Ep 4.10 Steps to a Better Connection with Your Teenager

If you’ve ever wondered why your teen doesn’t talk to you like they used to, you’re not alone. The teenage years bring a whole new set of challenges — distance, eye rolls, and the occasional slammed door.

But here’s the good news: connection is still possible, and it doesn’t require perfection.

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 simple but powerful steps you can start practicing today to build (or rebuild) a stronger connection with your teenager. From small daily gestures to handling conflict with steadiness, these tools will help you create the kind of relationship your teen can trust — one that lasts well beyond the teenage years.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Show your teen you care in small, daily ways
  • Create more positive than negative interactions
  • Focus on what you can actually control (and let go of the rest)
  • Build trust through respect, steadiness, and presence
  • Use playfulness and positivity to keep your relationship strong

Whether things feel tense at home or you just want to strengthen your bond, this episode will give you practical steps you can start using right away.

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:


Stay Connected with Me:

💡 If this episode was helpful, be sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes, and share it with a friend who’s parenting teens. Every share helps another family find the support they need.

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Image of Guided Passages Founder Jasmyne Chandler next to the question, "Want a better connection with your teen?"

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Kerrick Gooden

Guide

Kerrick was raised in the Hill Country of Austin, Texas where he studied at the University of Texas. After some travel, he moved to the Rogue Valley of Oregon with a vision to farm and support youth. He completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Cultural Anthropology with Honors in 2004 at Southern Oregon University, and devoted over a decade supporting youth and their families navigate  local and state social service programs. During this time, he and his partner cultivated a food forest at their home and founded Verdant Phoenix as an educational mini-farm in 2016.

Verdant Phoenix Farm became an expression of a way of life for Kerrick. He is interested in the relationships between humans, soil, microbes, plants/trees/shrubs, food, culture, time, and the web of life. As these elements inform his horticultural practice, Kerrick enjoys supporting landscapes, gardens, farms, and their people who are interested in belonging to the land.