More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous Ally

• Parents, This Is What Your Queer Teen Wants This Holiday Season

  Feeling the pressure to find the perfect gift for your LGBTQ+ teen?In this soft, grounding episode, Heather shares what really matters to LGBTQ+ kids this time of year and how your presence and thoughtfulness can be more powerful than anything wrapped in a bow.Discover 5 human-centered gifts that build connection and joyLearn how to create belonging through slow rituals and shared presenceGet practical tips for meaningful, low-stress gift-giving even on a budgetUnlearn the myth that more gifts = more loveTune in now and walk away with a heart-centered plan to gift with meaning, not pressure. Your presence is already enough.Key TakeawaysPresence is the gift. The most meaningful thing you can give your LGBTQ+ teen is the feeling of being seen and safe.Intentional gifts build trust. Gifts that reflect identity, interests, or emotional needs foster connection not just excitement.Rituals matter. The 13 Sacred Nights tradition offers a grounding space for reflection, bonding, and family storytelling.You don’t have to spend a lot. A mug, a journal, a game, a handwritten note, or a shared recipe can say: I love who you are becoming.Performative gifting doesn’t equal love. True generosity is rooted in connection, not cost.Links mentioned in the episode:Human Being JournalOverthinker JournalWTF NotebooksEtsy for mugs, recipe cards, and an apronGames - Hitster and Who's Most Likely to...are two faves (instructions for Fishbowl are below)

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• I Am Thankful For...Me! A Practical Tool for Parents of LGBTQ+ Teens

  Do you pour out gratitude for everyone else, but forget to include yourself?As the holidays approach, gratitude can start to feel like a performance. In this soulful solo episode, Heather helps you reclaim it, starting with the most overlooked person in your life: you.Learn how thanking yourself rewires your brain and soothes your nervous systemUnderstand why authentic gratitude embraces both joy and griefTry a 3-minute practice to anchor appreciation in your body not just your mindReframe self-directed gratitude as strength, not selfishnessListen now to remember why you belong on your own gratitude list and how to gently come back to yourself, one breath at a time.Key TakeawaysMost gratitude practices leave you out of the equationSelf-gratitude is not arrogance, it’s acknowledgmentGratitude is most powerful in complex emotional landscapes, not perfect onesSelf-directed appreciation calms the nervous system and supports resilienceA gentle daily ritual can anchor gratitude into your body, not just your thoughts“Gratitude and grief can coexist” and often must, especially during the holidaysHi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Become a private clientAttend Friday Reflection LIVE on Substack - guided journaling and Q&AInvite me to speak at your workshop or event Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect [email protected] on YouTubeListen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast and space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community—including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals—while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, gender identity, sexual...

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• Parents, Fixing Is Hurting Your Relationships! This Is What To Do Instead.

  Are you constantly jumping in with advice only to feel more disconnected from the people you love?Whether you're navigating hard conversations with your LGBTQ+ teen or sitting down at a tense holiday dinner, the urge to "fix" is often fear in disguise. In this calming and powerful solo episode, Heather Hester unpacks why real connection doesn’t come from solving but from seeing.✔️ Learn a simple, science-backed practice to shift from reactivity to presence✔️ Discover how to listen without rushing, rescuing, or retreating✔️ Use Heather’s LISTEN method to guide any difficult conversation with love✔️ Get grounded tools to calm your nervous system when tensions risePress play now to discover the one shift that builds trust, deepens relationships, and reclaims connection, no fixing required.Key Takeaways:Fixing is often rooted in fear, not loveSilence is not awkward, it’s sacredListening without correcting builds psychological safety, the key to long-term trust“Do you want advice or just a listening ear?” can transform your relationshipsYou don’t need the right answers, you just need presenceLISTEN Framework Recap:L – Leave space: Breathe before respondingI – Inquire gently: Ask what kind of support is neededS – Stay curious: Reflect, don’t assumeT – Trust the silence: Let quiet be part of connectionE – Empathize, don’t evaluate: Say “That sounds really hard”N – Normalize not knowing: “I don’t have the answer, but I’m here.”Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Become a private clientAttend Friday Reflection LIVE on Substack - guided journaling and Q&AInvite me to speak at your workshop or event Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect [email protected] on YouTubeListen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you....

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• "I Believe You" - The Most Important Thing You Can Say to Your LGBTQ+ Child

  When your child comes out or shares something vulnerable do you freeze, fumble, or fear saying the wrong thing?Whether it’s about gender, sexuality, faith, or mental health, what your child is really asking in that moment is, “Can I trust you?” In this essential episode, Heather Hester shares the neuroscience, parenting wisdom, and personal stories behind why believing your child, even without full understanding, can literally save lives.✔️ Learn 8 powerful tools to communicate belief, safety, and love even when you’re still learning✔️ Discover how trauma-informed parenting strengthens your child's mental health and self-worth✔️ Hear why “I believe you” is more powerful than any answer you could give✔️ Let go of the myth that support requires full comprehensionIdentity doesn't need your permission to existPress play now to learn how to meet your child’s truth with trust, not fear, and why your belief may be the very bridge that keeps your connection (and their well-being) alive.Key TakeawaysBelief doesn’t require full understanding, it requires trust and presence.LGBTQ+ youth with one accepting adult are 40% less likely to attempt suicide.Pause before reacting: Your calm nervous system is the safety signal your child needs.Curiosity over correction is key: Replace “Are you sure?” with “Tell me more.”Repair matters more than perfection; own your mistakes with grace and keep growing.Every affirming act, like using their name or pronouns, tells your child: “You are safe with me.”Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Become a private clientAttend Friday Reflection LIVE on Substack - guided journaling and Q&AInvite me to speak at your workshop or event Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect [email protected] on YouTubeListen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.More Human. More Kind. formerly Just

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• Human First. Kind Always. A Guide For Parents of LGBTQ Teens

  Are you overwhelmed by the speed, noise, and pressure of the season and craving a moment of genuine connection?In a world obsessed with performance and big gestures, we often forget the transformative power of the quiet, small moments: eye contact, a text, a name used correctly. Heather shares how these micro-moments of humanity can reset our nervous systems and ripple out more powerfully than we realize, especially for parents and allies of LGBTQ+ kids.✔️ Discover how small acts of kindness affect the brain and body in measurable, healing ways✔️ Learn a 3-step daily ritual to bring more presence, empathy, and grounding into your life✔️ Understand why tiny affirming behaviors are life-saving for LGBTQ+ youth✔️ Challenge the myth that if it’s not big, it doesn’t matterPress play now to reconnect with what really matters: being human, being kind, and being here.Key TakeawaysKindness is not a performance, it’s a nervous system reset for everyone involvedLGBTQ+ youth thrive on small affirming acts, which drastically reduce risk of depression and suicideMaking eye contact, offering silent blessings, or simply listening with presence are radical acts of loveYou don’t need to “fix” everything, just feel, notice, and act from empathyKindness isn’t weakness. Kindness is healing.What if kindness wasn't about being noticed, but about noticing? This simple shift in intention can change the way we parent, partner, and participate in the world.Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!Become a private clientAttend Friday Reflection LIVE on Substack - guided journaling and Q&AInvite me to speak at your workshop or event Receive a free excerpt and reflection guide from my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Please subscribe, rate, and review!Connect [email protected] on YouTubeListen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday!At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive...

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