Single Parenting Reset Show: For Solo Parents of Tweens and Teens — Manage Behavior Problems, Reduce Screen Time & Improve

Therese Connolly
  • 5.0 (57)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Single Parenting Reset Show — The go-to podcast for single parents (single moms and single dads) of tweens and teens to reduce screen time, improve communication, and build stronger family connections. Hosted by Tess Connolly, LCSW, a parent and family coach who understands the unique challenges of solo parenting. Each episode offers practical behavioral strategies, confidence-building tools, and real-life support for single parents. You'll get help managing screen time, improving co-parenting dynamics, and building lasting connections with your teens and tweens — one episode at a time. If you're ready to raise emotionally healthy, confident kids while reclaiming your calm as a single parent, you're in the right place.

  1. 17H AGO

    260. Teen Mental Health: What Parents Need to Know

    Teen mental health struggles are rising fast — and many parents are seeing more anxiety, emotional shutdown, irritability, hopelessness, and overwhelm in their teens than ever before. According to the CDC’s 2024 Youth Risk Behavior Survey using 2023 teen data: Nearly 40% of teens reported persistent sadness or hopelessness20% seriously considered suicideNearly 1 in 10 reported attempting suicide Parents are scared, exhausted, and often unsure how to help without making things worse. In this episode, Tess Connolly, LCSW, breaks down: What is really happening with teen mental health right nowWhy emotional overwhelm often looks like attitude or withdrawalThe parenting mistake that unintentionally increases shutdownWhy emotional safety matters more than constant fixingHow to support anxious and emotionally overwhelmed teensWhat single parents especially need to understand right now Tess shares nervous-system-aware parenting strategies, emotional regulation tools, and practical ways to connect with teens without power struggles. If you have a teenager who seems: emotionally overwhelmedanxiousirritablewithdrawnunmotivatedglued to screensemotionally reactiveor difficult to reach lately… this episode will help you better understand what may actually be happening underneath the behavior. You’ll walk away with concrete tools to: reduce emotional shutdownstrengthen connectionsupport your teen’s nervous systemand become a calmer emotional anchor at home Listen to Episode 260 of The Single Parenting Reset Show: Teen Mental Health: What Parents Need to Know Right Now (2026) And if this episode resonates with you: Join the parenting newsletter familyShare this episode with another parentAnd subscribe for more support around parenting tweens and teens with connection, boundaries, and emotional leadership ⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Download the Tech Reset Agreement ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection. #singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication

    14 min

  2. 2D AGO

    259. Emotional Intelligence in Teens: Help Your Child Manage Big Emotions

    Is your teen or preteen having big emotional reactions, shutting down, snapping back, or melting down over what seems like a small issue? In this episode of The Single Parenting Reset Show, Tess Connolly, LCSW, talks with Dr. Rosina McAlpine, work and family wellbeing expert from Win Win Parenting, about how parents can help tweens and teens build emotional intelligence and learn to manage their emotions more effectively. Dr. Rosina explains that emotional intelligence is not just about “calming down.” It includes several skills: knowing your own emotions, managing those emotions, recognizing emotions in others, and handling relationships. These skills are connected to better relationships, stronger school and work performance, improved mental health, better physical health, and greater life satisfaction. In this episode, you’ll learn: What emotional intelligence really meansWhy emotional intelligence matters for teen behavior and wellbeingHow parents can help teens notice and name their emotionsWhy emotional regulation has to be taught step by stepHow screen time, gaming, and social media can affect moodSimple ways parents can model emotional regulationHow to help teens build empathy and relationship skillsWhy “look for the win-win” can reduce conflict at home If your teen struggles with emotional outbursts, irritability, shutting down, or conflict, this episode will help you understand what is happening and how to begin building emotional intelligence one small step at a time. Listen now and start with one simple shift: help your teen notice what they are feeling before trying to fix the behavior. Dr. Rosina an internationally recognized expert on parenting, managing work and family life, working parents, researcher, and media contributor. Dr. Rosina is the founder of Win Win Parenting, a research-based program that is delivered in small, medium and large organisations and workplaces for all levels of government to inspire and resource working parents with strategies to better navigate day-to-day parenting challenges, support their mental health, manage work-life balance, reduce stress, and prevent burnout. Dr. Rosina can offer a unique perspective –she has been featured on TV, print and radio media platforms – highlights include: the New York Post, The Today Show, with a regular spot on ABC Radio, and has spoken at corporate events globally. https://www.winwinparenting.com/media https://www.drrosina.com/media ⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Download the Tech Reset Agreement ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection. #singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication

    31 min

  3. APR 30

    258. Teen Attitude Problems: How to Handle Disrespect Without Making It Worse

    Is your teen talking back… rolling their eyes… or saying things that feel completely disrespectful? You’re not alone—and more importantly, you’re not doing anything wrong. Teen attitude problems are one of the most common (and most triggering) challenges for parents of tweens and teens. But how you respond in those moments can either escalate the situation… or completely shift it. In this episode, we’re breaking down what’s really happening when your teen shows attitude—and why reacting the way most parents do actually makes it worse. You’ll learn how to stay calm, set boundaries, and respond in a way that teaches respect instead of creating more conflict. Because your teen doesn’t need more punishment… They need better guidance. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why teen attitude problems often get worse when parents react emotionallyHow to respond to a disrespectful teen without escalating the situationWhat to say in the moment when your teen talks backHow to set clear boundaries without damaging your relationshipWhy repair conversations matter more than lecturesSimple scripts you can use immediately This approach helps you reduce conflict, build trust, and actually teach your teen how to communicate with more respect. If you’re ready to feel calmer and more confident parenting your tween or teen… 👉 Follow the show so you don’t miss weekly episodes 👉 Share this episode with a parent who needs it 👉 And if you want more support, grab your Tech Reset Agreement or book a Parent Reset session through the link in the show notes ⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) 📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com 🆘 Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session: Parent Reset Call ⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Download the Tech Reset Agreement ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection. #singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication

    21 min

  4. APR 28

    257. Teen Screen Time: How to Set Limits That Work

    If teen screen time is becoming a daily battle in your home… and your screen time limits for teens don’t seem to be working… you are not alone. You take the phone away. You set rules. You try to stay consistent. And still… it turns into arguments, eye rolls, or sneaky behavior. The truth is… teen screen time is not just about the phone. It’s about what the phone is replacing. Sleep. Homework. Responsibility. Connection. And when limits are the only strategy… your teen doesn’t learn how to manage screen time — they learn how to resist it. In this episode, you’ll learn how to actually manage teen screen time in a way that reduces conflict and builds responsibility. You’ll walk away with: ✔️ A new way to think about screen time that goes beyond just minutes ✔️ How to create clear, effective screen time rules for teenagers ✔️ A simple framework to turn daily battles into calm, consistent structure This is the shift from reacting… to leading. ⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) 📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com 🆘 Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session: Parent Reset Call ⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Download the Tech Reset Agreement ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection. #singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication

    28 min

  5. APR 23

    256. How to Discipline Teenagers Without Yelling or Power Struggles

    Does disciplining your teenager leave you feeling drained, angry, or like nothing is working? If every boundary turns into an argument, every consequence becomes a negotiation, and every hard moment ends in distance, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Tess breaks down how to discipline teenagers in a way that teaches responsibility without damaging the relationship. She explains why the old model of more punishment, more talking, and more control often backfires with tweens and teens, and what to do instead. You’ll hear how to use clear limits, calm consequences, and connected follow-up to guide your teen more effectively. Tess also shares practical, out-of-the-box discipline strategies that help rebuild trust, reduce power struggles, and increase respect over time. This episode draws on adolescent-development guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and NIMH, along with CDC findings on parental monitoring and teen risk behavior. If you have been wondering: how to discipline teenagers without yellingwhat consequences actually work for teenshow to hold boundaries without constant conflicthow to rebuild trust after your teen breaks rules this episode will give you a more grounded and effective framework. You’ll learn: the biggest discipline mistake many parents make with teenswhat healthy discipline needs in order to workunique ways to teach accountability, repair, and responsibilityphrases to use when your teen is disrespectful or pushes limits Listen now, share this episode with another parent of a tween or teen, and make sure you’re connected with Tess for more support around parenting, boundaries, and communication. If you want help creating more calm, more structure, and more connection in your family, join the community and explore parent coaching support. ⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) 📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com 🆘 Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session: Parent Reset Call ⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Download the Tech Reset Agreement ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection. #singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication

    18 min

  6. APR 21

    255. How to Rebuild Trust With Your Teen or Tween after conflict

    Has trust been strained between you and your teen or tween? Maybe there has been conflict. Maybe too many arguments. Maybe lying, secrecy, attitude, shutdown, or just that painful feeling of disconnection. If you have been wondering how to rebuild trust with your teen without forcing conversations or making things worse, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Single Parent Reset Show, I’m talking about what trust repair really looks like with tweens and teens. Not just the usual advice like “talk more” or “spend quality time together.” We are getting into the deeper work of emotional safety, consistency, repair, and the less obvious ways trust gets rebuilt over time. I also share research-backed insight on why parent-child communication, connectedness, and emotional predictability matter so much for adolescent well-being. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: why trust is rebuilt more through consistency than one big emotional conversationhow to repair a rupture after conflict without losing your role as the parentout-of-the-box ways to rebuild trust, including creating a “do-over lane,” using neutral moments for reconnection, and letting your child have a voice in the repair process If you have been feeling discouraged, disconnected, or unsure how to reconnect with your teen or tween, this episode will help you take the next right step. Listen in, and if this episode speaks to you, make sure to join the family by getting on my email list for more support, tools, and guidance for parenting tweens and teens with more calm, connection, and confidence. ⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) 📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com 🆘 Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session: Parent Reset Call ⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Download the Tech Reset Agreement ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection. #singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication

    13 min

  7. APR 16

    254. Family Communication Coaching: 4 Powerful Shifts for Parents of Tweens and Teens

    Is communication at home feeling tense, shut down, or full of conflict with your tween or teen? If you keep walking away from conversations thinking, “Why does everything turn into an argument?” this episode is for you. In this episode of The Single Parenting Reset Show, Tess Connolly, LCSW, breaks down four communication shifts that help parents talk with tweens and teens in a way that lowers defensiveness and builds more trust. You’ll hear why language matters so much during adolescence, how to stop over-talking in hard moments, and what to say when communication has not gone well for a while. Adolescence is a stage marked by heightened sensitivity to social evaluation, and research also links stronger parent-adolescent communication with better mental health and family functioning. You’ll learn how to: use connection-first language instead of jumping straight into correctionreplace lectures with shorter, calmer communicationshift from blame to curiosity so your child opens up morerepair communication patterns when things have been tense or disconnecteduse specific phrases that help tweens and teens feel safer talking to you Listen now to learn simple, research-backed ways to improve family communication and change how you talk with your tween or teen, even if things have felt hard lately. And if you want more support, join Tess’s email family through the link in the show notes. ⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) 📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com 🆘 Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session: Parent Reset Call ⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Download the Tech Reset Agreement ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection. #singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication

    15 min

  8. APR 14

    253. Help With Teen Behavior Problems: What to Do When Your Teen Lies, Pushes Back, or Shuts Down

    Is your teen lying, talking back, shutting down, or making choices that leave you feeling scared, frustrated, or unsure of what to do next? If so, you are not alone. Teen behavior problems can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying so hard to stay connected while also setting limits and hold your ground. In this episode, Tess talks about some of the most common teen behavior problems parents face right now and how to respond in a way that is calm, clear, and effective. What looks like “bad behavior” on the surface is often a signal that something deeper is going on underneath. Your teen may be dealing with stress, shame, anxiety, peer pressure, overwhelm, or a need for control, and that often comes out through behaviors like: lyingdisrespectsneaking and secrecyvaping, drinking, or substance useanger, explosive reactions, or shutting down Tess walks you through how to look at these behaviors differently so you can respond with both connection and structure. In this episode, you’ll learn: why teen behavior problems are often communication, not just defiancethe top 5 behavior issues parents are struggling with mostwhat to say and do when your teen lies, pushes back, shuts down, or breaks trusthow to stay grounded without becoming harsh or losing connectionwhy your relationship with your teen still matters, even when behavior needs to be addressed directly You’ll leave this episode feeling more empowered, more clear, and more confident in how to help your teen through difficult behavior without getting pulled into constant power struggles. If this episode spoke to you, make sure you join the family so you don’t miss future episodes, parenting support, and practical tools for raising tweens and teens with more connection and less conflict. And if you know another parent who is dealing with teen behavior problems right now, send this episode their way. ⭐Got screen time problems at home, get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) 📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: therese@mindfulkidsandfamilies.com Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com 🆘 Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session: Parent Reset Call ⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Download the Tech Reset Agreement ⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here: https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses) The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection. #singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication

    15 min
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5
out of 5
57 Ratings

About

Welcome to Single Parenting Reset Show — The go-to podcast for single parents (single moms and single dads) of tweens and teens to reduce screen time, improve communication, and build stronger family connections. Hosted by Tess Connolly, LCSW, a parent and family coach who understands the unique challenges of solo parenting. Each episode offers practical behavioral strategies, confidence-building tools, and real-life support for single parents. You'll get help managing screen time, improving co-parenting dynamics, and building lasting connections with your teens and tweens — one episode at a time. If you're ready to raise emotionally healthy, confident kids while reclaiming your calm as a single parent, you're in the right place.

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