To be honest, I’ve had a difficult time connecting with my boys. At times, I’ve wondered, and you may have, too, “Is anything connecting?” On top of that, my teen son recently told me that I don’t understand him. I know so many of you are right there, too. That’s why we’re talking about it. 

David Thomas, the Executive Director of Daystar Counseling is joining the conversation to  help us make sense of tween and teen boys. (I have cried tears of joy and relief since talking with him!) 

This is the first of two episodes in which we’ll discuss what’s happening in the boy brain, their different stages of development, how we can best support them, and why we need to extend their runway to age 25. 

David also hilariously explains what happens to their collective IQ when a group of adolescent boys gets together and why they only seem to open up at night. (It’s a thing!)

This conversation is setting up next week’s episode, in which we will answer all your questions about tween and teen boys in an insightful Q&A with David. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(00:00 - 00:26) Developmental Differences in Adolescence

(01:32 - 03:15) Understanding Tween and Teen Boys

(09:23 - 10:59) Parenting Through Adolescent Development

(14:20 - 15:25) Understanding Adolescents Through the Enneagram

(19:15 - 20:20) Boys, Pornography, and Parental Supervision

(21:29 - 22:28) Stages of Adolescent Development

(28:51 - 30:16) Navigating Motherhood With Steadiness and Support

SUMMARY:

In this episode, we discuss how to communicate with tween and teen boys in a nonthreatening way, the developmental differences between boys and girls, how we can best support and nurture our boys' unique wiring, why ages 13-15 are so tough for teen boys and their parents and hope for the future of our relationships with our sons. 

LINKS:

CONNECT WITH DAVID: 

https://www.daystarcounseling.com/

FOLLOW DAVID/DAYSTAR ON INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/raisingboysandgirls/

DAVID’S BOOK WILD THINGS:

https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Things-Art-Nurturing-Boys/dp/1414322275

LINK TO PAULA’S NEWSLETTER

https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter

FOLLOW PAULA ON INSTAGRAM  

https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en

LINK TO CARRY’S NEWSLETTER 

https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/

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