This Is So Awkward

We want to raise our kids to be good people, but easier said than done, right? Science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer and author of “How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes” joins us on this episode to tackle big topics like lying, sexism and consent.  Show Notes:Dynamo Girl Puberty Workshops& Visit OOMLA to shop thoughtfully designed (OOM)Bras! Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a timeline for puberty - when it starts and how fast it proceeds - which means that there’s also “early” and “late.” Layered on top is the relativity of puberty: when everyone else is going through it (or not), the person who’s not (or is!) feels out of sync. This episode explores the science behind the timing of puberty and how adults - both parents and doctors - might approach a late bloomer. Show Notes:  Decoding Boys by Cara Natterson Dynamo Workshop on Female PubertyDynamo Workshop on Male PubertyVisit OOMLA to shop thoughtfully designed (OOM)Bras! Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the past two decades, puberty has crept up earlier and earlier, redefining what it means to be “early” or “late.” But why? Is it the food we’re eating? The water we’re drinking? The cosmetics we use? The medications we take? Is it caused by stress? Or screens? If we just had a culprit, we could fix this. Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Louise Greenspan, author of the lauded book The New Puberty, has the answers.           NOTE: This is one of our longer episodes, but it’s so packed with information and insights, we didn’t want to cut it down. So listen in one sitting or break it up into smaller bits – you won’t regret listening all the way through! Visit OOMLA to shop thoughtfully designed (OOM)Bras! Show Notes:http://thenewpuberty.com/  Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For so many adults, addressing kids’ hygiene -- keeping their bodies clean, smells at bay, zits minimal, and all the rest -- feels really tricky. We never want to shame kids, but we all want them to learn how to take care of themselves. So what topics need covering? And what’s the best way to say what we think they need to hear? This week’s episode is all about hygiene…or lack thereof. Show Notes:Link to image of hydrophobic and hydrophobic images of soap: http://www.planet-science.com/categories/under-11s/chemistry-chaos/2011/06/soap---how-does-it-get-things-clean.asp Visit OOMLA to shop thoughtfully designed (OOM)Bras! Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How we talk to our kids about complex topics like puberty and sex depends both on our kids’ personalities are ours, too. There is no one-size-fits-all on how to have these tricky conversations. In this episode, Vanessa and Cara break down the cast of characters in both the kid roles and the adult roles, offering up guidance for having these talks in our families while making room for the different temperaments involved. Visit OOMLA to shop thoughtfully designed (OOM)Bras! Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wendy Mogel, clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author, discusses raising kids through adolescence, a time of the “greatest anguish and the greatest ecstasy.” With humor and honesty, Wendy advises us to be “emotional archaeologists” with the kids we love and learning to “keep quiet, keep captivated and keep respectful” when navigating this tricky time as caregivers.Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew Goldberg, co-creator of Big Mouth, the hit Netflix animated series about puberty, and world famous early bloomer, joins us in conversation about what it felt like to be the first of his friends to hit puberty. Andrew shares his experiences from those fraught years, what was talked about and what wasn’t, and he discusses how he and his wife are choosing to raise their own children based on what their adolescent experiences were. This is a heartfelt episode that we think teens in the same boat would appreciate, but there is some language that may not be welcome in all homes so please listen first before sharing with your teen. Show Notes:Shafia Zaloom websiteBig Mouth on NetflixBarry Michaels on gratitude Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There isn’t ONE time to start puberty or end puberty and someone has to go first. In this episode, Cara explains the science behind early puberty and we explore the social and emotional impact of being an early bloomer. Plus you get to learn what an orchidometer is! This is a great episode to listen to with your kids. Shownotes:Dynamo Girl  Guy Stuff by Dr. Cara Natterson Care and Keeping of You Series by Dr. Cara Natterson OOMLA Ruling Our Experiences Girls’ Index  Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Hina Talib, adolescent medicine specialist and host of the popular @teenhealthdoc on Instagram, joins us for a deep dive on periods. We discuss menstruation as a vital sign, what’s considered normal for teen menstruation and what’s not, when to worry and when to seek advice from medical providers. We’ll cover everything from mittelschmerz (WHAT?!!!) to endometriosis, so tune in for accessible expert advice on all things teens and periods!  Visit OOMLA to shop thoughtfully designed (OOM)Bras! Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erections and nocturnal emissions – AKA boners and wet dreams – are big pieces of puberty that often go unmentioned unless they’re punchlines in a joke. Which is a big conversational miss, because these topics can cause unnecessary confusion, shame, worry, or awkwardness. In this episode, we break down the science behind boners and wet dreams (and yes, we use the language that kids use) and then bring in a special guest to offer practical ways to help males manage these unexpected and uncontrollable experiences in puberty. Note: Listen first on your own to make sure you’re comfy with our language, but we think this is a great episode to listen to with your kids! Visit OOMLA to shop thoughtfully designed (OOM)Bras! Produced by Dear Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices