Twin XL: The Podcast

Parenting over the Rainbow

Laura and Beth talk about the LBGT student in college, joined by guest Eric Crumrine from Berklee College of Music in Boston. If you want to connect with Eric, feel free to email him: ecrumrine@gmail.comResources related to this episode: PFLAG: “PFLAG is the extended family of the LGBTQ community. We're made up of LGBTQ individuals, family members and allies. Because together, we're stronger.”Trevor Project: “The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning youth. “The Campus Pride Index: “The Campus Pride Index is a vital tool for assisting campuses in learning ways to improve their LGBTQ campus life and ultimately shape the educational experience to be more inclusive, welcoming and respectful of LGBTQ and Ally people.”Articles from Association of American Colleges & Universities:Making Excellence Inclusive: Higher Education’s LGBTW ContextsQueer Theory’s Relevance to Student LearningCampus Climate: The Good and the Still Very Bad

Family Weekend!

Family Weekend is happening on many campuses during October. Should you go to your student’s campus for this event? What makes Family Weekend fun- and why might you decide to skip it and go another time? Laura and Beth talk about ways to plan for a great campus visit, and how to let your student show off their campus and include you in their experience.Family Weekend- What to ExpectWhy You Should Go to College Family Weekend...After it’s OverE-mail Laura and BethFollow TwinXL on FacebookFollow TwinXL on TwitterSupport TwinXL on Patreon

From the Mouth of a Mom

Episode 9 - Parenting a student through their first year of college can be an emotional roller coaster from the parent and for the student. Parents may not be equipped to consider the impact of the change in their home life will look like. Parenting through “facetime” is different from having your child under the same roof. It can also be a time of rejuvenation for the parent who is seeking to find their own – new – life. Laura and Beth are joined by Beth Niernberg, who is entering her “sophomore year” of parenting her oldest child through their college experience – and she has opinions about how things went during the first year.When the Kids Leave Home, What’s Next? How to Thrive in an Empty NestPatreonFacebookTwitterE-mail Laura and Beth

Accessibility Advocacy

Episode 8: In recent years, close to 20% of college students reported a disability. How do students with disabilities get access to the accommodations and services they need on campus? As the parent of a student with a disability, how can you support them while also helping them learn to advocate for themselves? Laura and Beth are joined by Chip Kennedy of Harvard University Disability Services for a conversation about the transition from K-12 to higher education for students with disabilities.Differences Between K-12 and Postsecondary EducationHow Students with Disabilities, and Their Parents, Need to Prepare for CollegeFor Parents: Adjusting to CollegePatreonFacebookTwitterE-mail Laura and Beth

The First Six Weeks

The first six weeks of college are not only fun and exciting- they're also a key time for students to get connected to their campus community, and that can be one of the many factors that leads to student success. Unfortunately, they’re also a time of high risk for students. In this episode, Laura and Beth talk about how parents can coach their students through this crucial time. Step one: make them stay at school!The Importance of the First Six Weeks of CollegeThe First Six Weeks of CollegeReducing Risk During the First Few Weeks on Campus PatreonFacebookTwitterE-mail Laura and Beth

Episode 6: True Grit

Why is college student mental health in the news all the time? Is it worse these days than it used to be? Learn how a growth mindset help your student!
This episode helps you learn how to support from a distance … because remember, you can’t do it all for them. Beth and Laura talk about how failing can be a good thing.
National College Health Assessment Fall 2018 Reference Group Executive Summary (page 13)
https://www.acha.org/documents/ncha/NCHA-II_Fall_2018_Reference_Group_Executive_Summary.pdf
What Does it Mean to Have a Growth Mindset?
https://www.bigthinkedge.com/blog/what-does-it-mean-to-have-a-growth-mindset
Growth Mindset Parenting
https://www.mindsetworks.com/parents/growth-mindset-parenting
Managing a Mental Health Condition in College
https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Teens-Young-Adults/Managing-a-Mental-Health-Condition-in-College
Black Girls Don’t Get to Be Depressed
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/news/a50692/black-girls-dont-get-to-be-depressed/
College Students of Color: Overcoming Mental Health Challenges
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/July-2018/College-Students-of-Color-Overcoming-Mental-Healt

Episode 5: A Very Special Episode

There were 15 “Very Special Episodes” of the sitcom “Blossom”, and it if works for Blossom it works for TwinXL. This episode gets serious, but we wouldn’t be serious if it wasn’t important.
In this episode, Beth and Laura tell you what you and your student need to know about consent and sexual assault. How are colleges expected to respond to this issue? And tips on how to talk about this challenging issue with your student.
Going to College: What Families Need to Know About Sexual Assault and Safety on Campus
www.drew.edu/titleix-eeo-aa/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2017/08/what-families-need-know-sexual-assault-safety-campus.pdf
How to Talk to Young People About the Kavanaugh Story
https://www.npr.org/2018/09/21/650039170/how-to-talk-to-young-people-about-the-kavanaugh-story\
Action Plan for Parents: Preventing College Sexual Assault
https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/action-plan-parents-preventing-college-sexual-assault/
Statistics from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center
https://www.nsvrc.org/statistics
Statistics from the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
https://www.rainn.org/statistics/campus-sexual-violence
Title IX Basics from Know Your IX
https://www.knowyourix.org/college-resources/title-ix/

Episode 4: Double Secret Probation

Parents of students from K-12 are used to communication from their child’s school. In fact you probably get TOO MUCH communication. It is no wonder that parents of college students have a tough time with the lack of and restricted communication from colleges and universities. Why is this? FERPA. But, you may say, I thought there was FERPA in the K-12. There is … but it changes when students hit college, and no matter if you pay the bill, you don’t get to have the free communication that you may be seeking.
In this episode, Laura is surrounded by Beths! In addition to her co-host, we welcome Beth Devonshire of D. Stafford and Associates to talk about student privacy, why students may lie to their parents, and when and why you should call or expect a call.
Some pretty weird ads for Newport Lights from the 80s
treyspeegle.com/010113/2015/11/25/newports-alive-with-pleasure-campaign-is-subliminal-ad-101
Parents’ Guide to FERPA (see the last question for college info)
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/brochures/parents.html
FERPA FAQ
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/faq.html
What Are College Parental Notification Policies?
https://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2009/10/what-are-college-parental-notification-policies/

Episode 3: Up All Night

Wellness: it’s not all bath bombs and face masks. For college students, it’s making choices about well-being that support their academic success. For them- and for all of us- sleep is probably the MOST important thing we can do to maintain our well-being. Learn more about why it’s important and how to encourage your student to get higher-quality sleep.
In this episode of TwinXL Beth and Laura give you the low down on why you kid may hit a wall from exhaustion and illness, and how you can coach them through some lifestyle choices that will help them stay healthy – even when you aren’t there to tell them to go to sleep and eat their veggies.
National College Health Assessment Fall 2018 Reference Group Executive Summary (Page 17)
https://www.acha.org/documents/ncha/NCHA-II_Fall_2018_Reference_Group_Executive_Summary.pdf
Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4075951/
Sleep, Learning, and Memory
healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/learning-memory
Sleep Rocks! Get More of It!
https://www.uhs.uga.edu/sleep
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/592377/burnout-by-emily-nagoski-phd-and-amelia-nagoski-dma/9781984817068/
Bed Fans
https://bedfans-usa.com\
Sleep Supplies- Items to help your student practice good sleep hygiene
Earplugs
Sleep mask
White noise machine and/or fan
Mattress topper

Episode 2: Dorm Sweet Dorm

Don’t forget to pack your tapestry, twinkle lights, and your shower caddy- we're moving into the dorm! How to help your student navigate roommate relationships and start their on-campus life on the right foot. Also, what is an RA and what do they do? 

Being an RA is where Beth and Laura got their start … so you know they know their dorm rooms! All the cinderblock luxury of them!
And Laura gives you her Patent Pending #deveauprotip roommate success call guide:
Call one – The Introduction
Call two – The housekeeping call
Call three – What are you like on your worst day?
Learn From My Mistakes and Avoid These Common Roommate Problems:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/smarter-living/common-roommate-problems.html
How a College Roommate Can Affect Your Child:
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/24/how-a-college-roommate-can-affect-your-child/
How to Help Your College Student Prepare for Living With a Roommate:
https://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2010/07/how-to-help-your-college-student-prepare-for-living-with-a-roommate/