Connecting with Teens

Connecting with Teens

Author: Creating a Family September 24, 2025 Duration: 54:56
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Do you dread the teen years? Or, if you're in the midst of parenting teens, do you struggle to find ways to connect? This week, we interview Dr. Melody Aguayo, a parenting coach specializing in working with at-risk children and their families and the founder of Real Child Consulting, LLC. She is the mom of two adopted kids. In this episode, we discuss: Parents wonder why their easy and natural connection with their kids changed, and they now feel on the outs and...

Navigating the world of adoption, foster care, or kinship care brings a unique mix of hope, complexity, and countless questions. Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care exists to meet you right where you are in that journey. Each week, we sit down with leading psychologists, social workers, legal experts, and experienced parents for substantive, hour-long conversations. You’ll hear practical guidance on everything from initial considerations and legal processes to the nuanced, everyday realities of parenting children who have experienced trauma or loss. This isn't about superficial tips; it's about building a foundation of understanding and resilience. Whether you're just exploring options, are deep in the certification process, or are years into caring for your child, these discussions provide clarity and connection. The Creating a Family podcast, produced by the organization of the same name, draws from a deep well of professional and lived experience across the non-profit, business, and parenting spheres. Tune in for honest talk that respects the gravity of your decisions and celebrates the profound commitment of building families through alternative paths.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care
Podcast Episodes
Maintaining Secure Attachment While Disciplining Misbehavior [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:59
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Could you use a few new strategies to help your child improve misbehavior? Listen to this conversation with Dr. Casey Call, the Associate Director of Education at the Karyn Purvis Institute…
Celebrating & Supporting Men in Foster & Kinship Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:11
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Join us for a conversation about why men in foster and kinship care matter - to the family unit, to the system, and most importantly, to the kids. Our guest is Tony Craddock, a Prevention S…
What Is Blocked Care? What Can I Do About It? - Weekend Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:20
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Question: I love my child so much, but lately I feel emotionally worn down and shut down in my parenting. Someone mentioned they recently learned about blocked care, and now I’m wondering i…
Raising Kids Impacted by Opioid Exposure to Thrive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:46
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Are you raising a child with known or suspected prenatal opioid exposure? Understanding the impacts and how to parent them will help you set your child up to thrive! We are joined by Lenett…
Is My Teen Lazy, Depressed, or Stuck? - Weekend Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:08
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Question: Should I tell my nephew that by the time he turns 18, he has to be in school and passing his classes, or have a job, to continue living with us? He will turn 18 at the end of this…
How Can We Equip Foster & Kinship Youth for Adulthood? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:38
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Helping young adults in foster or kinship care transition toward adulthood can feel overwhelming for foster parents and relative caregivers. Join us today for a conversation with Vernell Go…
How to Make and Use an Adoption Lifebook - Weekend Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:47
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! A Lifebook is the story of how your child came to be yours and the story of his life before he came to you. Adoption is only one aspect of your child, and at some point, his life merges int…
Help! No One Is Sleeping In Our House! - Weekend Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:39
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Question: We have two children adopted through the foster care system as infants - an almost 10-year-old (AudHD) and a 4.5-year-old (neurotypical). They both come into our room every night…