The Parenting Pair Podcast

What does it actually mean to prepare our kids for the future when we don't even know what that future will look like? For years, parents have been given a familiar formula: get good grades, go to college, get an internship, build a résumé, and find a good job. But as technology, AI, and the world of work continue to change, are those still the best ways to think about preparing young people for a...

What should parents do when they believe their teenager is going to drink alcohol anyway? Should you let your teen drink at home so they learn to drink responsibly, or make it clear that underage drinking is not okay? In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen respond to a listener question about teens and alcohol and explain why the answer isn't a simp...

What happens to the child or teen who seems to be “doing fine” when a sibling needs much more attention? When a child or teenager is dealing with a concerning medical condition, mental health concern, developmental difference such as ADHD or autism, or behavioral challenge, family life can naturally begin to revolve around their needs. There may be appointments, school meetings, difficult moments...

When does puberty start, and what should parents know about teen weight, sleep, perimenopause, and HRT? Pediatric and adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Sophia Yen answers listener questions from puberty through midlife. Why we're re-releasing this episode: Women's hormonal health is always timely, and many of you have joined us since this conversation first aired. We didn't want it to be missed....

Is it safe to skip your period? Dr. Sophia Yen makes the case that for many teens and women it is, and that the long-term benefits may include a significantly lower risk of ovarian cancer. In honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we're re-sharing one of our most-talked about episodes. Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron talk with Dr. Sophia Yen, a board-certified pediatrician and adolescen...

Is 13 really the right age for a teen or tween to start using social media ? What does social media have to do with the developing adolescent brain—and should parents limit, delay, or ban it altogether? In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen talk with Dr. Eva Telzer , psychologist, neuroscientist, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC Cha...

What happens when kids and teenagers begin turning to AI chatbots for friendship, advice, reassurance, and connection? In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen sit down with psychologist and adolescent development expert Dr. Mitch Prinstein to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way teens and young people experience relationships...

When your child is facing a serious illness, hospitalization, medical procedure, injury, or other frightening medical experience, it can be easy to focus entirely on your child—and forget that the experience affects you, too.  In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen welcome back Dr. Meghan Marsac , a pediatric psychologist and expert in pediatric me...

Back-to-school season can quickly turn parents into the project managers of the household.  School forms, homework, practices, appointments, schedules, emails, deadlines… suddenly, so much of our interaction with our tweens and teens can become solely about getting things done. But what if, in the middle of all that busyness, we're missing something that matters much more in the long run? In this...

Medical challenges can affect far more than your child's physical health. Whether it's a routine shot, bloodwork, a frightening trip to the ER, surgery, an injury, or managing a chronic medical condition, medical experiences can bring fear, anxiety, avoidance, stress, and sometimes even medical trauma. And for parents, these situations can be overwhelming too. Suddenly you're managing appointments...

Parenting Pair classic: We are bringing this essential conversation back to the top of your feed this week. This is one of our most-watched episodes, and the practical tools inside are too important to miss. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or need a timely refresher, we hope it brings you some compassionate guidance today. How do you raise a teen who makes good decisions on their own...

Encore episode: It's move-in week — and this episode is a timely one for parents of teens heading to college, a new social scene, or just more unsupervised time with friends. In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, Dr. Suzanne Allen and Dr. Annalise Caron have a clear conversation about sexual assault prevention — for teens and young adults of any gender, not just those heading off to colle...

Encore episode: Every parent loses their temper sometimes—it is a completely normal part of raising teens. But what matters most is what we do after the dust settles. We are re-sharing this essential conversation because learning how to genuinely repair and apologize to your teen is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your relationship. Did you lose your temper with your teen this summer?...

Food allergies don't just affect what your child  or teen eats—they can shape your family's entire experience of school, friendships, and independence. In this episode, therapist and author of May Contain Anxiety Tamara Hubbard joins Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen to talk about food allergy anxiety in kids and teens, and how parents can build trust instead of fear. Together, they explore...

Have you ever noticed that the more you remind, explain, lecture, or give advice… the less your teen seems to listen? In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen explore one of the simplest—but most powerful—communication strategies for parents of tweens and teens: saying less . As parents, it's natural to want to help by offering reminders, solutions,...

Is your teen struggling to make friends, maintain friendships, or navigate their social world? Many parents worry when their tween or teen seems lonely, has difficulty connecting with peers, misses social cues, or struggles to maintain friendships. But social communication is a complex set of skills—and many young people need support learning them. In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , c...

We're re-releasing this episode because the topic keeps coming up — over and over again — in our work with parents. How we think matters. It shapes how we feel, how we act, and how we show up in our relationships with our teens. Parenting isn't only about our kids — our own well-being, our own thought patterns, and our own mental health matter too. If you caught this one when it first aired as Epi...

Summer break is supposed to be relaxing—but for many parents of tweens and teens, it quickly turns into a battle over screens, video games, YouTube, and endless hours indoors. In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, clinical psychologists Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen tackle a question many parents are asking right now: "What do I do if my teen wants to spend the entire summer ga...

Starting college is exciting—but it can also be overwhelming for both young people and parents. In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , clinical psychologists Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen are joined by clinical psychologists and college transition experts, Dr. Liz Seidler and Dr. Sarah Olivo to discuss what really happens when teens leave home and begin living on their own. Fro...

Sleep problems are incredibly common among women—but they're often misunderstood. In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, clinical psychologists Annalise Caron and Suzanne Allen sit down with renowned sleep expert and board certified behavior sleep medicine specialist Dr. Shelby Harris to explore why women experience unique sleep challenges throughout their lives, from adolescence and paren...

Does your teen constantly run late, underestimate how long tasks will take, or seem completely unaware of how much time has passed? It might be time blindness. In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast, clinical psychologists Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen explore time blindness — a common but often misunderstood executive functioning challenge that affects tweens, teens, and young a...

Teen breakups can feel overwhelming, heartbreaking, and all-consuming — not only for teens, but for parents watching their child struggle through intense emotions for the first time. In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen explore what first heartbreaks are really like for tweens, teens, and young adults, and how parents can respond in ways that bui...

Grief can look very different in children, tweens, and teens — and many parents are left wondering how to best support their child while navigating their own loss at the same time. In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen sit down with grief expert Dr. Julie Kaplow to discuss how grief shows up in adolescents and families, what healthy grieving can l...

Why do tweens and teens suddenly want tattoos, second piercings, dramatic hair changes, or other appearance changes? And how should parents respond without overreacting, shutting down communication, or creating conflict? In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen explore why appearance becomes such an important part of identity development during adole...

What if the key to better communication with your teen… isn’t having the right answers, but asking better questions? In this episode of The Parenting Pair Podcast , Dr. Annalise Caron and Dr. Suzanne Allen explore the power of curiosity in parenting —and why becoming genuinely interested in your teen’s inner world can transform your relationship. Many parents find themselves jumping to conclusions...