This week's featured freebies

The question to help solve challenges you might be facing with your middle schooler

If you don't know by now - I'm here to disrupt the status status quo around how parents feel about the middle school years. These years are NOT to be dreaded or slogged through.

With my content, this podcast, my classes and courses -  my intention is to give you the awareness and the tools you need to thrive through this incredible, and yes, sometimes very challenging time.

So, in this week's quick episode, I want to keep it simple.

I thought I would do this by asking a super simple question for you to ponder...

But before I ask this question I have one request. You cannot take this question to mean something bad about you, or use this question to create more guilt or shame inside your heart. I don't believe in parent-shaming. Ever. As the dear, Maya Angelou, said "When you know better, you do better."

I ask this question because it is the single most common strategy I use to support parents in gaining greater awareness as the parent of an early adolescent.

Is it you?

Meaning, is the challenge you're facing with your adolescent kid - be it a worry, anxiety, fear, or breakdown - more about you than them?

Listen to the rest of the episode to see how I coached a parent and their kid through asking this question.

As parents of early adolescents, you're entering into new relationship territory - one that requires more partnership. More ownership. And, open communication. Inside your own hearts and then, between each other.

The thing you want so badly for them to overcome, achieve, or demonstrate,  cannot be achieved through your fear, force, manipulation, demands, or criticism. It comes from you demonstrating these qualities first. Within yourself from your own self-compassion, and then from a place of deep love and hope for them. Everything changes for the better when you look in the mirror and show up in the healthiest ways possible.

And, never forget: I'm ALWAYS rooting for you.

Like what you hear? Keep listening to the Elevated Adolescence Podcast