Media Savvy Moms Podcast, Author at

Parenting Slump? Family POWER Meeting to the Rescue—Part Two

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastMar 10, 2021

When you need to communicate the next play in football, you huddle. When you need to regroup, you call a timeout. It’s not all that different for a family when you think about it. Each day, there are plays to be made, problems to solve, and new ground to cover. Why not huddle? Try a Family POWER Meeting to layout your next winning game plan. To be honest, sports is something I can take or leave. But hubby Steven is a huge fan. He played quarterback in high-school and has since loved coaching our kids. Recently, I asked him about…

Parenting & Communication

Parenting Slump? Family POWER Meeting to the Rescue—Part One

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastMar 03, 2021

Do you ever find yourself caught in a parenting slump? You know, when it feels like the weight of the world rests on your shoulders; but your last ounce of creativity just flew out the window. How do you get unstuck? Try harnessing the energy of the Family POWER Meeting. If you’re a longtime listener of the podcast then you’ve heard me use the term Family POWER Meeting before. I think it's one of the most effective tools a family can use to foster better, more open communication. (And you know I’m all about open, honest communication!) But a Family…

Parenting & Communication

Addicted? Not Addicted? How a Teen Brain Responds to Porn

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastFeb 24, 2021

Addicted. Not addicted. How would you describe someone that can’t stop looking at porn? What if that someone is just a kid? Does that change your perspective? If addiction is not the right word, what do we call it? How should a parent respond when their teen feels trapped? Does it help to know how a teen’s brain responds to porn? These are the questions I was eager to ask Mary Sharpe. She, with her husband Dr. Darryl Mead, founded the Reward Foundation in 2014. They aim to make the science of sex, love, and relationships accessible to everyone. What…

Overcoming Pornography

The Importance of Self-Care When a Child is in Crisis

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastFeb 17, 2021

Who has time for self-care when their child is struggling? As moms, we tend to put everyone else first, neglecting our own well-being. We take on guilt and lose our individuality. We assume we’ll have time to take care of ourselves after the crisis has passed. But while we’re frantically patching up the problems on the outside, our insides are deteriorating. In this episode, Barb Winters of hopefulmom.net joins Marilyn to talk about the importance of self-care, especially when our child is in a crisis. A few months after Barb learned of her son’s struggle with porn, she realized she…

Parenting Survival Tips

Racism in Pornography: Its Impact on Black Women and Girls

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastFeb 10, 2021

More than a half-century beyond the civil rights movement and America is still fighting to end racism. How does this connect to the conversation of pornography? Think about it. Porn thrives on exploitation. Racism included. But it’s something most people don’t consider. Why is that? What are the consequences of leaving racism in pornography unchecked? Dr. Carolyn West is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington, Tacoma. In that capacity, she’s been investigating domestic violence and sexual assault for more than two decades. Recently, she began to look more closely at racism in pornography. What she found was…

Getting Involved

Finding the Courage and Strength to Talk to Your Kids About Pornography

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastFeb 03, 2021

Does the idea of talking to your child or teen about pornography make you nervous? Why do you think that is? Perhaps, simply, it’s a conversation muscle that hasn’t been used. I’ve been thinking about strength lately. And all the courageous things we do as parents that take us out of our comfort zone. What do you do when you don’t feel strong? How can you find the necessary courage and strength to talk to your kids about pornography? One of my friends posted about an impressive (read: insane) workout she completed on New Year’s Day to mark the beginning…

Safeguarding & Prevention

How to Safely Address Pornography in the Classroom

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastJan 27, 2021

When has sex-education not been a hot topic? One side against the other. Home against the state. But while concerned adults are still duking it out, internet pornography has swooped in and taken over. Not cool! Porn instructs children and teens through the lens of exploitation. So how do we set our differences aside and find a way to safely address pornography in the classroom? Liz Walker, Managing Director of the Youth Wellbeing Project, says the key to better education is to get over the “us against them” mentality. Rather, we need to look at both sides objectively to determine…

Safeguarding & Prevention

Dear Savvy: When Should I Seek Therapy for My Child?

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastJan 20, 2021

Your child’s been caught looking at pornography again and again. How do you respond? Is it panic first? Quickly followed by a determination to “fix” the problem? Maybe you want to spring into action. Finding therapy for your child crosses your mind. Why? Because dealing with pornography is new to your parenting repertoire. But is therapy right for your child? This episode is part of our #DearSavvy series. Sometimes you just want a quick answer to a burning question. These shorter episodes are designed to give you just that. Tune in to the podcast to hear the whole scoop, and…

Dear Savvy, Overcoming Pornography

Teen Inspires Families To Tackle The Porn Talk

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastJan 13, 2021

Imagine being a kid, all alone, and carrying the weight of a dark secret. For many teens, that’s how they describe using porn. What begins as a curiosity quickly becomes a compulsion. Breaking free feels nearly impossible. Now, imagine being that same kid and finding out you have a whole team supporting you: parents and friends that love you enough to tackle the porn talk. And help you find true freedom from pornography! I had the privilege this week of meeting and talking with Smith Alley. By all accounts Smith is your average seventeen-year-old. He goes to high school. He…

Safeguarding & Prevention, Tweens & Teens

Confessions & Clarity: Stepping into 2021 with Confidence

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastJan 07, 2021

Welcome, 2021! And welcome, the third season of the Media Savvy Moms podcast. I’m excited to see where this year will take us. You know I'm an optimist at heart. I can’t help but think, no matter what life throws at us this year, we got this! I know you’ve probably gone through tough times. And you’ve got big worries. I have them too. But I believe that together we can look forward with excitement, joy, and confidence to the year ahead. Imagine us sitting down together with a cup of tea. Or better yet, going on a walk—talking through…

Parenting Survival Tips