When Glenbrook North High School delayed finals at the last-minute due to the weather, it launched a firestorm of anger aimed at the administration.  In response, student editors at the school newspaper took a stand that brought its own criticism.  In this episode of Parenting the Mental Health Generation, we meet the authors of that editorial, Avery Copeland, and Kaitlyn Lu. They share the backlash they faced and why they believe their peers need to "suck it up" in the face of adversity. Tune in to discover how teenagers and parents alike can cultivate resilience and embrace growth ..read more

If you’re stuck in the muck of parenting, you can make positive change without sticker charts and timeouts.  Yes, there is another way, and you’ll find it by searching for glimmers, those minor moments that deliver peace and joy.  During this episode, we meet an artist who made a big life change for the better and shares how you can follow her lead with small steps. SHOW NOTES: B Kez website B Kez Instagram (@BKez) Music Credit: Line Up / POND 5 ©CATCH 2024 To find all of the resources CATCH provides to caregivers of young people struggling with their mental health, go to www.catch ..read more

How often are you or your child checking their grades?  How is that impacting your relationship with your child? In this episode of Parenting the Mental Health Generation, we dive deep into the addictive nature of online grade tracking systems for both parents and students. Join us as we look at the toll these systems take on our families and learn how we can break free from what Julie Lythcott-Haims calls the "insidious parent portal." SHOW NOTES00:28 Julie Lythcott-Haims One Week Cleanse 00:30 NY Times Article: Snowplow Parents Are Ruining Online Grading 02:30 Deerfield Parent Network ..read more

Parents are facing real pressures to keep kids active, focused, and accomplished.  But to what end?  The award-winning documentary, Chasing Childhood, emphasizes the importance of free play and independence as the keys to a kid’s success.  In this episode of Parenting the Mental Health Generation, we dig into what’s best for our children and offer guidance on avoiding the overparenting trap. SHOWNOTES:Chasing Childhood Documentary If you would like to host an intimate documentary viewing and discussion with your friends, email info@catchiscommunity.org.  Music credit: Tun ..read more

From the intense pressures of the college application process to the societal expectations shaping student extracurricular choices.  Our kids are doing it all.  Are they achieving success? Join Amy O. and Dr. Lisa in a candid conversation with Aimee Wool, a seasoned high school teacher, as they delve into the evolving world of student stress. Wool shares valuable insights into the changing dynamics of education and offers thought-provoking perspectives on redefining success and happiness beyond traditional benchmarks. Tune in to discover the crucial role teachers and parents play i ..read more

"It's wild to me that we throw all these things at teenagers and expect them to handle it with the grace and poise that a 35-year-old would. And so, if I were speaking directly to teenagers of today, what I would say to them is that it makes so much sense that you feel this pressure. It makes so much sense that you feel stressed out. The environment that you are in is such a competitive and high pressure one that I would feel the same exact way."  Meg Ruocco - 2015 High School Graduate Two 2015 grads from Glenbrook North High School reflect and share their experiences growing up on Chicag ..read more

" I guess we shouldn't make up someone else's story," stated a kindergartner after hearing the book Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Pena. That is the powerful message one kindergarten student walked away understanding from their library time with Tara LaCerra. LaCerra is a beloved librarian at one of our local elementary schools. She sees firsthand how our youths’ mental health has changed over the last decade; the anxiety, the frustration, the struggle to build resilience. And she shares a message of hope noting that stories are still powerful tools for self-identification and acceptan ..read more

  " You know, once you become an expert in being yourself, navigating the world gets a whole lot easier."  Olivia, from Food Fight Did you know some picky eating is considered an eating disorder?  Extreme cases are now diagnosed as ARFID, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.  Local author and social worker Linda B. Davis is releasing the book, Food Fight, to help readers better understand this mental illness through the eyes of a middle schooler.  In the final episode of season two of Parenting the Mental Health Generation, Davis talks with our podcast hosts, Am ..read more

Don’t worry about reading, writing, and ‘rithmatic for your young children.  During the preschool years, they learn all they need to know from playtime. In this episode of Parenting the Mental Health Generation, Amy and Lisa talk to Sue Carr, Director of Monona Grove Nursery School in Madison, Wisconsin, about the lessons that come from independent exploration with peers.  So put in your earbuds, take this 30 minutes for you and join our conversation because mental health matters. Music Credit: Tune 2 go / POND 5 ©CATCH 2023 To find all of the resources CATCH provides to caregiver ..read more

How are schools responding to the growing mental health demands of students? In this episode of Parenting the Mental Health Generation, we get an inside look at how one local district is stepping up, especially after community-wide trauma.  Jennifer Ginopolis, the Director of Recovery for Township High School District 113, which represents Highland Park and Deerfield High Schools, talks about the deliberate steps they are taking following the July 4th shooting  and reminds us about the connection between mental health and academic performance. SHOW NOTES: Culturally Responsive Teach ..read more