Connect With Your Teens | Conversation Starters, Parenting Tips, Screen Time, Build Connection, Communication Skills

Welcome back to Connect With Your Teens! Today’s episode kicks off a brand-new holiday series designed to help moms walk through December with hope, peace, and confidence — even if Thanksgiving left you feeling discouraged or disconnected from your teen. If you walked into Thanksgiving hoping for warmth, connection, laughter, and maybe one of those rare moments where your teen chooses to be around...

Thanksgiving is here… and if you’re like most moms, you’re feeling a mix of gratitude, exhaustion, pressure, and hope. You want connection with your teen, you want peace in your home, and you want to enjoy the holiday you’ve worked so hard to prepare — but the expectations threaten to steal your joy before the turkey even goes in the oven. In this episode, Terri shares a powerful shift that change...

What if the #1 sign you’re actually a great mom has nothing to do with your teen’s behavior? If you’ve been lying awake at night replaying conversations, wondering what you did wrong or why your teen seems more distant…this episode will lift a weight off your shoulders. Inside, Terri reveals the hidden patterns that quietly create disconnection—and the one identity shift that helps you show up wit...

What if your teen isn’t lying to be defiant — but because they don’t feel safe telling you the truth? In this Episode, my daughter, Sharaya and I have an honest conversation about what’s underneath teen lies — fear, shame, self-protection, and a longing to be understood. How creating a safe space transforms teen honesty. You’ll hear moments from our own story, including the choices we made as pare...

If you’ve ever caught your teen lying and wondered, “Why would they do that?” — this episode is for you. In part one of a heartfelt conversation with my daughter Sharaya, we unpack what’s really going on when your teen lies. It’s not about rebellion—it’s often about fear, shame, or self-protection. Together, we explore the hidden reasons behind teen dishonesty and what you can do to build connecti...

Are you constantly second-guessing every word you say—desperately trying to find the “right” way to communicate—but still ending up with tension? Do you feel like you’re pouring your heart and soul into connecting with your teen, only to feel like you’re hitting a brick wall? If you’re a mom who loves her teen deeply but feels stuck in a cycle of conflict, you might be missing the quiet, powerful...

Ever feel like your teen’s eye roll says everything — and none of it’s good? Maybe you’ve tried to connect, but every conversation ends in silence, sarcasm, or shutdown. The truth is, those surface reactions are just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath that attitude or one-word answer is something deeper — something your teen often doesn’t have the words to express. In this episode, I’ll walk you thro...

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to slip into “fix-it” mode when your teen shuts down or rolls their eyes? You want connection, but fear takes over — fear they’ll pull away, make poor choices, or that you’re not doing enough. In this episode, Terri helps you uncover the real reason behind that reaction and how it’s connected to your identity as a mom. Through Psalm 139, you’ll discover what it...

Have you ever felt like your teen has become a stranger? That the distance between you grows every time you open your mouth? In this episode, we dig into the hidden weight of regret and grief many moms carry—and how that weight can actually be a pathway to rebuilding connection. We’ll cover two additional types of grief many moms experience, reveal the freedom in forgiveness through Scripture, and...

Has your teenager pulled away and you’re left wondering what happened to the close, easy connection you once had? In this heartfelt episode, we’ll talk about the often-unspoken grief that comes with parenting teens — the sadness, confusion, and sense of loss when your child grows more distant. It’s part one of a two part series that will help you understand what’s really happening beneath the dist...

Does your “family time” feel like everyone’s just sitting together but living in separate digital worlds? Have screen-time battles left you feeling more disconnected from your teen than ever? What if reclaiming connection didn’t require more rules? If your family room feels more like a collection of people staring at separate screens than a place of connection, there’s hope for change without the...

When was the last time your well-meaning questions turned your teen into a brick wall? If you’re tired of watching your teen shut down, walk away, or give one-word answers, you’re not alone. In today’s episode, we’re uncovering why the way you ask can actually create more distance—and how one simple shift can open the door to real connection. Every mom wants to know what’s happening in their teen’...

Is your teen’s constant pull toward devices and friends leaving you feeling shut out? Do you worry that you’re losing the bond you once had with your child? What if their need for connection is actually God’s design calling out to you?  Ever feel like your teen is slipping away—spending more time on their phone, retreating to their room, or turning to friends and social media instead of you? You’r...

Are you tired of repeating your advice to your teen and getting eye rolls or silence in return? Do you feel frustrated when your teen seems to tune out even the guidance you know could help them? Wondering why your well-meaning solutions often push your teen further away instead of connecting them to you? In this episode, we’re diving into a common communication pattern that keeps teens from truly...

Ever feel like one wrong word with your teen can flip the whole conversation? A slammed door, a sarcastic remark, or the dreaded eye roll—and suddenly you’re caught in a storm of emotions. Your heart races, defensiveness rises, and before you know it, you’ve drifted into frustration or silence. Mom, I know that storm well. And I also know this: you don’t have to be tossed around by it. You can sta...

Ever feel like you’re losing connection with your teen? Like every attempt at conversation ends in silence or conflict? Silence at the dinner table, battles over screen time, or constant eye rolls that make you feel invisible in your own home? Maybe you’ve been carrying sadness or guilt, feeling the weight of distance between you and your child — and wondering if the closeness you once had is gone...

Have you ever said something you meant as helpful, only to have your teen take it the wrong way? You’re thinking, “I just want them to know I care.” But what they hear is, “You don’t think I can do anything.” In this episode, we’ll look at why your words sometimes don’t land the way you intend—and 3 key shifts that help your teen feel safe to keep talking instead of walking away. Here’s what you’l...

Ever wonder what really makes teens feel seen and valued? In this heartfelt conversation with my daughter Bre, we pull back the curtain on the everyday moments that build lasting connection between parents and teens. From playful interactions to deep discussions, we share both sides of the parent-teen relationship - what works, what doesn't, and why. This isn't just theory - it's real insight from...

Moms, when your teen pulls back, it can feel discouraging and even scary. But what if behind the silence is a longing to be known? In this powerful conversation with my daughter Bre, now 35, you’ll hear straight from her heart about her experiences as a teen and young adult — what made it hard to talk openly with us, what shifted when we learned new communication skills, and what she wishes moms u...

What happens when you finally push past your biggest fear? In this follow-up episode, I share the powerful story of what happened after I left a trembling message that changed my life—a reunion 55 years in the making. Moms, if you’ve been waiting on the other side of silence, hoping your teen will open up, this episode will encourage you that connection is always worth the risk. You’ll learn: 💛 H...

Moms, do you ever walk away from a conversation with your teen feeling like they just don’t respect you? Maybe it’s the eye rolls, the sarcasm, or the silence that leaves you hurt and wondering if things will ever change. Here’s the surprising truth: most of the time, these conflicts aren’t really about respect at all. They’re about something deeper—something that can shift the entire dynamic once...

What if the deepest connection with your teen is locked behind an iron vault of fear? In this deeply personal episode, I take you behind the scenes of my own story—55 years of silence, a hidden identity, and how fear of rejection nearly kept me from one of life’s most precious connections. If you’ve ever: Felt like you’re walking on eggshells with your teen… Tried to connect, only to be met with s...

Moms, have you ever caught your teen in a white lie—or felt that sinking gut feeling that they aren’t telling you the whole truth? It can feel frustrating, even scary, when honesty doesn’t come easily in your relationship. But here’s the thing: lying is rarely just about the lie itself. Behind every dishonest moment is a story—a deeper reason that your teen might be afraid to tell the truth. In th...

What began as a small group in Greg and Kim’s living room grew into a safe haven where young people could wrestle with their faith and discover God’s truth through the power of being heard. In this episode, we continue the conversation and go even deeper into what makes listening transformational. 🎧 In Part 2, you’ll hear: Why listening is the key to unlocking hearts closed off by doubt, fear, or...

What happens when two parents step into the unknown and simply offer listening ears to young people who feel disconnected, lost, or unsure of their faith? In this episode, my good friends, Greg and Kim McInturff, share how a simple invitation turned into five+ years of transformational community for young adults—where their questions were welcomed, doubts were voiced, and hearts were healed. 🎧 In...