Hi Parents!

Adolescence is often framed as something parents must survive, but what if the teen years are one of the most powerful developmental opportunities of a lifetime? In this episode, I’m joined by renowned child development expert Ellen Galinsky to reframe how we understand adolescence and what teens truly need from the adults in their lives.

Ellen Galinsky is President of the Families and Work Institute, former Chief Science Officer at the Bezos Family Foundation, and the author of The Breakthrough Years, one of the most highly praised parenting books of 2024. Drawing from decades of research and direct conversations with young people ages nine through nineteen, Ellen explains why teens don’t want to pull away from parents but instead seek a different kind of relationship rooted in collaboration, respect, and trust.

In our conversation, we explore what executive function skills really are and why adolescence is such a critical window for developing them. Ellen shares how parents can nurture these skills without controlling or rescuing, and how everyday conflict can be transformed into shared problem-solving using her Shared Solutions framework. We also talk about anxiety, pressure, and distraction in today’s world, and why positive risk-taking plays such an important role in building competence, confidence, and resilience.

This episode is especially meaningful for parents who feel overwhelmed by their teen’s emotions, behaviour, or motivation and are searching for guidance that feels hopeful, science-backed, and practical. Ellen brings a deeply compassionate and empowering perspective that challenges common myths about teens and invites parents to see adolescence not as a crisis to endure, but as a breakthrough season for connection and growth.

If you’re parenting a tween or teen, supporting an anxious child, or wanting a stronger, healthier relationship with your adolescent, this conversation will leave you with a renewed sense of clarity, possibility, and confidence in what truly helps teens thrive.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

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Hi Parents!

In this solo episode, we’re diving into how you can help your teen step into the new year with a mindset that feels calmer, more confident, and more sustainable. While January often brings big goals, big emotions, and big expectations, it also brings pressure.

Together, we explore why resolutions typically fall apart by the end of the month, how the anxious brain interprets “fresh starts,” and the simple shifts parents can make to help their teens stay motivated without feeling overwhelmed. We walk through why so many teens quit their goals early, how to break down big ambitions into meaningful, achievable steps, and why emotional awareness matters more than the size of the goal itself.

If you’re looking to help your teen build resilience, consistency, and self-trust going into the new year, this episode will give you practical tools, deeper insight, and the encouragement you need.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

Book a Free Discovery Call

Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program

Connect With Me on Instagram

Hi Parents!

Today I sit down with Krista St-Germain to explore the tender, complex reality of supporting a teen through the loss of a parent while also navigating your own grief. Krista is a Master Certified Life Coach, widow, and host of The Widowed Mom Podcast, and her work has helped thousands of women rebuild their lives with compassion, self-trust, and hope after profound loss.

Krista and I dig into where the familiar “five stages of grief” came from and why they were never intended to describe how real people move through loss. We talk about what grief often looks like behind closed doors, how widowhood can reshape your identity, and why learning to trust your emotional process is such an essential part of healing.

We also talk about how teens grieve differently, how to recognize grief beneath certain behaviours, and how to support them without trying to fix the pain. Krista shares guidance on navigating birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays in ways that honour the parent who died while giving everyone space to feel what they feel.

More about Krista:

Krista is a grief and post-traumatic growth expert who rebuilt her life after losing her husband to a drunk driver in 2016. Through therapy, mindset work, and coaching tools, she found a path forward, and now helps widows do the same. Her work has been featured in Psychology Today, Medium, Parents Magazine, and more.

If you’re supporting a grieving teen or grieving yourself, I hope this conversation brings you comfort, clarity, and permission to move at the pace that feels right for you. It’s a conversation I know will support so many.

Big hugs,

Monica Crnogorac

Next Steps

Book a Free Discovery Call

Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program

Connect With Me on Instagram