Parenting through the middle school years can be hard. Step-parenting a blended family - even more challenging. In this episode, I talk with Amy Stone about her experiences parenting and step-parenting through the middle and high school years, as well what steps parents of blended families can do to create a family they love.

About the Guest:
Amy Stone is a mentor, educator and coach for stepparents, parents and adults who are looking for a feeling of happiness and satisfaction in a blended family. She is a mom, a stepmom, and a step-grandma. Her personal journey from single woman to wife, stepmom and mom pushed her to create a unique path to happiness that she shares with other stepparents today.

Learn more about Amy's work at https://www.amysaysso.com
Listen to the Amy Says So podcast.
Connect with Amy on FB.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter. Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!

Does your daughter want to be a part of the elite group of popular girls at her school? Or is she a part of a popular group where she no longer feels like she can be herself? In this episode, child and adolescent therapist Hannah Leib walks us through the difference between popularity, power and authentic friendships in middle school. We discuss why some girls are pulled into the popularity trap, why great kids can be excluded, and how to support your daughter's self-confidence in a way that helps her develop authentic friendships.

About the Guest
Hannah Leib, LCSW, is a child and adolescent teen therapist whose passion stems from her own mental health battles throughout her childhood and teen years. In college, she started a mental health support group called Thrive, in which she led discussions on mental health and student life. It grew into a successful program, which then led her to achieve a Fulbright scholarship in Bulgaria in 2016 after she graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Pitzer College. She is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is dedicated to helping children and teens grow and glow into their best selves.

Learn more about Hannah's work at www.growandglowchildtherapyla.com.
Connect with Hannah on IG.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter. Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!

So much weight sits on the shoulders of teen girls today in a society that pressures them to fit in a box influenced by social media and achievement culture. How do we help our girls break free from that mold, to become the strong, confident individuals they're meant to be? In today's episode, Chelsey Goodan, author of the new book, Underestimated: The Power and Wisdom of Teenage Girls, talks about what's really on the minds of teen girls and how we as parents can break through. Chelsea offers both an understanding of what teen girls want, as well as practical how to advice parents can implement with their teen today to improve her confidence and sense of identity.

About the Guest:
Chelsey Goodan has been an academic tutor and mentor for sixteen years, with a particular emphasis on the empowerment of teenage girls. She regularly speaks to audiences about gender justice, conducts workshops, and coaches parents on how to better understand and connect with their daughters. She is the founder of The Activist Cartel and the mentorship director of DemocraShe, a nonprofit that guides teenage girls from historically underrepresented communities into leadership positions. As an activist, she advises public figures, galvanizes volunteers, and organizes large-scale events for national nonprofits, while also serving on the board of A Call to Men, a nonprofit working to end gender-based violence. Her passion to explore humanity’s potential for authenticity, liberation, and empowerment permeates all of her work.

Learn more about Chelsey at https://www.chelseygoodan.com/.
Purchase Underestimated: The Power and Wisdom of Teenage Girls.
Connect with Chelsey on IG.

Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:
Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. Want to hear more from experts who can help you support your middle school girl? Please subscribe to the podcast or sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter. Do you have a burning question about raising your middle school girl? Send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls on Instagram to have your question considered for a future episode. We're in this together, parents!