Category Archives: Parenting

ON BOYS Most Popular Episode of 2023



Powered by RedCircle Our January 5 conversation with Mary Van Geffen, Parenting “Spicy” Boys, is ON BOYS’ Most Popular Episode of 2023. (And Jen’s sons’ least favorite! Gen Z defines “spicy” quite differently than we’re using it here.) Sure, this episode, released early in the year, had the benefit of time. But Mary’s message also … Continue reading ON BOYS Most Popular Episode of 2023


Autonomy-Supportive Parenting



Powered by RedCircle Have you heard of autonomy-supportive parenting?  Essentially, it’s the opposite of helicopter parenting. It’s a parenting style that allows, supports, and encourages kids to make decisions and take action. And unlike helicopter parenting, which demands near-constant parental activity, autonomy-supportive parenting also supports parental rest (and can reduce burnout). “Intensive parenting is not … Continue reading Autonomy-Supportive Parenting


Parenting for Gender Equity



Powered by RedCircle Gender equity begins at home. Policies matter, of course, but not as much as parenting. Think about that for a moment.  Parents need to think & talk about gender stereotypes and expectations because those stereotypes and expectations affect our parenting, says Shelly Vaziri Flais, a pediatrician, mom of four, and author of … Continue reading Parenting for Gender Equity


Parenting Beyond Power with Jen Lumanlan



Powered by RedCircle Jen Lumanlan, author of Parenting Beyond Power: How to Use Connection & Collaboration to Transform Your Family, believes there’s a direct link between parenting and social justice. “The way that we raise our children — the daily interactions that we have with them that seem like they’re about discipline — actually support … Continue reading Parenting Beyond Power with Jen Lumanlan


Devorah Heitner on Growing Up in Public



Powered by RedCircle Our boys are growing up in public. Between social media, online monitoring, and geo-tracking, our kids’ lives are public in a way ours never were when we were young. Helping kids manage this digital landscape can be a challenge for parents and adults who often worry and frequently ignore the upsides of … Continue reading Devorah Heitner on Growing Up in Public


Calm the Chaos: Parenting Challenging Kids



Powered by RedCircle How do you calm the chaos in your household? Big emotions, power struggles, and challenging behaviors can create (& feed!) chaos, affecting the entire family. And it’s next to impossible for anyone to operate at their best in a constant state of chaos. “I felt like an absolute failure for the first … Continue reading Calm the Chaos: Parenting Challenging Kids


How to Be an Unflustered Mom



Powered by RedCircle Yes, you can be an unflustered mom. Identifying your anxiety style is the first step, says Amber Trueblood, a mom of four boys (currently ages 10, 12, 14, & 15) and author of The Unflustered Mom: How Understanding the Five Anxiety Styles Transforms the Way We Parent, Partner, Live, and Love. “Anxiety … Continue reading How to Be an Unflustered Mom


Why Now is the Best Time to Raise Boys (w Michael Reichert)



Powered by RedCircle Now is the best time to raise boys, says psychologist Michael Reichert, founding director of the Center for the Study of Boys’ & Girls’ Lives, author of How to Raise a Boy, and co-author of Equimundo’s recent State of American Men report.  It doesn’t feel that way to many parents (or boys), … Continue reading Why Now is the Best Time to Raise Boys (w Michael Reichert)


Sue Atkins Tackles Common Parenting Questions



Powered by RedCircle Sue Atkins encourages parents to slow down, relax, & learn from their children. “We are rushing through life,” says the UK parenting guru.. “We rush everything — we rush our children to eat their breakfast, to do their shoes up, to brush their teeth. And I think children have got something to … Continue reading Sue Atkins Tackles Common Parenting Questions


Puberty, Perimenopause, & Midlife Parenting



Powered by RedCircle Midlife parenting often means navigating puberty and perimenopause at the same time. The average age of first parenthood has increased in recent years, so many moms now find themselves going thru perimenopause around the same time their kids hit puberty, according to a 2021 New York Times Parenting Newsletter article titled, When … Continue reading Puberty, Perimenopause, & Midlife Parenting