Connect With Your Teens | Conversation Starters, Parenting Tips, Screen Time, Build Connection, Communication Skills

Terri Lee | Christian Parenting Coach, Communication Specialist, & B.A. Social Work
  • 5.0 (88)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Semiweekly

*****TOP 2.0% GLOBAL PODCAST***** The go-to podcast for Christian moms who want deeper connection with their teens. Are you tired of feeling dismissed every time your teen pulls out their phone mid-conversation? Do conversations with your teen feel more like nagging sessions than real connection? Is your teen shut down, distracted, or glued to a screen… while you’re desperate to build trust and keep your relationship strong? I’m so excited you’re here! This podcast will help you move from walking on eggshells to having real, trust-building conversations—without the nagging, misunderstandings or push-back. My mission is to equip you to communicate with tools that replace frustration with understanding, turn tension into trust, and help you become the mom your teen feels safe opening up to. Hi, I’m Terri Lee. A wife, mom, tutu, and communication coach. For years, I thought the key to raising my kids well was teaching the right lessons, taking them to church, and trying to fix their behavior. But instead of building connections it only led to frustration, distance, and feeling like my words didn’t matter. I realized that to have deep, lasting connections—both now and after my kids left home—I needed to change how I communicated. So, I did. I learned to listen without criticism, speak in a way my kids felt safe, and build thriving relationships. Now, I help moms do the same, and I can’t wait to share it with you! If you’re looking for practical ways to talk to your teen, build a relationship based on mutual respect, and get them off their phones long enough to connect—this show is for you. Grab your latte and let’s dive into it. Want to stay connected? ✨ Join the FB Community: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group ✨ Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly tips, encouragement, and be the first to know of upcoming events: Weekly Newsletter ✨ Instagram: @terricommunicationcoach ✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com

  1. 4d ago

    104 | Afraid Your Teen Is Losing Their Faith ? How to Stay Connected with Abigail Stonestreet (Part 2)

    You raised your kids to know and love God. You prayed with them, took them to church, and taught them the Bible. But now your teen is questioning their faith, challenging what you’ve taught them, or telling you they don’t believe in God anymore. And you’re scared. Not just because they’re pulling away from church, but because you’re afraid they’re walking away from Jesus. You want to say something that will bring them back. You want them to see what you know is true. But the more you try to convince them, the further away they seem to pull. In Part 2 of my conversation with Abigail Stonestreet, Hillsdale College senior, and co-author of Summit Ministries’ State of the Rising Generation Report, we’re talking about why young people are leaving the church, what’s drawing them back, and the powerful role relationships play in both. But our conversation goes much deeper than church attendance or finding the right words to answer your teen’s questions. Abigail shares what their research revealed about this generation’s search for meaning, belonging, truth, and beauty—and how understanding what draws our kids toward certain ideas, experiences, and beliefs can open doors to conversations we might otherwise miss. What You’ll Learn: Why young people are walking away from church—and what may be drawing them back to faith in ways parents don’t always recognize. What your teen’s attraction to beauty, stories, and experiences might reveal about the deeper questions they’re asking about life and faith. The power of curious questions and honest conversations to help you build trust and stay connected when your teen challenges what you believe. How to hold on to hope when your child is questioning their faith and you can’t see what God is doing in their life. If you’re navigating difficult conversations about faith with your teen, I want to help you stay connected, keep the conversations open, and build trust even when you don’t see eye to eye. 💌 Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider! Each week, I share personal stories, biblical encouragement, and practical communication tips to help you navigate the challenges of parenting teens and young adults with confidence. 👉 Become an Insider:  I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri MORE RESOURCES ✨Ever wonder what’s really behind the anxiety, loneliness, identity struggles, and changing beliefs we’re seeing in today’s teens? This eye-opening report from Summit Ministries helps you better understand the world your teen is growing up in and the challenges shaping their generation. 👉Get your copy of the State of the Rising Generation Report ✨Summit Ministries Parent Resources Explore helpful videos, articles, and other faith-based resources designed to equip you to navigate today’s parenting challenges and guide your teen with biblical wisdom and confidence. 👉Get the Resources here. ✨ Website: Free resources and practical support to help you build connection and trust with your teen. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com ✨ Work 1:1 With Me: Get personalized communication coaching for your specific relationship and situation. 👉http://ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching RELATED EPISODES 40 - 3 Questions That Build Connection When Faith Divides Your Family (Part 1) 97 - Worried About Your Teen? How to Trust God With What You Can’t Control 99 - How to Rebuild Trust With Your Teen When Your Relationship Feels Broken (Part 2) | Ed Lee

  2. Oct 8

    103 | Parenting Teens Who Feel Anxious & Lonely with Abigail Stonestreet (Part 1)

    Your teen is anxious. They’re lonely, even when they’re constantly connected. They’re spending more time on their phone and less time with people—and you’re trying to figure out what’s really going on underneath what you’re seeing. The statistics about today’s teens can be alarming, but your teen is not a statistic. In Part 1 of my conversation with Abigail Stonestreet, co-author of Summit Ministries’ State of the Rising Generation Report, and a college senior, we look beyond the headlines and research to what today’s teens are actually experiencing—and why understanding your teen’s individual story matters so much. Abigail brings a unique perspective because she didn’t just research Gen Z—she’s part of it. Our conversation will help you approach parenting teens with greater curiosity and strengthen the communication skills that help you build connection and trust when your teen isn’t readily letting you into their world. What You’ll Learn What’s underneath the growing anxiety, loneliness, and identity struggles we’re seeing in today’s teens Why a phone can represent much more than a screen-time problem—and what parents can miss when they focus only on the behavior What Abigail’s own parents did that made it safe for her to bring them difficult questions Why understanding your teen’s story can change the way you approach teen communication and connection As Christian parents, we don’t have to let frightening statistics determine how we see our kids. We can stay anchored in Christ, listen with curiosity, and trust that God is at work in their individual story—even in the places we don’t fully understand yet. Want practical help staying connected to your teen and having conversations that build trust? 💌 Join my email list and come be part of my free How to Connect With Your Teens Facebook group.  👉Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group 👉 Weekly Insider Newsletter I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri MORE RESOURCES ✨State of the Rising Generation Report Ever wonder what’s really behind the anxiety, loneliness, identity struggles, and changing beliefs we’re seeing in today’s teens? his eye-opening report from Summit Ministries helps you better understand the world your teen is growing up in and the challenges shaping their generation. 👉Get your copy of the State of the Rising Generation Report ✨Summit Ministries Parent Resources Explore helpful videos, articles, and other faith-based resources designed to equip you to navigate today’s parenting challenges and guide your teen with biblical wisdom and confidence. 👉https://www.summit.org/parents/?utm_source=chatgpt.com ✨ Website: Free resources and practical support to help you build connection and trust with your teen. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com ✨ Work With Me: Get personalized communication coaching for your specific relationship and situation. 👉http://ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching RELATED EPISODES 39 | When Your Teen Stops Believing: How to Keep the Door Open Instead of Pushing Them Away 70 | Teen Questioning Their Faith? How to Keep Them Talking with Kasey Leander (Part 1) 71 | Teen Pulling Away? Build Connection Without Compromising Truth with  Kasey Leander (Part 2)

  3. Sep 30

    102 | Parenting Teens When You’re Worried About Their Choices—Remember This Before You React

    Your teen tells you something that makes your stomach drop. And within seconds, your mind is racing: How long has this been going on? Why didn’t I know? What do I say? What do I DO?  That’s the moment when listening gets hard—and fear can subtly take over the conversation. Because when we’re worried about our teen’s choices, questions, or struggles, our instinct is often to jump in. Ask more questions. Give advice. Correct. Protect. Fix. But what if the pressure you’re feeling to make this turn out okay is causing you to miss something important—something God may already be doing? In this episode of Connect With Your Teens, we’re talking about what happens when fear enters our conversations and what can help you stay connected to your teen when you can’t see where their story is going. What You’ll Learn: What happens inside us when our teen shares something we weren’t prepared to hear—and why it can change the entire conversation What I learned walking through some hard seasons with my own kids—and what began to change as I learned to communicate differently Where to anchor your hope when what you’re seeing in your teen right now has you worried about what’s ahead As Christian parents, we know something about redemption because we’ve lived it. The God who has patiently loved us, changed us, and met us in places we couldn’t change ourselves is still at work—and that changes how we can show up with our kids today. Ready to build trust and connection in your relationships and stop second-guessing how to show up when conversations get hard? Grab my FREE Quick Start Connected Convos Cheat Sheet with five simple shifts you can start using this week to slow down your reactions, listen with more intention, stay curious, and create conversations that build connection. 👉 QUICK START CONNECTED CONVOS I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri MORE RESOURCES ✨ Website: Free resources and practical support to help you build connection and trust with your teen. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com ✨ Connect With Your Teen Roadmap: A step-by-step, Christ-centered path to stronger communication, trust, and connection. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com/roadmap ✨ Work With Me: Get personalized communication coaching for your specific relationship and situation. 👉http://ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Join the Facebook Group: Connect with other moms and get practical encouragement for parenting and communicating with teens. 👉Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group RELATED EPISODES 17 — Struggling With Teen Lying? 3 Truths to Help You Build Trust Without Control 20 — How to Create Safe Spaces for Honest Conversation—Teenage Insights With Bre Lee (Part 1) 34 — Beyond the Lie: Unpacking the Fear That Shut Me Down—Honest Talk with Sharaya Maples (Part 1) 70 — Faith Questions Aren’t Rebellion with Kasey Leander

  4. Sep 22

    101 | 3 Conversation Starters to Get Your Teen Talking Without the Pressure

    Getting a lot of “fine,” “nothing,” and “I don’t know” when you try to talk with your teen? Before you decide your teen just doesn’t want to talk to you anymore, it might be time to change the conversation. So much of our everyday communication with teens is about school, schedules, responsibilities, friends, or something that needs to get done. And while those conversations are necessary, our kids need opportunities to simply talk with us—without an agenda, a problem to solve, or a lesson attached. In this episode, I’m sharing 3 unexpected conversation starters that can help you change things up, learn something new about your child, and create more positive experiences of talking together. You’ll also see how these lighter conversations give you a great opportunity to practice the communication skills that help build connection when the deeper conversations come. What You’ll Learn: Why your teen’s one-word answers may not mean they don’t want to talk to you at all How changing the kinds of questions you ask can open the door to a completely different kind of conversation What to do when your teen actually starts talking so you don’t accidentally shut the conversation back down God already knows our kids completely—their thoughts, their hearts, and every detail of who He created them to be. And what a privilege that we get to keep discovering more about them as they grow. Sometimes building a stronger relationship with your teen starts with simply getting curious and listening to the answer. Want 7 more questions to help get your teen talking? 🎁 Download my FREE 10 Conversation Starters to Get Your Teen Talking Without the Pressure: https://connectwithyourteens.com/teen-conversation-starters-page I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri MORE RESOURCES ✨ Website: Free resources and practical support to help you build connection and trust with your teen. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com ✨ Connect With Your Teen Roadmap: A step-by-step, Christ-centered path to stronger communication, trust, and connection. 👉https://connectwithyourteens.com/roadmap ✨ Work With Me: Get personalized communication coaching for your specific relationship and situation. 👉http://ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Join the Facebook Group: Connect with other moms and get practical encouragement for parenting and communicating with teens. 👉Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group RELATED EPISODES 16 — Feeling Disrespected When Talking to Your Teen? 3 Tips to Foster Mutual Respect 22 — Tired of Misunderstandings with Your Teen? 3 Keys to Get Them Talking (Instead of Walking Away)

  5. Sep 18

    100 | Why Does Everything Turn Into an Argument With Your Teen? 3 Keys to Build Connection and Trust

    You ask your teen to do one simple thing—and somehow you’re both frustrated, defensive, and wondering how it turned into another argument. Sometimes the conflict isn’t really about the messy room, the phone, or the schoolwork. So why do these little things keep turning into arguments—and what can you do differently when they do? In this milestone 100th episode, I’m sharing a real conflict I had with my daughter and three communication shifts I wish I understood then. You'll learn: What may actually be fueling those arguments that seem to happen over the smallest things What to do when the conversation has already gone sideways—and you wish you could start over How to address the real issue without turning it into another battle or sacrificing connection with your teen When we anchor ourselves in Christ, release what we can’t control to God, and practice new communication skills, we can approach even hard conversations with more peace and confidence. Ready to feel more peaceful and confident in your communication with your teen? 🎉 To celebrate Episode 100 and more than 10,000 downloads, I’m having an Episode 100 Flash Sale on the Connect With Your Teen Roadmap only for the next few days. 👉 Get the Episode 100 Flash Sale & Join the Roadmap I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri 🤍Looking for a safe, faith-based community of moms who get it?  Come join us inside the How To Connect With Your Teens Facebook group—we’re waiting to welcome you.  👉Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Support the Podcast If Connect With Your Teens has been helpful to you, you can now support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support helps with the costs of producing the show and reaching more moms with practical help and hope for their families. Thank you for being part of this work! 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Website: connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. Related Episodes 49 — The Power of God’s Acceptance to Turn the Heart of Your Teen 87 — 3 Ways to Stay Calm When Your Teen Pushes Your Buttons 89 — Your Teen Says, “You Don’t Understand.” Here’s What They’re Really Asking For

  6. Sep 11

    99 | How to Rebuild Trust With Your Teen When Your Relationship Feels Broken Part 2 | Ed Lee

    How do you know if the trust you’re trying to rebuild with your teen is actually changing anything? What might your relationship look like on the other side of these difficult years? In Part 1, my husband Ed shared one of the hardest conversations he had with our daughter and the communication choices he made when he realized something had to change. But rebuilding trust didn’t happen in that one conversation. In Part 2, we’re taking you into what happened afterward—and some of the moments when we began realizing our relationships with our kids really were changing. They started telling us things we weren’t sure they would tell us. They began asking what we thought. And we learned that building trust with your teen isn’t about getting them to agree with you or even take your advice. It’s about creating a relationship where they know they can come to you. In this episode, you’ll hear: The signs that showed us trust and connection with our kids were beginning to grow What happened when our son came to us after making a decision that could have had serious consequences Why listening without immediately judging or correcting matters in teen communication How to stay connected when your teen’s opinions, beliefs, or choices are different from yours As parents, we can’t control what our kids believe, choose, or ultimately do. But we can stay anchored in Christ, listen with humility, and trust that God is at work even when we can’t see it yet. Sometimes building a stronger relationship with your teen begins by releasing the outcome and choosing how you want to show up in the next conversation. What could begin to change if your teen knew they could tell you the truth—even when you might not like what they have to say? 💛 Join me for my FREE Connect With Your Teen Workshop Tuesday, September 15, where I’ll walk you through a practical, Christ-anchored roadmap to communicate with confidence, restore connection, and build lasting trust: 👉 connectwithyourteens.com/workshop I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter 💛 See What Happened Years Later With Ed & Sharaya You heard Ed share the story on the podcast. Now you can see Ed and Sharaya sitting together years later, talking honestly about their relationship, what changed, and what they learned along the way. 👉https://riseabovethesilence.com/ed--sharaya-interview-2019 ✨ Support the Podcast If Connect With Your Teens has been helpful to you, you can now support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support helps with the costs of producing the show and reaching more moms with practical help and hope for their families. Thank you for being part of this work! 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? Book a 1-hour Communication Coaching Call. Together, we’ll identify what’s getting in the way of connection with your teen, uncover practical next steps, and create a clear plan so you can stop feeling stuck and start rebuilding trust and connection. 👉Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Website: connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. Related Episodes 17 — Struggling With Teen Lying? 3 Truths to Help You Build Trust Without Control 40 — 3 Questions That Build Connection When Faith Divides Your Family (Part 1) 79 — Parenting Teens: 5 Words That Build Trust and Connection Fast

  7. Sep 9

    98 | 5 Communication Choices That Build Trust With Your Teen Part 1 | Ed Lee

    What do you do when a difficult conversation with your teen is going downhill fast—and then they say something that cuts straight to your heart? In this deeply personal episode, my husband Ed takes us back to one of the hardest conversations he ever had with our teenage daughter—when hurt, frustration, and years of strained communication collided. What he chose in the middle of that moment shows how a few intentional communication choices can open the door to connection—even when a conversation feels like it’s falling apart. If you’re parenting teens and struggling with defensiveness, disrespect, or conversations that quickly escalate, this episode gives you a real-life look at how communication skills build trust and connection even in the middle of a messy conversation. You’ll hear: What made Ed realize, in the middle of a heated argument, something had to change How he stayed in a conversation that would have been much easier to shut down or control The communication shift that allowed their daughter to finally say what was really underneath her anger 5 communication choices Ed made when the conversation was falling apart Ed couldn’t control what our daughter said, how she responded, or what happened next. But he could choose how he showed up. And sometimes building a stronger relationship with your teen begins right there. Ready to stop walking on eggshells and second-guessing what to say? Join me September 15 for my FREE live Connect With Your Teen Workshop. I’ll give you a practical, Christ-anchored roadmap to help you communicate with more confidence, restore connection, and build lasting trust. 👉 Save Your Seat: http://connectwithyourteens.com/workshop I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri 💛 See What Happened Years Later With Ed & Sharaya You heard Ed share the story on the podcast. Now you can see Ed and Sharaya sitting together years later, talking honestly about their relationship, what changed, and what they learned along the way. 👉https://riseabovethesilence.com/ed--sharaya-interview-2019 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter ✨ Support the Podcast If Connect With Your Teens has been helpful to you, you can now support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support helps with the costs of producing the show and reaching more moms with practical help and hope for their families. Thank you for being part of this work! 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? Book a 1-hour Communication Coaching Call. Together, we’ll identify what’s getting in the way of connection with your teen, uncover practical next steps, and create a clear plan so you can stop feeling stuck and start rebuilding trust and connection. 👉Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching ✨ Website: connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. Related Episodes Episode 94 — Why Your Teen Gets Defensive So Quickly Episode 96 — Teen Won’t Listen to Your Advice? 4 Communication Skills That Build Trust Episode 97 — Worried About Your Teen? How to Trust God With What You Can’t Control

  8. Sep 1

    97 | Worried About Your Teen? How to Trust God With What You Can’t Control

    You’ve had the conversation. You’ve prayed. You’ve researched. You’ve tried to help. And still, your mind keeps coming back to: What else can I do? What am I missing? When you see your teen struggling, making choices that concern you, pulling away from their faith, or heading in a direction you desperately wish you could change, it’s hard not to feel responsible for making things better. And without realizing it, loving and supporting them can start turning into trying to control an outcome you simply can’t control. In this episode, I’m sharing something God has been showing me in my own life about the difference between being responsible TO someone and responsible FOR their outcome—and how that distinction can change the way you parent and communicate with your teen. You’ll learn: How concern for your teen can turn into control without you realizing it The question that can help you recognize what’s actually yours to do—and what isn’t What Proverbs 3:5 taught me about where I’m putting the weight of someone else’s future How trusting God can help you communicate with your teen without every conversation becoming about the thing you’re worried about Trusting God with your teen doesn’t mean passive parenting. You still guide, set boundaries, seek wisdom, get help when it’s needed, and keep showing up. But you don’t have to believe that if you just say the right thing, find the right solution, or parent perfectly enough, you can guarantee the outcome. You can do what God has given you to do and trust Him with what you cannot control. 💛Want to know what you can begin doing differently to build more connection and trust with your teen? Join me for my FREE live workshop, The Roadmap to a More Peaceful, Connected & Trusting Relationship With Your Teen. 👉Save your seat here: connectwithyourteens.com/workshop I pray this episode blesses you and your family. ~Terri ✨ Visit connectwithyourteens.com for free resources, practical support, and more ways to build connection and trust with your teen. ✨ Support the Podcast If Connect With Your Teens has been helpful to you, you can now support the podcast through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support helps with the costs of producing the show and reaching more moms with practical help and hope for their families. Thank you for being part of this work! 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/connectwithyourteens ✨ Want to work 1:1 with me? Book a 1-hour Communication Coaching Call. Together, we’ll identify what’s getting in the way of connection with your teen, uncover practical next steps, and create a clear plan so you can stop feeling stuck and start rebuilding trust and connection. 👉Learn More: ConnectWithYourTeens.com/communication-coaching 💌Want weekly encouragement straight to your in box? Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly parenting tips, encouragement, and support straight to your inbox Weekly Insider Newsletter Related Episodes: 5 - From “It’s Too Late To Fix This” To Having Real Conversations With Your Teen 36 - The #1 Sign You’re a Great Mom (It’s Not What You Think) 65 - 3 Lies That Sabotage Communication With Your Teen (Part 1 of 3)

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*****TOP 2.0% GLOBAL PODCAST***** The go-to podcast for Christian moms who want deeper connection with their teens. Are you tired of feeling dismissed every time your teen pulls out their phone mid-conversation? Do conversations with your teen feel more like nagging sessions than real connection? Is your teen shut down, distracted, or glued to a screen… while you’re desperate to build trust and keep your relationship strong? I’m so excited you’re here! This podcast will help you move from walking on eggshells to having real, trust-building conversations—without the nagging, misunderstandings or push-back. My mission is to equip you to communicate with tools that replace frustration with understanding, turn tension into trust, and help you become the mom your teen feels safe opening up to. Hi, I’m Terri Lee. A wife, mom, tutu, and communication coach. For years, I thought the key to raising my kids well was teaching the right lessons, taking them to church, and trying to fix their behavior. But instead of building connections it only led to frustration, distance, and feeling like my words didn’t matter. I realized that to have deep, lasting connections—both now and after my kids left home—I needed to change how I communicated. So, I did. I learned to listen without criticism, speak in a way my kids felt safe, and build thriving relationships. Now, I help moms do the same, and I can’t wait to share it with you! If you’re looking for practical ways to talk to your teen, build a relationship based on mutual respect, and get them off their phones long enough to connect—this show is for you. Grab your latte and let’s dive into it. Want to stay connected? ✨ Join the FB Community: Connect With Your Teens Facebook Group ✨ Become a Connect With Your Teens Insider for weekly tips, encouragement, and be the first to know of upcoming events: Weekly Newsletter ✨ Instagram: @terricommunicationcoach ✨ Contact: support@connectwithyourteens.com

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