When The Call Hits Home | Episode 12: Navigating Parenting, Social Media, and First Responder Families

Hosts:

- Dr. Ashlee Gethner DSW, LCSW: Licensed Clinical Professional, child of a police officer

- Jennifer Woosley Saylor LPCC S: Licensed Clinical Professional, child of a police officer

 

Episode Overview:

In this powerful episode, Jennifer and Ashlee delve deep into the challenges and emotional complexities faced by families of first responders, with a special focus on how pervasive social media impacts parenting and mental health.

Key Highlights:

1. The Role of Caitlin:

   • Jennifer credits Caitlin for inspiring deeper, more meaningful conversations based on personal experiences.

2. Parenting in the Social Media Era:

   • Tips for setting healthy boundaries, such as avoiding cell phones during family dinners.

   • Importance of parents modeling appropriate behavior on social media.

3. Honest Discussions About Parenting:

   • Jennifer admits the struggles of parenting and emphasizes that it’s okay not to have all the answers.

   • Ashlee affirms the value of sharing strategies and communication techniques.

4. The Need for Dialogue:

   • Crucial discussions with children about discerning factual information amidst misinformation on social media.

   • Encouraging understanding and empathy by seeing multiple perspectives.

5. Civic Participation:

   • Personal anecdotes highlighting the importance of voting and civic engagement to effect positive community change.

6. Emotional Impact on Families:

   • Detailed insights into the significant emotional and stress-related impacts on first responder families.

   • Ashlee’s dissertation findings reveal that families of police officers often suffer more than the officers themselves.

7. Protecting Children of First Responders:

   • Strategies officers use to obscure their profession to safeguard their families, leading to internal conflicts.

8. Health Impacts Due to Stress:

   • First responder families face issues like anxiety and medical problems due to the high-stress environment.

   • Real-life example of a child hospitalized for seizure induced by social media-related stress.

9. Need for Open Conversations About Mental Health:

   • Stressed the importance of having honest conversations about mental health with children, including topics like suicide.

10. Professional Conflicts and Bias:

    • First responders face moral conflicts between their passion for work and the need to protect their families.

    • Issues such as bias against police officers within social work and the lack of therapists willing to work with first responders.

11. Personal Reflections:

    • Differences in Jennifer and Ashlee’s experiences based on generational and geographical factors.

    • Jennifer’s father’s international policing initiatives and the emotional toll of false accusations against him.

12. Listener Engagement and Future Content:

    • Encouragement to contact the hosts via social media or their website.

    • Sneak peek into upcomi