Smells Like Teen Parent

Join me, Jenny Debevec, on this journey through the transformative world of career counseling.  Let's explore how early conversations about ambitions can shape the lives of adolescents and teens. Imagine a child's playful dream of designing Lego masterpieces transitioning into a fulfilling career - this episode unpacks how nurturing youthful imagination and self-efficacy equips our youth with the tools to turn their vibrant visions into actionable realities. With personal anecdotes and keen insights from children of all ages, we dissect the myriad ways exposure to diverse environments and role models serves as a compass for teens navigating the sea of potential futures.

Have you ever wondered how to navigate the emotional labyrinth of supporting a LGBTQ+ child? Do you wish you had a guide, someone who's been through it, to offer invaluable insights? This episode, packed with candid conversations, student insights, and real-world tips, is your guide. Heather Hester, founder of Chrysalis Mama, takes us through her personal journey as a parent of LGBTQ+ youth, highlighting the essential role acceptance, open communication, and respect play in their lives. 

Imagine the paradigm shift required to break from traditional ideas of control and authority to create safe spaces for young people exploring gender and sexuality. In my talk with Heather, we examine how to foster these safe spaces, address the emotional rollercoaster that follows a child's coming out, and underline the significance of therapy and self-care. We also amplify the voices of student contributors who illuminate the necessity of nurturing inclusive environments in schools, homes, and communities.

Shining a light on the importance of active support and advocacy is the crux of our conversation, especially for transgender children. Heather and our student contributors underscore the power of affirmation, like using preferred pronouns and chosen names. The potency of words like "I'm here for you, I love you, and I've got your back, no matter what" cannot be overstated. This is more than just an episode – it's a toolkit for parents, teachers, and allies seeking to foster a more accepting world for our LGBTQ+ youth. Tune in, and together, let's transform love into action.

In this quick and dirty episode we bring you advise from the street corner with improv guru and public radio talk show host Michael O’Brien, who shares the life lessons and parenting rules you can learn from improvisation:

There are no rulesSay Yes, (or at least be curious about what they want)There are no mistakes (and when there are, learn from them!) Life is full of contradictions, so stop trying to make it all make sense.Develop your own methodFocus on your connectionBe in the moment

In this episode, we're diving into the science behind the value of humor in parenting! What kinds of humor do kids prefer and how does that influence their behavior? How does does having a sense of humor help you raise an adolescent? What kinds of humor are not effective with teens? How can you cultivate a sense of humor if you don’t really think you are that funny? You will hear from guest expert on humor Michael O’Brien and  from students themselves.

This episode is brought to you in part by NextPhase.ai.

In this episode we discuss anxiety. Anxiety is the number one concern students and parents present in counseling referrals. Why are rates of anxiety and depression skyrocketing? What are the triggers for adolescent anxiety and what are effective ways to help your kid notice and calm their anxiety? You will hear from students themselves and adult expert David Flores, Lead Trainer for Mindful Life Project. Mindful Life Project is an amazing program that is transforming schools from the inside out with innovative and comprehensive mindfulness based social-emotional learning programming. 

Please share and download this episode!  Downloading continues to grow our local, national, and international communities.  

Host and Creator Jenny Debevec is a national certified school counselor and academic consultant with over 20 years experience working with youth. You can learn more about her services at www.yesandcounseling.com.

Thank you for listening. Your feedback is welcome!

In this episode we  discuss how to create effective adolescent discipline (rather than mere  punishment, which doesn't even work for rats).  You will hear from students, parents of teens who survived those years, and our expert guest Dr. Sheila Krotz, founder and CEO of Positive Influences, providing science based training in 21st Century Learning and Living strategies; she's also a powerhouse elementary school principal. Please download, subscribe, and share this episode so we can keep building an informed supportive, humble community of caregivers.  

What are the different kinds of ADHD? Who should be on medication? Can kids overdose? What are the side effects?  In the last episode we talked about what ADHD and ADD is, what helps teen focus and answered questions from parents of teens with ADD. In this episode we have the honor of speaking with psychiatrist Pamela Moslin, who offers over 35 years of experience in the medical field and currently serves on the staff at Evergreen College in Olympia.  Please download, subscribe, and share this around so we can keep building an informed supportive, humble community of caregivers.  

In the next two episodes we are going to talk about how teen ADHD differ from earlier childhood ADHD? Does playing video games give your kids ADHD? Can they get ADHD from those wild and chatty friends? What distinct challenges might adolescents face and how can you support them in middle, high school, and beyond? How can you build a collaborative team to ensure that teens with ADHD make the most of their educational setting? And finally, we will touch on how to take a breath so that you can best set an example for your teens.  Featuring our student contributors and in part 2 you will hear from Dr. Pamela Moslin, psychiatrist and part of the medical staff at Evergreen College in Olympia, WA. 

So how DO we talk to teens in an effective way? Bringing you parents and caregivers a set of micro-skills to foster honest productive dialogues about loaded topics.  

These Microskills include:

In this bonus feature you will hear uncut conversations between me and my adolescent (over breakfast and in the car) about social media. I also offer recommendations to caregivers of how using Intentional Interviewing counseling techniques can help you, no matter what topic is terrifying us.

In this episode, school counselor and academic consultant Jenny Debevec is going to pry open the vault of what is happening during screen time-- is social media connecting youth or spawning addiction? Is Instagram to blame for your adolescent becoming a narcissist? To what degree are teens capable of monitoring usage themselves?  And what DO they want and need from adults in terms of guidelines and assistance?

Featuring reflections by guest students, social media experts, and my very own adolescent, whose phone basically turns into a brick at 9 pm.

for advice or to schedule a consultation email: smellsliketeenparent@gmail.com 

In this fun and uplifting episode we take a look at one of the biggest land mines and causes of tongue tied-ness of raising our generation in bloom: sex and puberty .

 What are the most pressing concerns of teens and their adult caregivers  today? 

What do teens want to tell you but can’t? 

What does our evolving understanding of sex and gender identity mean in terms of sex education?

 Featuring our guest experts from One Medical Nina Metsovaara, FNP, and Maya Brooking, PA. For more information about their program, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/o/one-medical-kids-28900536473

This episode we are sending proceeds from every download for the next month to MyGenderDolls. MyGender Dolls are a therapeutic tool in which kids can select bodies, genitals, clothes, and other accessories as a way to visualize their anatomy and genders, so all kids can see themselves represented and know they are valid.

For questions, comments, or to hire Jenny for academic consulting or guest speaking, email smellsliketeenparent@gmail.com.

Bringing you a special interim episode spotlighting one of the organizations Smells Like Teen Parent supports with every download our listeners make. For each download from episode four, creator Jenny Debevec will donate a dollar to this organization. 

Huckleberry’s mission is to educate, inspire, and support under served youth to develop healthy life choices, to maximize their potential, and to realize their dreams. Since 1967, they have been providing San Francisco and Marin youth and their families with a network of services and opportunities by caring peers and adults.

For teens and their families everywhere, adolescence can be a difficult time. Many low-income youth face additional barriers, risks and pressures, making these years even more critical. Though challenging, adolescence presents a unique opportunity to change course and make choices that will lead to a more promising future. For over 50 years, Huckleberry has partnered with teens and families to overcome adversity.

In this podcast episode we take a look at Adolescent Relationships: The Good, the Bad, and the Awkward. What makes adolescent friendships so important? How can we help them get through conflicts and heartbreak? What are ways to support teens making healthy friends and setting boundaries?  Hear the latest research, honest reflections by adolescents themselves, and advice for our parent listeners. 

In this episode we  focus on what makes a successful adolescent?  We look at research about what helps and hinders success, hear from students themselves, offer advice to other parents, and learn how adults can make a difference! 

 In this episode host Jenny Debevec gets real about college applications! What it means to apply to college, what makes it hard, and what helps organize and destress your college app process. She speaks with experts and students, offering advice and recommendations about what you can do to help move things along with your sanity intact. 

This fun and thoughtful podcast included reflections on the changes this past year has brought, recommendations on how to help families with adolescents make a successful return to the classroom and features an interview (and advice from) the host's own adolescent. 

Welcome to Smells like Teen Parent, a podcast for adolescents and the adults that annoy them. This  podcast adds a little humor to the ongoing dialogue about raising teens who are capable, resilient, and curious (and cleanish). 

With useful discussions and get real advice about things like school success, college preparation, social-emotional health, learning differences, gender and sexual identity, and oh yeah, how about some parent self-care?  Because wouldn’t it be nice if at graduation, you were all still speaking to each other?

Jenny Debevec is a counselor and Academic Consultant who has been working with students for 20 years. If you have questions or comments you can email us at smellsliketeenparent@gmail.com