This is the 1st episode in a series on connecting with your teen.
Second episode in the series #106
Third episode in the series #108

Connecting with your teens is not just a nice sentiment - it's critically necessary to have any influence in their lives. Without connection, it will be extremely difficult to keep them physically safe or mentally healthy. Connection might not be what you think but it's probably easier than you've imagined.

Listen to this first episode in a continuing series on building connection with your teens as I discuss one simple thing you can do to "start the ball rolling."

Show Notes and Transcript

Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more parents!

I drop new episodes every Tuesday and Friday so please tap Follow on the main episode page, so they’ll be ready for you in your app. 

You can reach out to me with ideas for the show or guest suggestions here. Thanks so much for listening!

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen

Today, I’m joined by Aly Pain to discuss how most of us are still parenting using an outdated model from several generations ago, which is derailing the connection with our teenagers and fueling their misbehavior.

Unfortunately, we don't even realize how we’ve simply accepted many of these parenting myths and attitudes as truth, despite the mounds of scientific evidence to the contrary. And when we attempt to make the necessary changes with our teenagers, we’re often met with disapproval and push-back from family and friends.

We’re talking about these misconceptions to set the record straight on common concerns like respect, connection, compliance, and living up to their potential. Aly explains how you can begin parenting your teenager in a way that leads to increased connection (yes, she’s going to explain what that really means!) and lasting change in their behavior.

Aly's passion is empowering parents to build healthy, respectful relationships with their teens without giving up or giving in. She's been featured in the New York Post, ABC Nightly News and the Rachael Ray Show.

Connect with Aly:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

YouTube

Website

Show Notes and Transcript

Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen

Most of us sail on through life without ever stopping to examine our own thoughts, emotions and behavior...without doing some deep introspection to discover why we think and feel the way we do about things.

But if you want to change, you want to bring more calm into your life, you have to truly know yourself. You need to know the why behind your behavior (which lies in your thoughts and emotions!)

We're talking about emotional awareness and emotional regulation today - how you can acquire a bit for yourself!

Show Notes and Transcript

Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more parents!

I drop new episodes every Tuesday and Friday so please tap Follow on the main episode page, so they’ll be ready for you in your app. 

You can reach out to me with ideas for the show or guest suggestions here. Thanks so much for listening!

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen

Even if your kid is still in middle school, you'll want to tune in to today's episode to help ease your mind a bit. I'm talking with my friend and fellow podcaster, Sonia Cacique, of the ​College and Career Ready podcast​ about some of the most important steps in career and college planning. Hint: we're not talking about grades, college and university tours, or working on the dreaded application.

The initial steps your teens need to take to get ready to pursue college and/or a career is much more personal. We can't expect young people to have their future all figured out before leaving for college or entering the workforce. The most important part of this journey to adulthood is learning about what's possible for themselves. You're going to really appreciate this one!

If you’d like your teen to work with Sonia one-on-one, she has a program called Discover U where she coaches your teen on all of these issues we just discussed and more

Show Notes and Transcript

Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more parents!

I drop new episodes every Tuesday and Friday so please tap Follow on the main episode page, so they’ll be ready for you in your app. 

You can reach out to me with ideas for the show or guest suggestions here. Thanks so much for listening!

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen

Warning: I say Sh*t a few times in this episode (and there may even be an a$$ here and there.)🤭 
In this one hundredth episode I'm just telling you straight up what I wish someone had told me when I was struggling to figure out why my teenager was acting out in a hundred different ways and wouldn't listen to a word I said!

See also episodes: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 14, 15, 16, 22, 26, and 57

For this episode, download the free guides, "Emotional Awareness Strategies" and "10 Keys to Unlock Your Teen's Emotional Intelligence" at the link below:
Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here 

Show Notes and Transcript

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more parents!

I drop new episodes every Tuesday and Friday so please tap Follow on the main episode page, so they’ll be ready for you in your app. 

You can reach out to me with ideas for the show or guest suggestions here. Thanks so much for listening!

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen

Since it’s the start of a new year I thought I’d do a show about change; how you can make 10 specific “little changes” that will go a long way in improving the communication and the relationship with your teenager.  

These are very simple modifications in how you say things, how often you say things, and how you respond to things they do or say. I also discuss a couple of little things you can do in just a couple if minutes per day that can change so much for your own mental health as well as the relationship with your teen or tween. 

These tiny changes are all very doable, take minimal effort (well, maybe some mental effort), and once you get going, they can lead to such a huge difference. Give them a try!

Show Notes and Transcript

Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more parents!


I drop new episodes every Tuesday and Friday so please tap Follow on the main episode page, so they’ll be ready for you in your app.

You can reach out to me with ideas for the show or guest suggestions here. Thanks so much for listening!

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen

This is a re-share of Episode #84 and I didn't even have time to record an introduction to tell you that! But this is important and worth hearing again. So plug in and listen.

How "up in your teen's business" do you get? How much is too much monitoring, snooping, digging and tracking? Do you let them know you're going to be doing checking on them up front? Or, are you more of a covert operator? Do you know what difference it all makes? A lot. One of the most important things to a teenager (or a tween) is their autonomy. And if you threaten that, you'll be locked in never-ending power struggles. Find out how to navigate balancing your parental control with their need for autonomy and privacy.

Show Notes and Transcript

Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more parents!

I drop new episodes every Tuesday and Friday so please tap Follow on the main episode page, so they’ll be ready for you in your app. 

You can reach out to me with ideas for the show or guest suggestions here. Thanks so much for listening!

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen

Once adolescence "sets in" if you don't adjust your mindset and your parenting you're setting yourself up for years of conflict, lying, trust issues, rebellion and heartache. Parenting a child is much different from parenting a teen or tween and if you fail to understand that or refuse to make these adjustments, all of your efforts to gain compliance and cooperation and good behavior will be for nothing - actually, they will totally backfire.

Listen to this episode to understand how you can support your teenager's autonomy while retaining the right amount of control to assure their better behavior.

Show Notes and Transcript

Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more parents!

I drop new episodes every Tuesday and Friday so please tap Follow on the main episode page, so they’ll be ready for you in your app. 

You can reach out to me with ideas for the show or guest suggestions here. Thanks so much for listening!

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen

This is a quick episode that will hopefully blow your mind a little and set you on a path of greater emotional awareness and regulation (and all sorts of other positives.) And who doesn't need that? I'm talking about mindfulness today and my very Zen friend and fellow podcaster, Lauren Wolfe of the *Your Zen Friend podcast, is going to bring you a 5 minute guided meditation!
*also on the platform where you are currently listening

In less than 15 minutes you're going to understand what mindfulness is, how important it is to you as a parent and a human, and why it's important. Plus, having actually done it, you'll know how easy it is and you can do it regularly - either guided or solo!

The science behind what mindfulness can do for your mind, body and soul is well documented and undisputed. Learn with me.

Show Notes and No Transcript available

Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here 

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more parents!

I drop new episodes every Tuesday and Friday so please tap Follow on the main episode page, so they’ll be ready for you in your app. 

You can reach out to me with ideas for the show or guest suggestions here. Thanks so much for listening!

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen

This is one of the first things I learned when I was trying to get things "right" with my adolescent son. When your teenager is having an emotional tirade or a meltdown or is just stomping around the house and seems out of sorts, you need to know what to do and what to say to help them calm down and regulate their emotions.

Teens are naturally emotionally reactive because of the changes taking place in their brain right now. The problem is, they have very little awareness of what they're actually feeling and very little ability to regulate those emotions (again, you can blame their brain!) So, it's your job to help them calm down and coach them through these emotional moments so they will build the emotional intelligence needed to eventually handle it on their own. You'll learn how in today's episode.

Show Notes and Transcript
Find our FREE Parenting Guides Here

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm so thankful for your podcast! ...I'm so happy I discovered it!" Speaking of Teens Listener

^If you feel the same way, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps people know the show is worth their time to listen. Tap here, to go to Apple podcasts, and scroll down until you see the STARS to tap on the last star, then tap on “Write a Review” and let me know what you love about the show. 

If you’re listening in Spotify, you can also rate the show by going to the main episode page and tap the 3 dots to the right of the follow button, tap rate show and tap the 5th star!

Thank you in advance for helping me help more parents!

I drop new episodes every Tuesday and Friday so please tap Follow on the main episode page, so they’ll be ready for you in your app. 

You can reach out to me with ideas for the show or guest suggestions here. Thanks so much for listening!

The 5-Day Reboot: From Conflict to Cooperation - receive bite-sized lessons in your in-box for 5 days that will make a huge difference between you and your teen...for under $50!

Check out the podcast on YouTube!

Email Ann at [email protected]

Check out PARENT CAMP - a cohort-based, 10-week experience that includes a virtual course, in-depth exercises and tools, and weekly live meetings with Ann, where you will learn how to strengthen your relationship and decrease the conflict with your teens and tweens (while improving their behavior.)

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram

Read Speaking of Teens weekly articles on Substack

Join our Facebook Group for Free Support for Parents and others who care for Teens (and get easy access to all the parenting guides above!)

See My Recommended Books For Both You And Your Teen