When you try to help and it backfires, or ask for space and they take it personally. Tammy and Carolyn respond to two powerful questions from a parent and a teen about what happens when communication shuts down and love gets lost in translation.
In this episode of This Might Get Awkward, Tammy and Carolyn explore the sometimes painful gap between intention and impact, when you're trying to help, trying to connect, or trying to protect space… but the other person doesn’t receive it the way you hoped.
They answer two deeply relatable questions:
A parent asks: “My daughter told me something personal and I tried to help, but now she won’t talk to me at all. How do I rebuild that trust and keep communication open?”
A teen asks: “When I ask for privacy or space, my parents act like I’m being rude or secretive. How do I explain that I still love them — I just need room?”
Tammy and Carolyn unpack what’s often happening beneath the surface in both situations — for parents, it might be the instinct to rescue, or to jump in with advice that wasn’t asked for. For teens, it’s the struggle to set boundaries without hurting someone they care about.
Key takeaways from the episode include:
Why circling back to a tricky conversation builds trust more than getting it right the first time
How to ask your teen (or parent) what they actually need in a moment, instead of guessing
How to introduce conversations outside of intense moments (e.g., in the car, on a walk, or doing something side-by-side)
Recognising the difference between being present and being a fixer
The importance of normalising self-reflection and giving grace, to teens and to yourself
Tammy also shares a coaching insight: when you feel the urge to help, pause and ask, “What does support look like to you right now?” And Carolyn reminds listeners that saying “I still love you - I just need a bit of space” can be more powerful than we think.
This episode is a gentle reminder that it’s okay to mess up, say the wrong thing, or need room, what matters is how we show up afterwards.