Advertise on podcast: Connect With Your Teens | Conversation Starters, Parenting Tips, Screen Time, Build Connection, Communication Skills

Your teen tells you something that makes your stomach drop. And within seconds, your mind is racing: How long has this been going on? Why didn’t I know? What do I say? What do I DO?  That’s the moment when listening gets hard—and fear can subtly take over the conversation. Because when we’re worried about our teen’s choices, questions, or struggles, our instinct is often to jump in. Ask more questions. Give advice. Correct. Protect. Fix. But what if the pressure you’re feeling to make this turn out okay is causing you to miss something important—something God may already be doing? In this episode of Connect With Your Teens, we’re talking about what happens when fear enters our conversations and what can help you stay connected to your teen when you can’t see where their story is going. What You’ll Learn: What happens inside us when our teen shares something we weren’t prepared to hear—and why it can change the entire conversation What I learned walking through some hard seasons with my own kids—and what began to change as I learned to communicate differently Where to anchor your hope when what you’re seeing in your teen right now has you worried about what’s ahead As Christian parents, we know something about redemption because we’ve lived it. The God who has patiently loved us, changed us, and met us in places we couldn’t change ourselves is still at work—and that changes how we can show up with our kids today. Ready to build trust and connection in your relationships and stop second-guessing how to show up when conversations get hard? Grab my FREE Quick Start Connected Convos Cheat Sheet with five simple shifts you can start using this week to slow down your reactions, listen with more intention, stay curious, and create conversations that build connection. 👉 QUICK START CONNECTED CONVOS I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri MORE RESOURCES ✨ Website: Free resources and practical support to help you build connection and trust with your teen. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com ✨ Connect With Your Teen Roadmap: A step-by-step, Christ-centered path to stronger communication, trust, and connection. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com/roadmap ✨ Work With Me: Get personalized communication coaching for your specific relationship and situation. 👉http://ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Join the Facebook Group: Connect with other moms and get practical encouragement for parenting and communicating with teens. 👉Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group RELATED EPISODES 17 — Struggling With Teen Lying? 3 Truths to Help You Build Trust Without Control 20 — How to Create Safe Spaces for Honest Conversation—Teenage Insights With Bre Lee (Part 1) 34 — Beyond the Lie: Unpacking the Fear That Shut Me Down—Honest Talk with Sharaya Maples (Part 1) 70 — Faith Questions Aren’t Rebellion with Kasey Leander

Getting a lot of “fine,” “nothing,” and “I don’t know” when you try to talk with your teen? Before you decide your teen just doesn’t want to talk to you anymore, it might be time to change the conversation. So much of our everyday communication with teens is about school, schedules, responsibilities, friends, or something that needs to get done. And while those conversations are necessary, our kids need opportunities to simply talk with us—without an agenda, a problem to solve, or a lesson attached. In this episode, I’m sharing 3 unexpected conversation starters that can help you change things up, learn something new about your child, and create more positive experiences of talking together. You’ll also see how these lighter conversations give you a great opportunity to practice the communication skills that help build connection when the deeper conversations come. What You’ll Learn: Why your teen’s one-word answers may not mean they don’t want to talk to you at all How changing the kinds of questions you ask can open the door to a completely different kind of conversation What to do when your teen actually starts talking so you don’t accidentally shut the conversation back down God already knows our kids completely—their thoughts, their hearts, and every detail of who He created them to be. And what a privilege that we get to keep discovering more about them as they grow. Sometimes building a stronger relationship with your teen starts with simply getting curious and listening to the answer. Want 7 more questions to help get your teen talking? 🎁 Download my FREE 10 Conversation Starters to Get Your Teen Talking Without the Pressure: https://connectwithyourteens.com/teen-conversation-starters-page I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri MORE RESOURCES ✨ Website: Free resources and practical support to help you build connection and trust with your teen. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com ✨ Connect With Your Teen Roadmap: A step-by-step, Christ-centered path to stronger communication, trust, and connection. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com/roadmap ✨ Work With Me: Get personalized communication coaching for your specific relationship and situation. 👉http://ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Join the Facebook Group: Connect with other moms and get practical encouragement for parenting and communicating with teens. 👉Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group RELATED EPISODES 16 — Feeling Disrespected When Talking to Your Teen? 3 Tips to Foster Mutual Respect 22 — Tired of Misunderstandings with Your Teen? 3 Keys to Get Them Talking (Instead of Walking Away)

You ask your teen to do one simple thing—and somehow you’re both frustrated, defensive, and wondering how it turned into another argument. Sometimes the conflict isn’t really about the messy room, the phone, or the schoolwork. So why do these little things keep turning into arguments—and what can you do differently when they do? In this milestone 100th episode, I’m sharing a real conflict I had with my daughter and three communication shifts I wish I understood then. You'll learn: What may actually be fueling those arguments that seem to happen over the smallest things What to do when the conversation has already gone sideways—and you wish you could start over How to address the real issue without turning it into another battle or sacrificing connection with your teen When we anchor ourselves in Christ, release what we can’t control to God, and practice new communication skills, we can approach even hard conversations with more peace and confidence. Ready to feel more peaceful and confident in your communication with your teen? 🎉 To celebrate Episode 100 and more than 10,000 downloads, I’m having an Episode 100 Flash Sale on the Connect With Your Teen Roadmap only for the next few days. 👉 Get the Episode 100 Flash Sale & Join the Roadmap I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you.  👉Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Support the Podcast If Connect With Your Teens has been helpful to you, you can now support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support helps with the costs of producing the show and reaching more moms with practical help and hope for their families. Thank you for being part of this work! 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Website: connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. Related Episodes 49 — The Power of God’s Acceptance to Turn the Heart of Your Teen 87 — 3 Ways to Stay Calm When Your Teen Pushes Your Buttons 89 — Your Teen Says, “You Don’t Understand.” Here’s What They’re Really Asking For

How do you know if the trust you’re trying to rebuild with your teen is actually changing anything? What might your relationship look like on the other side of these difficult years? In Part 1, my husband Ed shared one of the hardest conversations he had with our daughter and the communication choices he made when he realized something had to change. But rebuilding trust didn’t happen in that one conversation. In Part 2, we’re taking you into what happened afterward—and some of the moments when we began realizing our relationships with our kids really were changing. They started telling us things we weren’t sure they would tell us. They began asking what we thought. And we learned that building trust with your teen isn’t about getting them to agree with you or even take your advice. It’s about creating a relationship where they know they can come to you. In this episode, you’ll hear: The signs that showed us trust and connection with our kids were beginning to grow What happened when our son came to us after making a decision that could have had serious consequences Why listening without immediately judging or correcting matters in teen communication How to stay connected when your teen’s opinions, beliefs, or choices are different from yours As parents, we can’t control what our kids believe, choose, or ultimately do. But we can stay anchored in Christ, listen with humility, and trust that God is at work even when we can’t see it yet. Sometimes building a stronger relationship with your teen begins by releasing the outcome and choosing how you want to show up in the next conversation. What could begin to change if your teen knew they could tell you the truth—even when you might not like what they have to say? 💛 Join me for my FREE Connect With Your Teen Workshop Tuesday, September 15, where I’ll walk you through a practical, Christ-anchored roadmap to communicate with confidence, restore connection, and build lasting trust: 👉 connectwithyourteens.com/workshop I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter 💛 See What Happened Years Later With Ed & Sharaya You heard Ed share the story on the podcast. Now you can see Ed and Sharaya sitting together years later, talking honestly about their relationship, what changed, and what they learned along the way. 👉https://riseabovethesilence.com/ed--sharaya-interview-2019 ✨ Support the Podcast If Connect With Your Teens has been helpful to you, you can now support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support helps with the costs of producing the show and reaching more moms with practical help and hope for their families. Thank you for being part of this work! 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? Book a 1-hour Communication Coaching Call. Together, we’ll identify what’s getting in the way of connection with your teen, uncover practical next steps, and create a clear plan so you can stop feeling stuck and start rebuilding trust and connection. 👉Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Website: connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. Related Episodes 17 — Struggling With Teen Lying? 3 Truths to Help You Build Trust Without Control 40 — 3 Questions That Build Connection When Faith Divides Your Family (Part 1) 79 — Parenting Teens: 5 Words That Build Trust and Connection Fast

What do you do when a difficult conversation with your teen is going downhill fast—and then they say something that cuts straight to your heart? In this deeply personal episode, my husband Ed takes us back to one of the hardest conversations he ever had with our teenage daughter—when hurt, frustration, and years of strained communication collided. What he chose in the middle of that moment shows how a few intentional communication choices can open the door to connection—even when a conversation feels like it’s falling apart. If you’re parenting teens and struggling with defensiveness, disrespect, or conversations that quickly escalate, this episode gives you a real-life look at how communication skills build trust and connection even in the middle of a messy conversation. You’ll hear: What made Ed realize, in the middle of a heated argument, something had to change How he stayed in a conversation that would have been much easier to shut down or control The communication shift that allowed their daughter to finally say what was really underneath her anger 5 communication choices Ed made when the conversation was falling apart Ed couldn’t control what our daughter said, how she responded, or what happened next. But he could choose how he showed up. And sometimes building a stronger relationship with your teen begins right there. Ready to stop walking on eggshells and second-guessing what to say? Join me September 15 for my FREE live Connect With Your Teen Workshop. I’ll give you a practical, Christ-anchored roadmap to help you communicate with more confidence, restore connection, and build lasting trust. 👉 Save Your Seat: http://connectwithyourteens.com/workshop I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri 💛 See What Happened Years Later With Ed & Sharaya You heard Ed share the story on the podcast. Now you can see Ed and Sharaya sitting together years later, talking honestly about their relationship, what changed, and what they learned along the way. 👉https://riseabovethesilence.com/ed--sharaya-interview-2019 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter ✨ Support the Podcast If Connect With Your Teens has been helpful to you, you can now support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support helps with the costs of producing the show and reaching more moms with practical help and hope for their families. Thank you for being part of this work! 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? Book a 1-hour Communication Coaching Call. Together, we’ll identify what’s getting in the way of connection with your teen, uncover practical next steps, and create a clear plan so you can stop feeling stuck and start rebuilding trust and connection. 👉Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Website: connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. Related Episodes Episode 94 — Why Your Teen Gets Defensive So Quickly Episode 96 — Teen Won’t Listen to Your Advice? 4 Communication Skills That Build Trust Episode 97 — Worried About Your Teen? How to Trust God With What You Can’t Control

You’ve had the conversation. You’ve prayed. You’ve researched. You’ve tried to help. And still, your mind keeps coming back to: What else can I do? What am I missing? When you see your teen struggling, making choices that concern you, pulling away from their faith, or heading in a direction you desperately wish you could change, it’s hard not to feel responsible for making things better. And without realizing it, loving and supporting them can start turning into trying to control an outcome you simply can’t control. In this episode, I’m sharing something God has been showing me in my own life about the difference between being responsible TO someone and responsible FOR their outcome—and how that distinction can change the way you parent and communicate with your teen. You’ll learn: How concern for your teen can turn into control without you realizing it The question that can help you recognize what’s actually yours to do—and what isn’t What Proverbs 3:5 taught me about where I’m putting the weight of someone else’s future How trusting God can help you communicate with your teen without every conversation becoming about the thing you’re worried about Trusting God with your teen doesn’t mean passive parenting. You still guide, set boundaries, seek wisdom, get help when it’s needed, and keep showing up. But you don’t have to believe that if you just say the right thing, find the right solution, or parent perfectly enough, you can guarantee the outcome. You can do what God has given you to do and trust Him with what you cannot control. 💛Want to know what you can begin doing differently to build more connection and trust with your teen? Join me for my FREE live workshop, The Roadmap to a More Peaceful, Connected & Trusting Relationship With Your Teen. 👉Save your seat here: connectwithyourteens.com/workshop I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri ✨ Visit connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. ✨ Support the Podcast If Connect With Your Teens has been helpful to you, you can now support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support helps with the costs of producing the show and reaching more moms with practical help and hope for their families. Thank you for being part of this work! 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? Book a 1-hour Communication Coaching Call. Together, we’ll identify what’s getting in the way of connection with your teen, uncover practical next steps, and create a clear plan so you can stop feeling stuck and start rebuilding trust and connection. 👉Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter Related Episodes: 5 - From “It’s Too Late To Fix This” To Having Real Conversations With Your Teen 36 - The #1 Sign You’re a Great Mom (It’s Not What You Think) 65 - 3 Lies That Sabotage Communication With Your Teen (Part 1 of 3)

You’ve spent years guiding your kids, so of course you want to share what you’ve learned when you see your teen struggling. But one of the challenges of parenting teens is realizing that as our kids grow, the way we guide them has to grow too. Sometimes giving more advice—even really good advice—can make communication with teens harder instead of easier. And if distance or shutdown has already begun, learning a different way to guide can become an important part of rebuilding connection and learning how to build trust with your teen. In this episode, I’m sharing four practical communication skills that can help you move from automatically giving advice to becoming someone your teen increasingly wants to come to for perspective. You'll learn: The surprising reason good advice isn’t always received as helpful Four simple teen communication skills that help your teen think without leaving you on the sidelines One question you can start using right away to invite your teen to hear your perspective We don’t have to force every lesson or control every outcome. We can grow in wisdom about when to listen, when to speak, and when to trust that God is working in our teens, too. I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri ✨Ready to build more peaceful conversations, stronger connection, and lasting trust with your teen? Join me for my FREE Connect With Your Teens Workshop on September 15th or September 22nd. Choose the time that works best for you and save your spot at  👉ConnectWithYourTeens.com/workshop. ✨ Support the Podcast If Connect With Your Teens has been helpful to you, you can now support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support helps with the costs of producing the show and reaching more moms with practical help and hope for their families. Thank you for being part of this work! 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens 💬 Not sure how to get your teen talking? Download Quick-Start Connected Convos for simple ways to take some of the pressure out of conversations and create more opportunities for connection. 👉 Download Quick-Start Connected Convos 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you.  👉Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter Related Episodes: 64 - Stop Arguing With Your Teen: Let Them Have Their Perspective 77 - Why Your Teen Doesn’t Need to Change First to Build Connection 88 - The 4-Step Conversation That Helps Your Teen Feel Heard

Do you ever feel like you’d have a better relationship with your teen if you just had more time? Between work, school, sports, appointments, responsibilities, and everything else competing for your attention, it can feel almost impossible to create the kind of meaningful connection you want with your teen. But what if more time isn’t actually what you need? In this episode, I’m talking with Sarah Colbert, host of Balanced Mom Life and mom of three teens, about how busy moms can build connection in the small moments they already have—without adding one more thing to their overflowing schedules. You’ll discover: Why more time may not be the answer to building a stronger relationship with your teen The mistake well-meaning moms can make that unintentionally creates more distance How small, consistent moments can build connection—even when your teen doesn’t respond the way you hoped Why taking care of yourself can help you become more emotionally available and present with your family And I love Sarah’s reminder that we don’t have to get every interaction right. We can continue showing up, planting seeds, and trusting God with what He’s doing in our teens and in our relationships—even when we can’t see the results yet. Listen in, and then share this episode with another busy mom who could use the reminder that building connection doesn’t require finding more hours in her day. I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri Connect with Sarah Colbert:  Download Sarah’s free Time Audit to get an honest, judgment-free look at where your time is actually going. This simple, fillable worksheet will help you identify where you can create space for what matters most — including finding your way back to you. 👉Go to https://westmetromom.com/resources Podcast - Balanced Mom Life ✨Want some practical help creating more connection and less tension with your teen? 🎉 My next Free Connect With Your Teen Workshop is September 15th! Details are coming soon. We’ll talk about practical, Christ-centered ways to communicate with more confidence, restore connection, and build lasting trust with your teen. Details are coming soon, and I can’t wait to see you there! 💌 Want to be the first to know when registration opens?  Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for workshop updates, weekly encouragement, and practical communication tips delivered to your inbox. 👉Join here: Weekly Insider Newsletter ✨Check out my new website and learn more about how you can build trust and connection with your kids. connectwithyourteens.com 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group ✨Follow or DM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach ✨Contact: [email protected]

Why does your teen get defensive when you’re only asking a simple question? You ask about homework, driving, friends, or plans—and suddenly your teen is pushing back or accusing you of not trusting them. If you’re parenting teens and wondering why everyday conversations turn into conflict so quickly, there may be more happening beneath the surface than you realize. You’ll learn: • What may really be happening underneath your teen’s defensiveness • Why your natural response may actually increase defensiveness • Simple communication skills that can change the direction of a difficult conversation We’ll even go back to the Garden of Eden for a surprising look at defensiveness and the human heart, and I’ll share a parenting experience that changed how I understood some of my own kids’ reactions. If you want to build trust, improve teen communication, and have more connected conversations, listen in. Because sometimes the issue isn’t really the issue. ✨Are you ready to stop guessing what to say and start feeling more confident in the conversations that matter most? My new website is live! You’ll find all the ways I can help you build stronger communication, trust, and connection with your teen—from private coaching and our monthly Support Group to the Connect With Your Teen Roadmap. 👉Explore your next step at connectwithyourteens.com I pray this episode blesses you. ~Terri ✨ The Connect With Your Teens Roadmap - The step-by-step program that helps you navigate difficult conversations and create more emotional safety so you can build lasting trust and connection with your teen. You’ll learn a complete communication framework that gives you greater confidence in what to say and how to respond—not only with your teen, but in every relationship that matters. Learn more and enroll here: https://connectwithyourteens.com/roadmap ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? Bring your biggest communication struggle to a 1-hour coaching call and leave with greater clarity, practical next steps, and a personalized plan to help you rebuild connection with your teen. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com/communication-coaching 💌Would you love weekly encouragement straight to your inbox? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group ✨Follow or DM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach ✨Contact: [email protected] Related Episodes: 32  - Beyond the Eye Roll: 3 Steps to Reach Your Teen’s Heart 64 - Stop Arguing With Your Teen: Let Them Have Their Perspective 79 - Parenting Teens: 5 Words That Build Trust and Connection Fast

You love your teen. So why does it sometimes feel like the harder you try to help, the farther apart you become? Most moms don’t struggle because they don’t care enough.They struggle because the communication habit that feels the most loving can unintentionally create the very distance they’re trying to avoid. In this episode, we’re uncovering one of the biggest reasons conversations break down—not because your intentions are wrong, but because your communication style may be sending a message you never meant to send. You’ll walk away with a fresh way to think about your conversations, practical communication skills you can begin using today, and one simple shift that will help you and your teen experience more understanding, safety, and trust. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why good intentions don’t always build connection. The communication habits many moms naturally fall into without realizing it. What your teen may actually be hearing beneath your words. One simple change that can help build trust and strengthen your relationship. As moms, God’s given us a unique opportunity to shape the kind of relationship our teens carry with them into adulthood. We won’t do it perfectly, but every conversation is an opportunity to reflect His grace, patience, and love helping our teens feel seen, valued, and deeply loved. 💛 Need a safe place to keep growing?  If this season with your teen has left you feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or wondering where to even begin rebuilding your relationship, I want to invite you to our next Connect With Your Teens Support Group on August 11th.. My heart is for you to leave with more clarity than you came with. More hope than you walked in with. And practical next steps you can use the very next time you talk with your teen. 👉Save your seat at connectwithyourteens.com/supportgroup.  I hope this episode is a blessing to you and your family. More Resources: ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? If you’re feeling disconnected from your teen, this 1-hour coaching call will help you uncover what’s really creating the distance and give you Christ-centered communication tools to begin rebuilding connection. You’ll leave with greater clarity, practical next steps, and a personalized plan so you can move forward with confidence and hope. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com/communication-coaching 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group 💬 Want to help more moms like you get the support they’ve been praying for?  It so blesses me to hear your stories of how this podcast is helping you! Thank you for taking 30 seconds to leave a review so more moms can find it and renewed hope for their relationship. Leave your review here on Apple: Connect With Your Teens Podcast ✨Follow or DM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach ✨Contact: [email protected] Related Episodes: From 'It's Too Late To Fix This' To Having Real Conversations With Your Teen Why Your Teen Goes Silent When You Ask Questions How To Build Trust When Your Teen Stops Talking (And How To Fix It)

Every conversation with your teen starts before either of you says a word. Most moms don’t realize what’s shaping those conversations—or why the same patterns keep repeating. If you’ve been trying to build connection and build trust, but still feel like you’re missing each other, there may be something happening long before the conversation even begins. In this episode, you’ll discover a simple shift that can strengthen your communication skills, improve family communication, and deepen your relationship with your teen. It’s a perspective that can change the way you approach everyday teen communication this school year—before you ever say a word. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why communication begins long before either of you says a word. The hidden factor that shapes your tone, responses, and expectations. Why today’s behavior doesn’t have to define your teen. One simple prayer to help you build connection this school year. A memorable way to approach your next conversation with your teen. As followers of Christ, we’re invited to see people the way God sees them—not defined by today’s struggles, but by who He is continuing to shape them into becoming. When we begin seeing our teens through that lens, our communication naturally becomes more grace-filled, hopeful, and life-giving. What if one small shift in the way you see your teen could change the conversations you have all year long? 👉 Join us for our free monthly Connect With Your Teens Support Group, where you’ll find encouragement, practical coaching, and a community of moms who understand what you’re’re walking through. Reserve your spot at connectwithyourteens.com/supportgroup. I pray this episode blesses you! Want more support? ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? Book Communication Coaching Call. In 1-hour we’ll identify what’s getting in the way of connection with your teen, uncover practical next steps, and create a clear plan so you can stop feeling stuck and start rebuilding trust and connection.  👉ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching  💬If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to share it with another mom who could use a little hope as she heads into this school year. As always, thank you for listening. Click here to review on Apple.  Click here to review on Spotify. 💌 Want weekly encouragement and communication tips straight to your inbox? Sign up for the newsletter and get practical tips, stories of how this works in real life & hope sent to you every week. Weekly Newsletter 💛 Need ongoing support?  Join my free monthly support group for moms of teens — a safe, faith-led space for guidance, connection, and encouragement. Learn more here:  https://connectwithyourteens.com/supportgroup 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group ✨Follow or DM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach ✨Contact: [email protected]

Have you been using the wrong scorecard to measure yourself as a mom? Parenting teens is challenging and if you’ve ever wondered if you’re doing enough, you’re not alone. Building trust and connection during the teen years isn’t about getting every conversation right. Sometimes the greatest growth is happening in ways you can’t yet see. In this episode, you’ll discover why your willingness to keep learning communication skills, seeking God’s wisdom, and showing up with love is one of the strongest signs you’re doing better than you think. If you’re looking for practical parenting tips to build connection, strengthen trust, and improve communication with your teen, encouragement is on the way so that you can see yourself—and your parenting—through God’s perspective instead of your own scorecard. I pray this episode is a blessing to you and your family, reminding you that God is still at work in you—and that you’re doing far better than you think. If you’d like personalized support as you navigate your unique situation, I’d be honored to walk alongside you through a one-on-one Communication Coaching Call. You can learn more and schedule your call at the link below.  👉ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your inbox? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group 📖Need a place to start?  Download my Building Connection Beyond Screen Time: A Quick Guide for Moms to help you build trust with your teen, strengthen communication, and create more meaningful everyday conversations. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com/build-connection-screentime 💛 Interested in ongoing support?  Join my free monthly support group for moms of teens — a safe, faith-led space for guidance, connection, and encouragement.  Learn more here: https://connectwithyourteens.com/supportgroup 🎧Would you like inspiring worship music to anchor you in your journey? This is a collection of songs that have brought me peace and helped me anchor my heart in Christ. You can go straight to this link to get my Anchoring Spotify Playlist (no sign up required): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pmOIQvAH6dibMmAxQzbGf?si=WZ8bE23YQfWdY5lbBM_2pA&nd=1&dlsi=e9c329d0073a4b3b ✨Follow or DM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach ✨Contact: [email protected] ✨ Work 1:1 With Me Book a Communication Coaching Call for personalized support and practical next steps to build connection and trust with your teen.  👉 Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Support the Podcast  Help support Connect With Your Teens and reach more moms with practical help and hope for their families.  👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Website: connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. Related Episodes: 36 - The #1 Sign You’re a Great Mom (It’s Not What You Think) 48 The #1 Sign You're About to Break Through With Your Teen (This Will Surprise You) 65 - 3 Lies That Sabotage Communication With Your Teen (Part 1 of 3)

You love your teen and want the very best for them. So why do your conversations sometimes leave them feeling criticized, controlled, or misunderstood when your heart was trying to encourage, protect, and help? Terri shares a powerful coaching story that reveals one of the biggest communication blind spots in parenting teens: the gap between our intentions and our teen’s experience and why they take what you say the wrong way. You’ll discover why your teen may react differently than you expect, how one simple perspective shift can strengthen communication with your teen, and a practical way to build trust with your teen while creating a deeper, lasting connection. If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “That isn’t what I meant,” this episode is for you. I pray it's a blessing to you and your family! ✨Ready for personalized support? If you find yourself replaying conversations, wondering what went wrong, or wishing you knew how to respond differently, I’d love to help. In a 1:1 Communication Coaching Call, we’ll identify what’s creating distance, strengthen your communication, and create a personalized plan to help you build lasting connection and trust with your child. 👉ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group 📖Need a place to start?  Download my Building Connection Beyond Screen Time: A Quick Guide for Moms to help you build trust with your teen, strengthen communication, and create more meaningful everyday conversations. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com/build-connection-screentime 💛 Interested in ongoing support?  Join my free monthly support group for moms of teens — a safe, faith-led space for guidance, connection, and encouragement.  Learn more here: https://connectwithyourteens.com/supportgroup 🎧Would you like inspiring worship music to anchor you in your journey? This is a collection of songs that have brought me peace and helped me anchor my heart in Christ. You can go straight to this link to get my Anchoring Spotify Playlist (no sign up required): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pmOIQvAH6dibMmAxQzbGf?si=WZ8bE23YQfWdY5lbBM_2pA&nd=1&dlsi=e9c329d0073a4b3b ✨Follow or DM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach ✨Contact: [email protected] ✨ Work 1:1 With Me Book a Communication Coaching Call for personalized support and practical next steps to build connection and trust with your teen.  👉 Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Support the Podcast  Help support Connect With Your Teens and reach more moms with practical help and hope for their families.  👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Website: connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. Related Episodes: 5 - From 'It's Too Late To Fix This' To Having Real Conversations With Your Teen 13 - The Secret to Effortless Connection With Your Teen (And How to Break the Hidden Barrier) 32 - Beyond the Eye Roll: 3 Steps to Reach Your Teen's Heart

What if one of the most frustrating things your teen says is actually an invitation… not a rejection? If you’ve ever heard, “You don’t understand,” this episode may completely change how you hear those words. If your teen has ever said, “You don’t understand,” or shut down when you were trying your best to connect, this episode is for you. Sometimes the biggest breakthrough in teen communication isn’t finding the perfect words—it’s learning what your teen may really be asking for underneath the words they’re saying. In this episode, I’ll help you see those frustrating conversations through a different lens so you can respond in a way that helps build connection, build trust, and create greater emotional safety in your relationship. You'll Learn: Why “You don’t understand” usually means something deeper One simple communication shift that can completely change the direction of a conversation How to use practical communication skills that help your teen feel heard Why understanding comes before influence in healthy family communication How small moments of connection today can strengthen your relationship for years to come As followers of Christ, we’re called to listen with humility and value others above ourselves. When we choose to understand our teen before asking them to understand us, we begin reflecting the heart of Jesus—and that’s often where healing, trust, and connection begin. 📩 Want more encouragement and practical tools each week? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for Christ-centered encouragement, communication tips, podcast updates, and practical ways to strengthen your relationship with your teen.  👉Join here: Weekly Insider Newsletter More Resources: ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? Book a 60-Minute Communication Coaching Call. Together, we’ll identify what’s getting in the way of connection with your teen, uncover practical next steps, and create a clear plan so you can stop feeling stuck and start rebuilding trust and connection. 👉Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it? Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group ✨Follow or DM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach ✨Contact: [email protected] 💬 If this podcast has encouraged or helped you share it with a friend and take 30  seconds to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps more moms see the podcast and get support.  Click here to review on Apple.  Click here to review on Spotify. Related Episodes: 32 | Beyond the Eye Roll: 3 Steps to Reach Your Teen's Heart 64 | Stop Arguing With Your Teen: Let Them Have Their Perspective 77 | Why Your Teen Doesn’t Need to Change First to Build Connection

Have you found yourself replaying the conversation with your teen over and over, wondering what you could have said differently? The truth is, helping your teen feel heard isn’t about having the perfect words. It’s about creating the kind of conversation where they feel safe enough to share what’s really on their heart. When teens feel heard, trust begins to grow—and where trust grows, connection and influence often follow. In this episode, I’ll share a simple four-step conversation you can begin using today to strengthen your relationship with your teen, improve your communication skills, and build trust one conversation at a time. You’ll Learn: Why listening builds trust more effectively than rushing to solve the problem What Jesus modeled on the road to Emmaus that can transform your communication with your teen A practical way to build connection during everyday conversations The four-step conversation that helps your teen feel heard How helping your teen feel understood often leads to deeper, more meaningful conversations As we look at the way Jesus walked alongside the disciples on the road to Emmaus, you’ll be encouraged to slow down, listen well, and trust that God can use your faithful presence to prepare your teen’s heart in ways you may not see right away. Still replaying conversations in your mind? Wondering what to say or how to respond differently in your unique situation? 🎉 To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Connect With Your Teens podcast, I’m offering a special anniversary rate on my 1:1 Communication Coaching Call through Sunday at midnight! If you’d love personalized guidance, practical Christ-centered communication tools, and a clear plan to help you reconnect with your teen, I’d be honored to walk alongside you. 👉 Reserve your coaching call here: https://connectwithyourteens.com/communication-coaching More Resources: 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter ✨ Work 1:1 With Me Book a Communication Coaching Call for personalized support and practical next steps to build connection and trust with your teen.  👉 Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Support the Podcast  Help support Connect With Your Teens and reach more moms with practical help and hope for their families.  👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Website: connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. ✨Follow or DM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach ✨Contact: [email protected] 🎧Would you like to experience His peace through worship?  These songs have brought me peace and encouragement when I needed most to anchor my heart in Christ. Get my Anchoring Spotify Playlist here (no sign up required): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pmOIQvAH6dibMmAxQzbGf?si=WZ8bE23YQfWdY5lbBM_2pA&nd=1&dlsi=e9c329d0073a4b3b Related Episodes:  49 The Power of God’s Acceptance to Turn the Heart of Your Teen 56 - Are You Accidentally Shutting Down Your Teen? 3 Communication Patterns That Block Connection 64 - Stop Arguing With Your Teen and Let Them Have Their Perspective