If your Middle Schooler is struggling to find friends, is being isolated from the friends they have, or is in the middle of a friendship transition, this episode is for you.

So many of my clients struggle with friendships: Keeping them, finding them, finding the right ones. If your teen doesn't have close friends — if they don't feel like they have a group they belong to — it can be really isolating, and their self-esteem can take a hit.

In this episode, we explore exactly why Middle School is such a challenging time for friendships, including important data from multiple studies.

And I offer 7 Solutions for you to help your teen respond to those challenges and make friends.

So why is Middle School present such challenges for making or keeping friends?

What can you do to help your teen make friends?

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Episode mentioned in today's podcast: 5 Ways to Build Confidence

I'm sharing 9 science-backed ways for parents and teens to manage stress and anxiety, that just take a little bit of commitment and knowledge to take effect.

In this episode, we get into:

If you choose one option from this list (I recommend picking the one that feels easy and doable) and you commit to integrating it into your life for at least a month, you'll be able to see how it impacts your level of stress!

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Check out my YouTube Channel.

I work with so many high-achieving teens throughout the year, and one thing they all have in common is high levels of stress and anxiety.

In this episode, we'll cover:

You'll get new and nuanced perspectives on perfectionism, imposter syndrome, burnout, and more, so you can have a better awareness of what your teen might be going through.

And you'll get practical strategies to help them manage this stress they're carrying.

This week's subject is one of my specialties: I know how to help high achievers because I am one myself - and I've had to do this work to manage the stress that comes with that!

So I hope that you save this episode and come back to it as a resource to support the stressed-out teen in your life.

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Click here to watch the Modern Family clip referenced in this episode.

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This week, I share some opinions on parenting that may not be widely accepted or understood — which I'm ok with.

I've been a parent for a while now. I've gone through the wringer with experiences with my kids, and it's really impacted the way I see parenting and what it takes to raise a human being.

And I'm sharing these potentially controversial thoughts to give you the freedom to do things differently, or outside the norm.

Because there isn't just "one way" to do parenting, that's going to work for everyone.

So it's okay for you to disagree with things I say here: the most important question for you to ask is "What's best for me and my teen?"

As you keep checking in with your value system, you'll keep figuring out what's right for you.

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The college application process can feel so overwhelming — to teens and their parents.

But that doesn't have to be a given.

My guest today, Stacy Boodman, offers strategies and processes to simplify this experience, so it doesn't disrupt your whole life and stress everybody out!

She helps teens navigate the college applications and all of the decisions involved in it.

Here's what's inside this episode:

Stacy Boodman helps college-bound students find their own passion in the planning and execution of their next big step.  After helping her own daughter Emily with her college applications, She developed an easy, step-by-step, detailed program that makes the complicated college application process easy and enjoyable.

Click here to learn more about Stacy’s process and schedule a free introductory meeting.

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We're getting a little vulnerable and personal today, as I talk about something I'm experiencing, which I find isn't really openly discussed in the parental space: Parental Grief.

Walking alongside your kid, as they transition from a baby all the way to an adult, is like a slow Letting Go.

They find more independence and rely on you less and less — and even though that's what you want for them, it can take a toll.

In this episode we explore:

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If you're anything like our clients, fear is a constant.

Fear that you're going to mess up, that your kid will feel something uncomfortable, that other kids will have advantages and yours will be left behind.

And while that fear is normal, you can create more challenges if your reaction to it is Social Engineering.

This week, I'm joined by Life and Parent Coach Darlynn Childress to talk all about this behavior, and ultimately what you can do bulldoze less and trust yourself more.

"Social Engineering" is purposefully orchestrating your child's environment and experiences. (Basically, not just putting up the bumpers on your kid's life, but figuring out who'll be at the bowling alley, what they're going to be wearing, which lane they'll be in...)

Bumpers on their own can be helpful — but the increased intensity of Social Engineering results in: "We're not even gonna let our kids bowl unless we know the entire experience is going to work for them."

So how do you avoid bulldozing the path you think your kid should or needs to follow (and still feel good about your parenting)?

In this episode we explore:

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Darlynn Childress is the host of the Become A Calm Mama podcast and founder of the Calm Mama Club. A life and parent coach since 2012, Darlynn spends her days helping moms while raising her teenagers and hanging out with Mr. Childress and their dogs. When she’s not coaching, you can find her reading a book, hiking a hill, lounging on the beach, or binge-watching Netflix.

Find her here on Instagram.

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I always assume positive intent, from both parents and teenagers, but sometimes we need reminders to call out unhelpful behaviors we're not even aware of.

That's what this episode is all about. It'll help you recognize what you might be doing to unintentionally create a divide in your relationship with your teenager — and what to do instead.

In Untangled by Lisa Damour, a book I recommend to everyone, the teen years are likened to the experience of learning to swim (and I just love a good analogy). Your teen is figuring out how to swim on their own, and you're the wall of the pool: You don't move, and they know they can always come back to you as they naturally swim away on their own, more and more.

For you to stay a safe place for them to land, you need to know how to avoid pushing them away.

Being aware of these unconscious behaviors is the first step, so you can make a conscious effort to take a different approach going forward.

You'll learn:

The Raising Happy Teens small group coaching program is open now — Doors close this Friday 11/3.

Learn parenting essentials, like how to talk so your teen will listen, how to set and maintain healthy boundaries, how to handle conflict, and how to build mutual trust and respect with your teenager.

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So many parents and teens want a close relationship with each other more than anything. But conflict — and our inability to handle conflict — can easily get in the way.

In this episode, I explain where a lot of misunderstanding and disconnection comes from, and how it escalates into conflict.

I also share how you can effectively avoid that escalation, or at least mitigate its negative effects. Because the truth is, conflict doesn't always have to be a bad thing.

In fact, it can be an opportunity for both parents and teens to learn and grow. Handling conflict in a healthy way can even strengthen your relationship with your teenager.

Listen in for:

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Teenagers get a bad rap for being unreliable, rebellious, and self-centered. But in my experience, none of this is true.

In fact, when teenagers are acting this way, it's typically because they struggle with trust - both in themselves and those closest to them.

The good news? You, as their parent, are your teen's primary example of what a relationship looks like. Which means you can establish a trusting relationship with your teen by implementing some simple strategies!

In this episode, I'm giving you 7 ways to help you create a mutually trusting and respectful relationship with your teenager.

You'll learn:

And more!

If feel like your relationship with your teen lacks mutual trust, or you want to prevent losing trust with your teen as they get older, this episode is for you!

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