Reframing Me - Self-Development & Parenting Teens for Midlife Moms

By Dr. Jennifer Brubaker

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Category: Self-Improvement

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Episodes: 291

Description

Your kids are growing up - but so are you. Reframing Me is the podcast for moms of teens ready to reframe family, identity, and self-development in midlife.


Parenting teens is hard -and parenting while rediscovering yourself in midlife can feel even harder. Reframing Me is the parenting podcast for moms raising teenagers who are also navigating the transition out of hands-on motherhood, identity shifts, and the search for balance, fulfillment, and self-development.


Hosted by Dr. Jennifer Brubaker, a Communication Studies professor, mom of three teens, and intrapersonal communication expert, each episode blends family communication strategies, honest conversations about parenting teens, and self-reflection tools to help moms strengthen family relationships while rediscovering who they are as women. 


Together we’ll talk about the issues moms face but don’t always say out loud: changing family dynamics, feeling invisible, letting go of control, and creating new purpose. Through research, theory, and compassionate conversation, you’ll find support, strategies, and a sense of community in this season of parenting and personal growth.


Join the Reframing Me community to connect with other midlife moms, share your stories, and reframe how you see yourself, your family, and your future.

Send emails to jen@reframing-me.com; or on socials: Reframing Me on FacebookAND join the Facebook group Reframing Me: The Podcast Community; @reframingme on Instagram; Reframing Me on YouTube @reframingme on TikTok


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Episode Date
Because You Are: The Manifestation and Identity Connection
Jul 16, 2026
Mid-Year Check In on Those January Goals
Jul 08, 2026
Have You Listened to Your Body Lately? Exploring Somatic Practices
Jun 28, 2026
What about your friends? Friendship and Midlife
Jun 22, 2026
Jen is Zen - Cemetery of Abandoned Identities
Jun 12, 2026
The Fat Lady Has Sung: When Sports, High School, and Childhood End All at Once
May 31, 2026
Jen is Zen - Your Summer Body is Here
May 29, 2026
From the Other Side: Top 20 Things I Learned Parenting a Teen to 20
May 16, 2026
Our Bodies, Our Identities
May 10, 2026
I Gave Them Space... Now What?
Apr 29, 2026
Just Be Her: Things I Wish I Knew Sooner - #41-50
Apr 20, 2026
Are you Hypernormalizing? (Probably!)
Apr 20, 2026
Things I Wish I Knew Sooner: #16-41
Apr 12, 2026
The Birthday Girl Vibes... are Off
Apr 07, 2026
What were you like in the 90s? Teens and 90s Nostalgia
Mar 27, 2026
Spring Has Sprung! Living in Balance
Mar 22, 2026
The Odyssey: "You're Only as Happy as Your Unhappiest Child"
Mar 13, 2026
You can start any time: Things I wish I knew sooner - 1-15
Mar 06, 2026
Jen is Zen - Consistency is Better than Perfection
Feb 26, 2026
Tips for Men: When She Feels It More Than You Do
Feb 18, 2026
QZ: Lunar New Year
Feb 17, 2026
QZ: Declutter
Feb 16, 2026
QZ: The Right Amount of Enough
Feb 13, 2026
QZ: Clean the Mirror
Feb 10, 2026
QZ: Showing Ourselves Kindness
Feb 09, 2026
When Conflict Isn’t Conflict: Information Processing Styles
Feb 08, 2026
Quick Zen: Perseverance and Resilience
Feb 06, 2026
A Quick Touchstone
Feb 05, 2026
Recognizing Confidence and the Things That Still Make Me Happy
Jan 30, 2026
Does Your Senior Have a Case of Senioritis?
Jan 27, 2026
Jen is Zen - Believe in Yourself and Be Your Own Cheerleader
Jan 21, 2026
Raising Teens Mean Balancing Gratitude with Grief
Jan 18, 2026
Jen is Zen - Control the Controllable
Jan 14, 2026
When Your Nervous System Is Overwhelmed but Parenting Doesn’t Stop: Raising Teens Through Unsettled Times
Jan 10, 2026
Jen is Zen - The Only Opinions That Matter
Jan 08, 2026
Merry Twixtmas and Happy 2026!
Dec 28, 2025
Connected, Yet Isolated: The Parallel Between Teens and Midlife Moms
Dec 17, 2025
Jen is Zen - Just Begin Again
Dec 11, 2025
Are you Fighting for the Fun of It? Recreational Arguing in Families
Dec 05, 2025
Jen is Zen - Redirection from Rejection
Dec 03, 2025
The Thanksgiving Visit: 7 Tips for Enjoying a Visit from your College Student
Nov 26, 2025
Jen is Zen - Create Your Magic
Nov 19, 2025
The End of Youth Sports 2.0 and Ambiguous Loss
Nov 17, 2025
November Gratitude Meditation
Nov 14, 2025
How to Evolve with your Teens: Moving from a Vertical to a Horizontal Relationship
Nov 06, 2025
Reframe the Moment: Chapter 8 - Our Discontent
Oct 30, 2025
It's Time to Reframe YOU: A walk-through of the ReFRAME Model
Oct 28, 2025
Reframe the Moment: Chapter 6 - Feeling the Feels
Oct 23, 2025
Understanding Mean Girls: How Insecurity, Power, and Belonging Shape Teen Friendships
Oct 22, 2025
Reframe the Moment: Chapter 5 - The In Between
Oct 15, 2025
Reframe the Moment: Chapter 4 - Underneath the Emotions
Oct 08, 2025
Jen is Zen - Kindness: An Energetic Alignment
Oct 06, 2025
College Is Not Job Training: 4 Myths Parents Need to Rethink
Oct 03, 2025
Reframe the Moment: Chapter 3 - Life's a Rollercoaster
Oct 01, 2025
Jen is Zen - Harmony Over Balance
Sep 29, 2025
Reframe the Moment: Chapter 2 - I Am
Sep 24, 2025
Happy Spring Equinox, Southern Hemisphere! (Repost)
Sep 23, 2025
Happy Autumnal Equinox, Northern Hemisphere!
Sep 23, 2025
Reframe the Moment: Chapter 1 - Becoming Free
Sep 17, 2025
Jen is Zen - Grateful for the Imperfect
Sep 15, 2025
The Same Old Story: Breaking the Cycle When Our Past Sneaks Into Our Parenting
Sep 12, 2025
Revisiting Mental Health and Our Teens: Six Things Parents Can Do to Help Cope in Troubled Times
Sep 12, 2025
Jen is Zen - Invisible Labor
Sep 08, 2025
Three Years of Reframing Me: Parenting Teens, Midlife Shifts, and Rediscovering Ourselves
Sep 03, 2025
Jen is Zen - Use the Sticker - Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time
Aug 29, 2025
From Chaos to Quiet: Navigating Back-to-School Transitions for Teens and Moms
Aug 26, 2025
Jen is Zen - Words are Weapons - Choose to Use Them as Tools Over Attacks
Aug 14, 2025
Navigating the Launch: Using the ReFRAME Model and Understanding Ambiguous Loss
Aug 08, 2025
Jen is Zen - What if it's not good?
Jul 29, 2025
Oversharenting! What Happens When Facebook Babies Grow Up?
Jul 22, 2025
Jen is Zen - Life is Too Short to Hate Your Nails
Jul 18, 2025
Exercise to Build a Stronger Relationship with your Teen: How Movement Connects Us
Jul 09, 2025
July Check-In
Jul 01, 2025
Jen is Zen - Want Street
Jun 25, 2025
Upcycle: Traveling with Teens
Jun 20, 2025
Jen is Zen - That's Hypernormalization, and it's Trying to Protect You
Jun 12, 2025
The Berry Breakdown - Tips for Listening In and Listening Out
Jun 05, 2025
Jen is Zen - Yes, YOU Have a Summer Body
May 27, 2025
Are You Tired? The 7 Types of Rest You Need
May 23, 2025
Jen is Zen - Episode 200!! Je suis le ciel (I am the sky)
May 20, 2025
UPCYCLE: What about prom?? When Life Doesn't FIt the Canonical Storyline
May 15, 2025
UPCYCLE - The Mom Episode Part 2: Getting Back to Business
May 11, 2025
UPCYCLE: The Mom Episode Part 1 - Girls Can Do Anything and 7 Tips for Work-Family Integration
May 11, 2025
Jen is Zen - It's Not a Change... It's a Transformation
May 07, 2025
My Biggest Parenting Secret? Boundaries, Space and Your Teens
May 03, 2025
Jen is Zen - Light Each Other's Candles
Apr 30, 2025
Feeling Clean and Clear: An Ecology Check for Our Dreams
Apr 23, 2025
Jen is Zen... *more than she's not*
Apr 17, 2025
From Grocery-getter to Business Owner: Amy's Matrenaissance
Apr 11, 2025
Upcycle: Putting Age in Context
Apr 11, 2025
Upcycle: 10 Keys to Being Ageless
Apr 11, 2025
Why Jen is Zen at 49
Apr 09, 2025
You DO only live ONCE: Kris' Matrenaissance
Apr 04, 2025
Jen is Zen - Trusting the Process, Even When It's Quiet
Apr 02, 2025
What I know now - Beth's Matrenaissance: Two Steps Ahead
Mar 27, 2025
Upcycle: Senioritis and Soiling the Nest
Mar 22, 2025
Jen is Zen - The In-between
Mar 19, 2025
Why Not Me? Emily's Matrenaissance: A Journey of Empowerment
Mar 14, 2025
Jen is Zen - The kind of person who...
Mar 13, 2025
Welcome to your Matrenaissance! Reframing Midlife
Mar 07, 2025
Jen is Zen - Not the Best Performance of My Career
Feb 26, 2025
Building Our Emotional Intelligence (so we can teach our teens!)
Feb 19, 2025
Jen is Zen - Gratitude vs Ambition
Feb 12, 2025
Surviving Winter and the Second Semester Blues
Feb 05, 2025
Jen is Zen - What is your why?
Jan 31, 2025
Snow Day! The Bittersweet Push-Pull of Letting Go
Jan 25, 2025
Jen is Zen - Are you making the world complicated?
Jan 23, 2025
Why So Angry?: Understanding and Managing Your Teen's Anger
Jan 18, 2025
Jen is Zen - Gratitude is Magic
Jan 15, 2025
New Year, Same Me: Top 10 Tips for Parenting Teens
Jan 10, 2025
Jen is Zen - Leave it in 2024
Dec 19, 2024
Part 2: The Robots Come in Peace: How we can use ChatGPT to manifest our dreams (and help with daily tasks)
Dec 13, 2024
Part 1: Are the Robots Taking Over? Helping your Teens with ChatGPT
Dec 13, 2024
Jen is Zen - Running on Vibes
Dec 05, 2024
The Thanksgiving Visit: 7 Tips for Enjoying Your College Student's Visit
Nov 26, 2024
Just For Me: These are a Few of My Favorite Things
Nov 22, 2024
Jen is Zen - The Change is Within Us
Nov 21, 2024
Post-election Emotions: Helping Teens and Young Voters Process their Emotions
Nov 13, 2024
Upcycle: Life After Sports
Nov 13, 2024
Upcycle: Game Over - The End of Youth Sports/Activities and Ambiguous Loss
Nov 10, 2024
Jen is Zen - The Load that We Carry
Nov 08, 2024
Election Anxiety
Nov 04, 2024
I Get So Emotional, Baby! Teaching our Teens How to Manage Emotions in a Healthy Way
Oct 25, 2024
Jen is Zen - Two Candles Shine Brighter than One
Oct 23, 2024
Happy World Menopause Day!
Oct 18, 2024
Jen is Zen - The Discomfort of Staying the Same
Oct 16, 2024
“It’s October 3rd.” The Burn Book Upcycled: Top 10 Parenting Mistakes
Oct 03, 2024
“It’s October 3rd.” The Burn Book Upcycled: Top 10 Parenting Mistakes
Oct 03, 2024
Jen is Zen - Go Find Less
Oct 02, 2024
Reframing the Conversation Part 6: Rebuilding Relationships
Sep 27, 2024
Reframing the Conversation Part 5: Communicating with Political Extremists
Sep 27, 2024
Reframing the Conversation Part 4: Healthy Political Communication
Sep 27, 2024
Reframing the Conversation Part 3: Socialization
Sep 27, 2024
Reframing the Conversation Part 2: How Did We Get Here???
Sep 27, 2024
Reframing the Conversation Part 1: Why is Reframing the Conversation Important?
Sep 27, 2024
Those Left Behind: When the Oldest Child Leaves the Nest
Sep 22, 2024
Jen is Zen - Being and Doing
Sep 11, 2024
A Leader's Mindset: 10 Tips to Create a Positive Mindset to Lead Your Family to Success
Sep 04, 2024
Jen is Zen - Growth is Painful (Who is that Potato Head?)
Aug 28, 2024
Jen is Zen - Episode 150!!
Aug 28, 2024
Someone Else's Mom: Top 10 Tips to be Happy, Content and Successful this School Year
Aug 23, 2024
'Twas the Night Before Move In
Aug 18, 2024
Jen is Zen - The Possible
Aug 09, 2024
Marital Communication and Raising Teens: 5 Common Issues
Aug 06, 2024
Jen is Zen - Decluttering
Jul 29, 2024
Ughh Teenagers, Am I Right?
Jul 19, 2024
Jen is Zen - We get to choose
Jul 14, 2024
Jen is Zen - We get to choose
Jul 14, 2024
July Check in - Where are you with your 2024 goals? Are you connecting with your teens?
Jul 10, 2024
July Check in - Where are you with your 2024 goals? Are you connecting with your teens?
Jul 10, 2024
Jen is Zen - The Happiness Martyr
Jun 28, 2024
Manifest Peace in Your Homes: Pick Your Battles, Siphon Your Power and Ration Your F&#K$
Jun 20, 2024
Jen is Zen - I'm the Problem, It's Me
Jun 13, 2024
Revisiting the Adventure: Reflections on Traveling with Teens
Jun 05, 2024
Jen is Zen - The Power of I Am
May 27, 2024
Yeah, but... Parents' Frustrations and Teenage Brain Development
May 21, 2024
Jen is Zen - Life is Chaos
May 13, 2024
What About Prom?: When Life Doesn't Fit the Canonical Storyline
May 06, 2024
Jen is Zen - Accept the Uncontrollable
May 01, 2024
Decisions, Decisions: Using Theory to Help Teens Make Rational Decisions
Apr 27, 2024
Jen is Zen - Seeing Life as a Practice
Apr 25, 2024
The Finish Line: Revisiting the End of Youth Sports and Ambiguous Loss
Apr 19, 2024
Jen is Zen - Choose Your Own Adventure
Apr 17, 2024
Putting Age in Context: 9 Keys for Staying Ageless, Contextual Age and my Birthday!
Apr 09, 2024
Hike your own Hike: Equifinality and Family Communication
Apr 06, 2024
Jen is Zen - Reconsidering Boundaries
Mar 27, 2024
Oldest Daughter Syndrome
Mar 19, 2024
Jen is Zen - GIGO
Mar 15, 2024
Cultivating Confidence in Ourselves and Our Teens
Mar 10, 2024
Jen is Zen - Hindsight Has Prepared You For This
Mar 04, 2024
Our Goal-Setting Journey: Part 6 - Landing the Plane
Feb 27, 2024
The Psychology of Popularity and Our Teens
Feb 21, 2024
Our Goal-Setting Journey: Part 5 - Career Goals
Feb 15, 2024
Diagnosis: Senioritis (and Soiling the Nest)
Feb 13, 2024
Our Goal-Setting Journey: Part 4 - Social Relationships
Feb 08, 2024
Our Goal-Setting Journey: Part 3 - Family Goals
Feb 08, 2024
Our Goal-Setting Journey: Part 2 - The Life Wheel
Feb 06, 2024
Our Goal-Setting Journey: Part 1
Feb 02, 2024
Navigating Your Teens' Heartbreak and Disappointment
Feb 01, 2024
Jen is Zen - What are you pushing away?
Jan 29, 2024
Parents Just Don't Understand: Why Teens Don't Listen to Parents and Rebel
Jan 26, 2024
Jen is Zen - Ready to Take a Leap
Jan 20, 2024
Positive Parenting and Teens
Jan 15, 2024
Just For Me - Movement is Medicine
Jan 10, 2024
Jen is Zen - Attract What You Deserve
Jan 09, 2024
Connect with your Teens in 2024
Jan 07, 2024
Control+Alt+Delete: A Reset for 2024
Dec 21, 2023
Merry and Bright: Change and Growth with Teens and Traditions
Dec 16, 2023
Jen is Zen - Overthinking
Dec 08, 2023
Special ICYMI The Mom Episode - Part 2: Getting Back to Business! and 6 Tips for Reclaiming Your Career and Personal Brand
Dec 01, 2023
Special ICYMI The Mom Episode - Part 1: Girls Can Do Anything and 7 Tips for Work-Family Integration
Dec 01, 2023
Jen is Zen - Reframing the 100th Episode
Nov 29, 2023
The Thanksgiving Visit - 10 Tips to Prep for Your College Student and Relational Dialectics
Nov 21, 2023
Jen is Zen - Never Less
Nov 17, 2023
Re: That - Post-Game
Nov 14, 2023
Jen is Zen - The Dissonance of Change
Nov 08, 2023
Game Over: The End of Youth Sports/Activities and Ambiguous Loss
Nov 06, 2023
Jen is Zen - It's Britney, Bitch
Nov 01, 2023
The Place To Be: 10 Tips for Making Your Teens (and their friends!) Want To Be At Home
Oct 25, 2023
Jen is Zen - Gratitude Over Guilt
Oct 16, 2023
As If: Changing How You Relate with the Universe (and the People in it!)
Oct 14, 2023
Jen is Zen - You Are Enough
Oct 09, 2023
The Burn Book: Top 10 Parenting Mistakes
Oct 08, 2023
Jen is Zen - The Uncomfortable
Oct 06, 2023
ZenTober: A Journey to Inner and Family Peace
Oct 02, 2023
Jen is Zen - Have Faith
Sep 27, 2023
Repost: Spring Equinox (for the Southern Hemisphere)
Sep 23, 2023
The Autumnal Equinox Part 3: Shed your Leaves
Sep 23, 2023
The Autumnal Equinox Part 2: A Day of Balance
Sep 22, 2023
The Autumnal Equinox Part 1: Gratitude for the Harvest
Sep 19, 2023
"I may not be Bey...:" Creating Good Habits in Yourself and Your Teens
Sep 16, 2023
Jen is Zen - My Uncertainty Era
Sep 13, 2023
Jen is Zen - I Need you to Engage
Sep 08, 2023
La Vie est Belle - Parenting Teens through Negativity
Sep 07, 2023
Jen is Zen - The Rough Corner
Aug 30, 2023
It's Not About the Socks. Metaphors and Communication: Tips to be a Better Listener
Aug 27, 2023
Jen is Zen - Why Yes?
Aug 22, 2023
ICYMI: I. Just. Can't. Why Teens Have So Much Drama and How You Can Help
Aug 20, 2023
Jen is Zen - Make the Most of Today
Aug 15, 2023
ICYMI - The Last: Top 20 Things I Learned in Middle School
Aug 12, 2023
Jen is Zen - Fear of Failure
Aug 09, 2023
PhD Barbie
Aug 04, 2023
Jen is Zen - Take My Advice
Aug 01, 2023
ReMIX: Best Friends/Worst Enemies: Strengthening and Maintaining Sibling Relationships
Jul 30, 2023
Just For Me - Be a Witness: Kosha
Jul 29, 2023
Always an Adventure: Traveling with Teens
Jul 26, 2023
ICYMI Jen is Zen - Dear Me
Jul 13, 2023
ReMix: Tell Me Lies: Lying, Deception and Teens
Jul 13, 2023
ICYMI Jen is Zen - What Would Jen Do?
Jul 12, 2023
Why are you like this? Understanding Communication Traits
Jul 11, 2023
ICYMI Jen is Zen - Be the Person You Want ReMIx
Jul 06, 2023
Just For Me - Podcast Pilates
Jul 05, 2023
Jen is Zen - Embrace the Hard
Jun 28, 2023
ReMix: Understanding and Managing Stress and a Master Checklist for Senior Summer
Jun 23, 2023
Jen is Zen - Make Peace With It
Jun 19, 2023
I Just Can't. Why Teens Have So Much Drama and How You Can Help
Jun 17, 2023
Jen is Zen - Yes, You Have a Summer Body
Jun 13, 2023
Don't Post That!: Are You an Oversharent?
Jun 10, 2023
Failure is Progress
Jun 04, 2023
The Last - Top 20 Things I Learned in Middle School
May 31, 2023
The Mom Episode - Part 2: Getting Back to Business! and 6 Tips for Reclaiming Your Career and Personal Brand
May 26, 2023
Jen is Zen - Closer to Free
May 24, 2023
The Mom Episode - Part 1: Girls Can Do ANYTHING! and 7 Tips for Work-Family Integration
May 22, 2023
Jen is Zen - The Roller Coaster of Life
May 15, 2023
Jen is Zen - Passing Emotions
May 11, 2023
The Law of Resonance: Changing Your Family's Frequency
May 09, 2023
Jen is Zen - Be Present
May 01, 2023
Boundaries - Part 2: Dating and 6 Keys to Navigating Our Teens' Relationships
Apr 28, 2023
Jen is Zen - Confidence
Apr 26, 2023
Boundaries - Part 1: School and 5 Keys to Encouraging Our Teens' Success
Apr 23, 2023
Just for Me: Find your Ikigai (aka your Life's Purpose)
Apr 19, 2023
I Will Survive - Guiding Your Teens Through Heartbreak and Failure
Apr 14, 2023
Jen is Zen - I Am
Apr 11, 2023
It's Just a Number - 10 Keys to Being Ageless
Apr 07, 2023
Jen is Zen - Happiness
Apr 03, 2023
Just for Me: 6 Steps for Writing a Vision Statement
Mar 31, 2023
The Life Coach
Mar 29, 2023
Go ahead... be their friend!
Mar 23, 2023
Jen is Zen - The Spring Equinox
Mar 21, 2023
Jen is Zen - RAIN
Mar 17, 2023
Empathy, Intuition and Dreams
Mar 10, 2023
Jen is Zen - What Would Jen Do
Mar 08, 2023
Re: That - Birth Order Theory and the Development of Personality
Mar 04, 2023
Just for Me: 5 Steps to Finding Your Passion
Mar 01, 2023
Jen is Zen - Commitment
Feb 27, 2023
Best Friends/Worst Enemies: Strengthening and Maintaining Sibling Relationships
Feb 25, 2023
Just for Me: Keep the Energy Flowing
Feb 18, 2023
Jen is Zen - Love yourself
Feb 17, 2023
Re: That - Conscious Parenting
Feb 09, 2023
Jen is Zen: Dear Me
Feb 09, 2023
Just for Me: Drink the Olive Oil
Feb 06, 2023
Beneath the Layers: Family Communication and Parenting Styles
Feb 02, 2023
Re: That - Forced Family Fun Friday
Jan 27, 2023
Jen is Zen - Courage
Jan 26, 2023
Tell Me Lies: Lying, Deception and Our Teens
Jan 21, 2023
Jen is Zen - Acceptance
Jan 13, 2023
Re: That - Body Image and Teens
Jan 12, 2023
The Emotional Comfort Zone: Difficult Conversations with Teens
Jan 07, 2023
Jen is Zen: Growth and Change in 2023
Dec 28, 2022
Merry and Bright: Change and Growth with Teens and Traditions
Dec 20, 2022
Jen is Zen: Manifestation
Dec 14, 2022
Manifest that $%!&: Manifestation and Healthier Relationships with Teens
Dec 14, 2022
Stressed out!!: Stress and Coping
Dec 08, 2022
Jen is Zen: Be the Person You Want
Dec 07, 2022
Jen is Zen: Extend Yourself Grace
Nov 04, 2022
Rules of the Game: Family Rules, Boundaries and Growth
Nov 04, 2022
Becoming the Main Character: Family Systems and Roles
Nov 03, 2022
Jen is Zen: Reroute and Realign
Oct 26, 2022
Jen is Zen: Free to be Our Authentic Selves
Oct 07, 2022
A New Season Begins: Stability, Change and the Family System
Oct 01, 2022
Trailer
Oct 01, 2022