You hear how teens are "terrible" and all the negatives about entitlement, attitude, laziness, and how exhausting it can be. Parents tell you that they can't wait for their teen to be in college and how their teen treats them. That they don't open up. They shut down. They say hurtful things. Is this the case with ALL teens? The good news is that it isn't.

Lindy & Kirsten are sisters that I adore, admire and am inspired by with how they raise their kids and look at their roles in this stage. How they communicate with them, the challenges & anxieties that can appear, dealing with moods, big feelings, and allowing their teens to make mistakes. They talk about the hard work it takes to raise them to be their own unique person. Being "shepherds" versus "engineers".

You will first hear audio from Dr. Russell A. Barkely where he talks about this "engineering" way of parenting that is bringing us SO much anxiety, too much responsibility, and putting too much power on a parent. Power that we really don't have. Control that we need to release. What's ironic is the more independence and freedom we give our kids to figure life out, the less anxiety & stress we have as parents. Dr. Barkley explains how the "shepherd" role is not only less stress for us but also a stronger option for our kids.

Lindy & Kirsten are just beyond cool and so easy to listen to. They make you want to be their sister too. I don't have a sister and hearing them talk makes me wish I had a sister like them to raise Brooklyn with. That tribe is there for you regardless if it's a blood relative though. So go find that sister as we all need it with raising teens in the world we live in- and in the future.

Thank you for listening, sharing and connecting with me about this episode and all episodes. Share with a mom who may need this or even to a mom with littles who may need to know that the teen years don't have to be terrible!

Mom Card Drawing of the Week: "Remember the feeling as a child when you woke up and morning smiled... it's time you felt like that again." -Gerry Goffin & Carole King

Lindy & Kirsten's Favorite Things & Resources:

Bissel Water Solution Spin Wave Hardwood Floor mop (I got one after this episode!) https://a.co/d/9xgnxYp

"The Modern Denial of Human Nature" by Steven Pinker (Canadian Cognitive Psychologist)

Thrive Causemetics (Yes, Cause, not Cos... their products help support communities in need. I recently started using their smoky eye pencil and it's amazing!) www.thrivecausmetics.com

Life360 app (I must be living in a bubble because I didn't know about this app- Lindy & Kirsten's kids actually like the app too!)