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Bridge Builder #3- Establish the Trust Economy (Session 1)

Bridge Builder #3- Establish the Trust Economy (Session 1)

It’s a new month and I am so excited for you to enjoy this next Bridge Builder.

If you want to start this series from the beginning, you can go through Bridge Builder #1- Make a Plan and then check out Bridge Builder #2- Schedule a Regular Appointment

This month I am talking Economics.  No I am not going to be able to solve the problems facing our nation’s economy, but I can help you establish an economy in your home that can address many of the problems you are facing with your teenager.

So sit back and enjoy the first session of Bridge Builder #3- BUILDING THE TRUST ECONOMY

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Bridge Builder #3- Building the Trust Economy (Session 2)

Bridge Builder #3- Building the Trust Economy (Session 2)

Here is the second session of Bridge Builder #3- Establishing the Trust Economy

I saved the best for last!

 

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Bridge Builder 3: Parents Guide to Rebuilding Trust

Bridge Builder 3: Parents Guide to Rebuilding Trust

Your teen has broken your trust, now what?

Here is a Step by Step Guide on how to respond to your teenager’s failure in a way that helps them rebuild trust.

 
 
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The Night My Daughter Broke My Trust

The Night My Daughter Broke My Trust

A rule follower.

That is what I have been called more than once. They say I am one who has no voice of her own. I only have the ability to obey without question.

Rules are comfortable for me. It gives me boundaries that I don’t have to set myself. Doesn’t sound very healthy does it? That’s because it isn’t.

Rules are great, but when you find yourself following rules just so that you aren’t held accountable, you may want to seek professional counseling. Really.

As a recovering rule follower, I am able to see more clearly how I used to teach my children this same safety mechanism. So you can imagine how unprepared I was when my oldest child broke trust with me. That was against those rules.

It was late on a school night when I got my first lesson in Teenage Brainlessness 101. I was so tired and I just wanted everyone to go to sleep so that I could.

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A Parenting Mosaic: Making Something Beautiful from Broken Trust

A Parenting Mosaic: Making Something Beautiful from Broken Trust

Remember the movie “E.T”?

He was the cute little martian that the world fell in love with way back in the 80’s.

Sometimes I feel like him.

 
 

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Oil and Water: Chasing the Teachable Moment

Oil and Water: Chasing the Teachable Moment

When I was 12, my Dad asked me to put water in the radiator of the family car. I was really excited that he trusted me with such a manly job. Once I opened the hood of the car, I was a little intimidated with all the wires, hoses, and parts.  I took the cap off of what I thought was the radiator and began to fill it up. Proud of my accomplishment, I excitedly told my dad the task was done.

Imagine my surprise the next day when he informed me that I put the water in the oil reservoir and not the radiator.

It is pretty clear that I wanted to do it right, I just didn’t know how. Though this was an expensive mistake on my part my dad recognized that I didn’t need punishment for this.  I needed teaching.

Now that I’m a father, this has been a valuable example for me to follow. When one of my children does something wrong I always ask myself, “where is the teaching aspect in my response?”  

I’m not saying that consequences are a bad thing, just that consequences alone are. As parents we need to take the time to equip our teen with the necessary tools to be successful when the situation arises again.  It’s not easy, but it is worth it.

It’s way more valuable than a trip to the mechanic.

Jason Gibson draws from his experience as a parent, clinician, and researcher to deliver practical truths that are relevant to today’s family. His work has focused on supporting families and children in all walks of life including those who struggle with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive disorders. Currently, Jason is the director of the BabbCenter for Counseling in Nashville,TN. He has bachelor and master degrees from Appalachian State and Florida State and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Kentucky.  He and his wife Julie have 3 kids with one on the way!

 

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