Change can feel like getting knocked off your footing, even when it’s a “good” change. We sit down with Dr. Peter Montminy of A Mindful Village to talk through the real emotional whiplash of big life transitions: moving, starting a new school, welcoming a new baby, adoption, remarriage and stepfamilies, divorce, and losses like the death of a loved one or pet. If you’ve ever watched a child swing from excited to furious to shut down, you’re not alone and you’re not doing it wrong.

We break down why transitions are so intense: the anxiety of an unfamiliar future plus the grief of leaving what was familiar. We talk about how to support kids and teens by naming mixed emotions, predicting the “roller coaster,” and treating grief as what it often is: love that has nowhere to go. You’ll hear concrete ideas for honoring the past without getting stuck there, including memory cues and transitional objects that help kids carry what matters into a new chapter.

We also get specific about something caregivers struggle with: how to validate feelings while still holding boundaries. When routines and expectations disappear, kids can feel even more out of control, so consistent guardrails become an anchor. From there, we move into coping strategies that strengthen mental health and resilience through both self-care and connection: eat, sleep, move, plus mindfulness, prayer, art, music, nature, trusted adults, and professional support when needed. We end with the hopeful idea of post-traumatic growth and how meaning, purpose, and relationships can help us move forward.

Subscribe, share this with someone navigating change, and leave a review so more caregivers can find these tools. What transition are you facing right now?

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for immediate support.

This podcast is brought to you by Jana Marie Foundation and A Mindful Village.

Jana Marie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in State College, Pennsylvania which harnesses the power of creative expression and dialogue to spark conversations build connections, and promote mental health and wellbeing among young people and their communities. Learn more at Jana Marie Foundation.

A Mindful Village is Dr. Peter Montminy's private consulting practice dedicated to improving the mental health of kids and their caregivers. Learn more at A Mindful Village | Holistic Mental Health Care for Kids.

Music created by Ken Baxter.

(c) 2025. Jana Marie Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

This podcast was developed in part under a grant number SM090046 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA, HHS or the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.