Summary:

This week we chat with Dr. Michael Bradley about the struggles and anxieties teens face today and how to deal with them as parents Dr. Bradley grew up in Philadelphia where, as he says, he barely survived his own adolescence. In the forty years since, Dr. Bradley has worked with all kinds of teens in all kinds of places to include schools, prisons, and community programs. In addition to being a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Bradley holds a specialized certification in the treatment of substance abuse disorders, and is a Diplomate and Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Examiners.

http://www.doctormikebradley.com/

His publications include:

• Yes, Your Teen IS Crazy: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind (Harbor Press, 2003)
• Yes, Your Parents ARE Crazy! A Teen Survival Guide (Harbor Press, 2005)
• The Heart and Soul of the Next Generation (Harbor Press, 2006)
• When Things Get Crazy with Your Teen: The Why, the How, the What to do NOW (McGraw Hill, 2009)
• Saving Today's Teens with Love, Laughter and the Science of Resilience (Amacom, 2017)

In this episode you will learn:

• How Michael Bradley started his career
• How Michael's military experience helped him in his career
• The challenges of being a teenager vs being a kid
• How are teens struggling today?
• The increased use of drugs and alcohol and teens
• Is marijuana a gateway drug for teens?
• There are huge differences between the adult brain and the teen brain
• How did Michael raise his teenage boys?
• As a parent, do you lie to your kids about you drinking in your early teens?
• Use the Rollercoaster Method when talking about alcohol with your kids
• How sex is putting stress on teens
• Talking to your teenagers about sex
• How asking questions is very powerful
• Always avoid a screaming match with your teen
• How powerful are teen brains?
• What do you do when your kids shut you out
• Why parents shouldn't give up

Quotes:

"The culture around our kids have changed"

"I say to my kids: It's my expectation that you will not use drugs or alcohol before you're 21"

"Questions are much more powerful than answers"

"My cardinal rule with kids is: never lie"

"Back in the day parents thought it was their mission to control kids. Our mission today should be: teach them to control themselves."

"Ask your kids: tell me what you learned"

"The teen brain experiences everything in more powerful ways than adult brains"