Connect With Your Teens | Parenting Teens, Family Communication, Build Trust, Conversation Starters, Christian Moms of Teens

7 | Breaking the Blame Cycle: How to Move Toward Connection Without Waiting for Them to Change

Ever feel stuck in a cycle where both of you keep blaming, defending, and waiting for the other person to go first? In this short episode, we talk about what it looks like to step off the merry-go-round of conflict—not because you’re wrong, but because you’re ready.
I share a story of a mom who chose connection over correction in her marriage—and how that shift led to a completely different kind of conversation. When you know who you are in Christ, you don’t have to keep fighting to be heard. You can choose peace—even when it’s hard—and trust God with the rest.
✔️ Thought reversal for today:
“I don’t need them to agree for me to walk in peace.”
“I don’t need to be right to bring God’s presence into the room.”
“I can go first—and trust God with the rest.”
God's got you and you've got this! 
I hope this blesses you!
If this encouraged you you can help more moms find the support they've been praying for by leaving a review! 💛
Want to stay connected?
✨ Join the FB Community: www.facebook.com/groups/connectwithyourteens/✨ Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider: https://riseabovethesilence.com/opt-in-connect-with-your-teens-insider-newsletter✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com

6 | Flying Off The Handle With Everything Your Teen Says? How To Stay Grounded In Christ

Ever feel like you’re starting calm but ending up frustrated or completely shut down when talking with your teen? Like you’re getting tossed around by their moods, words, or silence?
In this episode, I walk you through the power of anchoring in Christ—and how it changes not only the way you parent, but how you connect, communicate, and stay grounded when the emotional waves start crashing.
You’ll learn:
✔️ Why anchoring matters for your spiritual and relational life
✔️ What anchoring in Christ actually looks like
✔️ The 3 “Be’s” of Anchoring—simple truths that help you parent from identity, not insecurity
If you’ve ever thought, “I just need something to hold me steady,” this episode is for you.
Because before we can offer a safe place to connect, we have to become that safe place—anchored in who God says we are.
Try Anchoring with the 3 Be's:
✔️ Set a 5-minute timer and be still with God this week.
✔️ Choose one of the 3 Be’s (Be Still, Be Present, Be True You) to focus on.
💬 Want extra support? Join the free How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook Community where I just dropped a Spotify playlist to help you anchor in Christ through worship.
✨ Join here: www.facebook.com/groups/connectwithyourteens/
📥 Want weekly encouragement and tools? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider: https://riseabovethesilence.com/opt-in-connect-with-your-teens-insider-newsletter
✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach
✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com 

5 | From “It’s Too Late to Fix This” to Having Real Conversations With Your Teen

Is it too late to reconnect with your teen?
If you’ve ever asked yourself that question (even in a whisper), this episode is for you.
Join Terri as she shares a powerful, hope-filled conversation that will help you shift from fear and regret to presence and connection—starting today.
You’ll hear the story of a mom who thought she had missed her chance with her daughter, until one simple call opened the door to real connection. Discover what changed for her—and how it can change for you, too.
💡 What you’ll learn:
Why it’s not too late to rebuild trust and connection with your teen
How fear of the future and regret from the past block present connection
What Jesus meant when He said, “The time is now”—and why it matters for your family
A powerful 3-step tool to hear God’s voice, find clarity, and take action
Why living anchored in the moment can completely change how your teen responds to you
🔧 Practical Tool:
You’ll walk through a simple but transformative 3-step process (inspired by Jamie Winship’s identity work) to help you:
Tell the truth – Name your fear and lay it before God.
Ask: God, what do you want me to know? – Let Him speak directly to your heart.
Ask: God, what do you want me to do? – Follow His gentle lead in your parenting journey.
This practice is helping moms move from anxious and overwhelmed to calm, confident, and deeply connected.
🎁 Resources + Links:
✨ Join the FB Community: www.facebook.com/groups/connectwithyourteens/
✨ Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for my weekly newsletter: https://riseabovethesilence.com/opt-in-connect-with-your-teens-insider-newsletter
✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach
✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com
✨Jamie Winship: https://www.identityexchange.com/
✨ Related Episodes 
EP 3- Stop Walking on Eggshells: 6 Secrets to Confidently Connect with Your Teen (Part 1) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connect-with-your-teens-parenting-teens-family/id1826286296?i=1000716954133
EP 4 - Stop Walking on Eggshells: 6 Secrets to Confidently Connect with Your Teen (Part 1)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connect-with-your-teens-parenting-teens-family/id1826286296?i=1000716953979
 

4 | Stop Walking on Eggshells: 6 Secrets to Confidently Connect with Your Teen + Bonus Secret! (Part 2)

Do you ever feel like you’re walking on eggshells with your teen—afraid to say the wrong thing or get shut out altogether? There’s a better way.
In this episode, we’re picking up where we left off in Part 1—and diving into the next three connection-building shifts that will help you move from tension and second-guessing…to trust, peace, and confidence. I’m even throwing in a bonus secret that might surprise you—but will encourage you.
I’ll take you behind the scenes into one of the most powerful turning points I experienced as a mom with my daughter—and how learning to pause, listen, and respond differently opened the door to healing, trust, and real relationship.
You’ll walk away with simple ways to:
Stop reacting to behavior and start connecting with the heart underneath
Invite your teen to open up—without pressure, judgment, or forcing the moment
Stay consistent in how you show up (even when it feels like nothing’s changing)
Recognize and celebrate the wins that matter most—those Spirit-led moments of breakthrough and closeness
Whether your teen is pulling away or just tough to read, these principles will help you connect without control—and begin building the legacy of love and relationship you long for.
Homework / Reflection
✔️ Invite Them to Say More
Next time your teen gives a short answer, attitude, or even silence—pause. Instead of reacting, say something like:
“That sounds rough… tell me more?” or “I’m listening—would you say more?”
Then Listen. Let your calm and focused presence speak louder than words.
✔️ Practice Curious Listening When They Initiate
If they start talking (even briefly), resist the urge to fix or finish their sentence. Just invite more. And when they’re done, say: “Thanks for sharing.”
That’s it. No lectures. No sighs. Just space, safety, and gratitude. You’re building a foundation of trust through your connection one listening moment at a time.
Rejoicing in Hope,
Terri
Want to stay connected?
I’d love to walk with you in creating your legacy of connection—
✨ Join the FB Community: www.facebook.com/groups/connectwithyourteens/
✨ Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider and get my weekly newsletter for encouragement and more: https://riseabovethesilence.com/opt-in-connect-with-your-teens-insider-newsletter
✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach
✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com

3 | Stop Walking on Eggshells: 6 Secrets to Confidently Connect with Your Teen (Part 1)

Are you constantly overthinking what to say to your teen—worried that one wrong word will spark another conflict? Do you second-guess every text, every tone, every conversation—wondering if you’re doing it “right”? Have you felt like your worth as a mom rises and falls with your teen’s behavior?
In this episode, we’re going deep into the first 3 secrets to stop walking on eggshells and start showing up with Spirit-led confidence and peace. These are practical, grace-filled shifts that help you reconnect with your teen—not from fear or pressure, but from your God-given identity as a mom who is already fully loved and equipped by God.
You’ll learn:
✨ How to create a safe space that builds trust with your teen
📵 Why unplugging (for YOU—not forcing them) is a powerful first step toward connection
🕊️ How to shift from anxiety to anchored peace when you remember who you are in Christ
Plus, I’ll share my own story of trying to “perform” my way into God’s love—and how that mindset spilled into my parenting. We’ll break down the “He loves me, He loves me not” lie and discover what it looks like to lead your home from a place of knowing: You are already chosen.
Grab a pen and notebook and your favorite latte—we’re rebuilding connection, one Spirit-led moment at a time.
📝 Homework / Reflection
✔️ Spend 5 quiet minutes with God—no performance, just presence.
Ask Him to show you how deeply loved you are, right now. Meditate on Psalm 139:1-18.
✔️ Reflect on a recent moment when you walked on eggshells.
Maybe you overthought a text, held your breath before bringing up a topic, or felt like you failed as a mom.
Then ask: “Lord, what do You want me to know about that moment?”
Write down what you hear Him say. If can’t write it down right now, ask Him to hold it in your heart until you can. Let His truth quiet your self-doubt. His voice is always kinder than your inner critic and offers the peace you need to approach your next interaction with calm and confidence. 
Rejoicing in Hope,
Terri
Want to stay connected?
✨ Join the FB Community: www.facebook.com/groups/connectwithyourteens/
✨ Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider and get my weekly newsletter for encouragement and more: https://riseabovethesilence.com/opt-in-connect-with-your-teens-insider-newsletter
✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach
✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com

2 | From Eye Rolls to Open Conversations – The Story Behind Connect With Your Teens

Are you doing “all the right things” to raise your teens but still ending up in power struggles, silence, or distance?
In this episode of Connect With Your Teens, I’m sharing my story—how I went from feeling shut out and dismissed as a mom to building deep, lasting connections with my teens and my husband.
You’ll hear how my relationships with my teens were transformed and how the pain and struggle we went through as a family became the turning point where healing began. 
I’ll also talk about how God led me to create this podcast to pour into YOU. I’m here to help guide moms of teenagers to build strong relationships, communicate with confidence, and become a safe, trusted voice in their teens’ lives. 
I pray this blesses and encourages you.
Rejoicing in Hope,
Terri
*Special thanks to my mentor, Nancy Demmitt, and her husband, Dr. Dallas Demmitt, for pouring their lives and work into our family. Their support and training helped transform the way I relate to my teens and laid the foundation for the message I now share with other moms.
Want to stay connected?
✨ Join the FB Community: www.facebook.com/groups/connectwithyourteens/
✨ Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider and get my weekly newsletter for encouragement and more: https://riseabovethesilence.com/opt-in-connect-with-your-teens-insider-newsletter
✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach
✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com

1 | Trailer

Are you walking on eggshells, unsure how to talk to your teen without tension or pushback? Do your conversations feel more like nagging than real connection? Is your teen shut down, distracted, or glued to a screen… while you're desperate to build trust and keep your relationship strong?
You are not alone—there is hope!
If you’re longing for honest conversations, stronger connection, and a peaceful relationship—without constant conflict or shutting down—this podcast is for you. You’ll hear faith-filled encouragement, real talk, and simple strategies to help you become the calm; confident mom your teen feels safe opening up to—without pressure, guilt, or control.
Aloha, I’m Terri, a wife, mom, Tutu, and Christ-centered communication coach. Through my years as a social worker, ministry leader, and homeschool mom, I’ve seen firsthand how complex family dynamics can be—and how communication often breaks down in the moments that matter most. Left unaddressed, that breakdown can create lasting hurt and disconnection—but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
This is exactly why I created this podcast! For the past 16 years, I’ve helped parents develop faith-based communication strategies that build trust, restore connection, and strengthen relationships. Connect With Your Teens exists to help Christian moms build deeper connections with their teens by replacing frustration and miscommunication with tools that foster peace, trust, and lasting connection.
In this trailer episode, I’ll share the heart behind this show, who it’s for, and how it can support you in building trust and connection with your teen—even in the middle of phone distractions, shutdowns, and tough conversations.
Whether your teen is drifting, distracted, or just hard to reach, there is hope. You're not alone in this journey—and together, we'll learn how to navigate these teen years with grace, wisdom, and the kind of calm, steady presence that draws our teens closer.
Now, go grab a latte or your favorite cup of tea and let's get to the heart of it!
Rejoicing in Hope,
Terri
Want to stay connected?
✨ Join the FB Community: www.facebook.com/groups/connectwithyourteens/
✨ Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider and get my weekly newsletter for encouragement and more: https://riseabovethesilence.com/opt-in-connect-with-your-teens-insider-newsletter
✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach
✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com