Ep 70: Teens Speak: Navigating Conflict at Home Through Trust, Respect, and Communication

In this episode, I had three experts come on the show, but they’re not the typical experts I have on Focus Forward. I got to sit down with three incredible teens, Eliza, Mark, and Sam, to talk honestly about conflict and how to manage it between teens and adults. This episode is one I’ve been wanting to do for so long and I’m thrilled to bring it to you today. We covered everything from communication styles to what it feels like to be misunderstood, and even how trust is built—or broken—in those tricky conversations. And of course, I couldn’t not mention EF skills, so you’ll hear me comment here and there on how key executive function skills like self-regulation, flexible thinking, and perspective-taking show up in real life and impact us during conflict and resolution. Listen to learn from these teens about the importance of creating space for mistakes and learning, and how trust is the answer - we have to work to trust them and they us. It’s a hard journey that we’re all making together. These teens were thoughtful, vulnerable, and wise beyond their years. I think you'll walk away with some valuable insight—and maybe even a few moments of, "Oof… yeah, I’ve done that as a parent or teacher." I know I experienced this multiple times! But, as we’ve heard Ellen Galinsky, Nerissa Bauer, Ken Gisburg, and others, say, it’s never too late to make a difference in how you interact with your kids. Thanks for listening! Here are the show notes from today's episode: Learn More About Conflict Resolution with Teens Family Conflict Resolution: 6 Worksheets & Scenarios (+ PDF) https://positivepsychology.com/conflict-resolution-family-kids/ Parent-teen conflicts less troublesome when teens feel loved, study shows https://news.yale.edu/2020/07/14/parent-teen-conflicts-less-troublesome-when-teens-feel-loved-study-shows Other Focus Forward episodes on teen-related topics: Ep 66: From Overwhelmed to Empowered: 4 Essential Coping Skills Every Teen Needs to Thrive (ft. Dr. Jackie Wolfman) https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=mj2r59gs2v Ep 62: Lighthouse Parenting: How to Communicate, Connect, and Guide with Confidence (ft. Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg) https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=v0rl5xa5ub Ep 40: The Breakthrough Years: Raising Thriving Teens Through Executive Function (ft. Ellen Galinsky) https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=fhebx5zqfl Ep 54: Self-Regulation Starts with Us: Helping Kids Manage Big Emotions (ft. Nerissa Bauer) https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=kqhshzq15x Ep 38: Coping with College Stress: How to Meet the Demands of College Life with Confidence (ft. Dr. Bianca Busch) https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=baxmpspptj