19 | Pt. 1 of 3 - Parenting Through Teen Puberty in a Post-Pandemic World...in the Second Half of Life

Join me, Dr. Sarah Milken, in an open and honest conversation with teenage and puberty expert Vanessa Kroll Bennett. We discuss parenting strategies to help our teens re-enter the real world from the pandemic, in the midst of bodily and psychological roller coasters. And, we chat about facing those awkward conversations with our teens regarding sex, puberty, periods, porn, and masturbation. Vanessa is a mom of 4, author of the Uncertain Parenting Newsletter, and Founder and owner of Dynamo Girl. She discusses how she is able to have open conversations about puberty with her kids and starting her business from the ground up. We also talk about how her workshops have not only helped teens and their parents become more comfortable in their bodies, but also have given Vanessa a new career path in her second half of life.

We are going to dig deep into the details of Vanessa Kroll Bennett’s journey into her second half of life. We talk about the best approach to talking to your teen about sex and the changes they are starting to see. Vanessa talks about how to “re-do” parenting mistakes and teaches us some mindfulness tips to use before reacting to our teens’ comments or behaviors. This conversation is insightful, practical, and hands down so funny… She and I share personal stories and examples from our own puberty years.

Some highlights: 

• Living in a household where it was normal to openly talk about puberty & sex vs. having a house where it is more awkward
• Workshops for teens, tweens, and parents/teaching kids about consent, anatomy, friendships, and hard feelings
• Vanessa talks to her 11-year-old son about porn
• The important takeaway Vanessa learned when she and her 17-year-old son visited a college...parenting “do-overs”
• Teaching kids mindfulness/ creating a worry box
• Her journey creating her business, Dynamo Girl

Golden Nuggets:

• Everyone has different comfort levels & having those awkward conversations don’t always need to be face-to-face 
• Working out your talking muscle
• The pandemic has made kids feel safe being at home and going through puberty..being back at school brings new anxieties
• The importance of repeating  “the talks” over time
• Modeling for our kids that it’s okay to make mistakes
• It’s okay to not be okay

For the real conversation and all the details, please tune into our three-part podcast.

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Email me directly at [email protected]. This podcast, along with associated websites and social media materials, are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are that of Dr. Sarah Milken, and that of her guests, respectively. It is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare professional for any further medical or psychological questions.