Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens

Hey parents—this episode is a must-listen. I share a powerful conversation that reminded me of the real work of parenting teens: not making it worse. Our kids are going through huge growth, and we often react to just the "tip of the iceberg." I unpack what’s really going on underneath, how to handle big mistakes with kindness and firmness, and how to stay connected without falling into control or fear. It’s messy, real, and full of tools to support you. Let’s navigate this ride together.Find more show notes and information about our offers and sponsors at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-559-the-tension-of-positive-discipline-and-our-teens-risky-behaviors/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Patrick Ney, here to explain the neuroscience behind some adolescent behaviors. Patrick shares about self-determination theory and our 3 universal psychological needs. We dig into the personal growth and rewriting the narratives we’ve told ourselves about the way we were parented.  Lastly, Patrick shares actionable steps & advice for helpful communication with your unregulated teen. Takeaways from the show Wanting to parent differently than you were parented  Self-determination theory  3 psychological needs: relatedness, competence, & autonomy  People feel better & work better with others when those needs are met; we see more negative behavior when those needs are not met   Parenting is an invitation for personal growth  “There’s no getting around teen brain development”  Neuroscience of the teen brain The more you understand the connection between teen behavior, their needs, and brain development, the easier it becomes to stay grounded & helpful - most parents don’t know a lot of neuroscience, but it helps!   Teens are hypersensitive to the opinions of other teens You are the world’s best expert on your child  Getting curious instead of cutting off behavior immediately  Having a narrative understanding of who you are and where you came from can help you know where you’re going as a caregiver  Reflecting on your own behavior & actions as a teenager  “A teenage brain has higher highs and lower lows “ Steps for staying helpful & communicative with unregulated adolescents  For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raising teens is messy—and that's okay! In this episode, I dive into the book Positive Discipline for Teenagers by Jane Nelsen, sharing how you can stay connected, set boundaries, and foster independence during these challenging years. I talk about how brain development, social-emotional growth, and individuation shape your teen’s behavior—and why nurturing a strong relationship is key. Whether you're new to Positive Discipline or just need a refresher, tune in for insights, real-life stories, and practical tips to support your teen’s journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Will Kirsop, and he’s here to talk about helping teens discover their purpose, uncover their gifts, and support them in cultivating lives they will look forward to. Will shares the four stages of life crafting he goes through with adolescents and shares his “best friend trick” and bowling alley analogy. We touch on encouraging goal setting and personal responsibility, uncovering purpose, and emotionally untangling from our teens.  Takeaways from the show How to uncover our teen’s gifts - everyone has a unique gift; how do we bring it into the world?  Supporting adolescents in cultivating lives they will look forward to  The traditional “ladders of success” are outdated - there is no “one right path” anymore  Therapy versus coaching  The four stages of life crafting  What is appreciative inquiry?  Will’s “best friend trick” and bowling alley analogy  Encouraging goal setting & personal responsibility  Working towards our purpose - what are we doing right now? What’s the next stepping stone or springboard on your path?  Emotionally untangling from our teens “There’s no getting around teen brain development”  Helping teens realize they can dream big(ger)  For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feeling overwhelmed by parenting teens? Tune into this episode for insights that help you navigate challenges with grace. Discover strategies like cleaning up your side of the dynamic, listening more and judging less, and allowing your teen to take responsibility for their choices. Learn how to build supportive routines, embrace your teen as they are, and let natural consequences teach valuable life lessons. Most importantly, take care of yourself so you can show up fully. This episode blends compassion with practical advice to foster authentic connections and empower your family to thrive. Listen now!Find more show notes and info about our sponsors at: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Julietta Skoog, my co-founder and the Early Years Lead here at Sproutable. We’re talking about perfectionism and pressure on high achieving middle schoolers. Julietta and I discuss high achieving kids and the connection between extracurriculars and academics. We compare overachieving and being an efficient student and how much pressure some middle schoolers are under. Julietta shares about growth mindset and the antidote for perfectionism. We wrap up chatting about our modeling and “living out loud.” Takeaways from the show High achieving middle school students We can’t always help our kids tune out distractions or pressure, but we can help our kids reframe  Extracurriculars and academics  Being an efficient student versus being an overachieving student  The high pressure (and even burn out) on middle schoolers  The fear of “what if I never figure it out?”  Reconciling parental expectations with school expectations and what their own expectations are for themselves  Studying for a test versus studying to learn & retain knowledge  Things can still be hard and uncomfortable even when we’re using our Positive Discipline parenting tools and doing it “right” - sometimes we just have to sit with the discomfort and the challenge  The importance of a growth mindset  “The antidote for perfectionism is I love you no matter what” When kids stop trying because of pressure from perfectionism  Modeling and “living out loud” For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Struggling to connect with your teen? This episode dives deep into the dynamics of parent-teen relationships, exploring how our beliefs and reactions shape the way our kids see us. Learn how to shift from control to connection, create a space of openness, and build trust so your teen feels seen, heard, and understood. If you’ve ever wondered how to maintain influence without pushing your child away, this conversation is for you. Tune in to discover practical strategies for fostering a relationship where your teen feels safe to share—and you can truly support their journey.Find more show notes and info about our sponsors at https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-554-conflict-to-connection-parenting-teens-with-empathy-amp-understanding/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Jenn Ireland, and we’re talking about the mental health in youth sports, particularly for teen girls. Jenn shares what youth sports culture looks like today and we discuss teens tying their self-worth to athletic performance. Jenn talks about some of the skills she mentors young female athletes about, like countering your inner-critic voice with your inner-coach. We get into the similarities between parent coaching and coaching young athletes, and we wrap up touching on when to (gently) push your adolescent and effective coaching.  Takeaways from the show: The focus on winning & success in youth sports culture today  Being disappointed with a loss versus associating losses with your self-worth  Self-worth can’t be tied to performance  Being good at a sport takes many life-skills in addition to the necessary athletic skills  How to help kids who are stuck in their head or beating themselves up about performance  Teens need mentors aside from parents & coaches  Countering your inner-critic with your inner-coach  Similarities between parent coaching and coaching young athletes - we’re all working on the same skills  Parents encouraging/pushing their children into elite sports versus kids who are intrinsically motivated How do you know when to push your athlete? When do you hand the decision to play to your adolescent?  Telling a teen you love them unconditionally versus making sure they know and believe that you love them unconditionally  Building relationships  Effective coaching & being connected to your coaches For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting teens is a wild ride, and in this episode, we’re diving into how we can stay connected, even when it feels like they’re slipping away. I’ll be sharing insights from the community, including a real question from a parent struggling with their teen’s choices and independence. We’ll explore how to reframe challenges, strengthen communication, and shift our own mindset to create deeper, more meaningful relationships. You can’t control your teen, but you can control how you show up—and that changes everything. Join me for a conversation full of insight, validation, and practical tools to support you on this journey!For more show notes and information about our sponsors, go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-552-influence-through-connection-while-dealing-with-our-teens-partners-family/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Clarissa Moll, and she’s here today to talk about helping teens cope with grief. Clarissa shares her story and what led her to griefwork. We discuss how teens grieve and what your child(ren) want and need to know during loss. Clarissa offers us tips around relationship building and starting tough conversations with our adolescents. We end our conversation talking about spirituality in grief. Takeaways from the show Teens don’t have a lot of resources around grief  Adolescents don’t grieve like children or adults, and everyone grieves differently  Asking your child what it’s like to be a grieving teenager  Needing our teen’s guidance into what they need from us  When, what, and how much to share with your child  Being the gatekeeper for your family  The importance of one trusted adult and building a community of support  Wanting to say the “right thing” while not layering on additional sadness  “Be a good question asker, not a good advice giver”  Spirituality in grief For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices