Collett Smart wraps up the year with one of her most honest episodes yet. After taking time away from the podcast, she's back to share what really happened during her break – and it's not the polished story you might expect.

In this vulnerable ep, Collett opens up about the reality of juggling her work as a psychologist, caring for elderly family members, and keeping her marriage strong after three decades together. She's refreshingly honest about not getting everything right and the importance of hitting pause when life demands it. For parents trying to balance caring for teens whilst managing their own challenges, Collett's candid reflections will resonate.

This episode isn't just about Collett's personal journey – it's about the power of community and the impact your stories have had on families across Australia. Collett shares heartfelt feedback from listeners and how your questions and experiences have shaped the podcast into something truly meaningful.

But here's the exciting bit: Collett reveals what's coming in 2026. The new season kicks off in the first quarter with impressive guests, insightful mini-episodes, and answers to your burning questions about raising teenagers. She's calling on parents, educators, and caregivers to keep sharing their stories because this podcast thrives on the wisdom of the village raising teens together.

It's a genuine conversation about nurturing responsible, happy young adults whilst looking after yourself in the process.

Have a great end of the year Raising Teens Family!

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Collett sits with the host of Troubleshooting (a podcast for the 20-35 year olds for all things technology) and discuss the social media ban which has come into effect recently.

Key Takeaways:

• Legislative Impact: Australia's new laws ban under 16-year-olds from accessing many social media platforms, intending to offer kids more time for childhood development away from digital distractions.
• Platform Responsibility: The legislation places responsibility on big social media companies to ensure compliance, threatening fines for continued underage access.
• Balanced Approach: Colette advocates for the careful balance between digital interaction and real-world activities essential for kids’ growth, promoting delayed technology exposure.
• Community Alternative: While online communities serve as a meaningful outlet for many young people, especially in rural areas, the challenge is to find or create those networks safely outside digital confines.
• Parental Support: These laws support parents in setting boundaries, fostering conversations about screen time, and promoting mindful technology use among adults and children alike.

Notable Quotes:

• "I really just want to also kind of end with saying, I see this as an opportunity to give children time to be children."
• "The social media giants, they are the ones who will face a penalty… if they don't take steps to prevent underage accounts."
• "It's now part of the law… it gives parents another tool to help their children delay social media use."
• "There has been this enormous shift in my own family of the way phones are used, technology is used and social media has been used."
• "It's not that we are just banning social media, we are actually encouraging a delay."

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Key Takeaways:

• Parents should model emotional regulation and prioritize checking in on their own mental health to support their children effectively.
• Engage in open yet age-appropriate dialogues with children, allowing them to process their emotions and ask questions about the crisis.
• Limit media consumption to protect mental health, as repeated exposure to distressing news can exacerbate anxiety and fear.
• Maintain normalcy through regular activities while providing psychological first aid to comfort and reassure children.
• Seek professional help promptly if a child exhibits prolonged signs of distress, leveraging community resources like helplines.

Notable Quotes:

• "It's very normal to feel overwhelmed at this stage, even as adults."
• "This is an opportunity to teach our children that we are all part of one world and that we actually all need to help each other."
• "Your children will learn how to deal with emotions and these events by watching how you approach it."
• "We can give them that kind of psychological first aid for where they are there and then with you."
• "Please consider seeking professional support. Get support from Helplines, Lifelines, Beyond Blue Childline."

Resources:

• Beyond Blue: Website
• Lifeline: Website
• Colette Smart's Professional Profiles: Website | Instagram | Twitter

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

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FREE GIFT - Exclusive to Raising Teens and Hope1032 listeners - StrongHER Side podcast is offering this resource Planning Calm For Christmas

Christmas brings joy, but it can also bring pressure, grief, and exhaustion. Collett shares practical mental health strategies for parents navigating tricky family dynamics, financial stress, and the weight of loss during the holidays. Drawing on insights from Graeme Cowan (co-founder of RU OK?) and Hannah Gair (advocate for mums raising kids with disability), she explores realistic self-care practices that actually fit into real life. From setting boundaries to adopting a "just one thing" approach, this mini-episode offers permission to protect your peace and embrace imperfection this Christmas season.

Key Takeaways:

• Holiday stress can amplify emotional challenges; hence, setting realistic expectations is crucial.
• Establishing healthy boundaries can protect your mental well-being during the festive season.
• Practicing gratitude and engaging in activities like volunteering can shift focus away from materialistic comparisons.
• The importance of maintaining personal well-being routines amid holiday busyness is emphasized.
• Concepts like the "just one thing" philosophy can simplify stress and encourage peace during this period.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Your well-being, not always being polite, is your first priority."
2. "Choose peace over this invisible pressure to make everything perfect."
3. "You just need to take one step towards protecting your peace."
4. "Practicing gratitude changes the brain pathways."
5. "Cultivate kindness for yourself, especially during stressful times."

Resources:

• Graeme Cowan: Co-Founder of RU OK?
• Hannah Gair: Host of "StrongHer Side" Podcast, advocate for mothers raising children with disabilities
• 1300Respect - If you need help with Domestic, Family or Sexual Violence
• Llifeline - Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention

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Introducing She Wasn't Born Yesterday (SWBY) a podcast for women 40+ fabulous! SWBY is hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Jenni Woodhouse a semi retired social worker. This episode which chat about teen axiety.

About the Guest:

Lyn Worsley is a renowned clinical psychologist and the director of the Resilience Centre. With nearly 30 years of experience, Lyn has contributed significantly to understanding and promoting mental health and resilience across various groups. Her approach often involves solution-oriented therapies, focusing on building resilience and leveraging existing strengths in individuals. Lyn is also recognised for developing the internationally acclaimed Resilience Doughnut model, which aims to identify and strengthen key resources within individuals and communities to enhance resilience.

Key Takeaways:

• The "imaginary audience" phenomenon is crucial in understanding why adolescents are highly self-conscious and anxious about fitting in with peers.
• Resilience can be nurtured by identifying and leveraging three key resources from the Resilience Doughnut: personal competencies, social ecology, and overcoming adversity.
• Parents are encouraged to engage with their teens' interests, such as gaming or fashion, to foster better communication and connection.
• Anxiety is a common part of development, but when it impairs daily functioning, it may require intervention and professional support.
• Key indicators of anxiety disorders include withdrawal from social situations, circular thinking, and avoidance of school and activities.

Notable Quotes:

1. Lyn Worsley: "Anxiety is a symptom that there is something going on in the brain that's in conflict, and it's just trying to work out how to reconcile whatever that is."
2. Lyn Worsley: "When they're recoiling, not wanting to go to school, or having circular thinking—that's when you need to be alerted."
3. Lyn Worsley: "Medication can aid, but therapy should never be excluded for adolescent anxiety; they should work together."
4. Lyn Worsley: "Resilience involves personal and social competence, navigating social ecologies, and going through adversity."

Resources:

• The Resilience Centre
• Murdoch Children's Research Institute
• Black Dog Institute

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Jenni Woodhouse a semi retired social worker

Join the discussion of being 40+ faaabulous on Facebook.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday tackles the many unique issues affecting women who are 40+ fabulous. Click here to follow this podcast

Janet Evans and Jenni Woodhouse tackle adult parent-child relationships on "She Wasn't Born Yesterday" with Dr Jenny Brown, a family therapist with 35+ years helping Aussie families. Jenny shares game-changing strategies for staying curious instead of reactive during family conflicts, giving feedback without criticism, and understanding those weird family patterns. Whether your relationship with your parents is broken or just challenging, she offers practical advice for improving family connections without losing yourself in the process.

About the Guest:

Dr. Jenny Brown is a highly respected clinical couple and family therapist with over 35 years of experience, specializing in family systems theory. She holds a PhD in social science and has dedicated her career to helping individuals navigate complex family dynamics. Dr. Brown is also an accomplished author and a key figure at the Family Systems Institute, where she contributes to training mental health professionals. Her work focuses on applying scientific theory to real-world relationship challenges, particularly emphasizing self-differentiation and emotional maturity.

Key Takeaways:

• Self-Differentiation is Essential: Emphasizes the importance of focusing on personal growth and emotional maturity to improve relationships with parents.
• Curiosity Over Reactivity: Advocates for a curious rather than reactive approach to family dynamics, promoting understanding and empathy.
• Avoid Triangulation: Highlights the pitfalls of involving third parties unnecessarily, urging direct communication in resolving conflicts.
• The Impact of Labels: Warns against labeling family members as villains or saints, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of individual behaviors.
• The Role of Feedback: Stresses the importance of offering constructive feedback without criticizing, fostering healthier communication patterns.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Being a parent is like trying to stand up in a hammock without spilling your wine."
2. "If there's a lot of conflict with parents, it's probably a sign that there's a lot that isn't worked out."
3. "I will not give advice until I've heard the best advice that they have to give themselves."
4. "Even messy relationships are worth having the experience of dealing with them."
5. "We can't have three steps to the perfect relationship to achieve in one week."

Resources:

• Jenny Brown’s Books: Amazon
• Family Systems Institute: Information and resources on family systems theory.
• Family Systems Practice Website: Offers insights into familial relationship dynamics.
• Parent Hope Project: Dr. Brown's program focusing on improving parental approaches.

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Jenni Woodhouse a semi retired social worker

Join the discussion of being 40+ faaabulous on Facebook.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Follow Money: Faith & Finance here on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7chJcqGhtIhy6MSKAr6HsI?si=Xzw9IASeTMOxQUDOpxkPWA

Proudly produced by the same people that do Raising Teens.

Should you burden your maturing youngin' on how you make your money work for your household? Should you spell it out for them so they understand how the adults in the household have sacrificed for their well being as well as the comforts in life which they enjoy? Or should you let them enjoy life, and live a carefree unemcumbered life because after all, they've got a whole lotta years of adulting to enjoy?

Key Takeaways:

• It's crucial for children to learn about money early on, including budgeting, saving, and investing.
• Transitioning from cash to digital transactions presents challenges in teaching kids about the value of money.
• Encouraging children to work part-time can provide valuable financial skills and experiences.
• Understanding new financial tools such as Afterpay and digital banking is essential for today's youth.
• Engaging in open, non-judgmental conversations about finances can help mitigate money-related mistakes.

Notable Quotes:

• "One out of one people in the world need to understand and deal with money." — Pete Burrows
• "The earlier you can start [financial education], the better." — Pete Burrows
• "It's a good idea to set up bank accounts for kids to teach them about saving and spending." — Pete Burrows
• "Mistakes are your best resource because you can learn from them." — Pete Burrows
• "You want to keep open conversations… lean into [money] learning opportunities." — Pete Burrows

Got a question, comment or personal story to share? Send it through at hopepodcasts.com.au. Ben and Pete will get stuck into it on a future episode.

Pete Burrows is an accountant for small business and individuals with Lower Russell and Farr in Penrith, Western Sydney, Australia.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings on Hope 103.2FM in Sydney, Australia.

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To hear more Money: Faith & Finance, click on this apple podcast link:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/money-faith-finance/id1656825243

Teenagers earning money and paying you board? What about adult kids living under your roof?

Joni asked Pete and Ben to get stuck into the family affair of working out if your kids with jobs need to stump up. So they did, diving deeper than their kneejerk response of "YES". Growing up with the expectation of paying board, Pete and Ben acknowledge the changed landscape of home ownership and accessibility. But the life lesson of paying board remains, as well as the opportunity to live out biblical principles of respect.

Key Takeaways:

• Financial Responsibility: Charging board teaches young adults to manage finances and prepares them for independent living.
• Family Dynamics: Open communication about finances and responsibilities can reduce tension and foster understanding among family members.
• Economic Landscape: Rising costs of living and rental rates contribute to adult children staying home longer.
• Adapting Traditions: Modern families may need to adjust traditional approaches to rent and board, weighing financial necessity against educational opportunity.
• Value-Based Discussions: Families can leverage biblical principles, such as honouring parents, to guide discussions about board.

Notable Quotes:

• "Shouldn't they, in a sense, contribute to the cost of the house? And I think the answer is yes." – Pete Burrows
• "In adulthood, spoiler alert, you're going to cop 100% of the cost of living." – Pete Burrows
• "We're trying to prepare you for adulthood. And in adulthood…you need to pay a percentage of those costs." – Pete Burrows
• "Is it more about while you're here, we're trying to teach you a lesson?" – Ben McEachen

Got a question, comment or personal story to share? Send it through at hopepodcasts.com.au. Ben and Pete will get stuck into it on a future episode.

Pete Burrows is an accountant for small business and individuals with Lower Russell and Farr in Penrith, Western Sydney, Australia.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings on Hope 103.2FM in Sydney, Australia.

Support the show: https://hope1032.com.au/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.