Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens

Happy New Year! I’m embracing the energy of being a deliberate creator, focusing on growth and learning. A listener shared a challenge about their 13-year-old son lying about screen time. While the lie was minor, the parents were troubled by how easily it was told. I encouraged them to approach this with curiosity and love, not punishment. Share disappointment without shaming, revisit agreements, and emphasize that mistakes are opportunities to learn. Trust and honesty grow through connection and communication, not fear or control. Parenting is messy, but every challenge is a chance to grow together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is our early childhood lead, Julietta Skoog, and we’re wrapping up the year talking about screentime & tech. Julietta shares the screen agreements she’s created with her children. We discuss how to help our teens develop a sense of self-awareness around their screen use & why they need opportunities to practice. We talk about how to know when screentime is getting problematic & building trust with your adolescent around screen usage. See more show notes, resources and info about our sponsors at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/539-talking-about-screens-again-with-julietta-skoog/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week I dig into a parent's struggle with their 16-year-old son's "know-it-all" behavior, which disrupts communication and creates tension. I encourage the parent to reframe their challenge, offer tools and strategies for generating more compassion, curiosity, and emotional honesty and remind them that building connection, using humor, and fostering mutual respect can improve the relationship while navigating this challenging developmental phase. Listen in and let me know what you think!Find more show notes and more about our sponsors at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/ eps-538-decoding-the-know-it-all-teen-connection-compassion-curiosity/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Dr. Lori Baudino and we’re talking about youth mental health. We chat about teaming up with your child - it’s you & your teen against a challenge, not each other. Dr. Baudino shares ways to find predictability in the bumpy teen years and her “Person, Place, Plan” strategy. We talk about toddler/teen parallels and share some ways to connect with your adolescent.  Takeaways from the show The interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit  Observing how your adolescent moves through the world and knowing their coping mechanisms & sensory profile  DANCE = differentiate, attach, narrate, consciousness, empathic engagement  Thoughtfully bringing lightness to your relationship  “Person, Place, & Plan” strategy  Your teen wants to be in relationship with you  When coping skills are (or seem) destructive  Teen years are messy for all families - it’s the terrain  Introducing some gray to an adolescent stuck in a black & white mindset  Dr. Baudino’s new book: Moving Moments in Childhood For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This insightful conversation dives into the challenges of parenting teens and navigating seasonal pressures. Self-care takes center stage as listeners learn to prioritize health check-ups, movement, and nourishing foods. Personal reflections on coping habits create a deeper understanding of emotional well-being. Tips on mindfulness and community support inspire a proactive approach to life's ebbs and flows. Humor and gratitude wrap up the discussion, reminding everyone that taking care of oneself is essential for enjoying life's journey.

My guests today are Julietta Skoog and Dr. Shefali, and we’re talking about presence and connection during the holiday season. My focus is on identifying the feelings & emotions that come up during the holidays, and I share several breathing & grounding exercises. Julietta shares how she stays connected to & involves her children during the holidays, modeling life skills, & tips around play and pre-teaching. Dr. Shefali speaks on why she doesn’t add the traditional “holiday season” to her plate and why to choose simplicity & minimalism. Takeaways from the show Presence and connection with ourselves, our kids, and other relationships this holiday season Identifying the feelings, emotions, & physical sensations that come up for you during the holidays  Identifying the qualities you want during the holidays  E (events & experiences) + R (responses & reactions) = O (affect the outcome)  Reframing the intensity of the season as opportunities to model & connect - “I have to” versus “we get to”  3 P’s of the holiday season = play, practice, & pre-teaching Leaning on routines during the holidays  The good & bad of holiday traditions and creating new traditions  “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou  Holidays are optional; you have choices around what you do  “It’s about the moment, not about the holiday”  Choosing simplicity, calmness, & mindfulness over traditions & extras For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I address a common frustration among parents: feeling disconnected from teens who seem unwilling to engage. I guide listeners to reframe their approach, shifting from “Why won’t my teen connect?” to “What’s blocking our connection?” By owning our actions, reflecting on how we show up, and dismantling barriers, we open new possibilities for nurturing relationships. I suggest tools like vulnerability, authentic apologies, and building proximity to our teens’ lives. Letting go of hurt and resentment, while embracing personal growth, fosters patience and trust. Connection takes time, but showing up consistently with curiosity and compassion makes a difference.For more show notes and to get more info about our sponsors, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-534-creating-special-time-with-our-teenagers/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Cathy Adams. We’re talking about engaging in those hard, honest conversations with our teen girls. Cathy and I dig into the messiness of the teen years. We discuss the importance of focusing on resiliency, not happiness, what is happening to Gen Z girls today, and why we need to appreciate the girls we have.  Guest DescriptionCathy Cassani Adams, LCSW, co-hosts the long-running Zen Parenting Radio podcast and founded the Zen Parenting Conference in Chicago. She is the author of Zen Parenting and Living What You Want Your Kids to Learn (both Nautilus Award and International Book Award winners) and her upcoming 2025 release, Restoring Our Girls. Cathy is a clinical social worker, certified parent coach, former elementary school educator, and yoga teacher. She was a blogger for The Huffington Post and a former columnist for Chicago Parent Magazine. She previously worked as a Child and Family Therapist and Clinical Educator at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and now teaches in the Sociology and Criminology Department at Dominican University. She lives outside Chicago with her husband, Todd, and their three daughters.Takeaways from the show Cathy’s new book “Restoring Our Girls”  Adolescent girls’ mental health  Expectations & contradictions young women face  The messiness of the teen years doesn’t make them bad years  Your teenage experience is NOT the experience that teens today are having  Engaging in conversations instead of lecturing  The importance of teaching critical thinking Why we need adolescent girls to take risks  The meaning and joy of mother & daughter relationships  Adolescents developing their unique inner dialogue  For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s pod, I reflected on the inspiring work of Dr. Baxley and Dani Ferrigno. Their mission aligns with Sproutable’s core values: fostering dignity, respect, and compassion while equipping parents with tools grounded in Positive Discipline. I also addressed a parent’s concern about their discouraged teen grappling with school and existential doubts about capitalism. Teens often feel overwhelmed by systemic flaws, but this can be an opportunity to connect and explore solutions together. I encouraged parents to validate their kids’ feelings, stay curious, and model engagement with societal challenges while fostering empowerment. Ultimately, parenting is messy, and there are no perfect answers. But by staying compassionate, curious, and open, we can guide our kids through challenges and learn from their fresh perspectives. You’ve got this! Let’s keep showing up for our teens and ourselves.Find all the show notes and info about our sponsors at: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-532-moving-through-existential-crisis-and-adolescence/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guests today are Dr. Traci Baxley and Dani Ferrigno. We’re talking about Blue Mom+ Group, their response to the recent elections. Dr. Baxley and Dani give suggestions about small, tangible actions people can take. We discuss talking to our teenagers about the election results, leaning into local & personal causes, and staying hopeful. For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices