{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"A LOT with Audra","title":"82. The Second Act of Parenting: How to Stay Close While Your Kid Becomes Themselves w/Wild Feelings Founder, Megan Saxelby","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2418,"description":"What if the story you've been told about the teenage years is just... wrong? My guest today, Megan Saxelby, founder of Wild Feelings, spent 15 years teaching middle school and 4 teaching high school before becoming a parent coach — and she's here to make the case that adolescence isn't something to survive, it's a season to actually enjoy. We get into what parents misunderstand before the tween years even start, what it really costs us when we buy into the \"terrible teens\" narrative, and how to stay close to our kids as they pull toward independence.\nHighlights\nThe \"terrible teens\" narrative is a socially constructed story — and believing it primes you to see your kid's behavior through a negative lens.Adolescence, by current research, spans ages 10–25 (early adolescence 10–14, adolescence 14–17/18, late adolescence 18–25).Believing the bad narrative costs you connection and self-trust as a parent.Separate \"connection\" from \"administration\" (logistics) — they are not the same relationship currency.Happiness isn't the goal — resilience and contentment matter more than chasing a feeling.The research-backed parenting style that works best: high expectations + high support (authoritative parenting).Anxious kids need validation of their feelings paired with high expectations — not accommodation of the anxiety.Little-kid connection tools (playfulness, silliness, jokes) still work in the teen years — you just have to apply them differently.A single family \"anchor behavior\" (like a weekly dinner or movie night) is linked to a 20% reduction in anxiety and depression in youth.Family shorthand phrases (inside jokes, references) become powerful emotional shortcuts that last for decades.A \"family care chart\" — a shared, visible list of everyone's comfort items and needs — is Megan's top back-to-school tip.\nChapters\n0:00 — Meet Megan Saxelby2:11 — The Teen Myth4:30 — Beyond 18 Summers6:03 — Happiness Isn't the Goal9:26 — Defining Adolescence Ages10:17 — Cost of the Bad...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ST1ihY6oM6j-9JRbJBusW58P2vlzKyibzbr46bLarLI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kMTAw/OWFmMDZmNzE3YzYy/OTM3ZmM5Y2NmYzRm/MTY5My5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}