Whether our teens are stumbling around or truly driven, they will run into obstacles. Oftentimes those obstacles stop them in their tracks and that can be frustrating for everyone. They feel defeated and we feel frustrated. So what can we do to help them eliminate excuses and overcome obstacles? Today’s guest, Summer Owens, knows exactly what to do. Having become a mother at 15 as the result of [...]
Seeing our kids struggle is heart breaking for parents. In fact, it can be one of the hardest things for parents to do. It’s why they jump in where they shouldn’t and do more for their kids than is healthy. Parents want to protect their kids, to simply wave a magic wand to give them a perfectly wonderful life. While there isn’t a magic wand, there are important lessons that give kids a leg [...]
We know anxiety rates are skyrocketing in teens, even the ones who seem to have it all together. But how do we impact that? How can we help them reduce their anxiety? Agency. This is the ability to exert power, to have control over our life. It turns out, feeling like we are in control of our life reduces anxiety. That’s the power of agency, feeling like we have control over our life. And [...]
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 [...]
We hear a lot about our children needing to be more resilient, better able to handle challenges and disappointments. One way a parent can help is to build self-confidence in your teenager. Self-confidence can help them take reasonable risks and reach for goals. It can change the way they see themselves and interact with the world. Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler interviews Dr. Melanie [...]
Every parent wants their teenager to be happy and that means we want them to dream and to dream big. But what happens when life gets in the way? When they experience failure, bullying, or obstacles? How can we still connect with them and support them? How can we inspire them? Former NFL football player Marc Megna has been there. He was raised by a single mom who struggled financially. He was an [...]
We hear a lot of frustrated and worried parents commenting on the way teenagers aren't handling disappointment or failure well. When life gets frustrating kids are folding or melting down. Not being able to buy the gadget they want, not getting the grade they want, not making the cut for the team, not achieving 1st chair in orchestra or not getting praise and adulation from their boss, teens and [...]
Every parent wonders what their child is thinking. In today's climate we also wonder what is weighing on their hearts and what is feeding their anxiety. Today we'll get an inside look at the teenage mind from people who listen to them regularly. Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler chats with Valerie Grison Alsop and Blanche Stora from Give Us the Floor (GUTF). At Give Us the Floor, teens [...]
Trying out for the theatre or a team. Being graded on a performance. Trying to make friends or ask someone out on a date. Teenagers face rejection and failure frequently and they may not have the skills to bounce back. It takes resilience which is something many teens and twenty somethings don’t have. Additionally, parents can actually hinder the process when they attempt to help. Stephen David [...]
Peer pressure, emotional challenges, and personality development are a few of the hallmarks of the teenage years. The difficulties are easier to navigate and teens make better choices when they know who they are and what's truly important to them. Cathy Lander-Goldberg shares strategies for helping teens navigate this path. She talks to Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler about finding your[...]