It’s February, and for many high school seniors and their parents, the "college limbo" has officially set in. Between waiting on regular decision letters and navigating unexpected deferrals, the stress at home can be at an all-time high. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Laura Ollinger sits down with Jenna Schebell, founder of The College Navigators, to pull back the curtain on the final stages of the college admissions process.

Jenna, an independent education consultant with over 20 years of experience, explains why the power dynamic is finally shifting. Now that the applications are in, it’s time for your teen to move from "applicant" to "decision-maker."

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Decision Central" Mindset: How to handle the anxiety of not knowing where you’re going while peers are already posting their roommates.
• The Truth About Deferrals: What is "yield protection" and why do colleges keep students in limbo even when they are highly qualified?
• Choosing the Right Major: The strategic difference between direct-admit programs (like nursing and engineering) versus exploratory paths.
• Evaluating College Fit: Why attending an admitted students day is the best way to test the "vibe" and community values.
• The Summer Start Advantage: Why starting college in the summer might actually lead to a smoother social transition for your teen.

Whether you are navigating college application stress or trying to help your child choose between two different majors, Jenna provides the logical and emotional roadmap parents need right now.

Resources Mentioned:

• The College Navigators
• Follow Jenna Schebell on Instagram
• Positively Healthy Coaching: Connect with Laura Ollinger for parent and teen well-being support, including coaching around the college admissions time of life.

Next Steps: Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where we dive deeper into this conversation with Jenna Schebell, founder of The College Navigators. If your teen is selecting high school courses and not quite in the college admissions phase, this one is for you!

Is your teenager choosing friends or dating partners who treat them poorly? It is one of the most painful experiences for a mother to witness, yet traditional parenting often leads to the one thing we fear most: our child pulling away.

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom, host Laura Ollinger sits down with pediatrician and parenting expert Kristen Cook, MD, to provide a roadmap for navigating toxic teen relationships. Whether you are dealing with a "mean girl" friendship dynamic or a red-flag romantic relationship, this conversation offers the neurological and tactical tools you need to maintain connection.

• The Neuroscience of Social Rewards: Understand why the teen brain is biologically wired to prioritize peer approval over parental logic. Dr. Cook explains the role of the nucleus accumbens (an area of the brain that is connected to motivation and action) and why "bad" relationships often feel rewarding to a developing brain.
• From Criticism to Curiosity: Learn the tactical "how-to" of intervening in unhealthy relationships. We discuss the power of the family meeting from a lens of prevention and how to ask open-ended questions that allow your teen to discover the truth for themselves without feeling controlled.
• The Mirror Effect & Parental Self-Worth: We explore the deep connection between a mother's self-confidence and her child’s relationship choices. Discover why working on your own inner self-worth is often the most effective way to help your teen build their own.
• Identifying Serious Red Flags: Dr. Cook outlines the physical and psychological signs of domestic abuse in teens and provides clear steps for when a parent needs to escalate the situation for safety.

Connect with our guest: Visit Kristen Cook, MD, at kristencookmd.com to find her book, Parenting Redefined, and listen to her podcast, Mom Doc Talk. Or follow her on Instagram at @‌momdoctalk_kcmd

Welcome back to Part 2 of our conversation with Coach Jace Riley, founder of @6AMPractice and dad of three athlete sons.

In this episode of The Positively Healthy Mom Podcast, host Laura Ollinger dives deeper with Coach Riley on the emotional realities of parenting student athletes — from jealousy between siblings, to frustration with coaches, to what to say when your kid is just done.

💬 This episode is about more than sports. It’s about team culture at home, how to handle tough seasons as a family, and why memories matter more than medals.

• Why your kid talks more to teammates than to you — and how to change that
• The emotional toll of raising athletes (and what moms can do to refuel)
• How to support siblings without creating competition
• What to say when your teen feels overlooked or "glazed" by coaches
• The key difference between support and over-involvement
• Creating a family experience around sports, no matter the win/loss
• How to reframe game-day frustrations into long-term resilience
• Coach Riley’s tools: Game Day Kit, Parent Playbook, and Reset Systems

• Founder of @6AMPractice on Instagram (82k+ followers)
• Former soccer and basketball coach
• Dad of 3 athlete sons
• Known for bridging the gap between “the parent’s heart and the athlete’s brain”

📩 Contact: coach@6ampractice.com

🌐 positivelyhealthycoaching.com/podcast
📘 Facebook: Positively Healthy Coaching
📸 Instagram: @positivelyhealthycoaching

🎧 If this episode helps you feel more confident as a sports parent, please like, comment, and share — it means the world to us!