Teens need to feel accepted and that you are listening with a respectful and curious mind for them to talk with you. A skill worth learning. At the end you’ll find a link to avoiding nasty communication blocks. “I’m guessing that you might feel …… if you did……..” “What are your thoughts on alcohol and…
My daughter is now 26 yet I can still feel distress when I’m not able to reach her by phone. The parental mind seems to go instantly to fear that something has happened to our child. I laughed so hard when my daughter showed me this pie chart of what parents think when kids don’t answer their phones. We…
“How do I get my resistant son to do more?” This was a request I received before I began coaching a couple and their 16 year old son. They wanted him to branch out more with volunteering so he could learn compassion. Within the question they asked is the problem. This question is asking how…
When helping teens with their problems, it is crucial to understand how much you should be involved in offering suggestions and making the final decision. If you cross over the line, your teen will get very upset. Here are levels of parental/teen responsibility and idea input starting with Level 1 which is total input and…
Patt and Steve Saso have worked with teens for years and I find their advice about catching a teen in a lie keeps the relationship intact and models compassionate behavior as well. How to Respond When You Catch Your Teen Lying by Patt and Steve Saso How to Respond When You Catch Your Teen Lying…
This list of what a teenager needs was written in 2004 by my then teen daughter. She was helping me develop a course for parents of teens I was presenting at a Buddhist conference/ Support. Anything from going to a soccer game, a dance recital or school event shows that you care about the teen.…
The journey from childhood to adolescence is very challenging. Between the ages of 10 and 17 there are major changes in physical, cognitive, social, and moral development. The major task for adolescents is to establish their self-identity. By determining–as best they can–a sense of who they are, they attempt to find a group that reflects…
Here is a Parent Success Story told by an amazing mom of a 13-year-old boy. I started parenting coaching with Cynthia because I wanted to learn how to modify my communication style with my 13-year-old son. I wanted us to be able to communicate on a more harmonious level. He is very sensitive and reacts…
Teens are at the developmental stage where their life focus is moving away from their family of origin to creating their own family in the future. Their prefrontal cortex, their thinking and analyzing brain, won’t be fully developed until the mid-20’s. So, as parents, we watch this process with often feelings of concern, fear, and…
Here is a story of a private parent coaching client of mine. Learning to Listen to Rather than Yell at My Teenage Daughter I am a dad of a 15 year-old daughter who is struggling in school and in following our rules. My wife and I contacted Cynthia to help with managing her behavior. We…
Terms of Use: The articles in my blog are a matter of my opinion and perspective, offered to help stimulate parents' thinking about their child raising and common concerns, conflicts, and changes that typically occur. They are meant to be educational only. Because they are general in nature, they should NOT be used as a substitute for getting qualified professional psychological, medical, or legal help should serious need arise. The resources I recommend are mostly consistent with my parenting approach. Use them at your own discretion as you would my articles. The parents’ success stories are particular to their family situation. This does not mean that you would get the same results. They are to be used for inspiration that by you changing first, you have the greatest chance of creating a positive change in your family.