😂Whether you’re watching our on-demand puberty program with her from the comfort of your couch or you’re attending an in-person Girlology program offered by your local Girlologist, I want to share some insider information.

There will be plenty of facts dropped and jokes floated, but do you best to pay attention to the “feel good” moments.

After teaching our girls’ puberty programs to thousands of girls and their caregivers for 15+ years, these are the moments I love to watch. Most often, they show up in facial expressions or body language, but sometimes you’ll find them in their laughter or whispers. 

So if you’re ready to get started with our Level 3 playlist that introduces her to the basic puberty topics or you’ve diving right into the our full puberty class with her, keep an eye out for some of these things. I hope they warm your ❤️ and remind you that you’re doing a great job by making sure she’s informed and prepared. 

• the way she reluctantly walks in (or agrees to watch), but quickly becomes comfortable. 😂

   

   

• how truly curious she is about her body and how it works. 🤔

   

   

• those sighs of relief as she discovers she’s normal and not alone. 😅

   

   

• her “oh!” and “aha!” moments when she “gets” how period products work. 💡

   

   

• The giggles that bubble up as she realizes these chats don’t have to be so serious! 😆

   

   

• the nods and knowing glances she shoots you as we chat about friendships and moods. 😏

   

   

• the emotional connection you feel during this shared experience. 😥

   

   

• and the way she leans into you or reaches out for a sweet touch that lets you know this is meaningful. 💕

Sharing this class truly creates connection. It also serves as an ice-breaker and a springboard for so many future chats. We hear from parents all the time that they watched a class with their daughter, and it strengthened their connection because they were talking more comfortably and frequently about changing bodies and minds. When that happens, you are way more likely to become her trusted go-to, and that is so protective.

So watch for the feel-good moments for YOU, and take comfort in knowing SHE will enter puberty and adolescence with greater confidence knowing what’s ahead.

You’re doing a great job!

Did you know Girlology has grade-by-grade playlists listing on-demand video and downloadable content to support her and you through the entire journey? Learn More 

It’s normal to feel anxiety rising when you look at your daughter and realize she’s moving quickly through childhood toward puberty. Maybe one of her friends is developing, or maybe she tosses out some attitude that feels unfamiliar and prickly. Or maybe, she just put on her bathing suit for the first time this year and omg, what has been going on under those bulky winter clothes? 

There’s no reason to panic, but there are lots of good reasons to prepare – yourself first, THEN, your girl.

Part of helping our daughters navigate puberty and adolescence with confidence and knowledge is to do our own work. Here’s the assignment:

1. Shift parenting gears. 

Parenting toddlers and young children requires a lot of physical stamina. It can be exhausting to constantly scan the physical environment for hazards, keep her entertained with developmentally-beneficial  activities, schedule and supervise playdates, answer all her questions. As you shift toward parenting pre-teens and teens, it’s physically easier, but requires a ton more mental energy. Instead of watching HER every move, you have to start watching YOUR OWN thoughts, judgments, and responses, all while encouraging her to be more independent, advocate for her needs, learn from her mistakes, and think about her future. The most useful skills for parenting tweens and teens become staying calm, responding with curiosity instead of judgment, modeling healthy relationships, and being generous with opportunities to problem solve instead of doing all the problem solving for her.  

2. Prepare her without overwhelming her.

You’ve spent her whole life preparing her for what’s ahead, whether it was her her first day of school or her daily routine to get ready for bed. You know she does better when she knows what to expect and hears your reassurances that make it less scary or overwhelming. She needs the same things as she heads into puberty. What’s next for her body? When will it happen? How can she care for it? What can she do to manage her big feelings?  Believe it or not, preparing her for puberty and adolescence is no different than preparing her for anything else in her life, and you’re the best one to help her feel ready.

3. Learn strategies that support and nurture the ever-changing emotional and mental health landscape of a budding adolescent.

Every generation of adolescents has faced trends and cultural influences that threaten their mental health. Today, those challenges are bigger than ever as evidenced by the current mental health crisis among teens – girls especially. Parenting through puberty is tough, but it’s best when YOU feel supported with accessible, relatable resources and expert guides. If we want to shift the current tide of declining mental health among girls, we have to focus on prevention. Since over half of all mental health disorders among adults begin by age 14, puberty is the perfect time for our preventative efforts.

Great. but HOW do you DO all of that?

It depends on where this journey is starting for you (and her).

If you’re here early in the game, my best advice is download our free ebook, Be Her Best Guide (a Pre-Puberty Guide for Proactive Parents). It will start you on the right path with preparation tips, facts, how-to advice, and answers to common questions.  

If puberty is already underway in your home, then I invite you to join our community to check out our other content. We offer hundreds of tips & discussions for parents and engaging classes for girls through every age and stage of puberty and adolescence; and I promise, you’re not too late to start. 

We know it takes a village, and as physicians dedicated to girls’ health and wellness, and moms of daughters, our passion is to empower girls and the people who care for them with accurate and helpful health & wellness information that helps grow their confidence.

Did you know Girlology has grade-by-grade playlists listing on-demand video and downloadable content to support her and you through the entire journey? Learn More 

It’s that time of year when we feel driven to reflect on the past and make resolutions for the new year. We all do that differently – maybe while we walk, or journal, or sip wine, or talk with family and friends. Or maybe while we work on a vision board. 

To some, all that “work” seems self-indulgent or maybe futile, but getting focused and intentional about goals and dreams is a well recognized and important part of any process improvement – whether you’re an artist, a corporate executive, or a caring parent. 

I used to roll my eyes at New Year’s Resolutions because I never got it right. 🙄 Year after year, I was beating myself up around mid-February as I realized that, once again, I hadn’t kept most of my resolutions. I grew weary of watching the “new me” slip into a “February fail.”

But about 7 or 8 years ago, I changed my process, and that changed me. 

Now, resolutions don’t defeat me. Instead, they keep me grounded in my values and more intentional as I continue to unfold and grow as a human (and a mom). 

What did I do differently? 

I switched the intent of my resolutions AWAY from fixing what I was doing wrong (or not doing right) and shifted my focus to creating a short list of resolutions that would create JOY, CONNECTION, and IMPACT.✨

Once I started doing that, I also noticed that several resolutions re-surfaced every year. It wasn’t because I didn’t stick with them and needed to try again, but it was more that they WORKED – and they improved my life. Now, I walk my dog. I meditate. I improved our dinner conversations. I make a point to attend live music performances. I volunteer. These resolutions became new habits which are now part of “who I am.” 

To give you another example, one of my recurring resolutions always involves my children (three daughters), and here it is:

I Resolve to PREPARE HER for what’s ahead.🔮

First, we have to get real about what’s ahead. If you’re not sure, ask parent of a child a little older than yours (and even if you think you know – ask anyway!). The things we need to prepare her for aren’t always easy to talk about, but preparation is critical for her confidence, her emotional well-being, her health, her relationships, her safety — and her joy.

You may have figured this out way faster than I did. I mean, you’ve already come to Girlology perhaps to do exactly that — preparing yourself to prepare her.

So, If you RESOLVE TO PREPARE HER, I can help make this resolution an easy one for you to keep. Just join the Girlology community and download the app. It will support you both wherever you go, whenever you need it. 

Schedule PREP TALKS regularly: friendships, puberty, skin care, period problems, mental health topics, healthy nutrition, sports, injuries — there are endless topics. Just pick some that might be on her horizon. 

Notice these things: the connection you are sharing; the impact it is making on her knowledge, wellness & confidence; and the JOY you feel when you see how this works. The more you use it, the more it will become habit, and part of who YOU are!

Cheers to raising prepared & confident girls! 🥂

Did you know Girlology has grade-by-grade video on demand playlists to support her and you through all things puberty and adolescence. Our doctor-moms cover topics like this and lots others! Learn More HERE.