Teen Savvy Coaching
Helping teens and the adults who care for them to thrive
Blended families and step-parenting are no longer the exception. They are part of everyday family life for millions of parents and kids. And yet, many adults step into these roles without a clear roadmap for how to build trust, manage discipline, and support kids who are already navigating change. In a recent episode of Parenting …
Parent conversations about bodies and boundaries can feel awkward, overwhelming, and easy to avoid. Many parents worry about saying the wrong thing or sharing too much too soon. But the truth is, these conversations don’t need to be perfect to be powerful. When parents focus on connection instead of correctness, kids feel safer asking questions, …
Parents today are navigating an overwhelming amount of information about teen mental health diagnosis. Anxiety, ADHD, depression, autism — labels are everywhere, and many kids are learning to define themselves by them. But what if some of what we’re seeing isn’t pathology at all? In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, we speak with researcher …
Parenting has never just been about what we do. It’s also about what we carry. The mental load of parenting–the constant thinking, anticipating, worrying, remembering, and managing–is often invisible to everyone except the person holding it. And for many parents, especially those raising teens, that load can feel overwhelming. In this episode of Parenting Shrink …
My husband hates ceremonies. Like–hates them. Our oldest is graduating from college this spring, and I’m just waiting for the “Can’t’ they just mail the diplomas and call it a day?” conversation that will inevitably go down. It’s not that he’s not proud of our son, or happy about whatever accomplishment is being “ceremonied”. He …
If you’ve ever received a text from another parent and instantly felt that sinking I really don’t want to say yes feeling… you’re not alone. One of the trickiest parts of parenting isn’t just navigating our kids’ needs—it’s navigating what other parents expect from us. Birthday parties. Sleepovers. Playdates. Curfews. Group outings.And eventually… substance use, …
When Melissa and I sat down to record this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, she decided to flip the script and interview me about parent coaching — what it is, how I got here, and why it can make such a dramatic difference for families. And because she didn’t warn me ahead of time (true …
Somehow—and I’m still wrapping my head around this—Parenting Shrink Wrapped Turning One feels both surreal and wildly exciting. One full year of weekly episodes, expert conversations, tech hiccups, poorly coordinated recording schedules, and plenty of laughter later… and here we are. When Melissa and I sat down in the kitchen of my rental house (remember, …
If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the kitchen, staring at your child’s homework meltdown and thinking, “What on earth is actually happening here?”—you’re in good company. In our latest episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and I sat down with clinical psychologist Dr. Eryn Krueger for a deep, practical, myth-busting conversation about …
Parenting teens and substance use has changed dramatically in the last decade. Today’s teens are navigating vapes that look like flash drives, marijuana products with far higher potency than past generations ever encountered, and gas-station synthetics like kratom that are shockingly easy to get. The result is a landscape that feels more complex—and more confusing—than …
When most parents think about their teen’s development, they picture emotional ups and downs, shifting friend groups, or maybe the battle over sleep and screen time. But what if some of your teen’s current struggles trace back to something as simple as how they used their mouth as a toddler? In this week’s Parenting ShrinkWrapped …
This week on Parenting Shrink Wrapped, we talked with Dr. Rebecca Vickers, a pediatrician who blends conventional and functional medicine to help kids truly heal. After years of practicing traditional pediatrics, Dr. Vickers began to notice a troubling trend: kids are sicker than they used to be. Allergies, anxiety, ADHD, and chronic digestive issues are …
If your teen is dreading school—or you’ve started getting those “stomachache” texts every morning—here’s something important to remember: it might not be your teen that’s broken. It might be the system. In this week’s episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and I talked with Rebecca Luhm and Tonya Gardner from Fusion Academy in …
Halloween might look like candy and costumes on the surface, but parenting through Halloween offers a surprisingly rich snapshot of our kids’ growth—and our own. When my children were small, I was the one steering the ship: planning the route, managing meltdown and candy consumption, and creating the costumes (When he was two, my son …
There are few words that make a parent’s stomach drop faster than sexual trauma.It’s a topic none of us ever want to face in our families, and yet, as our guest Dr. Courtney Glickman, founder of The Collective Healing Center in Annapolis, reminded us, it’s far more common than most realize. In our latest Parenting …
Raising bicultural kids is both a gift and a challenge, and it can shape the way teens see themselves and the world around them. In a recent episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and I sat down with licensed clinical counselor and life coach, Maria Winters, to talk about her experience raising her children in …
Grief and parenting are two words we don’t usually put together, but the truth is—they belong in the same sentence. Every family encounters grief, whether it’s through the death of a loved one, divorce, a move, a pet passing away, or even milestones like your teen leaving for college. And as parents, we’re left wondering: …
Let’s be honest—parenting judgment is everywhere. At the playground. In the school pickup line. Even at Dunkin’ Donuts. And whether you’re the one handing it out or the one on the receiving end, it never feels good. In our latest Parenting Shrink-Wrapped episode, Melissa shared a story you might find all too familiar. Her 5-year-old …
If you have a high school senior in your house, there’s a good chance you’re feeling the weight of college applications right alongside them. Essays, deadlines, recommendations, test scores—it’s enough to make even the most organized family feel like they’re living inside a pressure cooker. But here’s the truth most parents don’t realize: applying to …
As parents of teens, we know this stage of life brings new opportunities—and new responsibilities. One big milestone that often comes up? Babysitting. Whether your teen is eager to start earning money, gaining independence, or just helping out neighbors and family friends, it’s natural to wonder if they’re truly ready. In this week’s episode of …
Parenting teens with clarity isn’t about having the perfect script—it’s about knowing when to pause, when to check yourself, and how to hand kids the agency they crave. In our latest Parenting Shrink Wrapped episode, Melissa and I talked with social worker and founder of The Betty Center, Christa Welch, who shared hard-earned wisdom on …
Back-to-school tips for elementary kids can make the difference between a smooth transition and weeks of stress—for both children and parents. In our latest Parenting Shrink Wrapped episode, Melissa and I sat down with child therapist and school counselor Jennifer Ruef to talk about what really happens in the elementary years, from kindergarten all the …
When I was in 7th or 8th grade, my middle school librarian decided to make an “All About Middle School” video for incoming 5th graders—a behind-the-scenes peek at the excitement (and terror) of grades 6–8. This was the ’80s, so she lugged around a video camera roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, popping into …
When it comes to high school back to school tips, one thing is certain—there’s no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Whether your teen is a confident senior, a pressure-packed junior, an easygoing sophomore, or a wide-eyed freshman, each grade comes with its own quirks, challenges, and opportunities. In this week’s episode of the Parenting …
