In this episode, we're talking about one of the most common (and sneakiest) patterns in parenting: assuming the worst. I see it all the time. And yes—I do it too.

It shows up in the little moments.

Like when your teen doesn't answer your text for an hour and your brain instantly goes to:
They're ignoring me.
They're mad at me.
They've been kidnapped.
(Meanwhile, their phone is dead and they're happily eating nachos with friends.)

Or when they sigh at something you said and suddenly you're spiraling into,
They don't respect me.
They hate living here.
This entire family is falling apart.
…all because your kid was annoyed that the Wi-Fi glitched for three seconds.

We assume the worst because we care deeply—and because our brains are wired for threat detection, not nuance. But when we let that pattern run unchecked, it blows up in our face. It turns small moments into big conflicts. It makes us withdraw, overreact, lecture, or resent. And it teaches our teens that we see them as a problem instead of a person.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

1. A better understanding (and more grace) for when and why we—and our teens—jump to worst-case assumptions.

2. How this plays out in real time inside family relationships, so you can spot the pattern before it becomes a full emotional landslide.

3. What to do instead—the exact strategies that strengthen trust and connection rather than eroding it.

If you've ever gotten mad at your teen for something that was only happening inside your own imagination… this episode will help.

Want support applying these tools in your own home?
Book a free Peaceful Parenting Strategy Call HERE and let's talk about what's happening with your teen and how to shift the dynamic for good. xoxo

If you've ever thought, "I just want to love my kid and have them let me!" — this episode is for you.

Many parents find themselves chasing their teen's affection, bending rules, overgiving, or trying to buy closeness with gifts and favors — all in the name of love. But instead of feeling more connected, they end up tied in emotional knots, walking on eggshells, and quietly wondering why they're getting less respect, fewer conversations, and more distance. It's painful, confusing, and it can make even the most devoted parent feel rejected.

In this episode, I'm unpacking why we fall into the over-loving parent trap — that deep desire to be needed, appreciated, and close — and what actually works to build trust and lasting friendship with your teen.

You'll learn how to:

• Recognize when love crosses into emotional dependence

• Stop chasing affection and start leading with calm confidence

• Create connection that lasts without begging for attention

• Love your teen in ways that invite respect, not resistance

If you're tired of giving everything and getting silence in return, I've got you. This episode will help you shift from exhausted and overlooked to peaceful, confident, and genuinely connected.

Ready to find peace in your parenting? Book a free Peaceful Parenting Strategy Call HERE

If you're a parent who lies awake at night mentally running through worst-case scenarios, overthinking every decision your teen makes, or trying to prevent every possible meltdown, mistake, or danger—you're not alone. Parental worry is universal. And it's exhausting.

In this episode, I'm breaking down why we worry, what it's actually doing inside our brains and bodies, and how that worry—despite our best intentions—often lands with our teens as pressure, distrust, or emotional distance.

We'll talk about the psychology behind parental anxiety, how teens interpret our constant checking-in, hovering, or "just making sure," and why your worry doesn't create safety—it creates stress. For both of you.

Most importantly, I'll walk you through what to do instead. You'll learn skills that lead to real connection, calmer communication, and deeper trust, even in the moments that feel the most uncertain. This is about becoming the steady, grounded parent your teen can actually come to—not hide from.

If you're ready to move from fear to confidence, and from constant worry to a relationship grounded in love and clarity, this conversation will help you get there.

Want support applying this in your home?
Book a free Peaceful Parenting Strategy Call with me and let's talk through exactly what's happening with your teen

Nagging your teen never works—but what if you had a framework that did? In this episode of Pivot Parenting, I sit down with author and parenting expert Marielle Melling to talk about how parents can finally get on the same page with their kids without the endless power struggles. We unpack why nagging backfires, how to soothe the discomfort that keeps families from healthy communication, and the secret to meeting everyone's needs in ways that actually strengthen family bonds. Marielle also walks us through her key questions that help parents see themselves and their teens more clearly—so that everyone feels heard, valued, and supported.

If you're ready to stop nagging and start connecting, tune in now—and don't forget to book your free Peaceful Parenting Call, where we'll create your personalized strategy for parenting with peace and confidence.

About my guest: Marielle Melling helps you create extraordinary relationships with your kids, yourself, and others in our disconnected world. She teaches a holistic, research-backed, and life-tested approach to strong relationships that last, including a healthy dose of fun. With a degree in health education and years of studying, writing, and coaching about parenting, Marielle's genuine warmth and teaching style hit home. She's the founder of Extraordinary Family Relationships and the Mom Spot Membership. Marielle is also the author of Peace amidst the Mayhem and The BUT Book. This mom of five is on a mission to bring more health, peace, and joy to the world one family relationship at a time. You can find her at:

https://yourEFR.com

https://instagram.com/extraordinary.relationships

https://facebook.com/yourEFR/

Today I'm talking with Jason Reid about one of the hardest parts of parenting: having real, honest conversations with our kids about the things nobody wants to bring up. The messy things. The scary things. The things we hope aren't happening—but often are.

Jason shares his family's story of losing his 14-year-old son to suicide, and the gained wisdom he's sharing with all of us. He reveals the number one mistake we simply cannot afford to make as parents, and how small shifts in our conversations can genuinely protect our kids.

This isn't an episode about fear—it's about clarity, courage, and the kind of connection that makes all the difference. We talk about how to support our kids through their struggles without pretending we have it all together, and how to keep it real with our own emotions in the process.

If you're wanting practical, compassionate guidance for navigating hard conversations, strengthening trust, and being a safe place for your teen when life gets heavy, this episode will meet you right where you are.

About my guest:

Jason Reid is a partner at CEO International, where he coaches CEOs on how to be successful. He co-founded National Services Group, which employs 2500 people across three brands nationwide. He is a leader, entrepreneur, and family man.

Following the loss of his 14-year-old son to suicide in 2018, Jason started the foundation TellMyStory.org, a nonprofit organization built to educate and empower parents by sharing the best and latest resources they need to identify and understand how to support their children's mental health struggles. Through its sister organization, Mental Wellness Media, it helps generate awareness through powerful media projects that compels parents and kids to better communicate and share their stories. Jason has shared his experience in two TEDx talks, the documentary films Tell My Story, What I Wish My Parents Knew and Tell My Story's other educational programs.

Teenagers today are more "connected" than ever—and also more alone than ever. In this episode, I break down what researchers are calling a teenage loneliness epidemic and how it's quietly shaping our kids' emotional, social, and spiritual health.

Large global studies show that about 1 in 9 adolescents worldwide report feeling lonely "most of the time" or "always." Long-term data also shows that by 2018, high loneliness levels in adolescents had nearly doubled compared to 2012. In the U.S., young people hold some of the highest loneliness rates of any age group, with one national report showing 61% of young adults experiencing "serious loneliness."

We'll also get into the conversation around a "male loneliness epidemic." Some recent findings show men ages 15–34 report higher day-to-day loneliness than women the same age, even though overall, large-scale research suggests gender differences in loneliness are actually quite small. So what does that mean for your son—or your daughter?

In this episode, I talk about:

• What's really driving the rise in teen loneliness (and why it's not as simple as "social media = bad").

• How our parental habits—pace, expectations, emotional modeling—can unintentionally deepen the problem or help solve it.

• Practical, realistic ways to create connection with teens who seem withdrawn, prickly, or hard to reach.

• How boys and girls experience loneliness differently, and what each needs from the adults in their lives.

• How to offer yourself compassion as you learn new ways of showing up for your teen.

This isn't about guilt. It's about naming what's real, supporting families with compassion, and giving you tools that bring connection back into the relationship.

I'd love to chat with you about how this is playing out in your home. Book a free call HERE

1. World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Adolescent mental health: Global prevalence of loneliness in 13–17 year olds.
https://www.who.int/publications

2. López Steinmetz, L. C., et al. (2021). Loneliness among adolescents across 37 countries: Trends from 2000–2018. Journal of Adolescent Health, 69(6), 993–1002.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.08.009

3. Harvard Graduate School of Education: Making Caring Common Project. (2021). Loneliness in America: How the pandemic has deepened an epidemic of loneliness and what we can do about it.
https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu

4. Cigna. (2020). U.S. Loneliness Index: Gen Z and young adults experience the highest loneliness levels.
https://www.cigna.com

5. Gallup. (2023). Men report higher rates of daily loneliness than women in many age groups.
https://news.gallup.com

6. Maes, M., Van den Noortgate, W., & Goossens, L. (2016). Gender differences in loneliness across the lifespan: A meta-analysis. European Journal of Personality, 30(1), 70–85.
https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2034

Purity culture isn't the opposite of sin—it's the counterfeit of real purity, emotional maturity, and healthy sexuality. In this episode, we unpack how purity culture quietly slips into our parenting, our faith conversations, and our expectations of teens… and how to replace it with something actually healing.

We'll cover five practical steps that help your teen build healthy sexuality, spiritual resilience, emotional wellbeing, and genuine self-trust—without shame, fear, or pressure.

You'll walk away with:

• A clear understanding of how purity culture harms both boys and girls emotionally, spiritually, and developmentally.

• Five actionable ways to support your teen in forming healthy, grounded sexuality rooted in connection and worthiness.

• Tools to model emotional maturity and normalize curiosity, agency, boundaries, and self-expression.

• Shame-free approach for talking about bodies, relationships, desire, and consent.

• A grounded roadmap for raising teens who feel confident, connected, spiritually anchored, and safe being themselves.

If you're ready to parent with more peace, confidence, and connection—and less fear and control—I'd love to help you get there.

Book a free Peaceful Parenting Strategy Call here