1. Listen - Really actually listen - what does it mean to hold space? Watch for your triggers, hold space notice judgement.
Exercise Suggestions: notice triggers, deep inhale / deep exhale. Three breaths before responded (to regulate your lymphatic system
2. Choose connection over coercion - ego, push to be right, have your way
Exercise Suggestions: Set alarm notification “ Would you like to chat / talk?” accept “no” as a perfectly fine answer. With a “yes”, sit without an agenda, ask open ended questions like, “What’s going on in your life now?” “What’s alive for you now?” “How are you feeling?”
3. Assess your opinion about your teens / tween. Notice where it comes from, it’s normally an accumulation of years to this point. Create space for you and your teen to create a new way of being
Exercise Suggestions: Exhale, then get honest, what story do you tell yourself about your kids. Journal it. Examine it. Realize how these opinions are holding you and your tween / teen back. Remember this moment and access it again in your mind in real time when you fall back to these old belief patterns.
4. Help your teens & tween lead more in their lives- give them space to empower themselves. Discuss this with them, allow space for them to fail, succeed and quit.
Exercise Suggestions: Exhale, then get honest, what story do you tell yourself about your kids. Journal it. Examine it. Realize how these opinions are holding you and your tween / teen back. Remember this moment and access it again in your mind in real time when you fall back to these old belief patterns.
5. Lighten up, laugh, bring playfulness into your home, relationship and family
Exercise Suggestions: Explore what brings playfulness in your family. Really investigate what that is, what that looks like, what it involves. Do a survey with every member of your family when you are all together, maybe over a meal. Then challenge everyone to show up for a scheduled time to have fun! Rinse and Repeat.
For parents who need greater support, please visit us at The Partnership Parenting Movement for details about our new 12 Week Course launching soon: A Radical Education for a New World Surviving The School Year : A Radical Perspective and access info for 1:1 coaching for parents.
For teens, please consider enrolling them into one of our supportive courses.