Episode Details

If you listened to part one of my conversation with Tania Johnson, you already know how powerful it was to understand what is happening inside the teenage brain. In this second half, we move from the “why” into the “what now?” We talk about the practical side of parenting teens in today’s world, including chores, emotional intelligence, resilience, family connection, and of course… technology.

One thing I really appreciated about this conversation is how balanced and hopeful it felt. Tania does not come from a place of fear or perfectionism. Instead, she reminds us that parenting teens is about relationship, repair, and helping our kids gradually build the skills they need to become capable adults. We also talk honestly about screens and smartphones, and I think every parent of tweens and teens will feel seen in this conversation.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why emotional intelligence may matter more than IQ long-term
• How parents teach EQ through everyday conversations and reactions
• Why family dinners and chores build confidence and connection
• How to hold expectations without constant power struggles
• The reason more teens seem afraid of failure and independence
• Why resilience grows through small risks and mistakes
• What parents often get wrong about smartphones and social media
• Why it is okay to “rewind” and change tech decisions later

Resources We Mention for Raising Resilient Teens

• Check out Tania's book: The Parenting Handbook: Your Guide to Raising Resilient Children by Tania Johnson and Tammy Schamuhn (Amazon / Bookshop.org)
• The Kimball Family Chores System
• Raising Digital Citizens conversation cards
• Passing along ownership to your teens
• Some more thoughts on teens and tech from me and one of my interviews with Andrea Davis of Better Screen Time

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