Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined for Today's Complex World

So many parents are quietly asking themselves the same question:

“Am I doing this right?”

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Chantal Dempsey to talk about something that rarely gets addressed directly — confidence in you as a parent, and how deeply that confidence shapes your teen.

Because here’s the truth:

You cannot build confidence in your teen if you don’t trust yourself first.

We explore why teen confidence isn’t built through praise, pressure, or “fixing,” but through felt safety, consistency, and a parent who is grounded in their own values. Chantal shares practical insight into how parental self-doubt, people-pleasing, and fear of getting it wrong can unintentionally erode connection — and what to do instead.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why so many capable parents feel unsure and second-guess themselves
• The link between parent confidence and teen self-trust
• How teens actually develop confidence (and what doesn’t work)
• What to do when your teen appears insecure, withdrawn, or overly dependent on external validation
• How to model confidence without perfection or control

This episode is especially important if you’re parenting a teen who is struggling with identity, anxiety, or self-esteem — or if you feel like you’ve lost your footing along the way.

Teen confidence starts at home.

And it starts with you believing in yourself again.

🎧 Listen in for a grounded, compassionate conversation that will help you come back to yourself — and show up as the parent your teen truly needs.

Chantal Dempsey is an Award-Winning Mindset and Confidence Coach, NLP Expert and Master Hypnotherapist, known for her transformative impact in the field of confidence and personal development. She is passionately dedicated to empowering both men and women to overcome their challenges and unlock their highest levels of confidence.

Important Links / How to find Chantal

https://www.skool.com/getconfident/about

Connect with Cheryl!

The Good Divorce Show Episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hIILoayZV2oQu5zEzJdcP?si=wl8O0S9YSCCwkUSJQAYcrQ

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

Sleep support

DIRECT LINK TO COACHING WITH CHERYL

 email : [email protected] 

Website  cherylpankhurst.com

SOCIALS:

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

Optin-podcast subscriber

https://www.cherylpankhurst.com/teen-minds-redefined-podcast

Join our Podcast Private Facebook Group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpswww.facebook.comgroups1258426648646523

What’s it like to work with me!

MINI-COURSE

#HighSchoolSemester #ParentTeacherConferences #StudentVoice #IEPAccommodations #SpecialEducation #Advocacy 

The new semester is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect moment to reset, refocus, and give your teen a genuine voice in their education. In this episode Cheryl breaks down:

• Why “it’s not them, it’s you” matters and how shifting the focus to your own triggers unlocks real change.
• How to turn the inevitable parent‑teacher meetings from a “he‑said/she‑said” nightmare into a collaborative, “speed‑dating” experience where your teen is 10 % of the conversation.
• Practical steps to co‑create a partnership with teachers, set up weekly check‑ins, and keep the IEP (or any accommodation plan) front‑and‑center from day 1.
• The delicate balance between guidance and helicopter parenting—and how to hand the reins back without sacrificing support.
• Real‑world tools for parents who feel stuck: when a new diagnosis lands on the table, how to find an advocate, decode assessment reports, and move from overwhelm to action.

Whether you’re a single parent juggling work, a busy family, or simply looking for a fresh strategy to empower your teen, this episode gives you a step‑by‑step roadmap to start Semester 2 on the right foot—together.

Connect with Cheryl!

The Good Divorce Show Episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hIILoayZV2oQu5zEzJdcP?si=wl8O0S9YSCCwkUSJQAYcrQ

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

Sleep support

DIRECT LINK TO COACHING WITH CHERYL

 email : [email protected] 

Website  cherylpankhurst.com

SOCIALS:

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

Optin-podcast subscriber

https://www.cherylpankhurst.com/teen-minds-redefined-podcast

Join our Podcast Private Facebook Group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpswww.facebook.comgroups1258426648646523

What’s it like to work with me!

MINI-COURSE

#NeurodiversityEducation #ADHDLearning #StudentEngagement 

• Parenting Teens Advice Redefined – raw, real‑talk format
• Goal: help parents raise “amazing human beings,” not just “kids”
• Guest introduction: Richard Comeau, founder of Above the Maze

• Over‑emphasis on willpower, grit, and routine fixes
• How this approach damages motivation and emotional energy
• Kids internalise “I’m lazy / I can’t learn” instead of seeing systemic issues

• Labels vs. lived experience (psychology jargon, psycho‑educational reports)
• What assessments actually reveal: visual discrimination, information overload, executive‑function gaps
• Importance of starting with observable behaviours (shutting down, cluttered pages)

• Visual clutter & information density – “too much on the page”
• Lack of guided eye‑movement and clear focal points
• “Pace dump” lecture slides that leave no meaning‑making traceability
• The inference burden placed on students to decode professor’s mental model

• 17,000‑plus accommodations list – surface fixes, not state changes
• Accommodations don’t create a feeling of “I can do this”
• They force students to re‑organise incoherent info without providing context

• Definition of Sequential Disengagement – repeated barriers leading to avoidance
• The Threat Space: confusion → shame → “I can’t learn”
• The Play Space (Magic Circle): safe to fail, immediate feedback, intrinsic motivation

• Brain needs active sense‑making in a short time window
• Providing real‑world context creates “shelves” for new info in memory
• Partial understanding + rapid feedback = stronger retention

• Original slide: dry objectives (“Explain how to account for current liabilities”)
• Problems: no relevance, heavy jargon, no connective narrative
• Revised approach:
• Break down to the two pillars – debt vs. equity
• Use a single guiding question for every transaction
• – Turn abstract concepts into a story/real‑world scenario (hardware store purchase)
• Outcome: clarity, immediate relevance, actionable mental model

1. What do I need to know / be able to do?
2. How do I know that I know it? (self‑check, evidence of mastery)
3. What is the best way for this information to enter my brain? (mode of delivery)

• Aligns learning tasks with assessment of understanding, not rote recall

• AI externalises context that learners can’t generate themselves
• Generates simulations, podcasts, primers tailored to the student’s struggle
• Turns inaccessible material into play‑space affordances (feedback loops, instant results)

• Video‑game principles: immediate, intrinsic feedback; safe to fail
• Simulated environments (e.g., “accounting office at Riverton Metalworks”)
• Engages the ADHD/ neurodivergent brain by activating interest & motivation

• Way‑in: a meaningful entry point (clear “why”)
• Reason‑to‑stay: ongoing relevance, feedback, sense of progress
• Way‑back‑on‑track: tools/strategies to recover when engagement slips

• Four phases (2–3 sessions each) – rapid, dependency‑free
• Phase 1: intake, diagnosis of barriers, selection of a single course
• Phase 2: building a learning workflow/engine for that course
• Phase 3: testing, tweaking, handing over control to the student
• Phase 4: scaling the system across other subjects

• Website: abovethemaze.ca – book an appointment, learn more
• Show notes will contain links, contact info, and supplemental material

• Introduction to Insight to Impact Coaching & Consulting
• Emphasis on parent transformation as the foundation for teen success
• Invitation to a no‑pressure discovery call (90‑day life‑change promise)
• 
  

Richard Comeau is an educational systems designer and learning strategist who works with teens and university students who are capable but chronically overwhelmed, disengaged, or shut down by school. His work focuses on rebuilding a student’s trust in their own thinking by removing cognitive overload, clarifying what they are actually supposed to be doing, and creating learning environments where understanding becomes possible again. Rather than tutoring content, Richard designs personalized learning systems that help students move from confusion and avoidance to confidence, agency, and sustained engagement.

Website: https://abovethemaze.ca

Email: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-comeau-above-the-maze-809898388/

Connect with Cheryl!

The Good Divorce Show Episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hIILoayZV2oQu5zEzJdcP?si=wl8O0S9YSCCwkUSJQAYcrQ

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

Sleep support

DIRECT LINK TO COACHING WITH CHERYL

 email : [email protected] 

Website  cherylpankhurst.com

SOCIALS:

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

Optin-podcast subscriber

https://www.cherylpankhurst.com/teen-minds-redefined-podcast

Join our Podcast Private Facebook Group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpswww.facebook.comgroups1258426648646523

What’s it like to work with me!

MINI-COURSE

 #ParentingTeens #CoParenting #DivorceSupport #TeenParenting #FamilyDynamics #ParentingAdvice #Teenagers #ParentingTips #CherylPankurst #InsightToImpact

In this solo episode of "Parenting Teens Advice Redefined," host Cheryl Pankurst delves into a deeply personal and crucial topic: navigating divorce and co-parenting in today's complex world. Drawing from her own experiences and her work with families, Cheryl shares invaluable insights and practical tips to help parents manage the emotional and logistical challenges of divorce while prioritizing their children's well-being. From understanding the stages of grief to maintaining consistent rules across households, Cheryl offers guidance to create a supportive and harmonious environment for your teens. Whether you're in the midst of a divorce or looking to strengthen your co-parenting relationship, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you and your family thrive.

#CoParenting #HolidayStress #DivorcedFamilies #BlendedFamilyChristmas

The holidays should be a time of joy, but for families navigating a split or divorce, Christmas (and New Year’s) can feel like a juggling act of logistics, emotions, and “double‑gift” pressure. In this solo‑run “Friday Riff,” Cheryl dives deep into the teenage mindset during co‑parented holidays, shares real‑world conversation starters, and gives you a roadmap for creating smoother, stress‑free celebrations—all without making your kids feel like they have to be your therapist.

“Put on their lens.”

🔑 Who should listen?

In this power‑packed episode, host Cheryl sits down with Jeff and Derek, the co‑founders of Cyber Dive, to reveal a groundbreaking solution that flips the script on teen‑phone parenting. Instead of the old “ban‑or‑monitor” approach, their AquaOne smartphone gives families real‑time transparency while preserving trust—no surveillance, shame, or secret‑keeping.

We unpack:

If you’re a parent of a teenager who’s tired of “secret‑keeping,” “over‑monitoring,” and the endless “what‑if” nightmare, this episode gives you a clear, actionable path forward—plus a 30‑day risk‑free trial of the AquaOne phone.

Listen now and discover how you can replace fear with confidence, secrecy with open dialogue, and “what‑ifs” with real solutions.

#ParentingTeens, #FinancialCoaching, #MoneyScripts,  #CustodialAccounts, #StockMarketInvesting, #FinancialLiteracy

In this power‑packed episode, Cheryl sits down with financial‑coach‑author Scott Yamamura to demystify money for parents of teens. From the Rule of 72 to the “Day of Reckoning” that hits many families in mid‑life, Scott breaks down three bite‑size “financial epiphanies” that turn overwhelm into confidence.

Whether you’re living paycheck‑to‑paycheck, just starting to think about college funds, or worried about caring for aging parents, you’ll walk away with clear, actionable rules of thumb you can start teaching your teen today—no PhD required.

#ParentingTeens #IEPAdvocate #TeenSuccess #ExecutiveFunction #NeurodivergentSupport #SchoolCommunication #FridayFix #Podcast

You just opened that dreaded end‑of‑semester email: 15 missing assignments, three failed tests, a 30 % grade, and every accommodation your teen needs left untouched because “I’m fine.”

In this power‑packed episode Cheryl breaks down why this chaos happens, how to stop the panic, and what concrete steps you can take right now to partner with your teen, re‑activate accommodations, and rebuild communication with the school.

Whether you’re juggling a career, caring for younger siblings, or managing a neuro‑divergent teen who masks at school, Cheryl’s 20‑year experience on both sides of the fence gives you a clear roadmap to turn overwhelm into empowerment.

🔹 Who should listen: Parents of teenagers (especially neuro‑divergent, highly‑sensitive, or “masking” kids) who feel stuck after a shocking school report.

#ParentingTeens

Discover how to empower neuro‑divergent teens and set them up for success as they transition from high school to college. In this candid conversation, host Cheryl talks with Dr. Tara Williams—tenured chemistry professor, founder of Innovative Collegiate Consultants, and neurodivergent‑teen advocate. Tara shares her personal journey, reveals why adaptability, choice, and self‑advocacy are the hidden super‑powers every teen needs, and offers practical tools for parents: giving daily decisions, shifting “wants” to “needs,” using campus accessibility offices, and applying universal design at home. Learn the one habit parents should stop (doing their teen’s communication) and how tiny routines—like an alarm clock and body‑doubling study sessions—can create massive stability. Ready to support your teen’s independence? 

#Aging #Gratitude #Reframing #SoloCelebration #Minimalism #parentingteensadvice #podcast

Cheryl celebrates her 61st birthday by sharing the mindset tools that have turned this milestone into a launchpad for more joy, energy, and purpose. In this candid conversation she explores:

If you’re looking for fresh language, practical mindset shifts, and confidence‑boosting rituals to live your best life at any age, this episode is your roadmap.