Key Takeaways:

• Transition from Authority to Ally: Empowering parents to shift their roles from strict rule enforcers to supportive allies, improving the parent-teen relationship.
• Control and Instructions: Highlighting the risks of micromanaging older teens, emphasising that too much control can create distance instead of fostering growth and maturity.
• Effective Connection: Suggesting practical ways to nurture connection with teens through natural interactions, like shared activities and thoughtful conversations.
• Boundaries as Bridges: Encouraging open discussions about household chores, privacy, and personal space to enhance mutual respect and prevent resentment.
• Acceptance of Different Choices: Emphasising the importance of staying supportive and connected even if children make choices that differ from parental hopes, ensuring they feel safe.

Notable Quotes:

• "Instead of being a rule setter, you might now be more of a sounding board instead of being the manager Think of yourself as becoming an ally."
• "Mistakes are what help us and them to learn and to grow. And protection can just feel like pressure for them."
• "Boundaries aren't walls, they're bridges."
• "Connection doesn't mean we always have to agree. Support also doesn't always mean silence."
• "The good news is that this stage can bring some of the most meaningful, honest and rewarding relationships that you'll ever have with your kids."

Click here to contact Collett or ask her a question or Click here to contact the Raising Teens team.

Collett is a psychologist, qualified teacher, speaker, and internationally published author, with 25 years' experience working in private and public schools, as well as in private practice.

Visit Raising Teens for more resources, click here for Collett's books, or join the discussion on Facebook.

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