In the Middle of It with Amy Kelly, The Ish Girl

Middle School Teachers MUST Connect with Their Students – Here are 5 Reasons Why

A SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE

Recently, I’ve watched several close friends walk through devastating losses. We’re all still d…

TURNING THE TABLES

If you listened to the last episode of the podcast, you know that I shared some things that parents wished their kids’ middle school teachers knew. And I promised that this week I’…

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SHIFT

Whether they’re long past it or deep in the middle of it (hah – no pun intended,) you’ve probably experienced the dramatic shift that happens when kids go from elementary to m…

The Thought Model

It takes practice to use the thought model – a self-coaching concept that is helpful in creating lasting life changes. The thought model uses circumstances, thoughts, feelings, and …

The Self-Coaching Model

This self-coaching model was developed by Brooke Castillo, who describes it as a “law of nature. It’s a way of categorizing everything that happens to you in the world. It’s a…

Welcome to the second half of the conversation I started last week! The spotlight is on first-year middle school teachers and tips and strategies they can use as they launc…

Not too long ago, I decided to make a small pivot with the podcast, to fold teachers into the mix. As a former middle school teacher, I know how important it is to connect with yo…

There's Something About Sweetie

I am so excited to welcome you to The Ish Girl Summer Book Club 2019 Discussion! We're talking all about There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon.

What I have …

If you’re like me, you’re hitting the dog days of summer, when the thrill of being out of school has diminished a bit, siblings are starting to get on each other’s nerves, and …

Strategies to connect with a difficult teen who is shutting you out

1. Know your kid better than anyone else – and how they’ve changed
2. Know their “tells” – and respond accordingly
3. Be willing to wait
4. Tr…

Welcome to Episode 50 of The Podcast!!

I’ve reflected a lot about why I started the podcast in the first place – and how I want it to impact you, and your teens. I know all the reasons I began, and w…

Today, I’m featuring Ally Carter, author of the Gallagher Girls series, the Heist Society series, and many more. Her books feature kick-butt heroines and fast-paced action, wit…

I there’s one thing I know about parenting them, it’s that it’s not just a thankless job – it’s one where I’m being critiqued. Often, and harshly.

I want to give you a su…

Recently, I went on an unusual girls’ trip. It was four-day journey from Texas to Missouri, and what made it different were the people I was with. My 89-year-old Grann…

I’m back after a week of traveling with my two teens over their spring break, as we toured colleges and visited family and old friends.

As we made our way across the Midwest, we heard bits and pieces…

Miranda Kenneally is a prolific writer who really nails the teen experience. Her books are thought-provoking, entertaining, and riveting - and full of hot-topic issues that are gre…

Biggest Takeaways

Building trust is something our teens – and we – do with every choice we make. You’re either building trust or breaking it, there’s no in between.

How is your teen building trust wh…

Happy Birthday!

This week marks the 1-year anniversary of the first podcast episode! To celebrate and show my appreciation for all your support, I compiled the 15 best takeaways from aaalllll the epi…

Biggest Takeaways:

Tahera Mafi’s A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a beautiful book that is perfect for springboarding into meaningful conversations with your teen.

The Context

Fear and mistrust might b…

Biggest Takeaways:

The Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response

Your body is programmed to react to danger and stress, usually with a “fight, flight, or freeze” response.

Your brain doesn’t always recognize…