One of the most common reasons that parent/child relationships spiral into disrepair is the conflicts that arise in adolescence.
Adolescence is nerve wracking for parents, but that doesn't mean we cannot continue to use connection to support our kids as they enter this stage of development.
The key to this is truly taking the time to understand what is happening for them and positioning ourselves as a collaborative guide instead of as a control focused dictator who is slowly losing their influence.
The more you are able to give space to curiously understanding what your teen is feeling and how they are thinking, the more likely they are to trust you and be receptive to any guidance you feel they are missing in their decision making process.
Not saying this is easy. It takes a ton of intentional calming and serenity, but it's the best path by far when your adolescent is starting to take the baton and running on and off the course of wise choices 😘😘
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In this video, learn why it's important to focus on soothing and supporting kids' emotions before trying to teach them, as strong emotions take energy away from the brain's thinking and processing areas, and how you can use co-regulation and language to help them grow once they've calmed down. Remember to "Connect before you correct," as Dr. Karyn Purvis said.
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Engage with your teen by giving them airtime and genuine curiosity to share their perspectives, allowing them to feel heard and seen, which will make them respect you more and see you as an ally in their maturing process.
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In this video, you'll learn how to guide children when they have hurt someone, by connecting with them about their feelings, modeling empathy for the person impacted, and collaborating with them to make repairs, as empathy is learned through receiving empathy and being surrounded by empathetic models.
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