Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined for Today's Complex World

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#ParentingTeens

#TeenMentalHealth

#DigitalWellbeing

#DrSajitaSetia

#ScreenTimeForTeens

#SocialMediaAndTeens

In this powerful episode of Parenting Teens Advice Redefined, Cheryl sits down with Dr. Sajita Setia, physician, digital well-being researcher, and evidence-based educator, for a much-needed conversation about raising teenagers in a world shaped by screens, algorithms, social media, and AI.

Parents today are navigating a reality none of us grew up in. Teens are building friendships online, forming identity through digital spaces, and living in a world where their nervous systems rarely get a break. So how do parents protect their teens without pushing them away? How do we guide without controlling? And how do we create homes that feel calm, connected, and grounded in a world that never seems to turn off?

Dr. Sajita breaks down what digital well-being actually means in real life, not just in theory. She shares practical, evidence-based strategies to help families reduce harm, improve sleep, protect mental health, strengthen connection, and create healthier relationships with technology.

Cheryl and Dr. Sajita explore the emotional pull of screens, the dopamine-driven design of social media and online gaming, the risks of emotional dependency on AI, and the importance of teaching teens digital boundaries before problems escalate. They also talk about why connection is the most powerful protection parents can offer.

This episode is full of honest insight, compassionate truth, and practical tools every parent needs right now.

• What digital well-being means for teens and families
• How screens and algorithms affect teen mental health and nervous systems
• Why the old advice about screen time hours is outdated
• How to set phone and device boundaries without hovering
• Why no phones in the bedroom is one of the most important family rules
• The connection between dopamine, social media, online gaming, and compulsive screen use
• How to help teens build healthier offline sources of reward and belonging
• Why delaying smartphones and social media can matter
• The dangers of sharenting and posting children online
• How AI is shaping teen life in both helpful and harmful ways
• Why emotional reliance on AI can interfere with healthy development
• The importance of digital detox, digital sunsets, and better sleep habits
• How online predators and manipulative digital spaces can target vulnerable children
• Why parent-child connection remains the strongest form of protection

The answer is not fear, shame, or total control. The answer is connection, curiosity, boundaries, and intentional parenting in a digital world.

Website: https://sajitasetia.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drsajitasetia/

Be sure to check the show notes and episode description for Dr. Sajita’s website and social platforms, where she shares education and tools for parents raising teens in today’s digital world.

Cheryl Pankhurst is an educational strategist, family advocate, speaker, published author, and founder of Insight to Impact. She helps families navigate school challenges, diagnoses, IEPs, transitions, and teen advocacy with clarity and confidence.

Visit CherylPankhurst.com to learn more about consulting and her 90-day advocacy program.

Connect with Cheryl!

Let’s Chat https://tidycal.com/cherylpankhurst/consultation-chat

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PODCAST- “PARENTING TEENS ADVICE REDEFINED FOR TODAY’S WORLD

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Do your teenagers understand where money comes from, how credit cards work, or what happens when they spend more than they have?

If you're like many parents, you might find that teaching your kids about money is easier said than done. And if you grew up in a household where money was rarely discussed, you may not feel particularly confident having those conversations yourself.

In this episode of Parenting Teens Advice Redefined for Today's World, I'm joined by Deborah Rechnitz, also known as Grandma Deb, who has spent more than 40 years advising business owners across four continents. Today, she's on a mission to improve financial literacy for the next generation.

We talk about why financial education needs to start at home, why children need opportunities to make their own financial decisions, and how parents can prepare teenagers for the financial responsibilities of adulthood.

And here's something important: You don't have to be a financial expert to teach your children about money. You probably know more than you think.

• Why so many parents struggle to talk to their children about money.
• How growing up in households where money was never discussed affects the next generation.
• When to start teaching children about money and how financial lessons change with age.
• Why digital payments and tap-and-go transactions make money seem like it's unlimited.
• Allowance, chores and helping teenagers understand the connection between earning and spending.
• Why allowing teenagers to make small financial mistakes can prevent much bigger mistakes later.
• How to introduce budgeting, saving and spending without turning every conversation into a lecture.
• Why parents should let teenagers see how household bills, paycheques and everyday expenses actually work.
• Whether teenagers should have their own bank accounts and debit cards.
• Why introducing credit cards earlier, with parental supervision, can help teenagers learn financial responsibility.
• What every teenager should understand about banking, credit, loans and investing before leaving home.
• How to talk about money even when you haven't always felt confident managing it yourself.

You don't have to teach your teenager everything about money overnight.

Start by involving them in everyday financial decisions. Let them see what things cost, talk about how money is earned and spent, and give them opportunities to manage their own money.

Most importantly, allow them to make smaller mistakes while you're still there to help them learn.

Because the goal isn't simply to raise teenagers who know how to spend money. It's to raise young adults who understand financial responsibility, decision-making and independence.

Deborah Rechnitz has spent more than four decades advising business owners across four continents. She is now bringing her experience and passion for financial education to children and families through her Kids and Money mission.

She is also the author of children's books designed to introduce financial literacy through storytelling.

Her book Adventures Under the Money Tree follows Billy as he learns about earning, saving, spending, debit cards, credit cards and the financial decisions that come with growing up.

Find Deborah and explore her children's financial literacy books:

Paperback https://www.amazon.com/Billy-Sweet-Surprise-Money-wisely/dp/B0FK3SHRWY

Hardcover special discount https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=EhYpsCkQ3Pw4wkMeZ8oekpXKjR9HgHlZCubaMz8IUbp

I'm Cheryl Pankhurst, Educational Strategist and Family Advocate. After more than 25 years working in education and special education, I help parents navigate the challenges of raising teenagers, advocate within the school system and build stronger connections at home.

If your teenager is struggling at school, navigating a diagnosis, or you need support understanding assessments, IEPs or school advocacy, visit:

https://www.cherylpankhurst.com

Subscribe, follow, leave a review and share this episode with another parent. These conversations matter, and sharing them helps more families find the support and information they need.

Parenting Teens Advice Redefined for Today's World – Real conversations. Practical insight. Stronger connections.

Parenting teens can feel like a constant power struggle, and most moms are stuck obsessing over behavior they can’t control. In this episode, certified life coach and mom of four Emily Ricks (host of the Think New Thoughts podcast) explains how to set limits with your teenager without nagging, yelling, arguing, or punishing. You’ll learn why control is an illusion, how curiosity beats lectures, and how to let your teen own their decisions while you stay connected.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why teens “do it on purpose” and how to respond without giving them a reaction
• Why “choosing a hill to die on” creates conflict and resentment
• How to ask curious questions when your teen makes choices that clash with your values
• What to say when your teen makes a big mistake (instead of “I told you so”)
• How to stop helicoptering and let natural consequences build confidence
• The OOPS framework: why “that’s not a boundary” (Obsess, Overlook, Program the remote control, Speak in anger)
• The AIMS framework for joyful boundaries (Allow, I respect you either way, My actions are the focus, Speak calmly)
• How to stop parenting from fear of what other people think
• Why boundaries are for you, not for controlling your teen

Featured guest: Emily Ricks, certified life coach for moms and host of Think New Thoughts. Free resource mentioned: “The Three Shifts That Change Everything,” a guide for moms who want to enjoy their kids again (link in show notes).

Key takeaway: You can’t control your teenager, but you can set clear limits with your own actions, speak calmly, and build the lifelong relationship you want.

Work with Cheryl: Educational consulting and the 90-day advocacy program at CherylPankhurst.com. Book a complimentary consultation.

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other parents find the show.

#ParentingTeens #ParentingTeenagers #TeenParenting #ParentingAdvice #ParentingPodcast

YOUR GIFT- GUIDE FOR GRADE 8 TO GRADE 9 IEP TRANSITIONS

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Connect with Cheryl!

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Daring to Belong: Autism Stories of Courage and Connection

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PODCAST- “PARENTING TEENS ADVICE REDEFINED FOR TODAY’S WORLD

THE PODCAST

https://open.spotify.com/show/4QwFMJMDDSEXJb451pCHO9?si=9c1a298387c84e13

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYv9FQy1X43wwoYg0zF8zAJw6-nCpHMAk&si=7p-e4UlU2rsG3j_t

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Parenting Teens Advice Redefined

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#ParentingTeens #NeurodivergentTeens #ADHDParenting #ADHDMedication #NeurodivergentParenting

If you’re parenting a neurodivergent teenager and struggling with questions about ADHD medication, diagnosis, anxiety, school supports, or what your teen actually needs, this conversation is for you.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Lisa Richer, we take a deeper look at one of the most emotionally charged decisions parents of neurodivergent kids can face: medication.

But this episode isn’t about telling you whether medication is right or wrong.

It’s about helping you make decisions from a place of information, curiosity and connection rather than fear, shame or pressure.

Lisa and I talk openly about our own experiences with ADHD, parenting neurodivergent children, diagnosis, medication and the importance of looking at the whole child—not just the most obvious behaviour or diagnosis.

One of the biggest takeaways?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting a neurodivergent teen.

What works beautifully for one child may not be appropriate for another.

And sometimes what looks like ADHD, anxiety, defiance, lack of motivation or poor behaviour may actually be connected to an underlying learning difference, communication challenge, sensory need or another unmet need.

• How parents can think differently about ADHD medication for teens
• Why medication decisions shouldn’t be made from fear, guilt or outside pressure
• The importance of combining medication with appropriate interventions, tools and supports
• Why a diagnosis should inform your understanding of your teen—not define them
• How anxiety, ADHD and other neurodivergent differences can interact
• Why parents need to look beyond the most obvious diagnosis
• The importance of understanding the whole child
• How learning differences can affect confidence, anxiety, regulation and school success
• Why behaviour is communication
• How to build a support team for your neurodivergent teen
• The roles that educators, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, advocates and other professionals can play
• Why parents should trust their instincts while also seeking professional guidance
• How parents can move from “I failed my child” to “What do we know now, and what is the next step?”
• Why asking for help is a strength—not a failure
• How parents can model self-advocacy for their teenagers

You don't have to choose between “medication” and “no medication.”

The bigger question is:

What does my teen need, and what combination of supports will help them understand themselves, function more effectively and become a stronger self-advocate?

As Lisa says, we don't know what we don't know.

Sometimes the missing piece is another assessment.

Sometimes it's a school support.

Sometimes it's a different intervention.

Sometimes it's medication.

And sometimes it's bringing the right people together to finally see the complete picture.

If you're thinking:

“Something isn't working, but I don't know what we're missing.”

You're not alone.

You don't have to figure it out by yourself.

The goal isn't to find the perfect parenting strategy or make the perfect decision every time.

The goal is to stay curious, keep learning, ask better questions and make informed decisions based on your teenager's unique needs.

Lisa Richer is a Neurodivergent Success Partner and Advocate who helps transform “stuck” into success for students, athletes, parents, professionals and families.

Through her Clarity, Confidence, Courage Journey Map, Lisa helps clients navigate internal, relational and systemic roadblocks while connecting them with the tools, resources and people they need to move forward.

I'm Cheryl Pankhurst, an Educational Strategist, Family Advocate and School Navigation Consultant with more than 25 years of experience supporting teenagers and their families.

I help parents navigate:

• Neurodivergent diagnoses
• School challenges
• IEPs and accommodations
• Assessments
• High school transitions
• Advocacy meetings
• Building effective support teams

If your teen is struggling at school, you've received a new diagnosis, or you're wondering what to do next, you don't have to navigate it alone.

Visit CherylPankhurst.com to learn more and book a complimentary consultation.

If this episode helped you understand your neurodivergent teen differently, please:

⭐ Follow the podcast

⭐ Leave a review

⭐ Share this episode with another parent of a neurodivergent teen

Because sometimes the conversation a parent needs is the one they didn't even know they needed to have.

#ParentingADHD #ADHDTeens #AutismParenting #TeenMentalHealth #SpecialEducation #ParentAdvocacy #SchoolAdvocacy #Neurodiversity #ADHDSupport #ParentingNeurodivergentKids #IEPAdvocacy #TeenADHD #NeurodivergentFamilies #EducationalAdvocate #ParentingSupport

YOUR GIFT- GUIDE FOR GRADE 8 TO GRADE 9 IEP TRANSITIONS

https://www.cherylpankhurst.com/iep-high-school-transition-parent-quick-guide

Let’s Chat https://tidycal.com/cherylpankhurst/consultation-chat

Connect with Cheryl!

Get the book here!

Daring to Belong: Autism Stories of Courage and Connection

DIRECT LINK TO COACHING WITH CHERYL

 email : [email protected] 

Website  cherylpankhurst.com

SOCIALS:

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PODCAST- “PARENTING TEENS ADVICE REDEFINED FOR TODAY’S WORLD

THE PODCAST

https://open.spotify.com/show/4QwFMJMDDSEXJb451pCHO9?si=9c1a298387c84e13

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYv9FQy1X43wwoYg0zF8zAJw6-nCpHMAk&si=7p-e4UlU2rsG3j_t

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Parenting Teens Advice Redefined

Episode 200: Celebrating 3 Years, 200 Episodes, and the Truth About “I Don’t Know”

Welcome to a very special solo episode of Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined for Today’s World! Three years to the day since Episode 1 dropped (on her son’s birthday, October 13th), your host is celebrating a massive milestone with a raw, honest, and fired-up message for anyone sitting on a dream, a decision, or a hard conversation they keep avoiding.

In this episode:

• Why this podcast has been the joy of her life, and the 180+ guests who became friends
• A heartfelt thank-you to her editor (and daughter) Gabby, who dared her to start in the first place
• Why we’re parenting in “uncharted territory” with social media, AI, devices, and a post-pandemic world
• The real reason she keeps saying “it’s not them, it’s you,” and why it’s not a judgment, it’s handing your power back
• Why you KNOW what your next step is, and why “I don’t know” is often fear in disguise
• The hard truth: sitting in the in-between is 1000% harder than making the leap
• How she went from terrified of public speaking to comfortable on camera, once helping people mattered more than her own nerves
• Why your story could be the thing a parent is Googling at midnight
• What she wishes she knew: you can’t negotiate with a red flag, trust your first gut instinct, and you don’t have to know everything to start
• Big announcement: She’s writing a book of real, heart-led stories on autism, drawn from the experts and guests who’ve appeared on the show

Key takeaways:

• You don’t need to know every step, only the next one.
• Your story is someone else’s lifeline.
• Community means hearing each other out, even when we disagree.

Your challenge this week: Name the one thing you’ve been brushing off. Then take one next step. She wants to hear about it!

Connect with us:

• Want to be a guest? Reach out!

YOUR GIFT- GUIDE FOR GRADE 8 TO GRADE 9 IEP TRANSITIONS

https://www.cherylpankhurst.com/iep-high-school-transition-parent-quick-guide

Let’s Chat https://tidycal.com/cherylpankhurst/consultation-chat

http://cherylpankhurst.com

Connect with Cheryl!

Get the book here!

Daring to Belong: Autism Stories of Courage and Connection

DIRECT LINK TO COACHING WITH CHERYL

 email : [email protected] 

Website  cherylpankhurst.com

SOCIALS:

My Substack

linkedin.com/in/l. R.cheryl-ann-pankhurst-1b611855

https://www.instagram.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst/                       https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst

PODCAST- “PARENTING TEENS ADVICE REDEFINED FOR TODAY’S WORLD

THE PODCAST

https://open.spotify.com/show/4QwFMJMDDSEXJb451pCHO9?si=9c1a298387c84e13

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYv9FQy1X43wwoYg0zF8zAJw6-nCpHMAk&si=7p-e4UlU2rsG3j_t

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Parenting Teens Advice Redefined

• Share this episode with someone who needs a push
• Tune in Fridays for the solo “WTF: Welcome to Friday” episodes

If this episode moved you, please leave a rating and review. It helps other parents find the show!

#ParentingTeens #ParentingPodcast #TeenParenting #PodcastMilestone #200Episodes

#ParentingAdvice #RaisingTeens #ParentingTeenagers #MomsOfTeens #DadsOfTeens #ParentingSupport #ParentingCommunity #ParentCoach

#TakeTheLeap #TrustYourGut #FollowYourDreams #StopPlayingSmall #MotivationMonday #BuildYourWingsOnTheWayDown #NextStep #YouKnowWhatToDo

Is gentle parenting actually helping our teenagers develop resilience, or are we sometimes taking it too far?

Welcome to WTF Friday on Parenting Teens Advice Redefined for Today's World — where we have the honest conversations about parenting teenagers that don't always fit neatly into a parenting book.

In this episode, I'm questioning what happens when gentle parenting moves from acknowledging our teenagers' feelings to allowing those feelings to dictate our parenting decisions.

Many parents grew up hearing things like, “You're to be seen and not heard,” or “I'll give you something to cry about.” Understandably, they want something different for their own children. They want their teens to feel heard, understood, and supported.

But what happens when we swing so far in the opposite direction that we start removing boundaries, fighting our teenagers' battles, or trying to protect them from every disappointment?

As parents of teenagers, we need to understand the difference between validating our teen's emotions and changing our decisions because they're upset.

In this candid Friday conversation, I explore:

• Gentle parenting and teenagers: Why some parents have embraced this approach and where I believe it can go wrong.
• Validating feelings without giving in: How to acknowledge anger, disappointment, and frustration without abandoning a reasonable boundary.
• Teenagers and consequences: What happens when a teen fails a course without doing the work — and why rescuing them from every consequence isn't necessarily helping.
• Overprotective parenting: When stepping in to solve our teens' problems may prevent them from learning to manage difficult situations themselves.
• Building resilience in teenagers: Why our teens need opportunities to experience disappointment, frustration, and challenges while knowing we're in their corner.
• Parenting boundaries: How to hold a decision even when your teenager is unhappy with it.
• Raising confident, capable teens: The power of communicating, “I know this is hard, and I have faith that you can handle it.”

My message isn't that our teenagers' feelings don't matter. They absolutely do. It's that their feelings can be valid without every feeling requiring us to change the rules, fix the problem, or make the disappointment disappear.

Our job isn't to make our teenagers' lives free of frustration. It's to help them develop the confidence and skills to navigate life when things don't go their way.

And sometimes, one of the most powerful things we can tell our teens is this: “I know it sucks. And I believe you can handle it.”

Let's talk: Has gentle parenting gone too far, or are we simply learning to parent differently from the generations before us? Where do you draw the line between validating your teenager's feelings and holding a boundary?

Share your thoughts. I genuinely want to hear this conversation.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and join the conversation on Parenting Teens Advice Redefined for Today's World.

YOUR GIFT- GUIDE FOR GRADE 8 TO GRADE 9 IEP TRANSITIONS

https://www.cherylpankhurst.com/iep-high-school-transition-parent-quick-guide

Let’s Chat https://tidycal.com/cherylpankhurst/consultation-chat

http://cherylpankhurst.com

Connect with Cheryl!

Get the book here!

Daring to Belong: Autism Stories of Courage and Connection

DIRECT LINK TO COACHING WITH CHERYL

 email : [email protected] 

Website  cherylpankhurst.com

SOCIALS:

My Substack

linkedin.com/in/l. R.cheryl-ann-pankhurst-1b611855

https://www.instagram.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst/                       https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst

PODCAST- “PARENTING TEENS ADVICE REDEFINED FOR TODAY’S WORLD

THE PODCAST

https://open.spotify.com/show/4QwFMJMDDSEXJb451pCHO9?si=9c1a298387c84e13

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYv9FQy1X43wwoYg0zF8zAJw6-nCpHMAk&si=7p-e4UlU2rsG3j_t

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Parenting Teens Advice Redefined

What if one of the biggest things standing between our teenagers and independence… is us?

In this no-filter conversation, Cheryl sits down with Michael Scheller, founder of Astute Academics and an educational consultant with more than 15 years of experience working with students and families.

And fair warning: this conversation goes everywhere.

From phones and social media to AI, academic pressure, gentle parenting, failure, accountability, resilience and the uncomfortable truth that sometimes our teenagers need us to step back rather than step in.

Michael and Cheryl don't agree on everything—and that's exactly what makes this conversation so good.

Because parenting teenagers isn't about finding the one "right" answer.

It's about being willing to question what we're doing, examine our own values, and ask:

Are we actually preparing our kids for adulthood—or are we making their lives so manageable that they never get the chance to manage them themselves?

• Why teenagers need opportunities to fail, struggle and figure things out
• Whether we're protecting our kids from discomfort at the expense of resilience
• The difference between acknowledging your teen's feelings and letting their feelings dictate the outcome
• Why accountability is a skill teenagers need to practice—not something we can simply demand
• Cell phones, social media and how much access teenagers really need
• The importance of parents deciding their own technology values instead of looking outside themselves for validation
• How excessive screen time may be affecting learning, attention and independence
• Why reading still matters in an increasingly digital world
• AI and teenagers: when it can support learning and when it simply does the thinking for them
• Why using AI to write your teen's paper may solve today's problem while creating a much bigger problem tomorrow
• The difference between using AI as a collaborator and pressure tester versus using it as a replacement for thinking
• Why parents need to stop rescuing their teenagers from every uncomfortable consequence
• What sports, competition and losing can teach teenagers about resilience
• Why "everybody gets a trophy" can sometimes rob kids of the opportunity to experience disappointment
• The importance of parents modeling accountability by saying "I was wrong. I'm sorry."
• Why apologizing to your teenager isn't weakness—it's leadership
• How parents can teach their kids to disagree without needing to prove the other person wrong
• Why we need to raise teenagers who can think, question, communicate and solve problems, not simply get the answer

You can have your teen's back without carrying them.

You can acknowledge that something is hard without removing the hard thing.

You can say:

"That sucks. I know you're disappointed. And I'm still not fixing it for you."

Because sometimes the most powerful message we can give our teenagers is:

"I know you can handle this. And I'm not going to take that opportunity away from you."

Michael Scheller is the founder of Astute Academics and an educational consultant who has spent more than 15 years working with students and families. His work focuses on academics, educational strategy, student development and helping families navigate the increasingly complicated world of education.

Michael can be reached through LinkedIn or at Astute Academics.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-scheller-994b53a5/

Cheryl Pankhurst is an Educational Strategist & Family Advocate with more than 25 years of experience in education, including extensive experience supporting teenagers with learning differences, ADHD, autism, anxiety and other educational needs.

Through Insight to Impact, Cheryl helps parents understand the school system, interpret assessments, navigate IEPs and school meetings, advocate effectively, and support their teenagers without taking over.

Learn more and connect with Cheryl at CherylPankhurst.com.

If your teen is struggling at school, navigating a new diagnosis, or you need help figuring out what to do next, Cheryl offers educational consulting and 90-day advocacy support.

Follow or subscribe to Parenting Teens Advice Redefined for Today's World, share this episode with another parent, and leave a review.

And remember:

You are not failing because you don't have all the answers. You're a parent who is still trying to figure it out.

You don't have to do this alone.

Parenting Teens Advice Redefined for Today’s World with Cheryl Pankhurst

What happens when your child receives an ADHD or autism diagnosis—and suddenly the future you imagined for your family feels uncertain?

In this deeply honest conversation, Cheryl Pankhurst talks with Nadia Patel, high-performance identity coach, speaker, and mother of two neurodivergent children, about the emotional side of parenting that doesn't get talked about enough.

Because a diagnosis doesn't just change what you understand about your child.

Sometimes, it changes how you see yourself.

Nadia shares her personal journey through parenting ADHD and autism, including the shock of diagnosis, parental grief, burnout, fear about the future, financial and family pressures, and the realization that she needed to work on her own emotional regulation before she could fully support her children.

And this conversation gets real.

We talk about the thoughts parents may be afraid to admit: What does this mean for my child's future? What does this mean for my career? What will this do to our marriage? Will our family ever feel normal again?

Those thoughts don't make you a bad parent.

They make you human.

But what we do with those thoughts matters.

Nadia explains how shifting her own identity changed the way she experienced her son's autism and ADHD—and how she moved from seeing the challenges as something that was bigger than her to becoming someone who could hold both her family and the life she still wanted to create.

Cheryl and Nadia also discuss why parents need to be careful about spending too much time in online parenting groups, consuming worst-case scenarios about autism and ADHD, and worrying about problems that may never happen.

For parents of neurodivergent children and teens, this episode is a reminder that your child's diagnosis is not the end of their story—and it doesn't have to be the end of yours either.

• What parents may experience emotionally after an ADHD or autism diagnosis
• The grief that can accompany a diagnosis—and why talking about it doesn't mean you don't accept your child
• The difference between accepting your child and worrying about how the world will treat them
• Parenting burnout and why parental regulation matters
• How a parent's internal view of their child can influence the way that child experiences themselves
• The identity shift that can happen when you're parenting a neurodivergent child
• ADHD and autism parenting challenges
• How parents can hold space for their child's needs without putting their own dreams and identity on hold
• Finding practical support when you're overwhelmed
• Why asking for help is not failure
• The impact of neurodivergence on siblings, marriage, finances and family life
• Why online parenting communities can sometimes increase anxiety instead of reducing it
• The importance of staying grounded in the present instead of constantly worrying about your child's future
• Why your child's diagnosis does not mean you have to abandon the life you want

If you've ever thought, “I don't know how we're going to do this,” you're not alone.

And if you've had thoughts or feelings that you don't feel comfortable admitting out loud, that doesn't automatically make you a bad parent.

You may simply need somewhere safe to process what you're carrying.

As Nadia says, getting support for yourself can be one of the most important things you do for your child.

And Cheryl's reminder throughout this podcast is simple:

It's not them. It's you—and that's where the magic happens.

Not because your teen or child is the problem.

Because sometimes changing the way we understand ourselves, our children and the situation we're facing changes everything.

Nadia Patel is a high-performance identity coach, speaker and mother of two neurodivergent children. Her work focuses on identity, self-belief, confidence and the internal shifts that can help people create meaningful change in their careers, relationships, businesses and lives.

Find Nadia at nadiapatelcoaching.com.

Cheryl Pankhurst is an Educational Strategist and Family Advocate with more than 25 years of experience supporting teenagers, families and schools. Her work includes neurodivergent teens, ADHD, autism, psycho-educational assessments, IEPs, school advocacy and the transition through high school.

If your teenager is struggling at school, you've received a new diagnosis, you're trying to understand an assessment, or you need help navigating the school system, visit CherylPankhurst.com.

#NeurodivergentParenting #ADHDParenting #AutismParenting #ParentingTeens #ParentingTeenagers

#ParentingTeens #TeenParenting #ExecutiveFunctioning #ADHDParenting #NeurodivergentTeens #TeenMentalHealth #TimeBlindness #ParentingADHD #TeenDevelopment #ExecutiveFunctioningSkills #ParentingSupport #NeurodivergentParenting #ParentingPodcast #Teenagers #EducationalAdvocacy

Have you ever wondered how your teenager can spend hours gaming, scrolling TikTok, or hanging out with friends—but somehow can't get ready for school, start their homework, remember what they need, or get out the door on time?

And then you find yourself thinking:

“They can do it when they want to. So why won't they do it?”

What if the problem isn't motivation, laziness, defiance, or not caring?

In this episode of Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined for Today's World, I sit down with Dr. Anna Levy-Warren, licensed clinical psychologist, speaker, founder of Organizational Tutors, and an expert in executive functioning, to unpack what's really happening underneath these everyday struggles.

With more than 20 years of experience working in psychology and education—and as a parent herself—Anna brings both professional expertise and lived experience to this conversation.

Executive functioning isn't one single skill. It's an interconnected set of cognitive processes that help us manage things like:

• Working memory
• Self-regulation
• Mental flexibility
• Planning
• Task initiation
• Decision-making
• Time management
• Attention
• Organization
• Goal-setting

And when these skills are developing differently, the impact can show up everywhere—not just at school.

We talk about the difference between long-term memory and working memory, and why a teenager can remember an incredible amount of information but still forget what you just asked them to do.

“Go get ready for school” might sound like one simple instruction to a parent.

For a teen with working-memory challenges, it can actually contain a whole series of steps that are difficult to hold onto and execute.

If you're sitting in the car with the engine running while your teenager is still inside getting ready, this part of the conversation is for you.

Anna explains time blindness and why some teens don't experience time in the same way their parents do.

We talk about:

• Working backwards from a deadline
• Building in extra time
• Using alarms and visual reminders
• Creating routines collaboratively
• Reducing verbal reminders
• Helping teens build their own systems rather than constantly managing them

One of the biggest themes in this conversation is the difference between “won't” and “can't yet.”

A teen may genuinely want to do something and still struggle to initiate it, organize it, estimate the time required, or shift away from something they are deeply engaged in.

And yes, your teen may be able to play video games for three hours.

That doesn't necessarily mean they are capable of transferring that same level of attention and executive functioning to a math assignment.

We also challenge the idea that a teenager is simply “motivated” when they want to do something and “unmotivated” when they don't.

Adults work this way too.

There are things we can do for hours because we enjoy them—and things we procrastinate on despite knowing they need to be done.

So what happens when we stop treating our teenagers like they're deliberately making our lives difficult and start looking at what support the task actually requires?

A 16-year-old is chronologically 16.

But their executive functioning skills don't necessarily develop in a perfectly linear way.

Your teen might be incredibly mature in one area and need significantly more scaffolding in another.

We talk about why parents need to look at the developmental skill required by the task, rather than simply assuming that a teenager should be able to do something because of their age.

We also explore how executive functioning can affect:

• Friendships and social relationships
• Social media use
• Phone regulation
• Impulsivity
• Planning social activities
• Extracurricular activities
• Sleep
• Eating
• Future planning
• College preparation
• Emotional regulation
• Knowing when to stop

This conversation is packed with practical strategies, including:

Collaborate instead of command.

Instead of putting the problem between you and your teen, put the problem in front of both of you and work on it together.

Use visual cues.

Post-it notes, calendars, written instructions, alarms and other visual systems can reduce the endless parent-teen verbal ping-pong.

Talk less when everyone is activated.

When your teenager's nervous system is overwhelmed, more talking usually isn't the answer.

Work backwards.

Start with the time your teen needs to be somewhere and work backwards to determine when they need to begin getting ready.

Build the system with your teen.

The goal isn't for you to become your teenager's external executive functioning system forever. It's to gradually help them develop systems they can eventually use independently.

Anna has a particular obsession with the family calendar—and after this conversation, I can see why.

A shared visual calendar can help teenagers anticipate what's coming, understand competing demands, see how much time they actually have, and participate in planning their own lives.

Instead of:

“You have a test Monday!”

Try:

“Let's look at the week together. You have a test, you want to see your friends, and we have Grandma's birthday. How can we make all of this work?”

That's the shift.

From control → collaboration.

From consequences → curiosity.

From telling → problem-solving together.

Dr. Anna Levy-Warren is a licensed clinical psychologist, speaker, and founder of Organizational Tutors, a company that connects students and families with customized executive functioning support.

Her work focuses on helping young people develop the skills they need to navigate academics, relationships, emotional growth, organization, and everyday life.

Learn more about Dr. Anna Levy-Warren and Organizational Tutors through the link in the episode resources.

I'm Cheryl Pankhurst, Educational Strategist and Family Advocate, and host of Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined for Today's World.

If your teenager is struggling at school, navigating a new diagnosis, transitioning to high school, or you need help understanding assessments, IEPs, accommodations, or how to advocate effectively within the school system, you can work with me directly.

Visit CherylPankhurst.com to learn more and book a complimentary consultation.

And remember:

It's not them. It's you. And that's where the magic happens.

If this episode gave you a different way to understand your teenager, share it with another parent. You never know who needs to hear that their teen isn't simply being lazy, defiant, or unmotivated.

Dr. Michelle Machado is an international keynote speaker, author, human performance strategist and creator of the Human Connection Framework™. Recognized for her dynamic presence as a 2x TEDx speaker, Dr. Machado is a trusted voice on connection and self-leadership in an always-on world. Her work has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, MSN, The Economic Times and Business Insider.

She has also delivered high-impact keynotes for Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit audiences. With a PhD, MBA, and two decades of leadership in universities spanning Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, and the UK, Dr. Machado uniquely blends neuroscience and lived experience to challenge the epidemic of disconnection. She empowers high-achievers to reclaim attention, presence and fulfilment beginning with reconnection to self. Her practical approach has made her a sought-after advisor to leaders worldwide who are ready to transform how they live, work, and lead in a rapidly changing world.

In her upcoming book, Alive Again: 4 Steps to Reclaim Your Life in a Distracted World, Dr. Machado makes the case that high-performance leadership and lasting impact are impossible without first mastering internal alignment, because the way we lead ourselves ultimately defines how we lead others.

LinkedIn and IG (drmichellemachado). Website: https://michelledmachado.com

What if the biggest influence on your teenager isn’t what you’re saying to them—but what they’re watching you do?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Michelle Machado and I get into the messy, complicated reality of parenting teenagers in a world that neither of us grew up in.

We talk about social media, screen time, comparison, authenticity, resilience, human connection, nervous-system regulation, and the pressure parents feel to keep their kids constantly busy and entertained.

And yes, we talk about phones.

Because today’s parents are navigating something completely different from the world we grew up in. Our kids can carry school drama, friendship problems, comparison, cyberbullying and social pressure straight into their bedrooms—and onto the dinner table—24/7.

But this conversation isn't about blaming parents.

It's about getting curious.

Dr. Michelle shares why she believes human connection has three critical layers: connection to self, connection to others, and connection to the world and a greater sense of purpose.

We also talk about what authenticity actually looks like for our kids—and how easily we can confuse our idea of who they should be with their emerging identity.

• Why teenagers need to develop their own authentic identity
• The difference between advocating for your child and allowing them to become themselves
• How parents can model authenticity instead of simply talking about it
• Why “pick your battles” matters when parenting teens
• Social media, comparison and the impact of constant digital stimulation
• Why “everyone else has a phone” is such a difficult parenting conversation
• How to talk to a teenager who is already using social media
• Why education and buy-in may work better than simply taking the phone away
• The importance of teaching kids to compare themselves with their previous selves—not everyone else
• Why boredom is actually an important part of childhood
• The pressure parents feel to keep their kids constantly busy
• What our own hustle, stress and constant stimulation are teaching our children
• Why parents need white space too
• Setting boundaries when you're exhausted and overwhelmed
• The idea that “your calm is contagious—and so is your chaos”
• How children can learn to recognize when they need to “recharge”
• Why vulnerability can completely change a difficult conversation with your teenager

One of my favourite moments is Michelle's reminder that we don't have to force our children to change.

We can invite them to consider another perspective.

That distinction matters.

Our teenagers are becoming their own people. Our job isn't to control every choice they make. It's to give them the values, critical thinking, self-awareness and relationship with us that they can carry with them when we're no longer standing beside them.

And sometimes, that means knowing which hill is actually worth dying on.

If you've ever found yourself wondering:

“Did I already screw this up?”

“How do I get my kid off their phone?”

“Why are they comparing themselves to everyone?”

“Am I parenting from my values—or from fear?”

“What am I actually modeling for my teenager?”

—you are not alone.

And you're not failing because you're still trying to figure it out.

Dr. Michelle Machado is an international speaker, TEDx presenter, medical educator and founder of the Human Connection Framework. With more than two decades of experience in education and leadership across multiple countries, her work focuses on the connection between mindset, identity, human potential and meaningful human connection.

Her book, Alive Again: Four Steps to Reclaim Your Life in a Distracted World, explores what happens when our external lives look successful while internally we feel disconnected—and how we begin to reconnect with ourselves.

Find Michelle at michellmachado.com and connect with her on LinkedIn and Instagram at Dr. Michelle Machado.

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Michelle also recommends exploring Jonathan Haidt's work and the research surrounding children, smartphones, social media and mental health.

If this episode resonated with you:

Subscribe or follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with another parent who is trying to navigate the teenage years without losing themselves—or their relationship with their kid.

And if your teenager is struggling at school, navigating a new diagnosis, or you need help understanding assessments, IEPs, school meetings or high-school transitions, you can work with me directly through educational consulting or my 90-day advocacy program.

Visit CherylPankhurst.com to learn more and book a complimentary consultation.

Because parenting teens is fricking hard.

But you do not have to figure it out alone.

I got you.

#ParentingTeens #TeenParenting #ParentingTeenagers #SocialMediaAndTeens #TeenMentalHealth #ScreenTime #TeenagersAndTechnology #ParentingAdvice #ConnectedParenting #AuthenticParenting #TeenResilience #HumanConnection #DigitalParenting #ParentingPodcast #AnxiousGeneration #ParentingInTodaysWorld #TeenIdentity #ParentingSupport #NeurodivergentTeens #CherylPankhurst