Helping Your Teen Choose College with Purpose, Not Pressure : Insights from a College Strategist :: Shellee Howard [Ep 529]
Many of you have been on this journey with me since the potty-training days, and now you’re facing the incredible milestone of sending your kids off to college. In this episode, my friend Shellee Howard joins us to discuss the complexities of the college application process, the importance of early preparation, and strategies for securing scholarships and financial aid.
Shellee shares her journey into becoming a college strategist and offers insights on how parents can support their children in navigating their educational paths. Here is some of what we cover:
What to do if your teen doesn’t know what they want to be yet
How to help your child discover their core values and articulate their “why” for college
How to negotiate the cost of college like a pro (yes, it’s possible!)
Pursue meaningful extracurriculars (music, leadership, service projects, and more)
Which college stats matter most—and how to see through the sales pitch on college tours
Connect with Shellee Howard:
Website: College Counseling Services | Graduate Debt-Free with Expert Guidance
Facebook: Shellee Howard
Instagram: College Ready Plan
Links Mentioned:
College Ready Questionnaire (Shellee)
Personal Values Assessment | Discover Your Values
Podcast — College Ready | College Admissions Consulting
The College Admissions PLAN Simplified: Shellee Howard
How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money Shellee Howard
Related Episodes:
Navigating Senior Year: College Prep, Family Talks, and Faithful Waiting :: Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball [Ep 523]
Demystifying Financial Aid :: Kristi Steele [Ep 440]
Long Game Parenting :: Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson [Ep 337]
Featured Sponsors:
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Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.
Knox and I recently had the incredible opportunity to go on a Compassion International vision trip to El Salvador. Today, I’m joined by my friend Nicki Koziarz to help recap this life-changing experience.
Nicki is an author, Bible teacher, and podcaster—and also a mom of six, including three boys adopted from Haiti. She brings a powerful perspective on the global impact Compassion is making and the heartbreaking reality that, in many cases, poverty is the only reason a mother has to give up her child.
We dive into how Compassion is partnering with local churches to go into the hardest places—providing food, medical care, and the hope of Christ to transform lives and futures. Nicki also shares about their amazing Survival Program, which walks alongside mothers from pregnancy through a child’s first year, ensuring families have the support they need to stay together when possible.
I’m so grateful for the chance to witness firsthand what God is doing through Compassion in El Salvador—and I can't wait to share more with you in this episode.
Connect with Nicki Koziarz:
Website: Nicki Koziarz – Author | Speaker | Bible Teacher
Facebook: Nicki Koziarz
Instagram: nickikoziarz
Links Mentioned:
Last time Nicki was on the show (Ep 121)
*Join Heather and Help End Child Poverty*
Compassion Survival - Compassion International
Related Episodes:
Secure Borders and the Compassionate Christian :: Bri Stensrud [Ep 455]
Exploring Global Cultures at Home :: Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young [Ep 327]
Compassion Changes Everything :: Jonathan Almonte [Ep 264]
Featured Sponsors:
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Thrive Causemetics–Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping at ThriveCausemetics.com/DMA.
Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.
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58:35
TALK to Raise a Reader: How to Build Strong Reading Skills at Home :: Maya Smart [Ep 527]
Kids all read at different ages, stages, and times, but how can we, as parents, ensure they are getting all the tools and skills they need to become great readers? Today, Maya Smart joins me to talk about her new book Reading for Our Lives. She delves into the science of how kids become not just readers, but also comprehend and think critically. Here is some of what we cover:
Why you are your child’s chief vocabulary builder
TALK stands for: Take turns, Ask questions, Label and point, Keep the conversation going
Why literacy still matters—even in an AI world
Literacy is relational, not just instructional
Early vocabulary and sound awareness are critical foundations
Connect with Maya Smart:
Website: Maya Smart - Helping Parents Raise Readers | Become a Reader
Facebook: Maya Smart
Instagram: Maya Smart - Parent Educator and Literacy Advocate (@mayasmarty)
Links Mentioned:
Reading for Our Lives: By Maya Smart
Related Episodes:
How to Stay Calm with School Stress :: Kirk Martin {Ep 88}
“What is Typical When Learning to Talk?” :: Stephanie Cohen [Ep 486]
Supporting Students with Dyslexia :: Kerri Irvin [Ep 317]
Featured Sponsors:
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Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.
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47:53
Can We Keep Teens Safe on Social Media? What Every Parent Needs to Know from Meta :: Tara Hopkins [Ep 526]
In this episode, I sit down with Meta’s Global Director of Public Policy, who also happens to be a mom of two teenagers, to discuss the realities of raising kids in a digital-first world. There is a lot that goes into ensuring our teens are safe online, and Tara explains how Instagram is becoming a leader in this arena. Whether you’re worried about screen time, inappropriate content, or online bullying, this conversation is packed with insight and practical help. Here are some topics we cover:
How Meta uses cutting-edge technology for age verification
The three biggest concerns parents have about social media- who can contact their teen on Instagram, whether the content their teen sees is age-appropriate, and how much time their teen is spending on social media
Encouraging open conversations when your teen sees (or does) something online they shouldn’t
Connect with Tara Hopkins:
Instagram: Tara Hopkins
Links Mentioned:
Meta Family Center
Related Episodes:
Creating a Family Tech Plan :: Andrea Davis [Ep 470]
Cultivating a Healthy Relationship with Tech :: Joey Odom [Ep 425]
Braving the Tech Landscape Through Connection :: Chris McKenna [Ep 424]
Creating Digital Safe Spaces :: Chris McKenna [Ep 360]
Featured Sponsors:
Function: I highly recommend Function. Learn more and join using my link. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/DMA to own your health.
Active Skin Repair: Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and to get 20% off your order, use code:DMA.
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Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.
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1:03:03
Help! My Kids Don’t Know How to Do Anything : Building Life Skills This Summer :: Katie Kimball [Ep 525]
Today Katie Kimball is here to show us how to help our kids gain life skills that last and contribute to the family. Katie founded a program called Life Skills Now which covers topics from oil changes, to cooking, to entrepreneurship. She shares that competence equals confidence and with the rise of anxiety and depression, we want to give our kids all of the confidence and skills to succeed in this world. Summer is a perfect time to begin! Here are some topics we cover:
Why parenting can't be put on autopilot- we need to shift and change constantly
A list of 100 practical, emotional, and intellectual skills your kids can learn
Breaking chores into doable chunks instead of “just go clean the bathroom”
How to create a "Summer Skills List" with your kids that fosters ownership and choice
How to teach them skills that are hands-on, minds-on, hearts-on
How critical thinking and open-ended questions shape kids' future decision-making
Connect with Katie Kimball:
Website: kidscookrealfood.com/dontmomalone
Facebook: Kids Cook Real Food
Instagram: Katie Kimball | TEDx speaker (@katiekimballkidscook)
Links Mentioned:
Sign up for the #LifeSkillsNow Camp! (FREE for the week of June 9th to 13th).
Online Cooking Class for Kids - Kids Cook Real Food
Stress Mastery Challenge for Busy Moms
Kid-Friendly Kitchen Tools and Knives - Kids Cook Real Food
Related Episodes:
Raising Critical Thinkers :: Julie Bogart [Ep 474]
The Lazy Genius Kitchen :: Kendra Adachi [Ep 365]
Raising Kids Who Can Stand Alone :: Cynthia Yanof – Summer of Mentorship – Wk 2 [Ep 415]
Featured Sponsors:
HIYA health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults
Thrive Causemetics: Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash extensions mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA.
Outschool: Get $30 off your families first month of Outschool when you use our link: https://outschool.com/DMA and use code DMA at checkout.
Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.
Heather MacFadyen, mother of four boys, connects you the listener with people and resources to help you feel less alone. Consider it an invitation to "withness".
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