Connection and Communication Starting the Conversation about Vaping at Home November 11, 2025 / November 10, 2025 With so much happening in your teen’s day-to-day life — and your own — it’s easy for certain conversations to fall to the bottom of the list. Between school stress, friendships, and social media, there’s always something more urgent to handle. Even so, proactive, low-pressure conversations about things like vaping, stress, or peer pressure help build trust and normalize open communication. […] Read more
Connection and Communication Challenging Assumptions: Noticing the Stories We Tell Ourselves November 4, 2025 / October 31, 2025 Every adult carries ways of thinking that were shaped by how they were raised, the experiences they’ve had, and the messages they’ve gotten from their family, community and culture. These become the stories that we tell ourselves, and these are powerful. They hold lessons that helped you figure out who you are, navigate challenges, and […] Read more
Connection and Communication Coaching Teens through Peer Pressure October 21, 2025 / October 31, 2025 Peers are an important part of growing up. While trusted adults are some of your teens’ first guides in understanding the world, teens also learn a lot from their friends. Friends offer a kind of connection and understanding that can be hard for teens to feel with adults, even the ones they trust. Through these […] Read more
Connection and Communication Listening Without Judgment: How to Make Sure Your Teen Feels Heard October 14, 2025 / October 31, 2025 Think back to a time when you felt fully heard, not just because they were listening to you, but because you didn’t feel judged while you shared. Think about the ways that person showed you that they were listening: maybe they sat their phone down or turned to face you and gave you their full […] Read more
Adolescent Development Connection and Communication Raising Connected Teens: How Parents Can Support Healthy Friendships October 7, 2025 / October 31, 2025 Connection with others is at the center of your teen’s development. It’s through their relationships with others that they begin to discover who they are, what excites them, and what truly matters to them. While the bond they share with you and other safe adults is incredibly important, their connections with other teens are strongly […] Read more
Connection and Communication Helping Teens Through Big Feelings September 23, 2025 / October 31, 2025 Everyone spends a lifetime learning how to handle complex emotions, control impulses, and make responsible decisions. Your teen is no different! They can benefit from support and guidance as they learn these essential social and emotional skills. Handling big feelings like anger, shame, anxiety, or grief is hard, and as a trusted adult, you can […] Read more
Connection and Communication Validation 101 September 16, 2025 / October 31, 2025 When your teenager is dealing with something difficult, it can be natural to jump into fixing their problem to help and support them. But suggesting a solution without their permission sometimes makes it look like you don’t value what your teenager is going through. Most teens just want someone safe who accepts their feelings. To […] Read more
Connection and Communication Why Teens Push Boundaries (and Why That’s Not Always a Bad Thing!) September 9, 2025 / October 31, 2025 Most teens don’t follow the rules all the time: they test them and sometimes they completely ignore them. This can feel frustrating or disrespectful, but boundary-pushing isn’t just normal for teens. It’s a necessary part of development. Adolescence is a period for teens to figure out what they believe, what matters to them, and how […] Read more
Connection and Communication Respecting Your Teen’s Need for Independence September 2, 2025 / October 31, 2025 If you’re reading this blog, chances are you know what it feels like to bump heads with a teenager you care about– even over little things you thought weren’t a big deal. When your teen doesn’t follow through on a task or pushes back about what they’re wearing, it may represent more to them than […] Read more
Connection and Communication What is a trusted adult? August 12, 2025 / October 31, 2025 Whether you’re a parent, older sibling, teacher, coach, family friend, or mentor, chances are there’s at least one teenager in your life you care deeply about. No matter what your role is, you’ve probably wondered at some point: Do they trust me? How do they really feel about our relationship? What can I do to […] Read more
