FEA Hero Blog
Part 2 - Building Connection:
- Ask curiosity questions
- Acknowledge what they say by repeating it back to them
- Validate their emotions
Our mission is to empower parents to choose love over fear regardless of the circumstances.
A FEA (Family Enrichment...
Today I am going to challenge you to adopt a new perspective when your teenager refuses to listen to your request to put their phone down during dinner.
See their resistance as a symptom of another issue. This is a sign that they need to reconnect.
Two ways to build...
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Sometimes the best way to get your teenager to open up is to enter their world. Here is one creative way to accomplish this:
In this example, let's assume you have a teenage boy who likes to play video games.
Teenagers are more likely to open up and talk late...
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Something to think about.
When teenagers are asked what they wish their parents would do better the most common response is listen.
Could it be that one of the keys to getting your teenager to open up and talk more is learning to...
With today’s busy schedules, the family dinner for many has been replaced with a trip through the drive-thru after soccer practice or a piece of leftover pizza eaten in separate rooms by each member of the family. Today I am offering a challenge to you: Develop a plan for having a family...
Recently, I was talking with the family ministry pastor at a local church, and he shared that each year they host a mud run for moms and their daughters. Here is how it works: They lay out a one and one-half mile course that includes a variety of obstacles. Included along the way are mud pits...
It is Friday night and your teenager asks if you can give him and two of his friends a ride to the football game. There are a couple of opportunities to build connection within this request. First, there is the car ride. Before the friends get in the car, take the opportunity to check in with...
I am often asked “How do I know if I should let an issue go?” Or “Do I continue to address so-called bad behavior over and over or is there a point where you just let it go?”
If this is a question you have confronted, there are several aspects to explore. First, is...
One of the most common statements I hear from parents is “I wish I could get my teenager to talk to me.” When I inquire about how the conversations typically go, I hear about the dreaded one-word answer.
Mom: How was school today?
Teenager: Fine.
Mom: How did you do on the math...
One of the biggest sources of conflict between teenagers and their parents is the perceived readiness gap. Teens have a tendency to overestimate their ability to manage their life, while parents have a tendency to underestimate teens’ management abilities. Consequently, teens are constantly...
We were at the baseball park the other day watching our 7 -year-old grandson’s team play the second game of a doubleheader when I noticed an older man playing tag with a young child. The little boy was running in circles around a trash can and a group of parents. The older man, who I am...
One of the most effective ays to build connection and empower your teenager is to hand write a note—although many people fail to see the importance of this in our digital age. This can be done as a way to heal your relationship after an argument or as a way to communicate how much you love...
