About this episode
Hey parents, welcome back to Episode #10 - today’s episode is short and sweet.And I’m doing something I’ve never done before, I’m bypassing the originally scheduled podcast for a couple reasons.First, it’s been a tough couple weeks for most teenagers.My clients, their families, our friends, my family, no one is immune from covid fatigue.And as much as I’m ready to deliver some good news, I feel the need to share something with you that’s incredibly important and especially relevant right now.Honestly, it hurts my heart that we even have to talk about this, but as I was making dinner the other night, the nightly news was playing in the background.And, my ears perked up when I heard them talking about the suicide of a young boy and I immediately recognized the father’s voice.It’s a heart wrenching video that’s had over a hundred million views - so maybe you’ve seen it, too?Not only did it catch my attention, but the statistics that followed, really pulled on my parental heart strings.Now, as a parent of teenagers, I can certainly understand that it’s tough to know what’s "developmentally normal” because of the nature of the adolescent landscape.The …intense feelingshormonal fluctuationsand all the other mental and emotional rites of passagecan definitely make it feel like a guessing game sometimes.However, NOW, more than ever, I want to encourage you to keep a keen eye on your teenager and not dismiss the ups and downs as “just a stage.”And here’s why…the statistics from the NBC nightly news on Tuesday, November 17th stated that “11 to 17-year-old’s have been more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression during the pandemic.”So, if there was ever a time to have those hard conversations about anxiety, disappointment, sadness, suicide, or self-harm, it’s now.And, if you’re like most parents, it can be really challenging to know HOW to have one of those tough conversations.Try these 3 Easy Conversation Starters and help your daughter stay afloat during the covid-19 pandemic. Please remember, active listening is key.The 3 Conversation Starter question's are:1. When you think about everything that covid has changed for you, what’s the hardest or weirdest thing?2. What do your friends think about what’s going on?3. If you could change anything in your life right now, what would it be?Of course, it’s ideal to have an in-person conversation, though it’s not always realistic.And sometimes it may be easier to bring things up or get things started via text or an emailed note - find what works for you.And if you’re just not comfortable with this or just not sure what’s going on with your teenager, that’s okay.You’
