77: Parents of Teens: How to Let Go and Encourage Them to Fly

Rachel Marie Martin believes in the power of the human spirit to overcome, to thrive and to find deep joy and because of that she pours out her heart via these platforms: she is the writer behind the site FindingJoy.net and author of both Mom Enough and The Brave Art of Motherhood and a founding partner in Audience Industries – a company designed to train and equip entrepreneurs in their ventures. Her articles have been translated into over 25 languages, her site reaches millions of visitors per month and she has a robust, engaged Facebook community. Her content has been featured in The Huffington Post, The Today Show, Star Tribune, Tiny Buddha, iVillage, Stuff New Zealand,  John Tesh, PopSugar, Motherly, Parents, What to Expect, Independent Journal Review, Dr. Greene, Power of Positivity, Her View From Home, CafeMom, and many more. She speaks worldwide encouraging moms and entrepreneurs to live each day with purpose and drive. Beyond that, she’s a mom to seven, and calls Nashville, Tennessee, her home. Key Takeaways “What’s the worst that can happen and can I get through that?” Worry is part of being a parent. Don’t beat yourself up if you worry. It’s an acknowledgement of your love. As a parent, be sure to settle into the knowingness that you are doing the best you can with the resources that you have. Using a “target with a positive expectation” is a good way to set a goal to give your teens the opportunity to succeed. Choose your words carefully when setting an expectation and use positive language. Give it some pause and grace when you talk with your teens. Setting boundaries can differ with each child/teen. Pay attention to their needs and honor who they are. Allow your teen to explore what they enjoy and consider their passion as a future career. It’s important to have a respectful relationship with your teen and to address any comments towards you as a parent. Do not take it personally and have a thoughtful conversation with them about your relationship and the boundary of respect. Sponsored by VarsityLeadership.com Resources WEBSITE: https://findingjoy.net FACEBOOK PAGE: Finding Joy INSTAGRAM: @finding_joy BOOK: Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood