If you are a lean thinker, you are probably working to continually improve your skills in communicating with the adults in your life.  You may also be working to bring some lean thinking into your family life.  But what if you have some pre-teens in your family circle? They can be very challenging to work with – and that is where Marcus Higgs can help us.  He works with parents of pre-teens to help them improve their connection with the kids at a time when the kids are beginning to establish their unique identities.    Marcus Aurelius Higgs.   Marcus Aurelius Higgs works with Certain Future to support parents of pre-teens (10-14 y.o.), helping them show up and maintain meaningful relationships with their children during these 'identity-breaking' years. He collaborates with parents who want to be present with their son or daughter before it is too late to bridge the gap. Using 'The SHOW UP Framework,' Marcus helps parents benefit by ensuring they are confident in their communication when their tween starts having big emotions, knowing how to be present when their pre-teen starts to withdraw, so their child continues to trust them and naturally opens up difficult conversations, and understanding how to support their child in ways that develop self-belief and resilience.       KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST: 00:03:25 - Identity Breaking Phase 00:04:09 - Development of Friendships 00:05:12 - Coaching a Young Musician 00:10:12 - The Concept of "Not Yet" 00:12:42 - Pygmalion Effect on Parenting 00:13:22 - Common Issues Parents Face 00:16:01 - Show Up Framework Overview 00:22:37 - Opening Up Communication 00:24:44 - Establishing Regular Check-ins 00:29:21 - Personal Story of Support 00:32:30 - Challenges of Modern Parenting 00:34:26 - Social Media and Identity Formation   KEY TAKEAWAYS : Parents need to establish a strong identity and know their values and virtues. Parents should hold space for collaboration with their kids, working with them rather than doing things for them.  Written letters expressing pride and support can be a powerful tool for opening up communication with teens. Parents should seek support from a parent pod or a network of trusted adults to share the responsibility of parenting.  Social media can impact the sense of identity, and it is important to help children understand their worth beyond likes and virtual validation.  Memorable Quotes From Marcus Aurelius Higgs. "If you're a lean thinker, you're probably working to continually improve your skills of communicating with the adults in your life." CONNECT WITH Marcus Aurelius Higgs   Website: https://marcushiggs.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartofmarcus/