197. Tween Mood Swings and Screen Time: What Parents Should Know

197. Tween Mood Swings and Screen Time: What Parents Should Know

Author: Therese Connolly September 30, 2025 Duration: 20:31

Is your middle schooler’s mood swings, tech obsession, or growing independence leaving you unsure how to parent them?

The middle school years bring huge developmental changes—emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Many parents of tweens struggle with screen time, shifting boundaries, and figuring out how to stay connected while giving more independence. If you’ve ever felt stuck between being “too strict” or “too lenient,” this episode is for you.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  1. How to respond to mood swings and irritability with empathy while adjusting your parenting style.
  2. Why delaying phone use until high school helps protect your child’s mental health.
  3. The mindset shift that helps you move from manager to guide—while building trust and independence.

Press play now to learn how to reset your parenting approach for the middle school years and build stronger connections with your tween or teen.

👉Sign up for the next Tech Reset Masterclass here: https://mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/tech-reset-masterclass

⭐️Join MKF weekly Parenting Journal here: Mindful Kids and Families Journal

(Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

🆘 Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session: Parent Reset Call

⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families

⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection.

#singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication


Navigating the tween and teen years alone comes with a unique set of daily tests, from managing defiance to negotiating screen time in a connected world. Single Parenting Reset Show: For Solo Parents of Tweens and Teens is here for that journey. Hosted by Therese Connolly, a licensed clinical social worker and family coach, this podcast moves beyond theory to offer actionable steps you can use immediately. Therese draws on both professional expertise and a genuine understanding of the solo parent reality, where you’re the only one setting boundaries and mending fences. Conversations focus on turning behavioral challenges into opportunities for growth, finding realistic ways to pull kids from their devices, and fostering a home where communication actually works. You’ll hear strategies for building your own confidence as a parent while strengthening your family’s connections, all without the sugar-coating. This is a space for single moms and dads seeking real-life support, where every episode aims to provide a practical reset for the week ahead. Tune in for a blend of compassionate guidance and concrete tools designed specifically for the solo parent raising adolescents.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Single Parenting Reset Show: For Solo Parents of Tweens and Teens — Manage Behavior Problems, Reduce Screen Time & Improve Communication
Podcast Episodes
226. Your Teen Is Pulling Away: What Parents Should Do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:39
Is your teen pulling away, spending more time alone, and talking less — leaving you wondering if you’re losing them?If you're a parent watching your teen go quiet or withdraw, it’s easy to panic. But this stage — while s…
225. 3 Parenting Mistakes That Damage Communication With Teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:13
Have you already repeated yourself three times today—and still got silence, eye rolls, or snapping back from your teen?If the new year already feels like old battles—around school, sleep, or screens—this episode will giv…
224. 5 Screen Time Strategies That Actually Work for Tweens and Teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:50
Is screen time creating chaos, conflict, and constant tension in your home?You're not alone—and you're not powerless. In this year-end "best of" episode, Tess Connolly, LCSW, shares the most effective and research-backed…
223. Arguments With Tweens: How to Handle Conflict Without Yelling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:46
Are you constantly arguing with your tween or teen and wondering why every conversation turns into a power struggle?You're not alone—and you're definitely not failing. In this "Best of 2025" episode, parent and family co…
221. Holiday Screen Time Problems: What Parents Can Do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:53
Are screens quietly taking over your home this December — turning your teen into a moody ghost and your holidays into chaos?If you're a single parent already noticing more eye-rolls, late-night scrolling, and tension aro…
220. How to Talk to Your Tween or Teen About Vaping [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:21
Do you really know what your teen might be offered at their next holiday party?With school out and the holiday season in full swing, teens have more unstructured time, less supervision, and more peer pressure than ever—e…
218. 5 Parenting Mistakes With Rules, Curfews, and Screen Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:13
Feeling like the only parent trying to enforce rules while your co-parent plays it loose with curfews, screen time, or even vaping? The holidays make it worse — but there's a better way.When co-parenting dynamics clash,…