Are you parenting a teenager who has suddenly become a picky eater? Discover how to end the dinner table battleground by shifting from control to connection. In this episode, we explore tactical strategies like "The Hook," "Agency," and "Exposure" to help your teen develop essential life skills and independence. Stop the nagging and start building a resilient family culture today.

Teen picky eating isn't just for toddlers—it’s a developmental push for power. By understanding the psychology of the teen brain and implementing a "gradual release of responsibility," you can move your child from a passive consumer to a confident home cook.

Building a sustainable household culture starts with viewing cooking as an essential life skill rather than just another chore on your to-do list. When we prioritize teaching these practical skills, we stop functioning as a service provider for our children and start building a team environment where everyone contributes to the daily flow of the home. By choosing to put in the work at the beginning to teach and empower your teen, you are making a strategic investment in your own future sanity. The payoff for that upfront effort is a teenager who can handle dinner on their own, finally giving you a frequent night off and a permanent reduction in the daily overwhelm of doing it all yourself.

Are you currently navigating high school course selection and wondering which classes actually matter for college? In Part 2 of our deep dive with Jenna Schebell, we reveal the "Five-Four Rule"—the gold standard for a competitive transcript—and why reaching calculus for college is a top priority for STEM and business majors. We also pull back the curtain on the "new rules" of 2026, including how AI in college admissions is reading essays and why schools are using "on-the-spot" video prompts to vet applicants. Whether you are a parent of a middle schooler planning ahead or a senior parent facing the "business of admissions," this episode provides the tactical roadmap you need to help your teen thrive.

Stuck in the college "limbo"? Between navigating college deferrals and deciphering yield protection, the decision phase can feel overwhelming for families. In episode 94 of The Positively Healthy Mom podcast, Jenna Schebell of The College Navigators breaks down the "new math" of 2026 admissions and explains how to shift from "applicant" to "decision-maker."

Learn why application inflation is driving down acceptance rates and how to use the College Decision Rubric in the blog to evaluate academic, social, and financial fit. Whether you’re weighing a summer start or a direct-admit program, get the expert strategy you need to move forward with confidence.

Watching your teenager navigate a toxic friendship or an unhealthy dating relationship is one of the most agonizing experiences a mother can face. When you see the red flags, your first instinct is to protect—but traditional lecturing often causes teens to shut down and pull away.

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, host Laura Ollinger sits down with pediatrician Kristen Cook, MD to bridge the gap between clinical neuroscience and tactical parenting. We explore the "social reward" system of the developing teen brain, the warning signs of emotional abuse, and the "Mirror Effect" of maternal self-worth. Discover how to use curiosity-based questioning and family meetings to redirect your child toward healthy connections without losing your relationship in the process.