Tired of hearing, ‘I don’t know’ from your teenager?
“Ok, I get you might need a moment to think about your answer.” Or, “I understand you have a lot on your mind.” Taking another inhale… A few moments later you ask the seemingly simple question again and get the same, flat ‘I don’t know’ response. Insert inside voice, “Aaannnnddd we’re breathing…stay calm….stay calm.” You […]
How to diffuse sibling rivalry WITHOUT getting stuck in the middle
“Why can’t you leave me alone!” “I AM, I just needed to get my phone charger” “That’s MY charger!” “No, it’s not, I left it in the bathroom this morning.” “You’re always losing things. You can’t keep track of anything.” “At least I can keep friends which is better than you!” And so it goes. […]
Is your teen the boss of your emotions?
Every morning I’d wait in the kitchen with nervous anticipation, like hanging on for enough oxygen to take a breath. I was waiting for my son to come down the hall from his room and see his face. That’s all I needed; I could tell. My whole day was dictated by my teenager’s mood. On […]
Are you losing yourself trying to fix your teen?
Maybe your teen has mustered the courage to come to you with their struggle and are looking for support of some kind. They may have already looked up symptoms or done some research to validate their concerns. Either way, something beyond the scope of parenting is required. When your teenager is struggling, of course you […]
A little perspective goes a long way
There’s eight sides to every story. Your version of ‘normal’ in relationships, teen behaviour and parenting were set up years ago. Those norms operate silently from your unconscious brain; sometimes for the better and sometimes not. If you’re emotionally upset or triggered, they cloud the truth of what’s really going on, and your response to […]
Helping Your Teen Build Healthy Relationships
“I forbid you to be friends with that person!” Did your parents try and pick your friends? How did that go? It’s a power and control move that only instills shame (because you obviously didn’t know how to gauge people) and defiance (because who do you think you are to tell me who I can […]
Peer Pressure and the Price of Fitting In
‘If your friends all jumped off a cliff, would you do that too?’ How many times did you hear your parents ask you that after being caught doing something they deemed brainless? The power of the pack made you do it. Literally. As a teenager, did you do something you didn’t really want to, something […]
Apathy is a coping strategy
My heart felt so heavy I cried. Last week I reached my limit reading posts like the one above (edited for anonymity). I respond to as many as I can, but I feel like I’m yelling into a vacuum and parents aren’t willing to hear or understand the real issue. If your teen is struggling […]
Why consequences don’t change behavior
🤩 You’ve had conversations with your teen to clearly communicate your boundaries so they understand your values and beliefs behind them. 🤩 You’ve decided on and communicated reasonable consequences so your teen knows what to expect should their choices lead them outside the boundaries. You’re killing it!! I secretly nominated you for parent of the […]
I took my teens phone. Now what?
Picture this….. While picking your teen up from school, you ask, “How was your day?” Your Teen: “OMG! Why are you so nosey!” Taking a deep breath, you drive home in tense silence. Inside the house, you say, “Please put your clothes away like I asked.” Your teen: “Ffft. Why does it matter? They’re already […]