The Teenage Guide

It's June. The house looks like a small civilization moved in overnight. One cracker left in the package. Milk on the counter without the lid. Crumbs everywhere. And suddenly — you're staring at a dirty dish and predicting your kid's work ethic at 35. That spiral sound familiar? That's fear-based parenting. And it shows up when you're stressed, but your teen receives it in ways most people don't e...

3 Tools I'm Using to Make Summer Feel Lighter Summer with teenagers is a whole thing. Yes, we love summer for slowing down in some ways. But, in other ways, as parents we have more to manage. More mess. More groceries. More (possible) taxi driving. More free time to wonder what is happening when they're on their own?! More mental load — layered on top of everything else you're already managing.&nb...

EP. 52: What Waiting Is Costing You and Your Teen When you're caught in a cycle of conflict with your teen, it's easy to focus on the daily frustrations — the arguments, the resistance, the exhaustion. But what if the real cost runs much deeper than that? In this episode, I'm exploring the often-overlooked consequences of staying stuck in chronic struggle. Drawing from a recent coaching conversati...

EP. 51: Stop Trying to Create the Perfect Summer: What Your Teen Actually Needs Most Summer has a way of bringing unexpected pressure. The school year ends and suddenly it feels like we're supposed to produce a season full of memorable vacations, exciting experiences, and picture-perfect family moments. Social media doesn't help. Everywhere you look, someone's curated version of what summer *shoul...

Episode Title: Confidence, Connection, and the One Decision That Changes Everything Episode Description: What do parents want most for their teens? After years of working with families and listening to the questions parents ask, the answer keeps coming back to two things: confidence and connection. We want our teens to trust themselves, advocate for themselves, and navigate life with confidence. W...

Why You Keep Recreating the Parenting Patterns You Want to Stop Why do we keep falling back into the exact parenting patterns we desperately want to change? In this episode of The Teenage Guide Podcast , I’m breaking down why so many parents unconsciously recreate stress, conflict, overcontrol, emotional reactivity, and disconnection — even when they deeply want peace, connection, and calm in thei...

In this deeply personal episode of The Teenage Guide Podcast, Ashley shares the story of caring for her mother through cancer while simultaneously parenting teenagers, running a business, and navigating her own midlife transformation. This conversation is about more than caregiving. It’s about what happens when old family dynamics resurface in adulthood. When the patterns you thought you healed co...

What if the missing piece in your parenting reset isn’t another strategy… but the way you speak to yourself after hard moments? In this final episode of the Reset Series, Ashley walks parents through the third and often overlooked piece of sustainable change: self-compassion . Because awareness without compassion can quickly become shame. And regulation without gentleness can still leave parents s...

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I know better… so why do I keep reacting this way?” — this episode is for you. Here’s what’s really going on: this isn’t a willpower problem. It’s a nervous system pattern. In Part 2 of the May Reset Series, we move one layer deeper—from awareness into regulation. Because awareness helps you see the pattern… but regulation is what helps you shift it in real...

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a thought loop… replaying the same worries, reacting in ways you wish you hadn’t, or feeling like you know what to do but just can’t seem to do it—this episode is for you. This is Part 1 of the Reset Series, where we’re beginning with the foundation of everything I teach: The Three Selves . And today, we’re starting with Self-Awareness . Because here’s what’s...

If your teen seems “fine” at school but comes home and shuts down, snaps, or explodes… this episode will help you understand what’s really going on. Here’s what’s really going on: your teen isn’t becoming someone disrespectful — they’re releasing what they’ve been holding all day. In this episode, we walk through a common parenting moment — the after-school explosion — and gently shift the lens fr...

Here’s what’s really going on… So many parents come into this season of adolescence believing the relationship is the problem — the conflict, the attitude, the distance. But what if none of that is actually the problem? What if it’s the doorway? In this episode, we explore the idea that relationships aren’t something to fix — they are mirrors. They reflect back the beliefs, patterns, expectations,...

We’re living in an age where attention is constantly being pulled, fragmented, and monetized—and it’s impacting not just our teens, but us as parents too. In this episode, we slow things down and look beneath the surface of distraction. Because this isn’t just about phones, social media, or “lack of discipline.” Here’s what’s really going on: distraction is often a signal. A response. A form of av...

If your teen seems unmotivated, withdrawn, or like they’ve simply stopped caring, this episode is for you. Here’s what’s really going on: nothing has gone wrong. In this conversation, we gently unpack the belief that teens need more pressure to perform and replace it with something far more effective and sustainable. Because what looks like laziness is often overwhelm. And when a teen’s nervous sy...

Listen in to hear what I'm up to, and what that means for you. Remember, when you slow down, get quiet, and listen - you'll be guided. No need to force, hustle, or prove. You and your teen...you're enough! Get ready for some magic. See you soon, Ashley

Hey parents, summer can easily turn into endless screen time and chaos — but what if it became your biggest opportunity to build your teen’s confidence, independence, and real-life skills that stick all year? In this episode: ✨Understand the unique challenges of managing screen time during summer  ✨ Learn to set effective boundaries without conflict ✨Explore techniques to fill your teen's...

Let's face it: summer isn't really much of a break for parents.  Unstructured time often equals more chaos Teens often dysregulate in summer without rhythm. And, you're dysregulated at the thought of them being dysregulated (aka you're snappy at the thought of them being moody) In this episode: ✨ Destress and reset your parenting mindset. ✨ Redefine summer success for your family ✨ Em...

Hey parents, summer can easily turn into endless screen time and chaos — but what if it became your biggest opportunity to build your teen’s confidence, independence, and real-life skills that stick all year? In this episode: Redefine what summer success really means for your teen and your family Build a flexible framework with non-negotiable pillars, not strict rules Give your teen ownership over...

To culminate this 3-part series on time and energy (and how to make the most of it!) I wanted to focus on an area that comes up a lot in my coaching practice with parents and my THRIVE membership parent group: boundaries that motivate our teens and lead to more connection, follow-through, and solutions to challenges.  End of school pressures, expectations, and deadlines can lead to teens brea...

May-cember (as it's affectionally called in some circles) brings so many layers! Mother's Day Graduations End of Year Finals, Projects, Grades Parties Obligations Whether you feel 'up' to them or can actually enjoy them, or not! That’s why in this part 2 of the Time + Energy series TG35, "How to Actually Make Time for the Things that Make a Real Difference in You and Your Teen's Lives" , I’m...

Welcome back to The Teenage Guide podcast!  Between ping-pong schedules, being pulled in a million directions, and the emotional rollercoasters that April and May can bring, we've got to become intentional with our time and energy so that we can actually enjoy and be present for these (very layered) months!  In episode 1 of this 3 part series I'm calling "Time to Thrive", I’m breaki...

Welcome back to The Teenage Guide podcast! Listen, I know you want the best for your teen. And, at the same time, sometimes even with the best intentions, we unintentionally sabotage their motivation and success. In this powerful episode, I’m breaking down: Where you need to shift your focus (and it's not your mindset) The invisible (and unconscious) ways so many well-intentioned parents project f...

Welcome back! Inside this episode, I’ll walk you through The RELATE Method™—my 6-part framework to build an unbreakable bond with your t(w)een, no matter how distant or challenging your relationship can feel. 🎯 Inside you’ll learn: What matters more than your “perfect” response How to listen in a way that builds trust fast How to be to not absorb their stress One surprising mindset shif...

Wish your teen had the tools and confidence to reach their full potential? Feeling the pressure of end-of-school year within sight? Wish you could help them, but they're full of excuses, resistance, or they're shutting you out? May is notoriously full for both parents and teens—projects, finals, deadlines, and sooo many to-do’s, and the above scenarios are common for so many parents and teens...

Got a teen who 'hates' school? You're not alone. Hearing this from our tweens and teens is more common than you might realize. With finals, projects, their ever-changing social world, and the pressure of the school year winding down, you may feel like you have little control over how it all unfolds, and your stress is mounting, too. But as I like to always remind you: you have more power and influ...