She Inspires: Vanessa Van Petten of Radical Parenting

Vanessa Van Petten heads up Radical Parenting, a parenting blog written for parents by teens. Great idea, right?

Vanessa has a new book coming out, and we’re giving you the inside scoop on the new release!

Here’s what Vanessa has to say about her new book:

“When I was 16 I thought it was my Dad’s goal in life to make me miserable. I was convinced that he had a running list of all the ways he could embarrass me in front of my friends, trick me into doing more chores or make my curfew earlier.

Our relationship would have continued to devolve until one day I saw my Dad reading a parenting book. I flipped through it while my Dad was in the bathroom and realized a lot of the things he did that drove me crazy he was getting right out of this book! I looked at the other parenting books on our shelves and realized that they were all written by adults. I wondered—has anyone ever asked teens to write to their parents?

I decided to build a website where teens could answer questions and write to parents called RadicalParenting.com.  I couldn’t believe how quickly it grew and how happy both teens were to get their voices out and parents were to have a new outlet for connecting with their kids! We now have over 120 teen writers who give advice.

Teenagers, when given a neutral space LOVE talking to parents and often offer some of the best insight because they are going through it themselves. We have also be so excited to help parents who feel like they cannot reach their kids and teens.

I think teens and parents can work together to overcome their differences and learn to work best together. We have just come out with our book: Do I Get My Allowance Before or After I’m Grounded and it is a radical approach to parenting because it is written from the kid’s perspective! We would love for you to check it out—if you are brave enough to see what kids have to say!”

Visit Vanessa’s site and pick up a copy of the new book!

Girl’s Guide to Swagger

The Girl's Guide to Swagger

The Inspired Girls team always has our eyes peeled for resources that empower girls and women. This week’s featured resource is the Girl’s Guide to Swagger, a place for girls and women to share stories and get inspiration that will result in greater confidence.

The site was created by Cynthia Brown with the intention of helping girls and women overcome self-esteem challenges that keep them from contributing their gifts to the world.

Check out the Girl’s Guide to Swagger and tell them IG sent you!

Until next time, be inspired!

From Taylor’s Desk: These Boots Were Made for Walking

Image Courtest of Hary Travel

I believe that travel is the cure to a monotonous routine… and I would know best of all. I don’t think people realize that sometimes they feel stuck until they take a break from their life, or at least I didn’t. For me, daily routines become so automatic that sometimes the brain shuts off the spontaneity channel and leaves you a drone. Every now and then it’s healthy to take a day trip, weekend trip, or month long trip to relax and just be you. Seeing new places and doing new things helps you become a more diverse and cultured person. This brings new characteristics to how you handle your daily routine and can make it more interesting. These trips don’t have to extensive, planned out vacations, just something to get you out of your routine.

Not only are you experiencing new things, you also meet new people. These people could become good friends or lead you in the direction to something amazing that you would have never found otherwise. For example, for the past few summers I have been spending a week at Lake Shasta in California and we always hike to this natural waterslide. We found this waterslide because my boyfriend and his friend talked with another group that was camping and they spread the word. Without having talked to these other vacationers we could have missed out on our favorite part of the trip.

It’s also important to take up spontaneous opportunities if you can. You never know what you’ll miss out on if you don’t. When two of my friends were studying abroad in Italy, I was given the chance to go visit them while they were there. This was my first trip flying alone… and to a foreign country! Through this trip I was able to make it to Corfu in Greece and Florence and Rome in Italy. I met tons of people from all over the world, learned to speak a few foreign words, tried amazing new foods and figured out how to use a calling card. Now I thrive off of meeting new people and learning about where they are from and am open to trying new things more often. Living a well-travelled life is a good life!

So jump on a plane, hop in the car or ride that bike! See something new and exciting!

Safe travels!

Taylor J

Inspired Girls Intern