238. Teen Mental Health: Why Late Winter Is Hardest for Teens

238. Teen Mental Health: Why Late Winter Is Hardest for Teens

Author: Therese Connolly February 19, 2026 Duration: 16:34

Does your tweener or teen seem to fall apart every March — more conflict, more screen time, more shutdown, more stress?

If things feel heavier at home right now, you’re not imagining it. March is a predictable stress spike for tweens, teens, and especially single-parent families. The school year is three-quarters done, motivation is low, social drama peaks, and everyone’s emotional reserves are depleted.

For many families, this shows up as increased screen battles, irritability, missing assignments, communication shutdown, and sometimes even substance use or mental health concerns.

The good news? Once you understand the pattern, you can plan for it — and protect your teen’s mental health instead of getting caught in constant blowups.

  1. Understand why March is the highest stress month for many teens and families
  2. Learn practical strategies to reduce conflict, screen battles, and emotional shutdown
  3. Know the warning signs that mean it’s time to seek additional mental health support

Press play now to learn how to lower the stress in your home this March and protect your teen’s mental health before things escalate.

⭐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]

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221. Holiday Screen Time Problems: What Parents Can Do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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220. How to Talk to Your Tween or Teen About Vaping [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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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…