9 lessons
Teens
Independence, risk and staying close.
Teens
The car keys talk: how to raise a teen who owns the wheel
Phones, drinking, weed, tired drives, speeding, a car full of friends. The driving talk works best as a long series of calm conversations, plus one promise: call me, and I'll come, no questions.
Teens
Consent, dating and the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship
Teens learn what love looks like from the relationships around them. Here's how to talk about consent, respect and dating violence early, often and without the lecture.
Teens
Why teenagers stay up late, and how to help them get enough sleep
Teens need 8 to 10 hours, but puberty shifts their body clock later while school starts early. It's biology, not laziness. Here's what parents can actually do about it.
Teens
How to talk to your teen about sex (without either of you dying of embarrassment)
Talk early, often and honestly. Teens whose parents talk with them about sex tend to make safer choices. Your values belong in the conversation, and so do the facts.
Teens
Vaping, alcohol, weed and counterfeit pills: the substance talk for right now
The drug talk most of us got doesn't cover fake pills sold on social media. Here's an honest, calm version for today's tweens and teens, built on connection instead of scare tactics.
Teens
Giving teens independence: how to let go without losing touch
Teens need growing freedom to build judgment. Hand over responsibility in steps, keep expectations clear, and focus on a relationship where they actually tell you things.
Teens
Guns and kids: safe storage, and the question to ask before playdates
If there's a gun in the home, store it unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked separately. And before your child visits another home, ask whether there are guns and how they're stored.
Teens
Sextortion and online safety: what every parent should say before it happens
Sextortion scams target kids fast and hit hardest when kids feel they can't tell anyone. The most protective thing a parent can do is make sure their child already knows: come to me, and I will help first.
Teens
Staying close to a teenager who seems to want distance
Teens pull away for good developmental reasons. The research suggests the parents who stay most connected are the ones teens trust to stay calm.
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