Co-parenting is hard - there’s no sugarcoating it. In an ideal world, both parents would align perfectly on every decision, from phone use to curfews to navigating friendships. But, as Seth and I explore in this episode, that’s often not the case.

One of the biggest challenges I often see as a parent coach is when one parent holds firm boundaries while the other is more loose. It can feel like a tug-of-war, and the fear of "losing" your child to the more relaxed parent is real. But here’s the thing: I’ve consistently found that when healthy boundaries are set (and consequences stuck to) with kindness, compassion, and understanding, your child, teen, or young adult will still enjoy being around you.

You don’t have to undermine your co-parent to uphold your values, and you don’t have to be afraid of the different influences your child is getting from the other parent. Let’s take a deeper look at all of this in today’s episode!

In this episode on co-parenting challenges, we discuss:

• Why you don’t have to be afraid of ‘losing’ your child to the other parent by setting more strict boundaries;
• How to uphold your value system without undermining the other parent;
• The damaging effects of speaking negatively about the other parent or dismissing their boundaries;
• The natural reaction of our brain to blame others and how to turn the reflection back on yourself;
• And much more!

If you ever think to yourself:

• "What do I do if my ex undermines my parenting?"
• "How can I co-parent without putting my child in the middle?"
• "Why does my ex always get to be the fun parent?"
• "Am I losing my child to the other parent by setting strict boundaries?"
• "What’s the best way to co-parent when we don’t agree?"
• "How can I co-parent without conflict?"

…then this episode is for you! Let’s dive in!

Need support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

You can support the show by:
Leaving a review
Subscribing to the show

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

Got a question or something to share? You can always send me a message by clicking here. I'd love to hear from you!

“An adolescent brain, it is what it is for a reason”- Brittney King

The teenage years can feel like a rollercoaster. One moment your young teen is playing it cool, and the next, they’re literally rolling on the ground pretending to be a dog. Sound familiar? In this week’s episode, I sit down with Brittney King, a licensed counselor, mom of five, and creator of the Think Good Feel Good online courses, to dive into the world of teens, particularly those in Junior High, aged 11-15.

“It’s such a key time for parents ... to be a guiding force.” - Brittney King

Brittney has a unique insight into our teen’s brain development throughout these years and why this unpredictable phase is so crucial for their development, and for us as parents. Their unpredictability can feel frustrating for us as parents (I’m not the only one who thinks sometimes ‘WHAT am I going to do with my teen?!’, right?) but understanding the teenage brain can help us be more tolerant of our kids as they explore, learn, and develop.

One thing Brittney has learned from being a counselor is that there is not one teenager out there who’s not struggling with something. What surprised her the most was how much they want to talk to adults about their problems. They don’t always show it and they certainly want some independence but that doesn’t mean they don’t need you to still be there and helping and supporting them through it.

“Teachers, coaches, therapists, they will come and go. But there is no substitute for caring and intentional parenting.” - Brittney King

It’s not about being a perfect parent or trying to be their therapist (they’ll see right through you!). What they care about is you connecting with them. They care about whether you’re showing up for them and whether they truly believe that you are there for them unconditionally, even when they don’t know how to ask for it.

Let’s hear more invaluable wisdom from Brittney in today’s episode.

In this episode on the brain development of teenagers, we cover:

• Why unpredictability is actually part of teen brain development;
• The importance of being a guiding force;
• How to connect with your teen without trying to “fix” them;
• The difference between helping and letting your teen solve their own problems;
• The importance of developing emotional intelligence for parents raising teens;
• What does it mean to be a safe person for your teen to open up to?;
• What teens are looking for in their parents;
• And more!

Need support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Links & resources mentioned in this episode:

• You can reach out to Brittney on her website brittneykingcoaching.com or send her an email at brittney@brittneykingcoaching.com
• Get 50% off the Think Good Feel Good online course bundle for parents and teens with promo code: bethcoaching
• Research by Donald Winnicott: Good Enough Parenting
• Book by Ellen Galinsky: The Breakthrough Years

You can support the show by:

Got a question or something to share? You can always send me a message by clicking here. I'd love to hear from you!

What if improving your relationship with your teen starts with changing yourself?

Are you willing to look at your own behavior to improve your relationship with your teen? If you know me at all, you know I truly believe the change begins with us. In this episode, Seth and I dive deeper into what that actually means for you as a parent.

Seth dropped quite the truth bomb in this episode: "None of us is perfect in how we relate to everybody." And isn't that the crux of it? We go into situations armed with a laundry list of demands and expectations for our teens or partners, but how often do we take a step back and ask ourselves if we’re holding up our end of the bargain?

Here’s the thing—no one wants to change when they feel attacked. Think about it: How would you feel if your teen came at you with a list of your shortcomings? You’d probably get defensive, right? Well, guess what? Your teen feels the same way.

“If I’m asking someone else to be honest, I better look in the mirror and just ask myself ‘How honest am I being?’” - Beth Hillman

Real change starts when we’re willing to look in the mirror and look at our own part first - a little self-reflection I challenge you to do as we explore these ideas in this week’s episode. Let’s dive in.

In this episode on improving your relationship with your struggling teen through self-awareness, we discuss:

• Self-Awareness in Parenting: Recognizing your own weaknesses and how they impact your relationships, especially with your struggling teen;
• The Importance of Mutual Respect: Understanding that in any relationship, there must be a balance of give and take;
• Avoiding an Authoritarian Approach: Realizing that setting rigid expectations and demands without self-reflection won't foster positive change in your teen;
• Owning Your Role: Accepting responsibility for your part in the relationship dynamic and being open to self-improvement;
• Effective Communication: Emphasizing the need to clearly communicate your needs to avoid resentment;
• And more!

Need support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

You can support the show by:
Leaving a review
Subscribing to the show

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

Got a question or something to share? You can always send me a message by clicking here. I'd love to hear from you!