My top gift recommendations for teenagers
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
3M ago
One of my most popular posts at this time of year is my list of top toy recommendations for children, every time I share this I am asked if I can recommend similar for older tweens and teens, so here are my top tips: Under £10 Uno card game Crystal art kit Stone mandala painting ..read more
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Demetrescence & Woman’s Hour
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
3M ago
Last week I was lucky enough to be a guest on Woman’s Hour, discussing the transition that mothers of teens go through, a little like Matrescence (the new motherhood transition), Demetrescence is the metamorphosis that mothers of tweens and teens transition through, which changes them in body and in mind ..read more
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Demetrescence – the motherhood transition that comes with raising teenagers
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
3M ago
When writing my new book ‘How to Raise a Teen’, I took inspiration from Demeter’s story and named the transition of ‘later parenting’ Demetrescence. The ‘de’ prefix indicating a sort of reversal of matrescence, but with an emphais on Demeter, understanding that this is not the end, but rather a new beginning of a different relationship with your (almost) adult child ..read more
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What is emodiversity and why should parents of children & teens practice it?
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
7M ago
Why embracing all emotions is important to raise happy, emotionally healthy individuals The following is an extract from my book ‘How to Raise a Teen’. Although this is from a book specifically about teenagers, the concept ?of emodiversity applies at any age: What is emodiversity? Raising young people in a home that fosters the importance of embracing all emotions –a concept known as emodiversity – has a protective effect on mental health and can help them to feel more confident. Research has found that those who experience more emotions are significantly healthier, not just mentally but physi ..read more
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Why you should embrace ‘Jenga Parenting’ with your older children and teenagers
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
7M ago
Parenting is a constant balance between ‘holding on’ and giving in to our child’s intense needs for attachment and security from us and ‘letting go’, mindful that our ultimate goal is for them to become a confident individual, with good self-esteem, ready to fly in the world alone. As our children get older and start to reach for independence it can be tempting to over-protect them and become a ‘snowplough parent’ (a parent who clears the way of any obstacles), or a ‘helicopter parent’ (one who hovers and micromanages everything). Parents who fall into these styles are often nurturing and wel ..read more
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Demetrescence & How to Raise a Teen Giveaways
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
7M ago
Hi everyone, It’s been a busy time recently and now it’s finally publication week! ‘How to Raise a Teen’ is officially published on Thursday and I thought I’d do a quick round-up of news and giveaways surrounding it. Demetrescence – the second transition of a mother on Woman’s Hour Last week I was lucky enough to be a guest on Woman’s Hour, discussing the transition that mothers of teens go through, a little like Matrescence (the new motherhood transition), Demetrescence is the metamorphosis that mothers of tweens and teens transition through, which changes them in body and in mind. Link to li ..read more
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Why we need to talk about the motherhood transition that comes with raising teenagers
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
8M ago
Matrescence — the term used to describe the transition and metamorphosis that women go through during early motherhood is a hot word on the lips of those who work in the childbirth and maternity industry, women’s health experts, journalists and authors. Although the idea was first discussed by American anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s (Raphael also introduced the word ‘doula’ to modern vocabulary), it wasn’t until a decade ago that the word made its way into everyday use after being reintroduced by American Psychiatrist Dr Alexandra Sacks. Today, if you following childbirth or parentin ..read more
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Gentle Parenting is hard, doesn’t work, and makes parents feel bad!
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
1y ago
“Gentle parenting is so hard, I’m not sure I’m cut out for it!” If I had a pound/dollar/euro for everytime I’ve seen this written online I would be a VERY rich woman by now. However it is totally and uttlerly WRONG. This sentence makes me incredibly sad and frustrated because it highlights how much people don’t understand what Gentle parenting is. In all of my work, I talk about long term goals versus short term goals. Quick fixes that change behaviour today, versus focusing on who your child will be as a teen/adult. Gentle Parenting is very much focused on the latter. It is not about creatin ..read more
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No, it’s not their hormones! The real reason parents struggle with teen behaviour (and what to do about it).
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
1y ago
“It’s their hormones!” If you raise a concern about your young person in a group of other parents, I can guarantee that within a minute talk will turn to hormones. If your young person is male, any difficulties you have will be blamed on the fact that their body is “swimming in testosterone”; if they are female, then their behaviour will be put down to “oodles of oestrogen”. Apparently, testosterone makes boys aggressive, rude and ‘boisterous’, whereas oestrogen makes girls sulky, erratic and rude, especially when it’s ‘the time of the month’. What if I told you that this isn’t true? In fact ..read more
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The last Christmas toy – why the festive season hits different when you have teenagers
Sarah Ockwell-Smith
by SarahOckwell-Smith
1y ago
The following is a short excerpt from my new book ‘How to Raise a Teen‘: Photo by Any Lane on Pexels.com Have you ever thought about the last time you did something with your young person (YP)? When they are little, we commemorate their firsts; first steps, first words, first solid food, their first pair of shoes and the first time they slept through the night. We take photos to stick in photo albums and share their pictures proudly on our social media. We call family and friends and let them know how exciting their new achievements are. Their lasts however either pass us by unconsciously, or ..read more
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