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Parenting teens has never been an easy task and dealing with difficult family members makes it even more challenging. In today’s world, when your child struggles with stressors, triggers, ADHD, depression, anxiety, or something else, it becomes downright overwhelming. When family dynamics aren’t smooth, or extended family object to your choices, it only gets harder. Hosts Judy Davis and Sandy Fowler dig into this area gaining insight, getting you tips, and helping you find a new perspective for dealing with difficult family. Their guest on the Mighty Parenting podcast, Dr. Eric Maisel, shares a different view on dealing with your teen’s behavior as well as the lessons we need for powerful communication with both our teen and family as a whole.
The conversation continues in Real Talk where Judy and Sandy deal with the crazy busyness of family life with teenagers. Having a good, working family calendar can help you to know where your kids are, when people will be available, and just stay connected, even with your twentysomethings after they move out. It can also lower your stress and create connection. Hear Judy and Sandy share a simple tool for managing the family calendar that won’t turn one parent into “the keeper of the box”.
A Favorite Quote from the Show:
When your child has a problem, it may not actually be that the child is the problem. It may be the people around them who have the problem and the child is responding to that.
High Points About Difficult Family Members:
Speak in shorter sentences when things really matter.Use the Powerful Period to keep a healthy dynamic in your family.
Create a clear sentence with the Powerful Period to reach your teen.
Putting a verbal question mark at the end of your sentences takes the power out of them.
When you use I statements and keep it to what you need, it takes the judgement out.
There are 8 skills parents need for dealing with difficult people, including being aware and present.
Speak assertively in sentences of 7 or fewer words creates powerful, clear communication.
If you put a kid not experiencing distress on a placebo the kid doesn’t change but the parents and the teachers will say they improved.
The mere fact that they’re getting treatment makes parents and teachers feel better about the situation even though nothing has changed.
More from our Guest Eric Maisel:
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Eric Maisel, PhD, is the author of more than fifty books including his latest, Overcoming Your Difficult Family. He has been quoted or featured in a variety of publications, including Martha Stewart Living, Redbook, Glamour, Men’s Health, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Self. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
To learn more or connect with our guest, visit EricMaisel.com or via his blog at Psychology Today “Rethinking Mental Health”
Get a copy of Eric’s book by clicking here.
About
Sandy Fowler is passionate about helping people live better lives. She uses the lessons she's learned in her parenting journey along with her extensive work in stress relief, wisdom of experts and the valuable stories of other families to help parents get real, relevant information about raising teens and parenting young adults in today's world.
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