Raising Resilience: Recent Episodes
Sara Olsher
Parenting is hard enough on a good day. But when you’re facing a huge change, whether it be divorce, moving, a health crisis, or even a pandemic, it can be downright overwhelming. My name is Sara Olsher, and I’m the founder of Mighty + Bright, where I help your kids cope with the uncertainty that comes from major changes. Together, we can help you AND your kids take this hard time and turn it into resilience that you can use for the rest of your lives. Join me for a quick and easy 5 to 10 minute episodes that will leave you 100% positive that you got this.
Join Sara Olsher and Danielle Bettmann as they dive into the world of mindfulness for kids. We all know that teaching kids to be mindful can be a challenge, especially when their brains (and bodies) are constantly on the move. But fear not! In this episode, Sara and Danielle share practical tips and strategies to make mindfulness fun and accessible for kids. From actually easy-to-do journaling to gratitude practices, they've got you covered. Discover how to help your kids pause, reflect, and navigate their emotions like pros. Get ready to bring some joy and balance into your family's life.
Show Notes
Balance Journal: Balance Journal to teach mindfulness to kids.
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raising-resilience/message
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the concept of self-care? How do you think teaching children about wellbeing and self-care can positively impact their future decision-making and prevent burnout?
Self-care is more than just indulging in activities like bubble baths and manicures; it's about creating a lifestyle that promotes balance and prevents the need to constantly escape from stress. Tune in to this episode as Sara and Danielle provide insights and practical tips for teaching children how to create a balanced lifestyle that promotes their overall well-being and resilience.
Show Notes and Transcript: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/211-well-being-and-self-care
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raising-resilience/message
In this episode of the Raising Resilience Podcast, host Sara and parenting coach Danielle Bettmann discuss the importance of maintaining a clean and organized environment for children's mental health.
They introduce KC Davis, a therapist and author, known for her insights into coping with mental health issues and self-care. KC emphasizes the impact of clutter and messiness on mental well-being and shares helpful strategies for teaching children to maintain their environment effectively.
They discuss the Mighty + Bright Room Reset board as a tool to guide children in resetting their spaces and establish routines that reduce overwhelm. By breaking down cleaning tasks into manageable steps and providing visual cues, children can learn to take care of their surroundings and experience a sense of accomplishment. Sara and Danielle stress the significance of teaching this skill early on, as it positively influences children's mental health and fosters a peaceful and safe environment.
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/210-maintaining-your-environment
Mighty + Bright: http://mightyandbright.com
The Room Reset Board: https://mightyandbright.com/products/magnetic-task-chart-for-chores-and-room-resetting
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raising-resilience/message
In this podcast episode, Sara Olsher talks to Danielle Bettmann about family culture and values.
The conversation covers:
- Family culture and values as a protective factor for kids' mental health;
- The Family Business Plan, developed by Danielle Bettmann, which is modeled after writing a business plan for a company;
- The value in establishing clear communication, structure, and a shared vision and goals in a family;
- Creating a sense of belonging, and how this is key to helping kids feel valued and important in the family, contributing to their overall well-being.
Show Notes: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/209-family-culture-values
The Raising Resilience™ Program: https://mightyandbright.com/mentalhealth
Mighty and Bright: https://mightyandbright.com/
Danielle Bettmann: https://www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/
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In this episode, Sara Olsher and Danielle Bettmann discuss teaching kids problem-solving skills and helping kids manage overwhelm as protective factors that help children avoid mental health crises. A few points:
- Teachers and school counselors also struggle with differentiating between a big deal and a little deal when addressing children's problems.
- Imagining the problem as a piece of paper and throwing it in the trash can is not an effective problem-solving technique for children.
- Executive function skills are necessary for effective problem solving, and assumptions that children already know how to do it can create confusion and frustration.
- Children come to adults for help because they do not know what to do, so dismissing them is not helpful.
- Teaching children alternatives, options, and how to handle problems themselves is essential for their long-term problem-solving skills.
Show Notes: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/208-problem-solving-and-overwhelm
The Raising Resilience Program: http://mightyandbright.com/mentalhealth
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- In this episode of the Raising Resilience Podcast, Sara Olsher and Danielle Bettmann discuss the concept of managing emotions.
- They cover what happens when emotions hijack the brain and how thinking can become distorted due to past experiences and the stories we tell ourselves.
- They also discuss how to untangle these experiences and how to approach managing emotions with kids and helping them regulate their emotions.
- The conversation also touches on how adults can manage their own big emotions and the importance of understanding and verbalizing the process of sorting through and dealing with these emotions.
Show Notes: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/207-managing-emotions
Raising Resilience™ Program: https://mightyandbright.com/mentalhealth
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In this episode, Sara and Danielle discuss the protective factors for children's mental health and ways to support kids in dealing with tough situations. They mention the use of affirmations and power thoughts as tools for empowering kids and helping them develop a positive self-image. Danielle notes that the parent-child relationship is unique and that parents have the ability to set the standard for their interactions and the messages they send to their kids. She also emphasizes the importance of repetition in helping kids internalize positive messages and build strong neural pathways in their brains. The conversation touches on the idea that our thoughts can have a significant impact on our coping skills and ability to handle stress, and that helping kids understand the power of their thoughts can help them develop resilience and navigate the challenges of the world.
Show Notes: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/206-kids-empowerment
The Raising Resilience™ Program: http://www.mightyandbright.com/mentalhealth
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A few years ago, I talked with my daughter's third grade teacher about the schools social emotional learning program. She shared that kids were really opposed to use the deep breathing exercises — until the school counselor visited the classroom to explain how deep breathing literally changes what's going on in your brain. After that, not only were the students open to deep breathing exercises, but so was she!
Understanding the WHY behind different coping skills is absolutely necessary - because otherwise, we aren't super likely to use them.
This week we're talking about how the nervous system works, how to explain that to your kids, and more about why that's so helpful.
Show notes and transcript: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/205-why-understanding-the-nervous-system-is-key-for-emotional-intelligence
Danielle's website
Kids' Mental Health Skills Subscription
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/raising-resilience/message
Playing with our kids has all sorts of mental health benefits for your family — but let's be real, it can be hard to do.
As adults, it can be really hard to access that "inner child" that can relax, get imaginative and silly, and just...play. On top of that, playing games with young kids can be frustrating: you're told you're doing it "wrong" so often you don't know how to do it right, or you're just flat-out bored because you cannot make yourself love Floor is Lava, or playing Minecraft makes you nauseous. It's hard to make yourself do something you don't like to do, especially because we get hardly any time to ourselves. And then, of course, many of us feel guilt for not playing (or not enjoying it).
Not to mention the fact that whatever you do doesn't feel like enough to them — they always want more time, and the whining and sadness that results sometimes makes it feel like you never want to do it ever again.
If you struggle to play with your kids, you're not alone.
The truth is, if playtime were fun, it would be of benefit to both your child and you. But that "if" is a really big IF. Today, Danielle and Sara talk about the mental health benefits of connecting with your kids, and the method they came up with to make it more structured and fun.
Show Notes and Transcript: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/204-making-it-easier-to-play-and-build-connection-with-our-kids
Raising Resilience Program: http://www.mightyandbright.com/mentalhealth
Danielle's website and podcast: Parenting Wholeheartedly
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/raising-resilience/message
Research shows the #1 predictor of a child's future happiness and success is their emotional intelligence. But what exactly is emotional literacy, and why does it cultivate empathy, self-awareness, collaboration and problem-solving?
Today we're talking about the ability to identify our own emotions, and why you should get started with your kids.
Show notes and transcript: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/203-identifying-emotions
Kids' Mental Health Skills Subscription
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/raising-resilience/message
"I want them to come to me with ANYTHING."
"I don't want my kids to hide things that they need help with."
As our kids grow up, we want them to be able to come to us to talk about anything that's worrying them, so we can support them and guide them.
And as it turns out, supportive parental relationships like these are a protective factor for kids' mental health issues.
So what do we need to do so that our kids will come to us when they need help? That's what we're talking about today.
Show notes and transcript: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/202-open-communication
Kids' Mental Health Skills Subscription
Danielle's podcast, Failing Motherhood
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/raising-resilience/message
Research links "structure" to kids' overall mental health and finds it to be a protective factor, helping to prevent mental health crises. What does this mean, and how can you implement it day-to-day? Join host Sara Olsher and guest Danielle Bettmann as they discuss structure, why it's the foundation for mental health, and how you can implement it in your day-to-day.
Show Notes: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/201-structure
Kids' Mental Health Skills Subscription
Danielle's podcast, Failing Motherhood
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/raising-resilience/message
The Raising Resilience Podcast is back with Season 2.
Hello again, friends. It's been a while. You know, over the last couple of years, it has become more and more apparent to me that almost every parent I know is struggling with their mental health. We're living in kind of a messed up world, to say the least. And most of us are putting a ton of pressure on ourselves to make sure that our kids can cope with it. But we are barely keeping our heads above water ourselves.
And when it came to launching season two of the Raising Resilience podcast, I wanted to make a change in the type of information that I'm sharing here. There is so much noise online. I am trying my hardest to cut out the things that are making me feel icky, and I personally don't see the need to add to that noise unless it's actually helpful to you (or to me). So in season two, I've decided to bring on some experts to talk about how we can raise resilience in our kids, but also in ourselves. Because let's be real. We were not raised for this world. We were raised in a world that doesn't exist anymore. We were raised when free range parenting was just parenting, and online bullying was not a thing. Filters were not a thing. And kids were not shooting other kids.
So this is a podcast for parents who don't want to rely on hopes and prayers that our kids won't become a statistic. It's for parents who don't want to cross their fingers and hope for the best.
But it is also for parents who might be feeling just a tad bit overwhelmed and might be struggling with their own mental health issues, and who really want to do the very best for their kids — and themselves — with what is left of our limited mental and emotional capacity. So here is what I'm going to promise you for season two, friend.
The first is that if I interview someone and the interview makes me feel stressed out, I am not going to share it with you. We know enough statistics to keep us up at 3 a.m. and we have enough to worry about. And I'm not going to give you another thing to add to the list. You don't need any more of that, right? However, I want you to leave an episode feeling overwhelmed or stressed. So that's promise number one. And the second promise is that I want you to leave every episode feeling empowered to do something for yourself or for your kids. And that doesn't feel like it's making your life harder. So welcome back to the Raising Resilience podcast. I am so excited for Season Two.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/raising-resilience/message
As parents — especially those of us who are going through a really difficult season in life — getting time to ourselves is not only important, it's downright necessary. It not only makes you feel better, it makes you a better parent. Here are some real-world tips for getting time to yourself, even if it's just five minutes.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-47-how-to-get-time-for-yourself
What does it mean to "receive" help versus "take" it? To me, the difference is all in the way you approach people. In this short episode, I share a simple mind shift that might just make it easier for you to accept help.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-46-the-difference-between-taking-receiving
People like to tell other people how to live. What you should eat, how much you should exercise, how you should spend your money. And most of us know what's good for us — we just don't always do it. Here's how I manage to live a healthy(-ish) life. Most of the time.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-45-getting-a-do-over-creating-a-new-life
What happens when we don't allow ourselves to process what's happened to us? In the book, "the Light Through the Leaves," by Glendy Vanderah, I came across a passage that really spoke to me. In today's episode, I share it with you.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-44-trauma-and-decay
We all want to know what we can expect when we're entering a new situation — who will be there? What's expected of us? Our kids are no different.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-43-no-one-likes-to-be-surprised
Kids know that they're made from both of their parents — even if that connection isn't biological. What happens when parents divorce, and the kids feel like you hate their other parent? Here's how I have handled talking about my daughter's dad.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-42-you-have-all-the-best-parts
I have a friend who has always made "crazy" decisions, like working for questionable startups and jumping off tall buildings. One day, I realized that I always looked at him with awe not because of the particular decisions he made, but because he seemed to operate in the world with the faith that everything would just be okay. I will never be the kind of person who base jumps, but I now operate in the same way — with the belief that things will work out, one way or another. Today, I share a little bit about how I made the change from control-freak to a person of faith (in myself).
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-41-learning-to-trust
When something happens to us — either an ongoing traumatic experience or a single incident — there are many ways to deal with it. I read something recently that reminded me of what happens to us when we don't cope. Today I wanted to share that with you, in addition to the things that have helped me cope with my PTSD.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-40-dealing-with-trauma
When kids are having a tough time, they don't come to us and calmly say, "I am struggling and could use some assistance." They melt down, they sass . . . basically, they push every button we have. Today, I'm talking about the #1 way I've been able to maintain patience through some of the hardest times ever.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-39-the-1-thing-that-helps-me-stay-patient-with-my-kid
Many of us label various emotions as "good" and "bad." Joy is "good" and anger or sadness are "bad." In this short episode, I share how I realized that I judged anger as "bad" and what I learned to value in it.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-38-the-gifts-of-anger
Studies show that good parenting and good relationships don't come from being perfect. They come from repairing when we mess up. Today, we're talking about apologizing to our kids and accepting our own imperfection.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-37-accepting-imperfection-and-learning-to-apologize
This month, we're talking about accepting help and coping with pity. Why do we have such a hard time accepting help?
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-36-why-is-it-hard-to-ask-for-help
There are people who truly want to help, and then there are "grief tourists" who are in it because helping makes them feel good about themselves. What do you do when you've got a grief tourist on your hands?
Show notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-35-when-someone-is-not-actually-helpful
Asking for help is vulnerable. What if we open ourselves up for help and no one shows up? Today, let's talk about how to move past fear and ask for help when we need it.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-36-how-to-move-past-fear-and-ask-for-help
"I don't want anyone's pity." Ever said that to yourself? This month, I'm talking about accepting help, and what keeps us from accepting us. Today, it's about the difference between pity, empathy, and sympathy — and how they're all about the other person.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-33-pity-empathy-and-sympathy
Did you know cancer is a disability? Once it's over, it's never actually over. This is what it's like to live with a disability — and what you can apply to your own life.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-32-what-ive-learned-from-living-with-a-disability
During my divorce, I replaced my old dresser with a new one at no cost. During cancer, I became obsessed with replacing my couch. I got rid of all my books. Here's why.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/news/episode-31-why-i-gasp-got-rid-of-all-my-books
How do you get through a long period of time where things are really hard? What makes it easier, and how does that change when it's a hard time with a definite beginning and end date (like chemotherapy) versus something that keeps going on and on, like a pandemic or divorce? Join me for three easy-to-implement strategies in eight short minutes.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-30-helpful-strategies-for-a-long-period-of-suck
Have you ever noticed how your mind gets when you're anxious, running 10 million miles an hour? Kids are the same way. We tend to want to organize ourselves to make things easier, but kids don't have that skill. What if I could tell you that there was one thing you could hang on the wall that would help your kids deal with their worry?
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-29-how-showing-kids-what-to-expect-clears-the-clutter-in-their-head
My whole life, my inner life was a horrible swirling of emotions I didn't understand. After decades of trying to (unsuccessfully) analyze what was going on inside in order to STOP it, I found a solution that works for me — including meditating in a way that is unlike most everything I've heard. Today, I share what I do with you, from the comfort of my Sanctuary Closet (ha).
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-28-finally-meditation-that-worked-for-me
Whether it's a pandemic, cancer treatment, or a divorce, surviving a long period of suck is HARD. I am here to tell you that it's OKAY if it's hard, and it's okay if you're not learning the lessons you need to right away.
Show Notes: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-27-surviving-a-long-period-of-suck
Self-care is a buzzword that brings to mind visions of mani-pedis, bubble baths, and a glass of wine. But TRUE self-care is about creating a life you don't need to escape from.
Show notes: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-26-why-mani-pedis-and-glasses-of-wine-are-not-self-care
Whether it's an office, a bathroom, or a closet, we all need a place where we can go to calm the eff down.
Show Notes: https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-25-creating-a-sanctuary
How do we want to begin 2021? What do we do when the clock doesn't start fresh at 12am on January 1st, there's still a pandemic raging, and not too much has changed?
Show notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-24-starting-the-new-year-with-a-new-perspective
It's really hard to wait patiently for hard stuff to be over. Often, the process SUCKS. Here's why it's so important.
Show notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-23-patience-with-the-process
Losing my breasts to cancer and choosing to rock my flat chest and scars has given me a different perspective on my body and what it means to be authentically oneself. Here's the insight it's given me and why I decided not only to remove my breast reconstruction, but also stop wearing prosthetics.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-22-insights-about-body-image-from-a-flat-chested-cancer-survivor
Many of us aim for perfection, or at the very least, our best work. Sometimes, though, that's at the expense of getting things DONE. Today, I'm talking about taking the cheap and easy path to podcasting even though I have no idea what I'm doing (and that I did the same thing when I started my business).
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-21-be-willing-to-show-up-mediocre
Listener request time! I have anxiety, and today I share how I parented through it when I was single, what I wish I'd done differently, and how I've learned to deal with it now that my daughter is older.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-20-parenting-through-your-own-mental-health-issues
My entire perspective of life changed when I started to recognize the “miracles” that kept happening to me and started writing them down. Here are some examples and how this can change your perspective, too.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-19-recognizing-everyday-miracles
What happens when we don't know how we're feeling? We end up making decisions out of our desire to control, rather than allowing ourselves to make the actual right decision. Today, I talk about how I realized that my emotions were controlling my decisions — and how I stopped.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-18-how-not-to-make-decisions-out-of-fear
When something awful happens, sometimes our friends and family don't show up for us the way we expected them to — and that can hurt. Losing friends during a personal disaster is (unfortunately) common. Here's why it happens and how to handle it.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-17-when-your-friends-family-disappoint-you
Going through something hard? Creating routines and rhythms in your family can help reduce your stress in a MAJOR way. Here are a few tips for creating a simplified system in your household to reduce everyone's stress and anxiety.
Find the show notes here:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-16-creating-systems-for-stress-reduction
In this episode, Sara talks about how growth mindset and control are related, and how they help kids deal with life's hardest challenges.
Animals have ALL SORTS of benefits for kids, including raising levels of serotonin and dopamine, which make them feel calm. This week, learn all about the benefits animals have for kids, and how to get them involved in animals even if you don't have (or particularly want) a pet.
Show Notes:
https://mightyandbright.com/blogs/raising-resilience-podcast/episode-14-how-animals-help-kids-cope
Parenthood is hard enough on a good day, but throwing in other issues can make it feel downright overwhelming. What do you do when it feels like it's crushing you? After surviving divorce, cancer, and many other bumps in the road, here's Sara's take.
Sometimes, life is hard. Sometimes, we feel super sorry for ourselves, and then we feel guilty because other people have it worse than we do. What do we do when we're in a slump?
Our beliefs and values shift as we learn more about ourselves and the world around us. Here's why re-evaluating your core beliefs can help you build a life you — and your family — love.
After 15 years of dealing with a lot of hard things, I have found five main things that have helped me build a foundation for a more peaceful balanced and stable life. These principles are what I will be talking about in this podcast - so that we can help ourselves and stay one step ahead of our kids.
During hard times or periods of stress, it’s hard for our brains to focus on all the stuff we need to do. Here is a quick tip about how to help yourself and your kids.
What do you do when you don't get what you need? Do you get crabby? Do you feel guilty? Take a listen to this.
In this quick episode, I share a hack I learned from therapists about how to get off the worry train, for both kids and adults.
When you’re forced to do less because you experience a major life change like divorce or a cancer diagnosis, you find what you truly need - and want - to do.
What does it mean to put yourself out there? What does sharing your scars, either physical or emotional, do for you? What does it do for other people?
When someone says, “it will be okay,” every fiber of your being might be screaming, “NO IT IS NOT!” It is, I promise - take a listen.
Mighty + Bright founder Sara Olsher talks about surviving hard things - including cancer at age 34 - and why she wanted to help kids build resilience and cope with uncertainty.
In this quick 10 minute episode, Mighty + Bright founder Sara Olsher talks about creating a routine, how to get your kids involved so they will actually follow through, and how to get your kids to be consistent without adding yet another thing to your to do list.