In this episode of Your Parent Coach, I’m talking about one of the most powerful shifts you can make in your parenting, moving from criticism and control to collaboration and curiosity.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Why won’t they just listen?” or “Why isn’t what I’ve taught them working anymore?” — this episode is for you. I dive into what’s really going on inside your teen’s developing brain and why pushing harder often backfires.

I’ll share practical examples and simple scripts to help you replace power struggles with real conversations. You’ll learn how to invite your teen into the process, build trust, and guide them through those tricky moments, without losing your boundaries or your cool.

You’ll discover:

• Why criticism often feels like control to your teen (even when it’s coming from love).
• How collaboration helps your teen feel safe, seen, and heard.
• Language shifts that instantly change the tone of your conversations (like replacing “but” with “and”).
• The question I want you to ask yourself in every challenging moment: “What would collaboration look like here?”

Collaboration is one of the key pillars of The Curious Parenting Method™, and in this episode, I’ll show you how this approach not only transforms communication with your teen but also strengthens your long-term relationship built on trust, respect, and connection.

Because parenting teens isn’t about being the boss — it’s about being their guide, their leader, and their safe place to land.

Key Takeaways:

• Criticism creates defence; collaboration creates safety.
• Teens are wired for independence, our job is to guide, not control.
• Curiosity builds bridges where criticism builds walls.
• When you stay curious, you open doors instead of closing them.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with me on Instagram: @melwhiteparentcoach
• Learn more at www.melwhiteparentcoach.com

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