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/

✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach

✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com

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.

✔️ 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.

Terri

Want to stay connected?

✨ Join the FB Community: www.facebook.com/groups/connectwithyourteens/

✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach

✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com

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/

✨ Instagram instagram.com/terricommunicationcoach

✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com