Raw and Refreshing Advice on Navigating Anxiety, Insecurity, and Peer Pressure in Your Teenage and 20-Something Years

Lately, I’ve been getting a ton of questions from listeners about how to best support high schoolers and 20-somethings. There are lots of questions about anxiety, peer pressure, and getting young adults to open up. 

So, in this episode, I have a pile of your questions in front of me as my son, Oakley, and I go through them rapid-fire style, so you get both of our perspectives on the topics everyone worries about but is too afraid to talk about.

I have to say, Oakley really showed up for this conversation for you. He has hilarious and heartfelt thoughts on topics he has first-hand experience with. 

We cover it all. From academic pressure to body image to bullying, this conversation is full of tools and strategies and is raw, unfiltered, and filled with relatable stories (and only a few f-bombs).

You will learn:

• What teens and 20-somethings really need (and don’t need) from their parents
• (If you only get one thing from this episode, make it this…)How to encourage the young men in your life to open up
• The ONLY thing you need to do when your young adults come home in a bad mood
• How to get unhooked from toxic popularity and cliques and find your people in school or in life
• 3 smart strategies to use when your child is getting bullied that will strengthen your bond with your kid
• An 18-year-old's surprising take on when to give your kid a cellphone
• The must-use hacks for introverts who want to be more confident in school
• How to get your kid to do chores (and still like you)
• Strategies for handling your kid’s anxiety without yelling or freaking out
• The best way to navigate curfews and late-night parties with your teen 

I can’t wait for you to hear this. I loved the questions and the advice. And as a mom, I couldn’t be more proud of Oak for how much wisdom he shared.

I’d love for you to listen with your teens and 20-somethings. In fact, at the end of the episode, Oakley gives specific advice (including exactly what to say) to get your kids to listen.  

Xo, Mel

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In this episode:

• 1:20: Why is it so hard to get my teen to open up to me?
• 4:00: Your kids need quiet time at these two times of the day.
• 7:22: Here’s what to say to start a conversation with your child.
• 9:30: How should your kids handle clique groups?
• 11:00: How can you tell who "your" people are?
• 12:15: Three strategies to help your kid deal with hurtful behaviors.
• 17:30: What teens need (and don’t need) from their parents.
• 21:45: At what age do you think your teen should have a phone?
• 23:30: My high school senior has no idea what she wants to major in.
• 26:00: Two best hacks for introverted teens everywhere.
• 28:45: How can you help your kids find their friends?
• 34:00: My teen is a senior in high school, but he still has chores at home.
• 36:30: Oakley gives you a peek into his own anxiety to help your anxious teen.
• 41:20: How do you reassure your kid when he’s dyslexic?
• 42:45: The gold-standard tutoring program we used to help Oakley with his dyslexia.
• 44:20: Two simple hacks that have made a big difference for Oakley in school.
• 45:30: The two qualities I think of first when it comes to curfews.
• 47:00: Here was my #1 desire for my Vermont home when it came to my kids.
• 49:40: I literally sat Oakley’s friends down and laid down two rules for hanging out.
• 52:40: So how do you get your teen to listen to this interview?

Resources and go deeper:

• For Closed Captions: Watch on YouTube and turn on “CC.” For instructions to turn on closed captions, click here.

Want more episodes like this one with Oakley? Try these!

If You Struggle With Anxiety, You Need to Hear This.

How Do I Learn to Love Myself, Really?

• Raising Teens: How to get your teen to open up to you.
• Scientific American: The amazing teen brain. 
• National Geographic: A little silence can go a long way for kids’ mental health.
• Psychology Today: How to talk with teens.
• Pscyh Central: Click or clique: positive and negative teen social groups.
• Parenting Science: 12 evidence-based tips to help your kids make friends.
• Parents Magazine: What to do when your kid is the new kid.
• The New York Times: Teens are struggling. What can parents do?
• Pew Research Center: Parenting children in the age of screens.