DiscoverParenting teenagers untangled. 🏆 The audio hug for parents of teens and tweens.
Parenting teenagers untangled. 🏆 The audio hug for parents of teens and tweens.
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Parenting teenagers untangled. 🏆 The audio hug for parents of teens and tweens.

Author: Rachel Richards and Susie Asli

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Welcome to your weekly audio hug for parents going through the teen and tween years. I'm Rachel Richards, journalist, parenting coach, mother of two teenagers and two bonus daughters.

I designed this audio hug to empower you by helping calm your fears, giving you a chance to learn from the mistakes of other parents, and grow in confidence in your role. 

When I was coaching parents for Parent Gym I realised how powerful it is to be in a room with other parents who're honest about the challenges they're facing. It takes away the judgement and makes it more possible to open up to ways in which we can change for the better.

Whilst we can't all be in the same room together, I've tried to make this the next best thing. I take questions from listeners, or my own problems, and research what the experts say. Then Susie brings her wealth of expertise in mindfulness to discuss the realities of parenting.

It may look like other parents are perfect but even experts make mistakes, because good parenting is a constantly evolving challenge. In all the research I've done the most important thing we can do is focus on building our connection by being more curious and less critical of both our kids and ourselves. Admitting our mistakes isn't failure, it's growth.

What the Independent Podcasting Award judges said:  
'The advice within the podcast on how to deal with what life throws at you is universally helpful, not just for those with teenagers.'  

'A good mix of personal stories alongside professional insight; it's addressing something different, and helps its audience with the references and extra information provided in episode notes.'  

'The rapport between the hosts, Rachel and Susie, is great with a good mix of them chatting, but also providing context for the listener and remembering them within the conversation.' 

For more discussion and tips, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram. Find courses with Susie at https://www.amindful-life.co.uk/

115 Episodes
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Send us a textIt's pre-exam time of year again, and oh boy it's tough for our teens.Does yours have a colour-coded revision schedule, carefully-timed breaks, and a confident spring in their step? Maybe they don't seem to be doing enough revision, and you're the one panicking? Or are they losing their sh## with everyone in the house and struggling to stay on top of it?Both of us have teens currently revising for important exams, so we thought it might be helpful to chat about how we support th...
Send us a textNicotine is considered highly addictive, and sales of vapes to teens are illegal, but the numbers of teens vaping nicotine in countries around the world are causing great concern.In America, the FDA called it an epidemic and is cracking down on the marketing and illegal sales of e-cigarettes to minors. France’s anti-tobacco lobby called for the immediate ban of a brand of flavoured, disposable e-cigarettes - that are cheap and look like highlighters - which have become a h...
Send us a textHaving your own child can feel like an overwhelming responsibility at times,but when you become a step-parent it's even more complicated. The child may feel resentful because they didn't ask for a new parent, their biological parents are likely to have issues with each other, and then there's our own needs in a new relationship. Ultimately, step-parents can offer a really wonderful addition to the lives of our bonus children. How we go about it can make all the differe...
Send us a textParties can be life-enhancing, joyous, and a wonderful chance to meet new people, but when it's for a teenager it can have a touch of the wild west about it. For parents who understand the risks it can feel easier to say no, but if we think through all of the issues - and discuss them with our teens - there's far less chance things will go horribly wrong.Our website has a free checklist of things to cover when planning your party. RESOURCES USED:https://raisingchildren...
Send us a textHave you ever caught your teenager lying to you? Let's face it, lying is part of everyday life. In fact an entire film was made on the premise of a lawyer incapable of telling a lie for 24 hours. The result is comedy, but we all know that it can be serious. Our challenge is teaching kids to be truthful to us when it matters, and to be able to tell the difference between the sorts of lies that oil relationships in a healthy way and the ones that will ultimately end up ...
Send us a textDo you have a teen at home who's all sweet and loving with one parent, but treats the other like they're a bad smell? Karen says she feels like running away because she's walking on eggshells in her own house, with a daughter who is rude to her but sweet and kind to her husband.Why do they do it and how can we, as both a parent and partner, make things better for everyone? Also, it's been around since the Ancients: Personal expression using hair dyes, make-up, nail varnish,...
Send us a textWhen we covered the issues of friendship groups, with girls in mind, we had a massive reaction from parents who have been struggling to understand what's going on. Now it's the turn of boys. When friendships work, they are extremely beneficial, but what causes boys to struggle with their mates, and how can we help them?Also, how do you deal with swearing in your family? Is it absolutely forbidden, does it matter who's doing it and when, or are you all a bit potty-mouthed? We loo...
Send us a textWARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT. Pornography is probably as old as art itself. Whether you indulge, or wouldn't go near it, there has never been a time when it is more graphic, or readily available to children and teens, with the knock-on impact on their own attitudes towards sex and relationships. Just for context, an unbelievable 42 billion individual visitors accessed Pornhub in 2019, averaging more than 115 million visits per day, and that was before Covid-19.That's why it's...
Send us a textA healthy body image: Feeling happy and satisfied with your body and what it can do. An unhealthy body image: Highly self-critical, comparing their body to others and obsessing about some aspect of it. Beauty and body image are universal triggers for shame. Shame is a deeply painful sensation from the belief that we’re not good enough and will not be accepted by a group.Influences:Family environment,Ability/disabilityAttitudes of peersSocial mediaCultural backgrou...
Send us a textJust when you thought that you’d got the hang of parenting, your child changes again... and now they're a teenager.In this episode, we have a rummage in your parenting toolbox to work out what’s in there, and how useful it actually is.And in Tangling with your Teenager, we gather all of your suggestions to answer Natalie’s question. ‘How do I get my son to do what I say, and tidy his room?’Answers range from taking the door off to pretending there are mice in the room.Do you hav...
Just when you thought that you’d got the hang of parenting, your child changes again, and this time it’s a teenager. In this episode, we have a rummage in your parenting toolbox to work out what’s in there, and how useful it actually is. And in Tangling with your Teenager, we gather all of your suggestions to answer Natalie’s question. ‘How do I get my son to do what I say, and tidy his room?’Answers range from taking the door off to pretending there are mice in the room.Do you have any tips, or any great stories that will teach us what not to do?We'd love to hear from you, including any questions you'd like answered?Email us now: www.teenagersuntangled.comOr find us on https://instagram.com/teenagersuntangled?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==Experts mentioned in the podcast:đŸ‘‰đŸ»Www.aricsigman.comđŸ‘‰đŸ»Jesper Juul: Your Competent ChildThanks for listening. Creating this podcast has been transformative for our family lives; we hope it does the same for yours. Please subscribe if you like our podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.Our website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comSusie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk
Send us a textIf we genuinely think about how many of us are emotionally mature before we become parents the number is probably pretty low. The act of caring for someone else, and having to manage our own feelings, can be incredibly challenging, particularly when we were raised by parents who were immature themselves.Being able to spot the difference between being emotionally immature, and the normal pressures of parenting, can be really helpful. We all have outbursts at times; we're human. T...
Send us a textWhat we see on TikTok often starts on message boards in fringe groups then spills over into the mainstream. This is true of the Looksmaxxing social media trend that's been gaining more and more currency among teen boys. The goal of looksmaxxing is to meet a set of criteria for physical attractiveness, with a focus on the eyes, jawline, and physique and the ultimate currency is SMV, or Sexual Market Value. There are some really positive elements to the trend, but its originated i...
Send us a textBoundaries exist, regardless of whether we're conscious of them or not. The first place we experience them is in our own home, and the way they are created, managed and enforced can set us up for a lifetime of healthy relationships, or difficulty coping with other humans. In this episode Susie and I discuss what a boundary is, how we uncover our own boundaries and create and uphold healthy ones within our own families. It's a fascinating area for us parents who were raised in an...
Send us a textWhen kids hit puberty they become driven by a core motivation that many of us adults don't fully appreciate. It's not simply fun, or sex; they're looking for experiences that give them social status and respect. According to David Yeager, author of 10-25: The Science of How to Motivate Young People, a societal belief that teens and young adults are lazy and incompetent causes us to misunderstand the power of this motivator. When parents, teachers and employers get it wrong they ...
Send us a textOver the last decade, parents have been consistently more likely to report experiencing high levels of stress compared to other adults, according to a report issued by the US Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Murthy. According to the advisory, 'When stress is severe or prolonged, it can have a harmful effect on the mental health of parents and caregivers, which in turn also affects the well- being of the children they raise. Children of parents with mental health conditions may fac...
Send us a textHow to parent kids who struggle with ADHD, anxiety and lifeNobody wants their child to struggle, but it's inevitable at some point. Many of the problems our kids face will be part of a well-worn path through the teenage years.But some kids have more complex needs. Parenting them can be far more challenging, and require a far great draw on our own resources, which is why I've been looking out for advice that will help those of us who find ourselves in that situation.Having read t...
Send us a textA recent Tweet focused my mind on something I've only really glimpsed with a side-eye. We hear so much about the challenges of the early teen years that it's easy to forget young adults have their own issues. As the Tweeter said, when our kids are 18-22 they're dealing with adult emotions, disappointing experiences and us parents have zero control; making it terrible to witness. The response to the remark was a variety of parents agreeing entirely, or begging for better news bec...
Send us a textWhen an anonymous listener posted this question we thought it would be a great topic to discuss; one that many of our listeners could be wondering about. The listener said, Hello, I absolutely love your podcast. And here’s the question. Do you think all teens should go to therapy, just so they have a space to talk that isn’t a parent, family member or friend. I’ve been pondering this lately and trying to equip my kids with all the tools I feel they will need in life.Feeling...
Send us a textGrades are used in education the world over, but why? With the growing mental health crisis in teenagers I've been exploring how experts are asking whether perhaps it's time we looked again at the role grades play in helping or hindering the learning of our children. In my interview with Josh Eyler, author of Failing Our Future: How Grades Harm Students, and What We Can Do about It we discuss the negative impact of grades on students. Eyler argues that the focus on grades, start...
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