236. Communication With Teenagers: Why It Matters More Than Ever

236. Communication With Teenagers: Why It Matters More Than Ever

Author: Therese Connolly February 12, 2026 Duration: 9:29

Is your teen brushing you off, rolling their eyes, or acting like your words don’t matter anymore? What if the way you speak to them is the secret to reconnecting?

As tweens and teens pull away, many parents stop using loving, affirming language—thinking it’s no longer welcome or effective. But in this deeply personal episode, Tess Connolly, LCSW, shares why the opposite is true. Backed by personal stories and powerful research, you'll hear how simple words can shape trust, identity, and emotional safety in the teen years.

  1. Discover why loving words matter neurologically and emotionally—especially in adolescence.
  2. Learn specific, connection-building phrases that truly land with tweens and teens.
  3. Hear how to start (even if it feels awkward or unfamiliar) in a way that feels authentic to your parenting style and family history.

Listen now to learn how small shifts in the way you speak to your teen can lead to deeper connection, trust, and emotional safety—starting today.

⭐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)

📧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
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,…
216. 8 Discipline Mistakes Parents Make With Teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:33
Ever feel like your teen just shrugs off every consequence you give—curfew blown, phone gone, and they still say "whatever"?If you’re a parent stuck in a loop of threats, punishments, and zero results, this episode will…