Decoding your teen’s brain

Hello everyone! Sometimes, our kids really, truly sound like they’re speaking another language. What do you mean, lunch today was bussin? Your teacher was being sus how, exactly? Is trill a good thing?

The bad news: We still don’t understand half the things our kids say. The good news: Nearly 3 in 5 parents have Googled a slang term after seeing or hearing their teen use it, according to this report. At least we’re in this together!

The Young Girls Confidence Crisis

Young girls are struggling more than ever. Only 68% of fifth-grade girls described themselves as confident in a recent survey designed to understand the experiences of girls in grades 5–12. That’s down from 86% in 2017. The reason for their lack of confidence? There are plenty, but experts say social media certainly isn’t helping.

So much of helping our kids become confident is being confident ourselves. Need some help with that? We’ve got you covered.

Finally: Your Teen’s Brain, Decoded

How often do you find yourself looking at your teen and wondering “what are you thinking about?” For us, it’s constant. Because our kids’ brains are going through a major “brain renovation” during their teen years—hello, critical analysis, problem solving, independent decision making, and more!

But that comes with growing pains. Your once bubbly and affectionate child might begin to struggle with emotional regulation and become emotionally raw and reactive. It’s hard! 

That’s why we brought in Aly Pain, Certified Life Coach and Certified Relationship Systems Coach, to teach The Common Parent members about our teens’ brains. Because they are not trying to be difficult, they’re just going through something difficult. Here’s how to meet them where they are. 

Energy Drinks and Teens…It’s Not Good

Did you know: Many health experts say children and teens shouldn’t be consuming any caffeine at all. Drinking too much of it could cause jitteriness, heart palpitations, increased heart rate, and difficulty sleeping for young people.

So how should you keep your teen or tween away from sugary, caffeine-filled energy drinks? It all starts with a conversation. This will help you have it.

Should You Let Your Teen Drink At Home?

When we were growing up, there were two kinds of parents: Those who forbade their kids from drinking at all and those who said “as long as you do it under my roof.” What kind of parent do you want to be when it comes to teens and alcohol?

This piece explores the different pathways for parents navigating teenagers and drinking. This is a hot debate for parents—mostly because the younger kids are when they start drinking, the higher their risk of developing alcohol use disorder.

Maybe you’ve been finished with your holiday shopping for weeks. Or maybe you’re like us, scrambling to make lists and check them twice so you don’t have to pay for express shipping to get something under the tree on time. Today, the perfect gift guides to finish your holiday shopping early so you can relax (or at least try to) in the final weeks of the year.

• The 27 best gifts for teens (we can confirm, many of these were on our kids’ wish lists). Plus a more specific list for girls and one for boys.

• What to get a new mom in your life.

• Great gifts for parents and grandparents. 

• A handy holiday gift sorter—filter by who you’re shopping for, price, interests, etc.

• And most importantly…some suggestions for what to get you. Because you deserve something nice, even if you have to wrap it yourself.