Pivot Parenting: Expert Tips for Navigating Teen and Tween Challenges

Divorce is a common pain point for many parents. It can feel like your life is out of your control, your kids are suffering, and everything is turned upside down. Divorce expert, Karin Nelson and I will discuss  the guilt portion of that today. Whether you're divorced, in the process, or are happily married, you'll get valuable info from the conversation. We cover being unable to protect your kids...

You'd think they're kept top secret… but nobody is gatekeeping the ways parents of teens sabotage connection without ever knowing it. In today's episode of Pivot Parenting, I outline the three most effective parenting tips for improving family relationships. We'll overcome regret, discuss how to build connection with your teen, and find parenting peace. You've never met parenting solutions more ef...

Julia is worn out from meeting the emotional and physical needs of her kids and even her husband. She feels lonely and sad because her husband is so unavailable and parents in such a "black and white" manner, that there is little room for understanding and connection. Parenting her teen and dealing with a spouse who isn't showing up how she needs is taking a toll. Listen in as she's coached to dis...

Paul and his wife have 3 kids. Their middle child is playing too much Fortnite and it's not going well... Tech is a huge issue for most parents, and with good reason. You've got a teen brain that loves the high which games provide and parents who want their kids to see the wisdom in playing less, while feeling good about it all.  In this episode we discuss how parents that want their teens to like...

Kat is experiencing a very common parenting struggle: She wants to keep her daughter happy.  And so she apologizes when she's not done anything wrong, does more than she wants to to keep the house running, and generally walks on eggshells to manage a 13 yr olds emotions. As you can imagine, she isn't very successful at this, because we've all been in her shoes.  "Fix it" energy feels like the solu...

In today's Pivot Parenting episode I coach Madeleine. She has two daughters that fight and she just wants it to stop. We all get this- and we are often times in the same trap that she's in. Listen to learn how she can find the peace of mind she wants even though nothing has worked to stop them from arguing. There is more that can be done than either joining in the argument or withdrawing altogethe...

This episode of Pivot Parenting is dedicated to that parent who is second guessing all of their life decisions: Marriage, career, having all the kids, giving their whole life to something and someone all for nothing.  Having teens who act like they don't care, a partner who never appreciates us, a career that isn't what we'd thought, and a list of to-do's that breeds overnight with no help in site...

All talk (or complain) and nothing changes. We might get louder, we might be more miserable and frustrated, but the teens are still teening and the parents are still parenting... as the months pass but the unbearable moments we want to avoid are just on repeat.  WHY!? It can be maddening when you don't understand the reason behind the chaos. Listen in, because I'm going to make sense of the madnes...

Mental health is on the forefront of most parents brains. Anxiety being a frontrunner. Did you know that negative self-talk plays into anxiety and other mental health struggles? Listen in as Monica and I discuss: 1- What role self-awareness plays in managing anxiety, and how to help teens develop this skill. 2- Common negative self-talk patterns among teens and how these patterns contribute to the...

We all want the instant solution, "magic wand" kind of get-what-I-want-quick resolution. Parents try to come at this in so many directions... perhaps you've tried a few? Coulda, woulda, shoulda: "If I had known", "if I had said that differently", "if they hadn't been dating that person", "if their dad wouldn't have lost his temper... THEN we wouldn't be here." That's the "magic wand" we missed out...

One of the most common points of contention parents and teens have: Screens.  Video games, phones, vegging out for hours... while chores, school work and people are neglected. Listen in as I explain the simple two step process of prying your teen off their device and back into the real word. Psychologically founded and sure to be "do-able" for all families, my process is one that feels good for ev...

While I'm not saying parents have complete control over what their teens do (they don't), they DO have influence- and age old psychology does a pretty good job of predicting how the human brain will respond to certain parenting behaviors.  Knowing what I teach in this Pivot Parenting episode will better help you understand and utilize proven psychology methods while interacting with your kids to g...

When our kids know who they are, independent from accomplishment, others opinions, and other external details, they have more confidence, happiness and success. So how do we help them work this out during the typically hardest 'identity' years they'll have? Listen in as Traci and I go over all the details you need to know! To learn more about parenting your teen, please visit me at heatherfrazier....

The role of mother can be very lonely. We don't want to blab our teen's struggles to our friends, we are pulled in every direction, trying to be there for everyone, all while the list of things to do grows by the day. Why is it important to have friends amidst the chaos and how does one go about fostering meaningful friendships amongst everything else?  This is exactly what Jody and I discuss toda...

Today I have Jennifer on to talk about all things consent, self- abandonment, teaching healthy sexuality, and advocacy. I get that talking about such topics can feel awkward, intimidating, and confusing as to how to go about it. Stress no more! One of my favorite things Jennifer said was, "if you want someone's approval it puts you at a disadvantage." She was referencing the story of my first kiss...

Many parenting issues boil down to one specific struggle: Confidence. Advocating for our kid, standing up to them, following through with consequences, loving unconditionally, having peace, and so many other things all have this common root struggle. Today, Tony and I discuss the details and help you find more confidence and therefore less struggle and more joy.  To learn more about parenting and...

There are a few specific key ingredients to effectively correcting and guiding our kids and they may not be what you think they are. Discipline is a necessary part of parenting and greatly influences the trajectory of their self-esteem, confidence, emotional skill level and general life satisfaction. Too little talked about, but a giant portion of parental responsibility, I'm taking the bull by th...

Routine is shown to help manage stress and anxiety, help in productivity and make life feel generally better. Enter, a parents morning routine. Helping teens get out the door each day, fitting in time for ourselves while doing all of the other things on the list can feel daunting. In todays Pivot Parenting episode, I chat with morning routine expert, Ahna Fulmer.  We discuss all of the things: why...

"Time heals all wounds."  "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" "Blood is thicker than water." We've all heard antidotal phrases that sound nice but may not feel as good. The truth is, within families we wound each other. Sometimes unknowingly, sometimes with the best of intentions to be helpful, and sometimes out of our own anger and emotions to hurt another.  Maybe time alone isn't going to...

It's common that our kid's teen years intersect with loss. The passing of our parents (their grandparents), their peers, pets, and even loss that isn't death- loss of friendships, anticipated futures (like making the team or getting the part) and other hoped for expectations that never become realized. Grief is a hard time for us and our kids. It can feel awkward and we may not know how to approac...

When they say... "I know, I know" "Thats not what you said..." "It wasn't because of me, they caused it" "WHY ARE YOU SO MAD! you hate me, I can never do anything right!" There are many ways our teens justify, deny and avoid being wrong. Why? This drives parents crazy and then it just gets worse. Fighting, us refusing to be wrong, nit-picking details, and causing strain on our relationship.  But d...

It can feel like our teens are a shrouded mystery of hormones and hoodies... until now! Today I have a teen therapist, Ashley Hudson, on Pivot Parenting to discuss how their behavior makes sense and what they mean when they say things like, "I Hate you!", give you the silent treatment, lie, or coddle your feelings. You don't want to miss our informative conversation!  To learn more about parenting...

When you're stuck  and feel like it's never enough, you try and try, but end up exhausted with little to show for it. When you feel like you're holding on sooo tight but still feel unstable. When everything is so obiviously one thing or another but also nothing will conform to your way of seeing it... You may be getting in your own way of parental happiness with a "check-the-box" parenting approac...

It's infuriating when our teens yell, swear, rant, take it out on us and their siblings... Having an angry teen is one of the common complaints I hear from parents.  Listen to this weeks episode of Pivot Parenting as I break it down: Why this happens and what to do about it. There are better solutions then yelling back, cowering from them, or jumping through hoops trying to avert their wrath and w...

We invest in real-estate, the stock market, cryptocurrency, NFT's and other forms of business.. but what about our kids? Parenting isn't a vending machine, its a charity, and education, and in invitation to evolve. Listen in as I break down some unexpected returns when we think of our kids as something we deserve a return on.  To learn more about parenting your teen and order my book, How I Fixed...