Reframing Me
So many prepare us for the transition to motherhood, but no one prepares us for how hard the transition out is, and once our kids become teens, it also can feel very solitary. The issues we face with teens are often ones we need to talk about, yet feel we can't or shouldn't. Together, we can create a community of women who, faced with growing children and changing families, are relearning how to mom, and relearning who they are as women. Grounded in family communication theory, join Dr. Jennifer Brubaker to have those conversations to help you better understand this new chapter of your life. Episodes focus on both family communication with our teens and reflection and self discovery. Dr. Brubaker has her Ph.D in Communication Studies and is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she has taught for 17 years. Prior to UNCW, she taught at The Ohio State University, Kent State University and the University of Toledo. Originally from Ohio, Jen lives in Wilmington, NC, with her husband, three children, three dogs, cat and a menagerie of small animals. She loves spending time with her family, traveling and all things fitness, sports and wellness. Reach out with your questions, issues or experiences to begin the conversation. Or reach out to say hi and let me know you’re listening :) Join the Reframing Me: The Podcast Community Facebook group to connect with others who are looking to relearn how to parent, now that their kids are teens, and rediscover who they are as women, beyond the framework of motherhood. Send emails to jen@reframing-me.com; or on socials: Reframing Me on FacebookAND join the Facebook group Reframing Me: The Podcast Community; @reframingme on Instagram; Reframing Me on YouTube @reframingme on TikTok
Reframing Me
You DO only live ONCE: Kris' Matrenaissance
When Kris Janik realized that "you only live once!" also meant, "you DO ONLY live ONCE," she realized that she wanted to make it really mean something special - something that she and her family could be proud of. In this third episode of our Matrenaissance series, I have a conversation with contemporary artist and mother of three, Kris Janik, to explore the beautiful, nonlinear journey of rediscovering yourself after years spent in roles that serve everyone but you.
Kris opens up about her early career, her 15+ years as a stay-at-home mom, and the powerful transformation that led her to embrace her identity as a self-taught artist. At the heart of her Matrenaissance is not only creativity, but also healing — including her deeply personal journey with sobriety.
Through painting, travel, motherhood, and recovery, Kris found a way back to herself — one brushstroke at a time. Her story is one of evolution, resilience, and the courage to reclaim joy on your own terms.
This episode is part of our March Matrenaissance series, highlighting real women who have reimagined their identity, purpose, and power in midlife.
Whether you’re craving creativity, navigating motherhood, exploring sobriety, or simply wondering what’s next, Kris’s story is a powerful reminder: your evolution is not only possible — it’s beautiful.
Please help me with my Matrenaissance Identity Theory of Communication research by completing a completely anonymous survey at https://forms.gle/WunxbwZ7L1MmvWEF6
This research has been approved by the UNCW Institutional Review Board.
Check out Kris' art @krisjanikart on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/krisjanikart/)
Keywords:
Matrenaissance, midlife transformation, sobriety journey, identity shift, women over 40, self-discovery, creativity after motherhood, stay-at-home mom to artist, Kris Janik, Reframing Me podcast, coastal art, motherhood and recovery, personal growth in midlife
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