Hey friends, it's Dora here.
Let's be real, bedtime can feel like a constant battle.
The tantrums, the stalling, the screen fatigue, it's a lot.
That's why we created Wiggle to Wind Down, a brand new kids sleep podcast from Headspace and Cocomelon.
Each episode helps your little one move, breathe and settle into a soothing bedtime story so they can relax and you can finally exhale.
Search for Wiggle to Wind Down wherever you get your podcasts and make bedtime a little easier for everyone.
Hi, Sam here.
Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Tuesday.
So let's start with a question.
What comes to mind when you think about your own adolescence?
Did you enjoy your time in high school?
Or is there not enough money in the whole world that would make you relive it?
What's your relationship to teenagers now?
I can say that as I get older, I often find it harder to relate to the teens in my life.
In my early 20s, I enjoyed working with teens and I could connect easily.
But it's harder to connect now, because I just wish they would enjoy life outside their phones more often.
In the midst of this frustration and confusion surrounding some teen behavior, I find it helpful to reconnect with some of the pleasant, albeit intense, experiences of being an adolescent.
This can help us to explore some of the opportunities that this period offers to us as adults.
Thinking about those moments can teach us a lot about ourselves and the teens in our lives.
Dr Dan Siegel has written many books on human development, one of which focuses on the adolescent brain.
In his book Brainstorm he outlines the major neurological, behavioral and emotional changes at play during adolescence.
And he offers ways in which we can relate to this period more positively.
So how can we turn toward and embrace the changes of adolescence?
How can we be more available for and attuned to our teen friends and family members?
First, a little background on what's going on within this turbulent adolescent brain.
Adolescence is a time when the brain is under construction, specifically the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functioning.
Executive functioning includes our ability to control our impulses, make thoughtful decisions plan, manage our time effectively and organize.
So they're pretty important adulting skills.
The adolescent brain is also more sensitive to dopamine, making the highs and lows of life much more emotionally intense.
So what, you may ask, are the benefits of this period?
For one.
Adolescents are able to see and solve problems in new and innovative ways as they begin to question all that they were taught in childhood.
And this encourages us as adults to reconsider our long-held beliefs and ways of doing things.
It invites us to update our norms and our routines.
And they're also primed to seek novelty, craving new places and experiences and inviting us to join in a new hobby, visit a new neighborhood or travel somewhere we wouldn't otherwise.
In essence, they offer us the opportunity to see life with new energy and a fresh perspective.
So if you want to join me in a reflective exercise, just take a moment to bring to mind a time in your own adolescence that was particularly enthralling.
Maybe it was the feeling of having a major crush on someone for the first time, or going to an unforgettable concert with your bestie.
And as you bring this moment to mind, can you remember the sights, the smells, the sensations and emotions that were present?
It may be hard to access such a memory amidst a busy day, but revisit this exercise whenever you'd like.
Just remember to recall as many details as you can and linger in the memory for a minute or two.
Reflecting like this can help shed new light on your own years as a teen and reconnect with what the teens in your life are going through now.
If you have trouble connecting with a teen in your life, revisit some of the times in your own teen life as you dip your toes in remembering the intensity of doing something or being somewhere for the very first time.
And I say dip your toes, because some memories may be really unpleasant and it wouldn't be helpful to feel like you're emotionally drowning in a memory.
But briefly touching into a memory can help you connect with your teen and see their struggles and their joys in a whole new light.
And as always, please be kind to yourself.
Caregiving is a huge responsibility with many ups and downs.
So having self-compassion is key.
There's also plenty of self-compassion content in the Headspace app if that's something you're interested in.
As always, I love to connect via social media.
So please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram, at anchored underscore Sam, and share a moment of connection that you've had with a teen lately.
Take good care and I'll see you back here tomorrow.
