yourself "why yes?" Why CAN you? Why WILL you? And what is one step today farther on your journey? If you need a refresher or some help with your vision, these might help :)Episode 41 Just f...2023-08-2208 minReframing MeICYMI: I. Just. Can't. Why Teens Have So Much Drama and How You Can HelpSend us a textICYMI the first time - or need reminding, as your teens go back to school -- and the drama that will surely commence....Teens and preteens are full of drama - the gossip and fighting, the problems and issues, the relationships that come and go and come again, the frenemies and crushes, the ups and the downs, the loves and the hates, the extremes , the exasperation – I JUST CAN’T! When we say drama, it’s really just a shortcut for saying that our teens lack social and emotional skills. There’s a social-emo...2023-08-2043 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Make the Most of TodaySend us a textCan you make the most of today? Can you make the most of THIS moment - not THAT moment? This is the only moment that is for sure and that we can control. And no we cannot ever control what comes at us and anyone around us, but we can control our thoughts and our actions in THIS moment. We had a great summer. We had a special summer. We had a different summer.. I made the most of THIS summer because I am striving to make the most of THIS moment – not THAT...2023-08-1511 minReframing MeICYMI - The Last: Top 20 Things I Learned in Middle SchoolSend us a textAs we head towards the start of a new school year, in case you missed it (or just need some reminding, like I do as my oldest enters his senior year!), let's have a conversation about "the last." We're conditioned to be sad at the end, but on the backside of every sunset is a sunrise. Can we reframe how we look at the end, the last? Here are the 20 things that I learned about parenting in middle school.... and really, most are still applicable in high school. File them away for when...2023-08-1222 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Fear of FailureSend us a textWhat are you not doing because you are afraid of failing? What is the worst that can happen? Is it really that bad? Can you make a plan for if that happens and try? If you pursue a lofty enough dream, you’re probably going to fail. Part of leveling up is having a misstep because the path isn’t going to be linear. Most of us aren’t just going to shoot directly to the top. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try or you aren’t going to achieve these goals...2023-08-0910 minReframing MePhD BarbieSend us a textFor many women, the "Barbie" movie really struck a chord. The movie's messages resonated with us because, personally and societally, we have all had so many shared experiences in our lives. As humans, we often look to make sense out of our experiences, especially our struggles and challenges, so we associate with or present ourself as, a part of a larger group that can help provide explanation and context. "Barbie" attempts to provide that context for us. In this episode, we have a conversation about the observations that I had from the movie...2023-08-0441 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Take My AdviceSend us a textWhen people give advice, they’re not really speaking to the person in front of them. They’re actually talking to a younger version of themselves. When you look back with the wisdom, experience and clarity of the years, you know what you should have done... and what you shouldn't. You know what you should have focused on or worried about... and what you shouldn't. Tune into your intuition, and let future you advise your thoughts and actions today.Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get soci...2023-08-0108 minReframing MeReMIX: Best Friends/Worst Enemies: Strengthening and Maintaining Sibling RelationshipsSend us a textSummer ReMIX!!!! Family vacations provide us a space to observe our family system, especially the sibling relationship, so we;re throwing it back to our conversation on siblings.Sibling relationships are unique. Yes, all siblings have some degreee of conflict because of the time, space and resources they need to share. Research shows that healthy sibling relationships significantly benefit us in our relationships and in our own mental health later in life. Everything changes during the teen years, and sibling relationships do too. We'll have a conversation about how you can...2023-07-3135 minReframing MeJust For Me - Be a Witness: KoshaSend us a textCan you observe yourself as a witness, just looking on, without judgment, thinking, planning or analyzing?To observe ourselves as a witness, we need to work through the layers. A kosha practice looks at our self as being distinct from our body, our mind and our ego. The koshas or sheaths are the five energetic layers of our bodies covering our true inner self or our soul. If we want to get back to that blissful state of our inner soul, we need to work our way through our kosha. 2023-07-2913 minReframing MeAlways an Adventure: Traveling with TeensSend us a textAfter a couple of weeks away from the mic, I am back and ready to go!! Well, kinda... and kinda out of my comfort zone. How about you? Are you pushing yourself out of your comfort zone enough? Well, I am biting down, closing my eyes and doing it, so we can have a conversation about traveling with teens and the 10 universal reflections we experience on those trips. Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @r...2023-07-2643 minReframing MeReMix: Tell Me Lies: Lying, Deception and TeensSend us a textSummer REMIX!!! I'm on vacation this week, but I'm pulling this one out of the archives as a REMIX! Teenagers lie. But don't we all? What motivates us to lie and why do we do it? As parents, we see lying as a moral issue, whereas teens see it as a practical issue - getting out of something or getting to do something forbidden. How do you detect deception and what do you do when your teens lie? Communication is key. Understanding the role of growth and change in rules may be one...2023-07-1348 minReframing MeICYMI Jen is Zen - What Would Jen Do?Send us a textIn case you missed it the first time (or like me, need a bit of reminding!), here's a favorite of mine. What is your favorite version of you? What does she look like? Talk like? Act? How does she walk into the room? How does she treat people? Talk to people? Treat herself? Talk to herself? What does she do with her time? Who is she? When you are in a situation, what would happen if you responded as she would? Ask yourself, what would my favorite version of me do? And then...2023-07-1208 minReframing MeWhy are you like this? Understanding Communication TraitsSend us a textWhy am I always trying to improve? To be more or to be better? Why am I always questioning what I'm doing? Why am I like this? Why is she like this? Or he like this? Or why are you like this? Understanding our communication traits provides a basis for you to know what you can expect from others in various situations and can allow for families to be much happier and more peaceful. And maybe, this understanding will help you to realize that you are right where you are supposed to be.2023-07-1149 minReframing MeICYMI Jen is Zen - Be the Person You Want ReMIxSend us a textWhat would happen if we were the kind of person that we would want to have in our lives? How would our relationships improve if we applied that type of empathy to them? If we saw a situation, and decided to be the person we would want around us if we were in that position. Can you be that kind of person for those others in your life? But what about for you. Can you be the kind of person you want in your life in your very own life or our you...2023-07-0607 minReframing MeJust For Me - Podcast PilatesSend us a textThink about all of the time and effort that you put into everyone else. Well, it's time to take a selfish and put a little of that into you, as we have a conversation on Pilates, all of the benefits it can bring, and how you can start adding it into your life.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 @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a...2023-07-0622 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Embrace the HardSend us a textWhen you change your perspective, you change your world. What are you struggling with? And can you embrace the hard? Because yes, it is hard, but if it was easy, everyone would have it. Can you change your perspective to be grateful for the hard?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 @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a review, catch up on any missed episodes, and...2023-06-2810 minReframing MeReMix: Understanding and Managing Stress and a Master Checklist for Senior SummerSend us a textSummer REMIX!!! Our lives are full of stress - some positive, some negative, some predictable and some unpredictable. In this remixed episode, we'll revisit stress from a family communication perspective, stress and the life cycle, coping and tips and tricks for dealing with stress. For parents of teens, senior summer is like no summer of the past. Gone are lazy, relaxing summer days.... instead, we're facing the unknown of senior year. We'll finish with a very important 12-piece checklist to help our teens be ready for senior year!Thank you for...2023-06-241h 17Reframing MeJen is Zen - Make Peace With ItSend us a textWhat can you make peace with to make your life easier and happier? What do you keep fighting that you could instead make peace with - is it something about your job or your partner or your body or a mindset? Making peace and letting it go can open you open for happiness.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 @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a...2023-06-1912 minReframing MeI Just Can't. Why Teens Have So Much Drama and How You Can HelpSend us a textTeens and preteens are full of drama - the gossip and fighting, the problems and issues, the relationships that come and go and come again, the frenemies and crushes, the ups and the downs, the loves and the hates, the extremes , the exasperation – I JUST CAN’T! When we say drama, it’s really just a shortcut for saying that our teens lack social and emotional skills. There’s a social-emotional disconnect, and their brains aren't yet developed, which impacts their social skills. While we can't make their brains develop faster, we can use their...2023-06-1743 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Yes, You Have a Summer BodySend us a textNever is our unappreciation of our bodies as great as it is during the summer. Can we say that we love our body... and mean it? What if instead of crititicizing all of our flaws based off of narratives that have been planted in our heads we appreciated and loved our bodies for all that they do?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 @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the...2023-06-1312 minReframing MeDon't Post That!: Are You an Oversharent?Send us a textAre 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. 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 @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a review, catch u...2023-06-1033 minReframing MeFailure is ProgressSend us a textSometimes the next level isn't up. Sometimes we need to go in to realize that failure is just practice, and practice is always progress. We've gotten good at setting our goals and envisioning our favorite version of us. But sometimes we fail, and our favorite version of us hasn't yet achieved our goal. So today, can you tap into this leveled-up version of you and use her energy to help you to ride out the failure and see it as progress towards your goal?Thank you for listening and being part...2023-06-0407 minReframing MeThe Last - Top 20 Things I Learned in Middle SchoolSend us a textIt's our last week of 8th grade for my youngest - for six years I've had at least one if not two in middle school. It has been a journey. We're conditioned to be sad at the end, but on the backside of every sunset is a sunrise. Can we reframe how we look at the end, the last? Here are the 20 things that I learned about parenting in middle school.... and really, most are still applicable in high school. File them away for when you may need them.Thank you...2023-05-3125 minReframing MeThe Mom Episode - Part 2: Getting Back to Business! and 6 Tips for Reclaiming Your Career and Personal BrandSend us a textIn part 2 of this MONSTER-sized mom episode, we're continuing to celebrate moms, girl power and our 50th episode week! (this is episode 51!) In part 1 we talked about the struggles that working moms face, so we continue our conversation by looking at the struggles of stay-at-home moms. SAHMs report feelings of sadness, loneliness, frustration and boredom. With teenagers, they often begin to question their role, as their kids have become more independent, which leads many to look to reclaim their careers. Many find that easier said than done with a decade-plus gap on their...2023-05-2628 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Closer to FreeSend us a text"Reframing Me" is celebrating its 50th episode with an update on our initial prompt: "What would I be, who would I be, if I was truly free?" to look and see who we are today, and if we are closer to free? 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 @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a review, catch up on any missed episodes, and be sure to f...2023-05-2410 minReframing MeThe Mom Episode - Part 1: Girls Can Do ANYTHING! and 7 Tips for Work-Family IntegrationSend us a textIn part 1 of this MONSTER-sized mom episode, we're celebrating moms, girl power, and our 50th episode week (this is episode 49!). Girls can do ANYTHING and be ANYTHING, but telling girls that they can or should do EVERYTHING is one of the factors that establishes the societal bias that places moms as the Default Parent, a mentally and physically draining role of providing primary care for parenting and home-related tasks. This syndrome exists and exhausts both working and stay-at-home moms, but it is especially challenging for working moms, so let's also have a conversation...2023-05-2252 minReframing MeJen is Zen - The Roller Coaster of LifeSend us a textAre you able to celebrate others’ success and say “it’s just not my story”? Life isn’t linear, and each of our individual journeys are independent and unique. We are moving at our own pace on these very different paths. So often, we look at everyone around us and instead of being happy for them and their accomplishments, we internalize them and make them about us NOT having the same or NOT accomplishing the same. In actuality, their story is completely separate from ours, and we can only be truly happy when we realize...2023-05-1508 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Passing EmotionsSend us a textIt’s ok to feel whatever emotions that you feel, but don’t let yourself live there. You have the right to feel all of the feels, but can you recognize who you truly are underneath that layer of emotions and bring yourself back to your center? Too often, we who we are underneath, with the emotions we feel. If we can separate the two, we can recognize that this is not who we are; instead, it’s simply how we are feeling. We always have our authentic core as our base.Than...2023-05-1107 minReframing MeThe Law of Resonance: Changing Your Family's FrequencySend us a textLike attracts like. The Law of Resonance is one of the main principles that the Universe functions on. The frequency of any material object, of our thoughts, our emotions and even our experiences possess a unique frequency and will attract similar things in the outside world that vibrate at the same frequency. We are a part of nature, so the same principles that apply to nature and to the universe apply to us too.We want to attract abundance and find our purpose, we want to make our lives better, our...2023-05-0939 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Be PresentSend us a textWhen life gets busy or challenging and we are stuck in the mundance, we often want to just get through this hard part, so we can reach that next break – that next vacation – that next weekend. We are constantly living for the recovery. But that hard part is life, and when we do this, we are missing the present. We are missing the bulk of our lives, wishing for something else. Are you living for the recovery? This moment, right now, is the only one we have for sure. Thank you for l...2023-05-0107 minReframing MeBoundaries - Part 2: Dating and 6 Keys to Navigating Our Teens' RelationshipsSend us a textWe continue on conversation on our expanding family systems and the outside factors that influence us. In this episode, we extend the discussion about the expanding complexities of our families' ecosystems to include dating and our teens' romantic relationships. Parents often wonder if this behavior is "normal," so today, we'll talk about when and how parents should let their teens date, what to expect when your teens are dating, the stages of teen relationship development, and six keys to helping our kids navigate love and dating. Thank you for listening and b...2023-04-2945 minReframing MeJen is Zen - ConfidenceSend us a textWhat would you do or stop doing if you were a more confident person? Confidence is a skill - and not an easy one to master. People often take one of two approaches to improving their confidence - the "fake it til ya make it" approach or the "I'll be confident if..." approach. Basing your confidence on some external validation or a completely arbitrary benchmark doesn’t work. Confidence is an energy that you give off, regardless of the situation or the people you’re with or what you’re wearing, or how...2023-04-2615 minReframing MeBoundaries - Part 1: School and 5 Keys to Encouraging Our Teens' SuccessSend us a textAs our kids grow up, our family systems expand. While we’ve always had outside factors influencing our family system - whether our extended family, work, school, friends, church, organizations, etc - when our kids were younger, we could control the outside influences much more. But now, we start to see just how little control we have over the inputs into our family system. In this episode, we'll begin the conversation about the expanding complexities of our families' ecosystems. Their friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, school, sports teams, jobs, extracurriculars, other parents – because as our...2023-04-2358 minReframing MeJust for Me: Find your Ikigai (aka your Life's Purpose)Send us a textAs moms, somewhere in between diapers and college applications, we often feel like we've lost ourselves - or at least our life's purpose. So sometimes, we deserve to take a few minutes for ourselves - let's use that time today to take a selfish and have a conversation about the Japanese philosophy, Ikigai, or that which gives your life meaning or purpose. It’s our reason for being. Ikigai evolved from the basic health and wellness principles of Japanese medicine, which typically asserts that our physical wellbeing is affected by our mental-emotional health an...2023-04-1921 minReframing MeI Will Survive - Guiding Your Teens Through Heartbreak and FailureSend us a textSomeone else's success isn't your failure. Can you celebrate someone else's success? What about your own failure? It's not our favorite part, but failure, disappointment and heartbreak are a part of life. As parents, it's our job to support our teens when they face it, and teach them how to navigate through. It's very easy to celebrate the victories with them, but it's a lot harder to guide them through the losses. Whether they don’t make a sports team or they get rejected by a college or they get their heart broken by...2023-04-1552 minReframing MeJen is Zen - I AmSend us a textI am are two of the most powerful words we can use. I am establishes who we believe we are. I am establishes what we believe about ourselves, about what we are capable of, about what we deserve in life. Our constant quest for self-improvement and perfection leads us to endless opportunities to criticize and judge ourselves. What if instead, we gave ourself permission to be as imperfect as we are, and still managed to tell ourselves that we are enough. We can both strive to recognize the qualities that we’d like to...2023-04-1106 minReframing MeIt's Just a Number - 10 Keys to Being AgelessSend us a textToday, you get to choose: What are you going to focus on? It’s very easy and natural for us to want something different – if I could just go back to the past, or if it could just get to the future already. For years, we just wanted to get older, and now, if we could only be young again… It’s ok to have those reactions. Honor wherever you are and however you feel, but let go of that, and instead, choose to focus on how you want to see the situation. In my sp...2023-04-0743 minReframing MeJen is Zen - HappinessSend us a textAll I need comes to me when I need it. Sometimes we need that extra push towards happiness... even at the happiest place on Earth. But where does that place of true happiness and contentment come from? It can't come from outside, it needs to come from within. It stems from our confidence and internal peace. Take a few minutes today to reflect on this prompt and find the happiness you deserve. Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @r...2023-04-0306 minReframing MeJust for Me: 6 Steps for Writing a Vision StatementSend us a textIn this episode of JFM, we're taking a selfish to take an important step on our personal journey towards our future. On our last episode, The Life Coach, Beth Cale of Estuary Coaching told us that our first step should be to clarify our vision. Writing down our vision is the best way to manifest it, and this six-step process makes us to really think about the purpose of our life – what it has been, what it is, what we want it to be, and how we can get there.Thank yo...2023-03-3110 minReframing MeThe Life CoachSend us a textBefore we were moms, we were women - actual individuals who did things she enjoyed, went places she wanted, had interests and friends and hobbies and a life of her own. And then we became moms, and our identities began to revolve around our children. As they become teens and start getting their own activities, interests and lives, it leaves a literal hole in our lives – or at least in our schedule. We're getting some space to breathe and are coming to the realization that we can fill that space with us – or whoe...2023-03-291h 09.jpg)
Enlightened EmpathsReframing Me with Dr. Jennifer Brubaker
Please join Samantha and Denise in welcoming Dr. Jennifer Brubaker. Dr. Brubaker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She’s the author of Celebrity and the American Political Process, which takes a look at the intersection between media and politics through the lens of celebrity involvement in the political process. After 20 years in academia, Jen has recently brought her scholarly research in family communication out of the classroom and into the podcast “Reframing Me,” which discusses both the evolution of parenting and family communication and the rediscovery of a woma...2023-03-2745 minReframing MeGo ahead... be their friend!Send us a text“Parents today are afraid to make their kids mad.” “They want to be their kids’ friend not their parent.” Why has this become such an either or issue? As moms, we already balance so many roles in our lives, and this is just one more. The secret to successful parenting of teens is maintaining the balance between being their parent and being their friend because they need us as both. Everyone will feel happier and more satisfied in the relationship — even when we face conflict, which we all know, is such a part of the daily...2023-03-2336 minReframing MeJen is Zen - The Spring EquinoxSend us a textIt's the Spring Equinox! Here in the Northern Hemisphere, brighter days are on the horizon. It makes us realize that sometimes, it's our time to shine (literally!), and sometimes, it isn't. Can we celebrate others and know that it's just not our time right now, but still trust that we are on the right path? Manifesting is about speaking it out loud – and writing it down, of course – and then putting in the work, and in due time, we can watch our dreams come true. But sometimes it’s really hard to keep pluggi...2023-03-2107 minReframing MeJen is Zen - RAINSend us a textWhat we look for, we see. What we are, we attract. We are constantly attracting what is in our minds and in our hearts. When we have negative energy in our bodies, we attract the negative, but when we have positive energy in our bodies, we attract the positive. Sometimes, something or someone is blocking us from moving forward. You are attracting the desires of your heart. What are you clenching on to, and what blocks are preventing you from moving forward.?Thank you for listening and being part of this...2023-03-1710 minReframing MeEmpathy, Intuition and DreamsSend us a textOn this special episode, we'll have a conversation with Samantha Fey, author of the book The Awake Dreamer: Lucid Dreaming, Astral Travel and Mastering the Dreamscape, and co-host of the podcasts Psychic Teachers and Englightened Empaths about empathy, intuition and dreams, and the roles each play in our lives and families.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 @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a review, catch...2023-03-101h 09Reframing MeJen is Zen - What Would Jen DoSend us a textWhat is your favorite version of you? What does she look like? Talk like? Act? How does she walk into the room? How does she treat people? Talk to people? Treat herself? Talk to herself? What does she do with her time? Who is she? When you are in a situation, what would happen if you responded as she would? Ask yourself, what would my favorite version of me do? And then do it. Could it be this simple? Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get s...2023-03-0808 minReframing MeRe: That - Birth Order Theory and the Development of PersonalitySend us a textOn the Siblings episode, we talked about how the number of siblings and our relationship with them impacts us throughout our lives. We mentioned that our placement within our families impacts our personality development. Well, Re: That... for over 100 years, Birth Order Theory has addressed that each child will show results of their attempts to adapt to their individual circumstances. We are born with personality traits, and birth order defines how we handle our inherited traits in addition to the biological, social and cultural influences on us.Thank you for listening...2023-03-0434 minReframing MeJust for Me: 5 Steps to Finding Your PassionSend us a textOn our journey to rediscover who we are as women beyond the frame of motherhood, let’s take a midweek break, just for us! In this episode, we’ll have a conversation about the five steps to discovering your passion. 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 @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a review, catch up on any missed episodes, and be sure to follow the show...2023-03-0113 minReframing MeJen is Zen - CommitmentSend us a textI am ready to commit and take myself to the next level. What do I want? I am ready to commit to the next step – what does that look like? I am committing to a regular publishing schedule of Monday (Jen is Zen), Wednesday (Just for Me) and Friday (Family Communication Fridays!), making today our first official Manifestation Monday – Jen is Zen episode! What better way to start your week than with a reflection? Take a step towards Manifesting what you want – who you want to be. I know that you are ready to commit...2023-02-2711 minReframing MeBest Friends/Worst Enemies: Strengthening and Maintaining Sibling RelationshipsSibling relationships are unique. Yes, all siblings have some degreee of conflict because of the time, space and resources they need to share. Research shows that healthy sibling relationships significantly benefit us in our relationships and in our own mental health later in life. Everything changes during the teen years, and sibling relationships do too. We'll have a conversation about how you can help to make sibling relationships strong, which may help make your home a bit more peaceful too.Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook...2023-02-2533 minReframing MeBest Friends/Worst Enemies: Strengthening and Maintaining Sibling RelationshipsSend us a textSibling relationships are unique. Yes, all siblings have some degreee of conflict because of the time, space and resources they need to share. Research shows that healthy sibling relationships significantly benefit us in our relationships and in our own mental health later in life. Everything changes during the teen years, and sibling relationships do too. We'll have a conversation about how you can help to make sibling relationships strong, which may help make your home a bit more peaceful too.Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's...2023-02-2533 minReframing MeJust for Me: Keep the Energy FlowingSend us a textOne of the reasons that we’re all here is trying to figure out who we are as women - beyond the frame of motherhood - who are we? What else do we do beyond work? As we start getting more time for us, we’re going to get to rediscover – or maybe just discover for the first time even! – parts of us to fill that space. So what will you fill it with? Take a selfish – what do you want todo? Just for you? In these Just for Me episodes, we’re goin...2023-02-1816 minReframing MeJen is Zen - Love yourselfSend us a textThank 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 @reframingmeI 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! 2023-02-1709 minReframing MeMental Health is Health: Raising Teenagers Amid Fear and Mental Health CrisesSend us a textIt is a hard time to be a teen. They go to school afraid for their safety. They're stressed in their lives. They're hopeless about what the future holds. A CDC report came out this week, and the statistics are frightening and shocking. Our teens are struggling. It's a hard time to be a parent too. It's hard to see our kids struggling and not know how to help. In this episode, we will have a conversation about ways that you can help your teens' mental health. Mental health is health. T...2023-02-1543 minReframing MeRe: That - Conscious ParentingSend us a textOn the Beneath the Layers episode, when talking about communication and parenting styles, we touched on the concept of Conscious Parenting. We said that true connection occurs when we don’t attach our own emotional well-being on to someone else, specificallyin this context – we’re looking at our relationships with our teens. Well, RE: that, I have been seeing two trends on social media lately that have really gotten methinking about Dr. Shefali’s views, and I’d like us to have a conversation to explore them a bit more toget...2023-02-0914 minReframing MeJen is Zen: Dear MeSend us a textIt’s time to write a new story. We often don’t realize how hung up we are on past failures, mistakes, heartbreak and trauma. What if we could reframe our story and look at the person who grew from our past. Instead of holding on to what we should have done, can we hold on to what we can do? It’s impossible for us to move into a new story when we are still so hung up on the old. But now we can take control of our story - reframe it and...2023-02-0910 minReframing MeJust for Me: Drink the Olive OilSend us a textOne of the reasons that we’re all here is trying to figure out who we are as women - beyond the frame of motherhood - who are we? What else do we do beyond work? As we start getting more time for us, we’re going to get to rediscover – or maybe just discover for the first time even! – parts of us to fill that space. So what will you fill it with? Take a selfish – what do you want todo? Just for you? In these Just for Me episodes, we’re goin...2023-02-0612 minReframing MeBeneath the Layers: Family Communication and Parenting StylesSend us a textMany of us struggle to be our true authentic selves because we’ve often spent our entire lives hiding much of her. Over the years and our efforts to fit in or be the way others wanted us to be, some of us have lost our authentic selves. And now, we have brought this version of us into our current families. In this episode, we have a conversation about this current version of us, where she came from, how we could be our authentic selves, and how this all impacts our parenting. We lo...2023-02-0243 minReframing MeRe: That - Forced Family Fun FridaySend us a textOn probably close to every episode, we’ve referenced the importance of spending time with our teens, sharing interests with them, and creating quality relationships with them. Quality relationships lead to well-functioning families, and well-functioning families are more stable, they are happier, they have less conflict, they have less lying, etc. Quality relationships require time and things in common – and yes, sometimes that means, forced family fun. Well, RE:That, Forced Family Fun Friday is here, and a shared TV series is a great way to spend time together this weekend and have some...2023-01-2707 minReframing MeJen is Zen - CourageSend us a textDo you think of yourself as courageous? We’re often afraid to try something new or to face our fears because we fear we may not have the resiliency or that we may not be able to handle it, if we fail…. Or even sometimes worse… what if we succeed? Bravery, confidence, and rootedness are the trifecta or courage. What would you do if you weren’t afraid to fail? Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instag...2023-01-2609 minReframing MeTell Me Lies: Lying, Deception and Our TeensSend us a textTeenagers lie. But don't we all? What motivates us to lie and why do we do it? As parents, we see lying as a moral issue, whereas teens see it as a practical issue - getting out of something or getting to do something forbidden. How do you detect deception and what do you do when your teens lie? Communication is key. Understanding the role of growth and change in rules may be one facet, as well as recognizing that strict parenting isn't the answer. Let's have a conversation about lying, deception and...2023-01-2147 minReframing MeJen is Zen - AcceptanceSend us a textThe focus is often on making changes to make ourselves happier - improve ourselves, our families, our bodies, our lives. But, what if we were to just accept it – no narratives – no judgments – just acceptance. It doesn’t mean that we need to like it, just accept it. There’s a freedom in that acceptance. We typically use this podcast to have a conversation about parenting our teens and the role of communication in our families. But also, as they are growing up, they don’t need us like they used to anymore. Our identitie...2023-01-1303 minReframing MeRe: That - Body Image and TeensSend us a textSometimes, we need just a little bit more…. In episode 7, our conversation touched on talking to your teens about body image. Well, RE: that…. not only is this aconversation that is worthy of having, just because it is not as difficult of a topic to talk about with them as some of the others doesn’t mean we don't needto put as much effort into it. Negative body image impacts our girls AND our boys, and if we don’t address it, it can develop into more troublesome issues. Than...2023-01-1216 minReframing MeThe Emotional Comfort Zone: Difficult Conversations with TeensSend us a textAre you living in your emotional comfort zone? Is there anything in your life that you continue to do, not because it makes you happy, but because it makes you comfortable? Do you know that something better may be out there, but you stick with how things are because you’re afraid of the potential outcome? Are there difficult conversations you need to be having with your teens that you’re maybe avoiding because they take you out of your emotional comfort zone? Growth hurts – it’s why we call them growing pains – but you’ll...2023-01-071h 07Reframing MeJen is Zen: Growth and Change in 2023Send us a textIn this mini-episode on the half beat, we are right on the cusp of a totally clean slate – January 1 will start a new week, a new month and a new year! It’s the perfect opportunity for you to turn the page and start fresh. This year, can you give yourself permission to be selfish? Can you say that this year, I am going to make myself my project? Enlist your highest consciousness – your wisest self who isn’t prone to getting caught up in the minutia – step back and truly assess what you want t...2022-12-2809 minReframing MeMerry and Bright: Change and Growth with Teens and TraditionsSend us a textIt is freeing to release your tie to the outcome and accept what will be. Can you commit to letting go when you need to, understanding that letting go is a form of strength too? As our babies turned into children, holiday traditions and toys got more elaborate. Elves moved onto our shelves. Letters were written and mailed to the North Pole. Trees were decorated, cookies were baked, lights were admired, songs were sung and gingerbread houses were built – all of it was done together. Each year, it seems a bit more like th...2022-12-2047 minReframing MeJen is Zen: ManifestationSend us a textIn this mini-episode on the half beat, we reflect on manifesting what we want in life by taking a look at why we truly want it. We also reflect on looking to our expanders (our #goals people) as role models for attaining our goals instead of through a lens of envy or jealousy. So between learning about communicating with our teens, take a few minutes for yourself to reflect. If you could have anything, be anything or do anything in your life, what would it be? Why? How can you get there? We...2022-12-1403 minReframing MeManifest that $%!&: Manifestation and Healthier Relationships with TeensSend us a textYou and only you are responsible for who you become and for your happiness. But how can we be happier in our lives? How can we be happier in our relationships with our teens? Well, you manifest that $%!&. When you manifest, you cultivate the experience of what it is you want by tapping into the universe and then putting in the work. In this episode, we have a conversation about manifestation, Don Miguel Ruiz' book, "The Four Agreements," and family communication - and blend them all together in a lovely Top 10. We discuss...2022-12-1448 minReframing MeStressed out!!: Stress and CopingSend us a textWhat day is it? What month is it? Where am I?? We are all so very stressed out! 'Tis the season, right? Not only the holiday season, but this season of life. I'm stressed. You're stressed. Our kids are stressed. Some of that is normal developmental stress because of our stage of life, but some of it may be unpredictable and throw our lives into chaos. Regardless, you're not alone in feeling that way, and you need to cope. Let's have a conversation about stress to understand it and talk about some practices...2022-12-081h 13Reframing MeJen is Zen: Be the Person You WantSend us a textIn this mini-episode on the half beat, we reflect on the thought of what would happen if we were the kind of person that we would want to have in our lives. How would our relationships improve if we applied that type of empathy to them? If we saw a situation, and decided to be the person we would want around us if we were in that position. Can you be that kind of person for those others in your life? But what about for you. Can you be the kind of person...2022-12-0707 minReframing MeStressed out!!What day is it? What month is it? Where am I?? We are all so very stressed out! 'Tis the season, right? Not only the holiday season, but this season of life. I'm stressed. You're stressed. Our kids are stressed. Some of that is normal developmental stress because of our stage of life, but some of it may be unpredictable and throw our lives into chaos. Regardless, you're not alone in feeling that way, and you need to cope. Let's have a conversation about stress to understand it and talk about some practices I've found to be helpful.Thank...2022-12-021h 12Reframing MeJen is Zen: Extend Yourself GraceSend us a textIn this mini-episode on the half beat, we reflect on the thought of giving ourselves grace for the person we used to be, who didn’t know what we know now? Consider how you look at previous versions of yourself. Do you look back with kindness? Do you cringe at who you were? Are there things that you would have done differently, knowing what you know now? But would you be who you are today if you had known them then? We typically use this podcast to have a conversation about parenting our te...2022-11-0404 minReframing MeRules of the Game: Family Rules, Boundaries and GrowthSend us a textThis episode of Reframing Me provides an understanding of the rules that operate within our family system that set up boundaries to maintain our roles. Rules are relationship agreements that are established over time through the interactions within our families. Rules are probabilities, not laws. Family systems require a degree of predictability to survive. Rules guide our behavior and provide a framework for how a family functions. When rules are broken, there must be a sanction or it ceases to be a rule. And sometimes, we overreact to these broken rules. Growth comes...2022-11-0450 minReframing MeBecoming the Main Character: Family Systems and RolesSend us a textThis episode of Reframing Me provides an understanding of how individual roles work together to collectively keep a family system running smoothly by providing guidance on what is expected of us in our families and what we can expect from the other members of the system. Sometimes, we face conflicts between these roles, and we'll talk about some common ones, such as managing having the role of both the protector while still fulfilling our teen's need for self realization, or managing being both the authoritarian and the nurturer; and what happens when two...2022-11-0348 minReframing MeJen is Zen: Reroute and RealignSend us a textIn this mini-episode on the half beat, reflect on the goals that you once set for your life. Whether you've attained them or not, the journey goes on because life is about the process, not the destination. We have the power to reroute and realign with compassion as often and as many times as we need to. It's time to reframe who we want to be and how we see ourselves. We typically use this podcast to have a conversation about parenting our teens and the role of communication in our families. But...2022-10-2605 minReframing MeBecoming the Main CharacterThis episode of Reframing Me provides an understanding of how individual roles work together to collectively keep a family system running smoothly by providing guidance on what is expected of us in our families and what we can expect from the other members of the system. Sometimes, we face conflicts between these roles, and we'll talk about some common ones, such as managing having the role of both the protector while still fulfilling our teen's need for self realization, or managing being both the authoritarian and the nurturer; and what happens when two parents have different ideas about what their...2022-10-1947 minReframing MeJen is Zen: Free to be Our Authentic SelvesSend us a textIn this mini-episode on the half beat, reflect on the concept of freedom, freedom from what constrains you from being your authentic self. Who would you be without these constraints? And what are the binds that are holding you back? We typically use this podcast to have a conversation about parenting our teens and the role of communication in our families. But also, as they are growing up, they don’t need us like they used to anymore. Our identities that were so tied to our children and motherhood are becoming ours again. Bu...2022-10-0705 minReframing MeA New Season Begins: Stability, Change and the Family SystemSend us a textIt's fall!! The season of back to school, football and all things pumpkin spice - a season of change. As a career academic, I exist on an academic year, not a calendar year. Fall is my New Year's - new calendar, new supplies, new schedule, new hopes, new plans, new goals - new me!!! Transitioning to this new season, it's reflective of the transitions to new seasons in our lives. When our kids become teenagers, everything in our family system changes. Their issues become more complex. Communication with them becomes more challenging. As...2022-10-0136 minReframing MeTrailerSend us a textSo many prepare us for the transition to motherhood, but no one prepares us for how hard the transition out is, and once our kids become teens, it also can feel very solitary. The issues we face with teens are often ones we need to talk about, yet feel we can't or shouldn't. Grounded in family communication theory, we have those conversations to help you better understand this new chapter. PUBLISH2022-10-0103 min
EPAGA UniversityEp. 19: Whole-Family Planning After a Diagnosis w/ Kerry Nagel and Jennifer CrowleyThis week, Julie and Inga were joined by Kerry Nagel, CNA, CDP, and Jennifer Crowley, BSN, RN, CLCP, MSCC, CADDCT, CDP. Though finding themselves on very different paths throughout their lives, Nagel and Crowley both have made an incredible impact on the dementia care field.
Show Notes:
Bonnie Upton's Alzheimer's To-Do List: www.epagahomecare.com/s/Alheimers-To-Do-List.pdf
Inga's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/kindness-neighbor-driveway-racetracks-little-boy/
Julie's Uplifting Story of the Week: https://fampharmapro.in/pepsis-former-ceo-shared-the-1-sentence-secret-to-her-success-as-a-leader-its-the-opposite-of-what-weve-been-told/?fbclid=IwAR1LYdXgt8jvh490b5gP7BJ9qroECx5CYpZY1THHkjrE7Z8_uLcg9DGFFhQ2021-11-0836 minEPAGA UniversityEp. 14: Hospice: Balancing Fear and Hope w/ Jennifer SchaffnerOn this week’s episode of Caregiven, we are joined by special guest, Jennifer Schaffner of Encompass Health Hospice to discuss a topic that many initially associate with fear.
Hospice, when approached from the right perspective, can be a very beautiful thing. Jennifer Schaffner explains how it is simply providing the most pain-free, comfortable, and beautiful way to end your life. Throughout the episode, Schaffner brings so many important things about hospice to light that can make your decision to say “yes” to services for your loved one a little bit easier.
Show Notes:
Watc...2021-10-041h 01
The BackgrounderEpisode 74: Jennifer BeckN.J. Senator Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) has been making headlines this year opposing a 23-cents-per-gallon gas tax hike and being among the first Republicans to not support Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy. But there’s much more to Senator Beck. On this episode, Senator Beck gives us her read on the post budgetary climate surrounding the gas tax debate and the Transportation Trust Fund, she provides an update on her work on behalf of those affected by Superstorm Sandy, and she explains how she went from being a physics and math major conducting research at the Goddard Space Flight Cent...2016-07-1500 min