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 […]
What if you had horizontal butt cheeks?
When our boys were younger, I used a glass jar with pink construction paper hearts cut out in it; each heart had instructions of what to say to another person at the table as a way to express love. Last night, I decided to bring it back. Games like this encourage vulnerable expression, build emotional […]
4 Toxic, Conversation Killers and Their Antidotes
“I didn’t do it!” It happens in a split second without any conscious thought as part of your brain’s natural defense system, like being thrown a hot potato and finding the fastest way to get rid of it before it burns you. Defensiveness is one of four documented toxic communication styles; coping strategies triggered by […]
3 Reasons Teens Lie and the Secret Behind Them
Did you ever lie to your parents? I did. LOTS! Whether your teen is lying to you or not, you may never know. However, understanding WHY teens lie and what you can do about it will decrease the odds of it happening and the possible fallout. My parents were very strict. They loved my sister […]
Motivating your teen in virtual learning
What’s worse? The more effort you make to motivate them the less they and now they’re at risk of failing a class or even the whole year. What happened to your teen who was engaged in school, responsible for their work and attendance? It’s exhausting! Your teen isn’t lazy and didn’t become apathetic overnight. Motivation […]
I’m drowning in emotions. What’s wrong with me?
Alex is now having mild anxiety attacks and doesn’t know what to. When I spoke with Alex (name changed for privacy), she was struggling with managing what feels like a daily tidal wave of emotions that’s manifesting into anxiety. The kind where Alex feels safer being alone in her room trying to cope with it […]