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Reframing MeAuthor: Dr. Jennifer Brubaker
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 well talk about the issues moms face but dont always say out loud: changing family dynamics, feeling invisible, letting go of control, and creating new purpose. Through research, theory, and compassionate conversation, youll 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 Language: en-us Genres: Health & Fitness, Kids & Family, Mental Health, Parenting Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Understanding Mean Girls: How Insecurity, Power, and Belonging Shape Teen Friendships
Episode 228
Tuesday, 21 October, 2025
Send us a textI hope you enjoy this episode! Teen friendships can be beautiful -and brutal. This episode explores why some kids become “mean girls,” how exclusion and gossip take root, and what’s really happening beneath the surface. Drawing from Relational Aggression and Social Identity Theory, it explains how insecurity, power dynamics, and the need to belong shape behavior in middle and high school friend groups.The discussion discusses how social media magnifies hierarchy and comparison, how mean-mom culture models competition, and why boys can mirror the same dynamics through humor and dominance. It also examines the emotional, academic, and neurological impact of exclusion, showing that friendship loss can hurt as deeply as physical pain.With insights from Family Communication Patterns Theory and Lisa Damour’s research on emotional development, the episode offers evidence-based strategies for parents to support teens: fostering open dialogue, teaching reflection over rumination, encouraging digital boundaries, and building resilience through empathy and compassion.Thank you for listening and being part of this community! Let's get social. Follow me on Facebook, on Twitter @reframing_me, on Instagram @reframingme and on TikTok @reframingmeI hope you enjoyed the episode! Please leave a review, catch up on any missed episodes, and be sure to follow the show, so you don't miss new content!
