In this special, closer-to-home episode of Parenting the Mental Health Generation, host Amy O. shares a real (not scripted, not polished) conversation with her daughter, Shawn. It was recorded for a CATCH “Brave Parenting” event on February 25, 2026. Together, they talk about what it looked like to grow up in pressure-filled community, chase achievement for a sense of self-worth and battle crippling anxiety- all while trying to stay connected.

They get honest about the moments parents miss, how reassurance can feed anxiety, and why kids need space to feel what they feel, without being rushed, fixed, or talked out of it. This episode isn’t about quick solutions. It’s about presence, repair, and building trust that can hold steady when things get messy.

Action item: Over the next few days, choose one moment to validate instead of fix. Reflect back what you see or hear, “That sounds really hard,” “I can see why that upset you,” “Thanks for telling me”, and stop there. No lesson. No solution. Just connection.

SHOW NOTES:
Letting Go and Trusting What Matters Most | A Brave Parenting Conversation

music credit: Line Up/Pond 5
©CATCH 2026

To find all of the resources CATCH provides to caregivers of young people struggling with their mental health, go to www.catchiscommunity.org.

Follow us on social media
Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/Bluesky: @catchiscommunity

CATCH, Community Action Together for Children's Health, is a 501(c)3 that provides support and education for families around mental health topics. Original content and materials from CATCH and its collaborators are for informational purposes only. They are provided as a general resource and are not specific to any person or circumstance.

As the school year settles in, so do the big feelings our kids carry with them. In this episode, Amy O. sits down with our podcast producer, Anne Neumann, to share real-life parenting stories and strategies for noticing what our kids need. From giving them space to express emotions, to balancing structured activities with free time. Walk away with one powerful takeaway you can start practicing today: simply noticing.

SHOW NOTES:
CATCH Parent Support Network (Parents Connect)

Ross Greene The Explosive Child / CATCH Talk Enough with the Consequences

Lizzy Appleby (Youth Services Glenview/Northbrook) S.O.Y.

music credit: Line Up/Pond 5
©CATCH 2025

To find all of the resources CATCH provides to caregivers of young people struggling with their mental health, go to www.catchiscommunity.org.

Follow us on social media
Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/Bluesky: @catchiscommunity

CATCH, Community Action Together for Children's Health, is a 501(c)3 that provides support and education for families around mental health topics. Original content and materials from CATCH and its collaborators are for informational purposes only. They are provided as a general resource and are not specific to any person or circumstance.

It's CATCH Moms at the Pod today! Rachel Tzinberg, CATCH President and Julie Weinberg, the Vice President, join us to share heartfelt experiences and lessons learned on our parenting journeys thus far. We recorded in the very living room where CATCH began, too! Join us to discover practical advice, have a few laughs and find yourself in our conversation. We cover the gamut from fostering open communication to validating our kids. We have learned a lot and this is an easy, compassionate, wisdom-filled conversation that just might leave you with some real-life parenting strategies.

We hope you enjoyed Season 3! We'll see you in the fall for Season 4!

SHOW NOTES:
Dr. Becky Kennedy
Good Inside, Dr. Becky Kennedy
Sitting With Kids Through Hard Feelings - Breathing Space
Blessing of a Skinned Knee, Wendy Mogel PH.D.
Julie Lythcott Haimes Bonsai vs. Wildflower
CATCH Parents Connect Groups
CATCH Lunch and Learn: Be Curious Not Furious
CATCH Learn from Experts: Judith Joy Finding Gratitude Playlist
Feelings Wheel

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.catchiscommunity.org.

Follow us on social media
Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/Bluesky: @catchiscommunity

CATCH, Community Action Together for Children's Health, is a 501(c)3 that provides support and education for families around mental health topics. Original content and materials from CATCH and its collaborators are for informational purposes only. They are provided as a general resource and are not specific to any person or circumstance.