In this podcast we have a great friend of mine, Dr. Deborah Beagle from Vernon Hills High School in Illinois. Deb is not only the student activities director at Vernon Hills, she is a mom of three college age students so she has lived this. She is going to help us with preparing our children emotionally to get back into school after the summer break. 

Don't view your child's resistance to your thoughts as offensive. If they are talking to you about life, you have to see that as a good thing. Dialogue is important. If your goal is to just get them to do the right things, you are missing out on an amazing part of parenting. Giving them emotional breathing room to be honest with how they are processing life is such a good part of parenting. 

World views and life philosophies are being being shaped by so many things today for young people. Social media and other social influences barrage them with values and idea's about life. When they challenge our authority or have different opinions than we do, it can be tough to make the adjustment from CEO to consultant. This episode with give you some practical advice in helping your child discover why some of the rules and guidelines are important. 

Special guest Tiffany Auer's oldest son just turned thirteen. She talks about her strategies and fears as her and her husband embark on this new venture of having a teenager in the home. This is a really fun and informative podcast. 

You can't exactly bully-proof children but you can take a big step in that direction by reinforcing your child's true value. Words hurt less when we know the truth about ourselves. In this podcast Mike discusses why he calls his school program Value Up. 

An article written by a convicted sex offender drastically changed the intensity in which I pursued connecting to teenagers. Young people are very vulnerable emotionally and when they are not getting their emotional needs met in a healthy way, it forces them to get those needs met in an unhealthy way. This podcast is intense but very informative and will give you some tools to help your child be less vulnerable to people that would prey on their vulnerability. 

Mike and Steve talk about the other three books that Mike has written for students. Reinventing My Normal, Hidden Scars and Value Up. These books were written in response to pain and pressure that young people are feeling. These are great resources that students can get to through the website, www.mikedonahueconnets.com. 

The CDC says that 160,000 students stay home from school everyday because of the social pressure they feel constantly. The 4.5 minuets it takes to get from one class to the next can be overwhelming for some students. Walk that hallway with me so I can help you understand what it's like for them.