Mind the Gap. Teens Talk We Listen

Our resident teens wanted to discuss a hot topic: curfews.   What is a fair curfew?   Why do our parents sometimes ask us to come home earlier?   Have you sat down to have a conversation with your parents about your curfew or have you always assumed your curfew is a certain time What is the science and connection between staying up late and the decisions we make? Jeremy explains some of the reasons that go into a parents decision making process when determining a curfew.  Including how our brain works when we are tired, who we are with, and what we are doin.   Above all communication and respect is going to help guide the conversation in a way both parents and teens can be satisfied. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

This episode Caden McKnight joins our resident teen guests, Luke, Clara and Audrey to discuss teen mental health and how distance learning is affecting them a year after their schools were closed. Caden recently had the opportunity to stand before his school board to express how distance learning is affecting him and his classmates.  He wanted to represent the voice of all the teens who are not being heard.  We love his bravery and leadership to call for change in his education. Listen as we discuss how one year later how the pandemic is affecting them mentally, socially, and in their academic learning. For more content on how to help teens today follow us @mindthegap.teenstalk and https://www.facebook.com/Mindthegap.welisten --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

This week we had teens Luke, Clara, and Audrey take the love language quiz for teens.  Listen as we discuss the importance of knowing our own love languages, as well as those in our family and our circle of friends.   This show is all about how to show love for your teen by using their own love language and what makes them feel loved. If you want to know how to really connect with your teen and help them feel loved you can have them fill out the love language for teens quiz here:https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/teen-quiz/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

This week we discuss the topic of rejection with teens Luke and Audrey.  How do we teach our kids to handle the uncomfortable emotions surrounding not getting picked for a team or a job, losing the Student Council election, loss of friends, or being rejected asking someone out.  On the flip side we also address how to have uncomfortable conversations if we need to end a friendship, or say no to a request for a date.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

Discussing the difference between "peer influence" and "peer pressure" with teens Luke and Audrey this week on Mind the Gap.   The three most important things about peer pressure and teens: How do you help your kids to make friends from different backgrounds and still stay true to their values?   How can you teach your kids to back out of a possible unsafe or uncomfortable situation?  The best way to respond to your teen if they ask you to save them from an unsafe or uncomfortable situation. We discuss this and more on this week of Mind the Gap: Teens Talk, We Listen. Follow us on instagram @mindthegap.welisten and facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Mindthegap.welisten --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

We talk a lot on the show about minding the gap in communication between you and your teen, but the truth is that our time with our teenagers will be easier if we start when they are younger.  On this episode we have our pre-teens Alyssa (12), Remi (10) and Deacon (10) talk to us about communication, expressing their emotions and sharing hard things. Listen to find out more about asking open ended questions, naming feelings, and using play time to receive insight on what's going on deeper. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

Consequences can be hard to navigate as a parent of teens, whether you are deciding what is an appropriate consequence for your teen or you're worried how they will react.  Sometimes setting a consequence feels like a punishment to us as the parent as we then have to deal with the outcome, but overtime setting boundaries and consequences will teach your teen valuable lessons to be successful in life.   If you are looking for additional resources how to discipline to match the behavior, we love the book Parenting Teens With Love and Logic by Foster Cline M.D. and Jim Fay.  In the book the idea of natural consequences is discussed often.  A natural consequence is simply what naturally occurs as an outcome from the behavior.  Sometimes natural consequences are enough for a teen to learn a lesson, but sometimes a further consequence by the parent needs to be set to help them learn and grow.   Listen and let us know your thoughts on consequences. @mindthegap.welisten --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

During this pandemic it may have seemed more obvious than ever that you have different things in common with your teens/kids.  How can you find ways to connect with them when they are just not interested in the things you love?  How can you find a way to be interested in things that you have no interest in order to connect with them?  Listen as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Jeremy Leavitt, Sherry Anderson, her son Luke and niece Clara discuss this topic in this hilarious episode.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

Round table discussion with 4 teens, Austin, Callin, Clara, and Viv with host Sherry Anderson and Marriage and Family Therapist Jeremy Leavitt. Listen as they discuss what they learned from watching The Social Dilemma and how Social Media is affecting and even controlling how we use our phones.  We share practices and habits we can implement to not feel like our phones and checking social media is having a strong hold on our lives. You can view the documentary The Social Dilemma on Netflix - "This documentary-drama hybrid explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations" If you would like us to discuss a certain topic please email us at: mindthegap.welisten@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

As Austin gets ready to head off to college this week we discuss how we are feeling with him leaving home.  When kids head off to college for the first time you may worry if you prepared them enough, how the family dynamic will change, filling the new void at home and how to keep your relationship strong with this new physical distance between you. Austin leaves his brother Luke and all teens listening with his words of wisdom in how to get through the teenage years. If you have a topic you would like to hear us discuss on a future episode you may email us at mindthegap.welisten@gmail.com  Follow:   Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Mindthegap.welisten Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/accounts/onetap/?next=%2F&hl=en --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

Back to school this year looks very different for many kids.  Some may be going back to a physical building with masks while others are logging in on a computer.  How do we safeguard our kids while online?  What to do if they see pornography? How to handle all the extra screen time?  Listen as we discuss these questions with Jeremy Leavitt LMFT, Sherry, Austin, and Luke Anderson. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

Today we discuss the topic of modesty.  In our culture modesty is something that is talked about heavily, mainly with our young and teenage girls.  How do we talk about modesty in a way that helps girls feel confident in who they are?  What is modesty, exactly?  Can it be determined with a ruler?  Or is it something much more?   Jeremy Leavitt LMFT along with his wife Vanessa discuss this topic with Sherry. We would love to hear your perspective.  What is modesty to you?  How do you discuss modesty with your teens? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

With kids home 24/7 during Covid-19 you may be feeling the mental fatigue of listening to your kids complain.  The truth is, even before this time kids complained.  When they come home from school or from practice and start spilling their frustrations is there a line between venting their frustrations and just purely complaining and playing a victim?  Do they sometimes need to vent and let out their frustrations in a safe space with someone they know they can be vulnerable?  Listen as Sherry, Jeremy and Austin discuss this from the perspective of a parent, psychotherapist and teenager. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

Jeremy, Sherry, and our teens Austin and Logan, discuss the concept of moral fatigue and why we are so exhausted making everyday decisions during the pandemic. Have you felt overly exhausted and worn-out lately? Weighing the consequences of trying to figure out online school class times, making the decision to go to the store, wearing a mask or not, finding ways to connect with others while being socially responsible and following all the "rules" is the culprit. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

While maintaining social distancing Sherry, Jeremy and Austin discuss empathy and compassion.  What is empathy?  How do we cultivate empathy in teens?  How is what we are experiencing now with Covid-19 a good opportunity to help teens learn empathy and compassion for others? Thank you for listening every week!  We are so grateful for you and the feedback we have received.   If you have any questions you would like us to address on the show you can email us at mindthegap.welisten@gmail.com.  We would love to hear from you! You can also follow us on: Instagram:  @mindthegap.welisten@gmail.com  Facebook: Mind The Gap:  Teens Talk, We Listen --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

We are doing a short series of interviews with teens around the world and how they are doing during COVID-19 pandemic.  Listen as Sherry talks with Sharese and her teen daughter Emma, a senior from Ohio, as they give us their tips on staying connected with others and being creative with the extra time. You can follow us on Instagram for more content and inspiration on closing the gap with your teen @mindthegap.welisten and Facebook:  Mind the Gap.  Teens Talk We Listen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

We are doing a short series of interviews with teens around the world and how they are doing during COVID-19 pandemic.  Listen as Sherry talks with Naima and her teen daughter May from France as they give us insight on how things are for families in France. You can follow us on instagram for more content and inspiration on closing the gap with your teen @mindthegap.welisten and facebook:  Mind the Gap.  Teens Talk We Listen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

We are doing a short series of interviews with teens around the world and how they are doing during COVID-19 pandemic.  Listen as Sherry talks with Nicole and her teen son Cooper from Millcreek, UT as they give us their tips on staying connected with others and being creative with the extra time. You can follow us on instagram for more content and inspiration on closing the gap with your teen @mindthegap.welisten and facebook:  Mind the Gap.  Teens Talk We Listen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

This episode was recorded remotely to honor the CDC requests to distance ourselves.  We apologize for the sound quality as we work to find the best recording option while following social distancing protocols. During the Covid-19 pandemic we wanted to give parents and teens help to strengthen their mental health.  For those that struggle with anxiety and depression as well as those who don't, isolation and social distancing can increase feelings of depression and anxiety.  Jeremy discusses tips from a brilliant study on reversing the course of depression done by Alex Korb, a neuroscientist.  Teens Austin and Quincy give us insight on how they're doing during this isolation period and discuss their feelings of missing out on finishing their senior year.  Sherry weighs in on her own feelings of missing out on her son experiencing his senior year as they had imagined it. Alex Korb gives 4 tips that can help anyone who may be struggling mentally during this time of isolation and lack of school and sport activities to keep teens busy.   You may listen to Korb's book "The Upward Cycle" on Audible:  https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Upward-Spiral-Audiobook/B00T3J3M54?ds_rl=1262685&ds_rl=1263561&ds_rl=1260658&source_code=GO1GB907OSH060513&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpfHzBRCiARIsAHHzyZqdBM2ct9apIPxYvQQHO9hCyB37eMN3JUoaeHXTzqn6FzgEC_5VjtkaArq4EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message

Two weeks ago we posted on our social media pages a question:  Do you think teens should be forced to say yes when asked to dance in relation to a recent article about a school in Utah.  We were surprised by the responses we received and wanted to discuss on the podcast why we believe it's important to allow teens to make a choice that will help them feel safe.   If you would like to see that post and some of the discussions are followers had regarding the topic you can follow us on facebook and instagram: @mindthegap.welisten --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindthegap-teenstalk/message