http://www.kidsthesedaysbook.com
🛠️ Quick Tips for Parents (Take‑away Action Items)
Start the “Youth‑Engagement Conversation” – Ask your teen: “What part of today felt most alive? What felt like a waste of time?”
Swap “Compliance” for “Co‑Creation” – Re‑frame rules as agreements: “Let’s decide together how we’ll handle homework this week.”
DIY Advocacy – Identify one school policy (e.g., cell‑phone usage) you can discuss with a teacher. Bring a teen‑suggested solution.
Leverage Strengths, Not Labels – If your teen mentions a diagnosis, ask: “What does this tell us about how you learn best?”
Micro‑Disruptions in the Classroom – Encourage teachers (or your own home‑learning) to let students choose one project topic each month.
today we’re stepping directly into a conversation that so many parents whisper about but rarely name out loud: the school system.
The one we grew up in.
The one our kids are sitting in right now.
And the one that — for too many teens — simply doesn’t match who they are, how they learn, or what they need to thrive.
For decades, we’ve been taught not to question it. But when a system is outdated, when it’s built for a world and a learner that no longer exist… we have to talk about it.
And today, we are.
I’m joined by Nevin Harper and Will Dobud, authors of the incredible book Kids These Days — a book that doesn’t just diagnose what’s going on with youth, but shines a bright light on the systems shaping them.
Together, we’re going to unpack what’s broken, what’s possible, and how every one of us — parents, educators, advocates — can begin disrupting the system in small, meaningful ways.
Show more...
http://www.kidsthesedaysbook.com
🛠️ Quick Tips for Parents (Take‑away Action Items)
Start the “Youth‑Engagement Conversation” – Ask your teen: “What part of today felt most alive? What felt like a waste of time?”
Swap “Compliance” for “Co‑Creation” – Re‑frame rules as agreements: “Let’s decide together how we’ll handle homework this week.”
DIY Advocacy – Identify one school policy (e.g., cell‑phone usage) you can discuss with a teacher. Bring a teen‑suggested solution.
Leverage Strengths, Not Labels – If your teen mentions a diagnosis, ask: “What does this tell us about how you learn best?”
Micro‑Disruptions in the Classroom – Encourage teachers (or your own home‑learning) to let students choose one project topic each month.
today we’re stepping directly into a conversation that so many parents whisper about but rarely name out loud: the school system.
The one we grew up in.
The one our kids are sitting in right now.
And the one that — for too many teens — simply doesn’t match who they are, how they learn, or what they need to thrive.
For decades, we’ve been taught not to question it. But when a system is outdated, when it’s built for a world and a learner that no longer exist… we have to talk about it.
And today, we are.
I’m joined by Nevin Harper and Will Dobud, authors of the incredible book Kids These Days — a book that doesn’t just diagnose what’s going on with youth, but shines a bright light on the systems shaping them.
Together, we’re going to unpack what’s broken, what’s possible, and how every one of us — parents, educators, advocates — can begin disrupting the system in small, meaningful ways.
Show more...
Bio*
Brett Aldrich is an Ayurvedic Counselor, Breathwork Practitioner, and founder of Seed the Spirit in Portland, Maine, whose work blends decades of service with deep holistic training. Her career has taken her from supporting survivors of trauma and children with developmental needs to guiding others in Ayurveda, breathwork, and yoga. A graduate of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda and affiliated with the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance, Brett helps people create lasting physical, emotional, and spiritual balance and transformation through simple, sustainable practices.
Important Links / How to find you
https://www.facebook.com/p/Seed-The-Spirit-LLC-61575858674934/
🚀 New Podcast Episode Alert – Parenting Teens Advice Redefined 🚀
I’m thrilled to share the latest conversation I had with Brett Aldrich, Ayurvedic counselor, breath‑work practitioner, and founder of Seed the Spirit (Portland, ME). 🎙️
If you’re a parent of a teen (or anyone who feels stuck in the endless fight‑or‑flight loop), this episode offers a fresh, “be more, do less” mindset that can transform how you show up for yourself—and for your kids.
Know Your Element, Balance Your Life – Ayurveda teaches that we’re each a unique blend of fire, water, earth, air, and ether. By recognizing which element dominates your current state, you can make simple, intentional choices (e.g., cooler foods, water‑based activities, grounding in earth) to restore inner equilibrium.
Micro‑Moments of Breath = Macro‑Shift in Stress – A 2‑minute diaphragmatic breath (belly → chest → clavicle) can reset the nervous system, nourish the brain, and give you the pause you need before reacting. Consistency beats intensity—tiny, daily breath‑work beats marathon sessions you can’t stick to.
Model Calm, Not Perfection – Kids mirror what they see. By openly acknowledging your own stress, taking a brief breath, and saying, “I need five minutes to reset,” you teach your teen a concrete tool for self‑regulation.
Connect with Cheryl!
The Cleansing Within Program
https://www.practicewithpresence.com/cleansing-within/?sa=sa0019992619598254bda4daae3980777062778b19
The Good Divorce Show Episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hIILoayZV2oQu5zEzJdcP?si=wl8O0S9YSCCwkUSJQAYcrQ