more than turkey.  More than Black Friday.  More than decorating for the Christmas Season.  And . . . its no gifts required!  Certainly, it's a way of connecting.  But we know it's so much more. 

Allow me to share in this podcast about what I am thankful for and what this day means to me.  

I wish you the very best Thanksgiving season.  Whether for you it is football, food, friends, family, or faith, may you take the time to create and soak in memories you can use all through the year.  Thank you for being a part of JellyGeneration.  Truly.  

Pam and JellyGeneration 

 Podcast:   Parenting Your "Nearly Grown"   JUST.   GOT.   EASIER.  

#107  Since your teen's brain is still connecting, how can you help them wire it up even stronger?  Here are 7 Ideas

(without being a helicopter parent)

emotional decisions vs logical?

memory challenges?

multi-tasking not there yet?

While we look at the above list and cringe, it might describe that young adult in your house fairly accurately. 

Once you know the "why" that many scientists are explaining to us about this age (generally teen-25+) it changes how we look and how we can relate to our almost grown child.  The opportunity to help strengthen skills they need while they finish "wiring up" is big.  

How to Use This Knowledge

With knowledge comes power, of course.  Research suggests that this age still learns at a much faster rate than we adults. Add in the fact that they can still improve skills they haven't really...

 Podcast:   Parenting Your "Nearly Grown"   JUST.   GOT.   EASIER.  

 #106  You've asked yourself this question at least 1000 times.  "Where did my sweet child go?" OR   "I don't recognize them right now." 

Hear why and it will explain so much.  Good News Ahead.

"What you see is NOT what you get". 

Every parent of a young adult intuitively knows things are different now.  With their child's "one foot out the door" mentality, and their emotions and logic struggling, we parents deserve an explanation as to why we don't always recognize that seemingly fully grown person standing right in front of us.  

Once we parents understand even just a bit about that "why", situations, opportunities and understanding become easier.  We can reclaim some of our parent-sanity.  

The Battle of the Teen Brain vs. The Parent Brain

The hidden lesson here?  Your brain and...

 Podcast:   Parenting Your "Nearly Grown"   JUST.   GOT.   EASIER. 

 #105  My child can't do that . . . didn't make the team . . . had lower ACT/SAT scores than the kid down the street. 

Envy sneaks up on us.  Here is a plan to help stop that.  

Envy.  It's a thief that robs we parents of joy.  It transcends age and it's sadly timeless.

We all suffer from this envy-disease at some point. 

It adds stress.  It adds pressure.  It affects relationships with your kids.  If you are following my podcast you already know how much I believe in simple strategies and tactics that we parents can use in our last season with our kids.    I've got 5 ways that not only I, but other parents, have used to combat being envious of other people's kids and their accomplishments.   But they can be applied to so much more than just our child relationships.  You'll see...

 Podcast:   Parenting Your "Nearly Grown"   JUST.   GOT.   EASIER. 

 #104  Not enough time but lots of lessons left to teach your teen?  Let's rock your last season with them.  Here's a roadmap that's sure to give you teaching time AND memorable moments.  It's Your Parent Power Hour!

If you are following my podcast you already know how much I believe in snatching moments here and there to teach teenagers valuable knowledge.  Why?  The more they know now, the less mistakes they'll make.  They'll be better equipped to handle things when something just doesn't work.  Feel free to file back to any podcast I've recorded and you will always have a concrete take-away to use that very day.  

Today is no different.  I am introducing you to a concept or a plan shall we say, that teaches you a system to methodically up your parent-game on giving your teen those last lessons that you...

 Podcast:   Parenting Your "Nearly Grown"   JUST.   GOT.   EASIER. 

# 101 It's SUMMER (or any holiday, really).  Statistics say their brain loses knowledge during long breaks.  What does the smart parent do?  Combine learning with FUN. 

Here are 20 activities that can get you started.  You are sure to find quite a few you, and more importantly, your "almost grown child" will love. 

The summer dilemma.  The any long holiday dilemma. Call it holiday slump.  

As a parent, you are probably not "off" for the holidays, but your "mini-you" is.  What might they rather do?  Couch surf or stare at their smart phone for hours on end.  

Then what usually happens? 

Knowledge reduction, less critical thinking, and sluggishness sets in.  You've probably noticed this.  I certainly have.  Experts estimate that often months of capability melt away.

Then September...

You waved goodbye (or soon will) as your child drove off to their adult life while trying to hide your parent-tears. 

Now what? 

Do you have to say goodbye to those parent-friends you met over 12 years?  Must you lose touch with your child's friends you've grown to love like your own?  

In short?  No.  Having lived thru this goodbye scenario twice, I am happy to tell you there is a FUN way to keep in touch with everyone.  What's more?  There is a hidden BONUS in this method as well.  It's likely to actually get your child to phone home and...

 We've made it to the end of 2021.  Wow.  

So much has happened.  I truly wish we could just sit and talk about this year, what it meant, share each other’s holiday plans, and the up and down joys of raising kids. 

But since that isn't quite possible, I'd like to vary from our normal educational format just this once.  I’ve got a wonderful holiday tradition to share that you just might want to adopt at your house.  

But before I do that, let me give you a quick programming head’s up for the 1st week in January.  

Did your teen receive money this holiday season thru a gift from Grandma? Or did they earn money?  In short, do they have money that needs to be put into action?  Or will they at some point this coming year have a bit of extra jingle in their pocket?  It's a wonderful ...

Want your "almost grown's" attention to impart your parent wisdom?  Get creative.  

Do you remember your favorite teacher?  What made them so amazing? 

Odds are high they caught and held your attention in unique and persuasive ways.  That's one of the best techniques for you to use at home, as well.  

Having taught teenagers, I can tell you that when you do something out the ordinary yet with a a teachable point involved, they are far more likely to pay attention. 

If you'd like a bit of help in the creative question department using holidays to sneak in crazy yet teachable questions, then this podcast is right where you need to be. 

In this quick and to the point podcast you'll hear:

• 5 random, unique questions sure to get fun yet informative dinner table...

If you took a survey of parents with teens, you can almost 100% predict that the #1, most frustrating question asked by your teen is . . . . "Can I have $20"  OR $10 or $5 or $25 OR . . . well, you get the picture.

What's possibly a bad answer?  "Here's $20, honey."  Of course, there are times that giving them that money is correct. 

• "i will always be here to give you $"
• OR "money is easy to come up with"
• OR "you aren't able to figure this want/need out for yourself." 
• OR "this $20 isn't needed elsewhere so here you go"

Saying no to your teen is hard.  But what if you had another answer?

In today's podcast:

• learn 3 answers besides "yes, here's the money " and "no, just NO"
• learn how each answer has...