In this episode I explain why it’s important to stop Managing your Teenager and start Mentoring them.

I have a handout that accompanies this episode and it can be downloaded from my website:   📍www.caigraham.com/understanding

Teenagers’ brains are under construction – and with this comes chaos and overwhelm.
It’s a scary time for them – when their minds are a melting pot or hormones and invariably they don’t know which way is up.  It’s our responsibility as parents to hold a space for our teenagers as they get to grips with what’s going on in their heads.
This maturation carries well on into their twenties – so it’s going to save a lot of heartaches if we start adapting as soon as possible.

Whilst they are traveling through adolescence they will indeed:

✔️ Start questioning our authority
✔️ Pushing our buttons
✔️ Making questionable decisions
✔️ Struggle with their emotions and feelings
this is what independence looks like. So (like it or not) we are stuck with it!
Our children are learning how to become a young adult.

It’s what they are programmed to do – so there’s no point in trying to resist.  What I suggest we do is :

Be Patient
Validate their Feelings
Respect this Independence
Consult and Collaborate
Allow for Mistakes
Understand that your child is an EXPERT in their own lives.
LISTEN to their opinions and thoughts.

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Supporting Parents Build a Mentally Healthier and

Happier Generation of Young People

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Three Questions to Ask Your Uncommunicative Child :

All too often parents say to me :
“My child won’t speak to me”
or
“I know something’s not quite right – but they won’t tell me what’s wrong.”

Well, I have a resource for you. Download this FREE Resource : 📍www.caigraham.com/threequestions

It will help you reconnect with your child quickly and easily; and in a way that will not drive them to their bedroom to avoid you!

* Breathing Through BIG Emotions :

If you or your child are struggling with your emotions at the minute – then I have a great online course that introduces you to 7 different breathing exercises that a can get you out of many sticky situations :