In this episode of Your Parent Coach, I’m joined by educator-turned-entrepreneur, speaker, and soon-to-be author Colleen Souza. With decades of experience in teaching, leadership, parenting, and life, Colleen is bringing her warmth and humour to share the lessons behind her upcoming book, Living by the Mantras: Common Sense Wisdom for an Extraordinary Life.

We explore how Colleen distilled years of parenting and classroom experience into 21 powerful mantras that help young people—and parents—navigate choices, resilience, self-belief, and intentional living. From playful phrases like “Keep your pants on” to heartwarming reminders such as “Always stop at the lemonade stand,” Colleen shows how simple, memorable words can anchor kids (and adults) in wisdom and connection.

Some of the key insights from this conversation include:

• Parenting with mantras: How short, simple statements help values and lessons stick.
• Resilience redefined: Why “We either win or we learn” can transform the way teens (and parents) see mistakes.
• The power of playfulness: How humour builds connection and lowers the drama in everyday choices.
• Raising kids with intention: Why living “with purpose” and putting down the screens creates deeper family connection.
• Practical parenting stories: From car-seat meltdowns to affirmations at the kindergarten door, Colleen shares real-life examples of mantras in action.
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This conversation is packed with wisdom for parents raising tweens and teens, educators looking for practical tools, or anyone who wants to bring more positivity, resilience, and intentionality into family life.

Visit www.melwhiteparentcoach.com for more support.

✨ Colleen’s new book, Living by the Mantras, launches in late October - pre-order here.

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In this weeks episode I am talking about - friendship transitions, which are some of the hardest challenges that teens face.

Whether it’s their best friend moving away, your family relocating, or the big leap from primary school to high school without their close friends, these shifts can feel like their whole world has been turned upside down.

I will break down three common scenarios where teens experience major friendship changes and share how you, as a parent, can support them through the grief, anxiety, and uncertainty that comes with it.

You’ll learn:

• What emotions to expect when your teen’s friend moves away, and how to help them process the loss without trying to “fix it.”
• How to ease the transition when your family is the one moving, while reducing guilt and keeping your relationship strong.
• Practical ways to support your child when starting at a new school without their established friendship group.
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These moments can feel like the end of the world for a teen, but with your validation, guidance, and encouragement, they’ll learn that while friendships may change, their ability to connect and belong stays with them.

👉 If you find this episode helpful, share it with another parent of teens, and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @melwhiteparentcoach and @yourparentcoachpodcast for more tools and insights.

Chat soon!

www.melwhiteparentcoach.com

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Welcome back to a brand new season of Your Parent Coach! 🎉 In this quick mini-episode, I’m diving into practical strategies you and your teen can use to stay calm, connected, and in control during heated moments.

You’ll learn:

• Why creating a pause or stop-gap is the secret to moving from reaction to response.
• How to use the Colour Method to signal “I need space” in your home.
• A grounding trick called the 10 Toe Method you (and your teen) can use anywhere.
• Ways to reframe thoughts and feelings so both sides feel heard and respected.
• The 3 words every parent needs to remember.

Whether you’re navigating teen pushback or just wanting smoother communication at home, these tools will help you build trust, reduce conflict, and bring more calm into your parenting journey.

✨ If you found this episode helpful, share it with another parent and follow me on Instagram @melwhiteparentcoach and @yourparentcoachpodcast.

*Apologies for the audio mic popping at the beginning*

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.