The Teen Years Toolkit For Moms: Parenting Communication Skills to Calm the Chaos

Ever found yourself snapping at your teen and wondering, 'Where did that even come from?' You're not alone. In this episode I discuss how being "triggered" is very normal, why our teens trigger us so much and what to do about it. Triggered a lot and need help?  I'm a life coach and I can work with you to help move through this process faster.  E-mail me at Jessica.stwrt@gmail.com  t...

I'm going back to basics.  I think it's worth making a case for the all that we can do to improve our relationships with our teenagers by working on what is going on within us.  There is tremendous power in learning how to remain CALM within ourselves. We don't need to have all the answers and know everything to help lead ourselves and our teenagers through these often challenging times....

The "perfect" holiday does not exist!  Does this statement relieve you or give you stress? We know this intellectually but actually letting ourselves enjoy the holiday season without the idea of perfection can be a different story.  Teenagers have a magical way of shattering our perfect holiday dreams like no other. This episode will help reframe the holiday season and embrace the chaos...

Seeing our children at any age as "ours" seems reasonable right?  It makes sense why we see it this way but it is also very problematic from a standpoint of providing our teenagers with the autonomy they need to grow and become independent. This weeks episode explores this further and the reason why we do this and why it is not helpful for either our teenagers or ourselves. Learn more about m...

I know what you're thinking because I've thought it too. If I just accept things that means I like them, condone them or am not going to do anything about it? This is not true and in fact the reality is when something has happened that we don't like, we spend so much wasted time and energy resisting it.  This does not help.   How do I know?  So much time spent arguing against realit...

Oh the moodiness of teenagers!! It's so frustrating! This episode will tell you why this happens and what you can do to help your teen and yourself through this time. I will also go over how to tell if there is something more serious going on.   Learn more about me at www.jessicastewartcoaching .ca Want to coach with me? E-mail me at Jessica.stwrt@gmail.com  to set up a free consult and...

Texting and e-mail are super convenient and quick but not always the best mode of communication.  When is it best to use these and when is it best to have a phone conversation or a face-to-face?   This episode gives you some things to consider when choosing the best mode.  Use these strategies to foster good connection with anyone and especially our teenagers.  They need us to...

What's wrong with the thought "I Just Want Them to be Happy"?  It sounds like a great thing to think doesn't it? Well, it is laced with problems for you and for your teenager. In this week's episode I will tell you why and give you some questions to ask yourself to begin questioning this. Releasing this thought can help you release more anxiety around your parenting and focus more on the part...

Teen anxiety seems to be ramping up these days.  We are hearing about the increase everywhere.  How do we help our teenagers deal with this in the best way possible?  The best way is to be aware of your own emotional landscape and your teenagers will see you as a safe place. Anxiety is a normal part of our lives and it tries to help us but left unchecked and unexamined, it can begin...

Parenting teenagers can certainly bring up anxiety in us.  If it didn't I doubt you would be listening to this podcast. Listen to this episode for some practical ways to manage the heightened anxiety that comes with the territory. Dealing with your own anxiety when it comes up is the best way to know how to deal with your teenager's anxiety.   Learn more about me at www.jessicastewartcoa...

Anxiety is a constant companion for me so I'm going to focus on it for the next 3 episodes.  Parenting teenagers can increase anxiety in parents like no other time in life.   This episode focuses on what anxiety is and some perspectives on how to look at it and think about it a bit differently.  I've learned a few things having anxiety as my constant companion and I'm sharing it wit...

Are you struggling to stop yelling at your teenager despite knowing it's not helping? This episode is for you.   In it I will discuss the very human reasons we yell at each other and what to do about it.  I will also delve into how to release shame about yelling and a strategy for turning your recent yell-fest into some gold that will increase your connection with your teenager. Learn mo...

Have you watched the shows about these programs that claim to help teenagers reform?  There is good and bad in every industry but what does this say about relationships?   It's no wonder parents put their faith in this but there is something missing if a program you are looking at doesn't include both people in the relationship.   I can help you improve your relationship with your t...

I have been seeing a lot of posts on the socials lately from parents struggling as their teens leave to go away to college for the first time.   What is the advice for how to deal with this? Do I get a dog?  Do I find a new hobby?   Before you do any of that listen to this episode.  You can do these things but you need to let your absolutely normal feelings about this be there...

Do you find yourself frustrated with your teenager because you have all the best advice but they just don't listen?   There is a principle rooted in health education called the "righting reflex" and we do it all the time as parents. Guess what? It doesn't work very well. Listen to find out what can work better and how it has you doing less as a parent.  I love a principle that can help m...

What happens if the other person in your relationship doesn't want to listen to the podcast or read the book on how to improve it? No problem.  There is so much that can be made better by JUST YOU doing this work.  I have real life examples from my own life that prove the other person does not have to change for your relationship with them to be better.  I can help you improve your...

What if CALM is not somewhere we are trying to get to or strive for? I've been striving to be calm for awhile now and what I've come to realize is that our calm state is covered up by a lot of false thoughts that are disguising themselves as the truth. What if we can be like water and rest into calm. Allow ourselves to settle. The more we do this the easier it gets to come into that state of being...

Have you watched the movie Inside Out? I just watched it and I know it's not new but I want to talk about it! It should be required watching for all humans. Listen to find out why our job as parents is not to make our kids happy all the time or to keep them happy. As if that's even possible. This is the way our teenagers love to learn, by watching a movie. This is the perfect movie to learn about...

What if you don't know how to handle a situation with your teenager? Does that mean you are not a good parent? Not even close This episode is all about releasing the pressure of needing to have all the answers and why our brain likes to tell us that we should. When we are open to the fact that we can't be everything to our children and also we can't know everything, there is an instant pressure re...

Does your teenager's heartbreak also break your heart? Teen heartbreak is rough on them but also on us. How do we deal with it? What do we do? What do we say? I'm not sure I can tell you what to do or say but I can give you some ideas on how to "be" with them when this happens as it surely will. Learn more about me here www.jessicastewartcoaching.ca E-mail me to schedule a free 1:1 life coaching s...

I've been really ANGRY lately! I admit it and it took me by surprise. I haven't felt this way in quite some time and being faced with it was a good reminder about how important it is to make space for ALL of the feelings "good" and "bad". In this episode I will highlight why this is so important and how actually letting it be there can allow you to move through the emotion faster. Send me a messag...

Do you have perfectionist parenting tendencies? Do you think it helps or hinders you? I am a recovering perfectionist and here to share how perfectionism has increased my anxiety over the years, How about some thoughts that can help you become an anti-perfectionist? I've got you!!! Listen in and enjoy!!! Learn more about me here www.jessicastewartcoaching.ca Contact me to schedule a 1:1 coaching c...

I just don't want them to fail! This thought makes perfect sense, yet it may be working against your teenagers and you as their parent. Today is the last episode of my Unhelpful Parenting Thoughts series. Listen in as I break it down and examine ways this is not helpful and what we could think instead. Learn more about me at www.jessicastewartcoaching.ca Did you know I do 1:1 private coaching? Ema...

Welcome to Part 3 of this series! I'm exploring some parenting thoughts I have had in my own life that I now recognize as leading to no good outcome. This week the thought is "This shouldn't be so hard!" I will explore why it makes sense that we think this, why it is NOT helpful and ideas about what to think instead. Changing one thought can be so powerful. Listen in to make some shifts today. E-m...

This week we are looking at the thought "They should know better". Sounds like an OK reasonable thought but again we will be looking below the surface of this to see how it's working against you and your relationship with just about anybody you think this about. I will go through why it makes sense we think this, when we think this most often and some ways to come up with a slightly more helpful t...