Strong love skills are essential for any relationship. We need them to create connection and strengthen our relationship with our teenager, and we need them to help our romantic relationship go the distance. And, one of the best ways we can help our children have a strong relationship in their adulthood is to model that now. With Valentine’s Day around the corner there’s no better time to [...]
Is your teenager intense? Handling challenging behavior in teenagers can leave parents floundering. We wonder how to help them, how to motivate them, and maybe contemplate whether any discipline will have an impact. Christine Abrahams understands this and helps parents learn how to develop a deep and loving relationship with the most intense child. She talks to Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy [...]
Parents wonder why teenagers do the things they do. When we struggle with them, it can leave us scratching our heads and wondering. Part of the reason is they may see the world differently than you do. We each have our own fears and beliefs that impact how we see things and how we react. Another issue may be your ability to respond to a situation rather than fall into a reaction. Ashlie Woods [...]
Talking to our kids about sex and sexuality can be difficult or uncomfortable, and it doesn't end with "The Talk". You aren't broken if you don't know how to talk to your kid about puberty, bodies and sex. Feeling awkward and unsure just means you haven't been shown how to talk or given the right information to talk about. When that conversation moves into consent, sexuality, or gender identity [...]
Do you have an entitled teenager? It may be an isolated incident at the mall or it may be an ongoing concern, but when we see our teenager showing signs of entitlement it can make us crazy. Parents can feel unappreciated, sad, angry, concerned or all of this and more. It can look like we have an ungrateful teenager who just expects things to be handed to them. How did they get this way? Did I do [...]
When there’s conflict in the home, parents tend to say it’s because they have a difficult teenager. Arguments, eye rolling, tears, and the statements like, “You just don’t understand” or “You never listen” are frustrating. Parents feel like they’re walking on egg shells or always living with tension. They don’t know how to resolve the conflict. But what if you didn’t have to [...]
There are so many things we want our teenagers to learn, including good values and healthy living strategies. Open conversations can help with both of these. Popular media is a great spark for starting a conversation and gives our kids a safe space to talk about ideas. Martha Hunt Handler's book Winter of the Wolf, published by our sponsor Green Leaf Book Group, provides opportunities to discuss [...]
As our boys grow up life can get strange. That little boy who loved being with you can suddenly disappear behind closed doors. We lose communication and our relationship with them suffers. Understanding boys and the changes they go through as they approach and live through puberty can help. Parents can keep a better line of communication and foster a stronger relationship with their sons. They can[...]
Ever feel like all you're doing is fighting with your teenager? Whether it's an eye roll, the exasperated tone, push back, or an actual argument, it's exhausting. Parents get frustrated and end up feeling guilty. But Laurie Warren has a different view of the situation which she's sharing with Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler. They discuss the truth about fighting and how parents can [...]
Human beings need to live in a culture of connection. We crave real connection; seeing people's faces, feeling human touch, and having conversations that leave us feeling heard and understood. Today's digital age is fast paced and superficial, leaving us feeling isolated and disconnected. Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler talks to suicide prevention expert Anne Moss Rogers about how [...]