SLP 516: Parenting Tweens and Teens with Michelle Mitchell

In this insightful episode, Kim speaks with parenting educator Michelle Mitchell who shares her professional journey and expertise in working with tweens and teens, discussing the challenges and joys of parenting during the teenage years. The conversation covers various aspects of parenting, including the importance of balancing independence with support, managing technology use, addressing mental health concerns, and navigating family dynamics. Michelle emphasises the need for parents to educate themselves about their children’s experiences, maintain authentic relationships, while providing guidance and support through the complex teenage years. Packed with stories, wisdom and practical tools, this conversation will leave you encouraged and equipped to parent with self love.

About Michelle Michelle Mitchell is an author and speaker, sought after for her compassionate and grounded advice for parenting tweens and teens. She began as a classroom teacher but soon found a special interest in wellbeing. In 2000 she left teaching to establish a health promotion charity and psychology clinic which delivered life skills programs and psychological services to thousands of young people and their families each year. Today she uses her experience to write and speak in schools, community events and through media. The core of her work is helping parents be the trusted, leadership presence that their growing kids need.

Her definition of Self Love is: At its heart, Michelle sees self love as a parent showing up happy and authentic, so our kids learn they have permission to do the same. Happiness is important, relationships are give and take and chasing your dreams is something to be proud of.

Her favourite quote : If a mum says “You are my 7minutes” and the child says “What 7 minutes” and mum replies “After death the human brain lives for 7 minutes to replay its best memories”. “You are my 7 minutes”

Links to follow: Website: www.michellemitchell.org Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/michellemitchell.author/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellemitchellspeaker

Quotes: I know that one caring trusted adult in a kid’s life can literally change the trajectory of a child’s life. Parenting has never been more challenging. There is a grief of letting go in the growing up years that we don’t talk about enough. Parenting is u turn that comes right on back to you. Parenting flows through three stages: dependence, independence, and interdependence. There is flip of being so needed and then receiving messages that you are not needed in the same way. I talk to parents about owning that needy energy. Their ability to differentiate from us as human being is so important. We want the stretch to be manageable, a safe pull away. Our kids need to make mistakes. I am expecting you to act like a teenager, but you need to expect me to act like a parent! Parents chill out! Your kids are ok! AI and social media are shaping a generation. We can’t ignore it, but we can guide our kids through it with boundaries. We need to be on the front foot in our homes. Keep devices out of bedrooms, use parental controls, and have open conversations about tech usage with children. The world is not a safe place, and we need to educate our kids. Parents don’t need to have all the answers. They need to be the safe place where kids feel seen and significant. We need to know who our anchor people are. Strengthen those support layers so no one carries the load alone. When our kids are not communicating. We think talking is the answer when connection is the answer. There is a big difference. What they are needing to know is am I safe, do I belong, and do I matter? They are the things we need to try and answer as a community. Never hesitate to ask for professional support if things are spiralling. If we want to get serious about kid’s mental health, we need to see life through their lens and step into their shoes. Challenging teenage years aren’t lost years. They are full of opportunities for growth, humour, and deeper connection. Limit questions to teenagers to no more than two at a time to avoid appearing needy. It is natural for partners to have different ideas due to their diverse upbringings and backgrounds, but the common goal should be the child’s wellbeing. Using a timer to allow each partner to express their views without interruption. Test and measure ideas when there’s no mutual agreement. Teenagers don’t expect perfection. Perfection is intimidating to them. Get a bit messy with them. Be authentic. Assess whether school issues are “high stake” or “low stake” before determining your response approach. Don’t take teenage disrespect personally. It is usually a reflection of their struggle, not your failure as a parent. Go with the flow! We ne