11: From Strollers to Social Media - Parenting Teens and Pre Teens with Brianne Manz

In this episode, I sit down with Brianne Manz, founder of the mom and lifestyle blog, Stroller in the City, to discuss the nuances of parenting three children in their pre-teen and teenage years. Brianne, a former fashion showroom owner turned full-time mom and content creator, shares her insights on navigating the emotional and mental challenges that come with raising kids as they get older.. I was particularly interested in finding out from Brianne her thoughts on “bigger kids, bigger problems.” She shared that while the physical demands may lessen as children grow, the emotional and mental complexities increase. We delve into topics like social media influence, FOMO, and the feelings of exclusion that adolescents often face. Brianne emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and fostering open communication to support her children’s mental well-being. We talked about the difficulty in our kids opening up when they are vulnerable. Both Brianne and I share experiences about the difficulty children, especially those who feel deeply, may have in opening up. We discuss the significance of being present and assuring our kids that we are there to support them through their emotional journeys. Key Takeaways: It’s crucial to approach negative comments with curiosity about their origin rather than internalizing them, teaching our children resilience and self-assurance. Forming alliances with other parents can be key in navigating social dynamics and setting appropriate boundaries around  our children’s activities. Assuring our kids that they don’t need to participate in every event or trend to feel fulfilled can help prevent feelings of inadequacy or being left out. Brianne shares how her own upbringing influences her parenting style, striving to provide her children with opportunities she lacked while maintaining a balance to avoid overindulgence. This episode feels like a candid conversation about the realities of parenting older children, with valuable nuggets on how to maintain healthy, open relationships with our kids as they navigate more complex stages of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices