How to Talk to Teen Boys: Communication Tips to Build Trust

Teen boys are… a mystery. One minute sweet, the next minute grunting, eye-rolling, or insisting they’re “fine” while their world is clearly on fire.

In this week’s Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, I’m joined again by psychologist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, and we dig into what’s actually happening inside the brains and hearts of our pre-teens, teens, and young men.

We talk about: ✔️ Why communication gets harder ✔️ Power struggles (and how to survive them) ✔️ Lying, embarrassment, and shutdowns ✔️ Teen risk-taking (hello, cliff-jumping 😳) ✔️ Rituals that help boys open up ✔️ How to stay connected—even when they’re off at college, ignoring your calls

If you’re raising a teen boy, this episode is your emotional life raft. Give it a listen and share it with another boy mom who needs a little solidarity today.