First crushes are cute, chaotic... and sometimes overwhelming. In this episode of The Mother-Son Podcast with Kim & Jake, we unpack the rollercoaster of young love—from cheesy texts and awkward love notes to rejection and respectful boundaries.

Whether you're a parent wondering how to support your child through big emotions, or a neurodiverse teen feeling all the feels at a 10 out of 10, this one’s for you.

👩‍👦 In this episode, we explore:

What a crush really means to kids and teens
How neurodivergent brains process romantic feelings
Real scripts for what to say (and what not to say) when your child likes someone
How to respond when feelings aren’t returned
Respectful boundaries for both sides of the crush
What to do when things get too intense—emotionally or socially

Jake shares honest teen takes and Kim brings grounded parenting wisdom—together, they model vulnerable, humorous, and deeply helpful conversation.

📚 Episode References & Expert Sources

Dr. Laura Kirmayer – Parents.com
Deborah Roffman, Talk to Me First – New York Times
Dr. Cara Natterson, Decoding Boys – Washington Post
Phyllis Fagell, Middle School Matters – Washington Post
Dr. Lisa Damour, Untangled – lisadamour.com
Dr. Barry Prizant, Uniquely Human – uniquelyhuman.com
Dr. Devon Price, Unmasking Autism – devonprice.medium.com
Rachel Ehmke – Child Mind Institute

🔗 Connect With Us

🌐 Website: www.themothersonpodcast.com
📸 Instagram: @themothersonpodcast
▶️ YouTube: The Mother-Son Podcast

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