Mother + Advocate: The Uncharted Territory Of The Teen Mental Health Crisis

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we cover:How bullying for teenage girls can be subtle and insidious: It may look more like relational or indirect aggression than traditional bullying, but that doesn't make it any less serious. Social media has acted as an accelerant for social problems amongst adolescence: externalizing their public identities makes it harder to be authentic and empathetic. Why fear of being a "helicopter parent" has led many parents to be too hands-off when it comes to their children's social and emotional (but not academic!) experiences. How can a restorative justice model help our kids navigate relationship challenges at every stage, from preschool through adolescence? There is nothing more important than showing up for our children and getting involved during social and mental health crises: we're teaching them that they are loved beyond measure, that we have their backs, and that their emotional needs are worth advocating for.In this Stace and Steph episode, we talk about showing up for our kids to advocate for their emotional needs, even when it makes us question ourselves, and even when it makes us uncomfortable. We navigate that grief, anger, and sense of injustice that happens when our kids' teenage experiences don't go the way we envisioned—there is nothing more painful than watching our kids suffer. We'll discuss the impact social media has had on Gen Z, creating the uncharted territory of a modern teen mental health crisis. Steph shares her struggles with stepping in to advocate for her daughter, and brainstorms ideas for how we as parents could effect positive change. Where to find us:www.motherplusser.comInstagram: @motherpluspodcastWHERE TO FIND US NOWConnect with Stacey🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  on Apple & Spotify 📸 Instagram: @stacehutsonConnect with Steph🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcaston Apple and Spotify✍️ The Reclamation Eraon Substack📝 MidCircle— a writing community for midlife women📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger