Lesson Category: Teens

It has been said that perfectionism is a trait that makes life an endless report card on accomplishments or appearances. The tendency toward perfectionism has increased significantly among young people over the past 30 years. It can be associated with depression, anxiety, eating disorders and even suicide. The needs to feel accepted and to be cared about tend to drive perfectionism and without treatment, may get worse over time. 

Perfectionists strive for flawlessness in themselves and/or in others. If you’re wondering whether you have these tendencies, the chances are that you do to one degree or another.

Human beings are built to reflect each other’s emotions. When children display intense feelings and behaviors, our brains naturally reflect those. We start to feel stressed, angry, fearful, or overwhelmed, just like our kids. The most helpful thing we can do is to develop a brain calming practice and make it part of our daily routine.

Conversation is a pathway to developing and sustaining a healthy and trusting relationship with your child. Hormones, attitude, and personality? Welcome to the tween and teen years. Learn to parent your independent, emerging adult, while still nurturing the playful child. You will have the opportunity to explore and prepare for real-life situations. 

Your child’s sexuality is part of their identity, and it’s important to talk about it. We know it can be uncomfortable to talk about sex and sexuality with your child, and we also know how important it is to support their confidence and positive and meaningful relationships. This course is designed to help you have these difficult and important conversations and help you and your child be sex positive - embracing that sexuality is a part of humanity. We will talk about:

• Stepping out of the comfort zone
• Supporting your child’s identity and relationships
• Consent
• Safety and Assault

• Not sure what the difference is between sexual orientation and gender identity?
• Confused by terms your child might be using, like pansexual, queer, transgender, or nonbinary?
• Feeling the need for some guidance about how to positively respond to your child?

There are many ways youth may be talking about their sexual orientation or gender identity that might be new or confusing for parents. Having a basic understanding of the words being used, along with some helpful ways to respond, can assist you in supporting your child.

• Does the idea of talking with your child about sexual orientation feel difficult or even a little scary?
• Are you confused about the changing ways that many in our society see these issues?
• Feeling the need for some guidance about how to support your child?

Studies show that youth who feel they can talk with their parents are less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as The adolescent brain assesses risk differently and teens get bored more easily. These are just a few of the changes taking place in your adolescent’s brain that might make communication and safety a lot more challenging. This class will provide parents with important information about teen brain development and practical strategies to help teens stay safe as well as grow and thrive. 

Raising healthy children with an ability to sustain meaningful relationships is a challenge even in the most ideal situations. Add on hormones, attitude, personality, technology and shelter-in place - welcome to the tween and teen years! This interactive online class will include a conversation about parenting the independent, emerging adult while still nurturing the playful child within. 

We will talk specifically about building relationships during this very unpredictable time. You will have the opportunity to explore making stronger connections through conversation and confrontation in the context of real-life situations.

Each of us grows up in a unique family and when we come together as a couple, we don’t usually talk about our parenting beliefs until children are actually on the scene. The more intentional parents are about sharing their stories and values with each other, the more likely it is that you can agree on parenting approaches.  

Mothers often parent in ways that are different from fathers and those differences can be helpful to children, but only if you recognize the strengths of each other’s approaches.. “Marshmallows” often join with “Generals” because in some ways they need each other. But over time your differences can become more dramatic and problematic.  

Does your child seem unmotivated, stressed or just bored when it comes to school?

Do you play homework police instead of connecting positively with your child?

Are you confused about what will really help?

Many parents feel overwhelmed or out of the loop when it comes to their kids’ education. How can you nurture your child’s education and support engagement in learning? This class will help support your child’s learning and motivation in ways that work. You will discover how to advocate in meaningful ways when necessary.