In this episode of Life of And, Tiffany Sauder dives into how she's preparing her home and her teens for a more intentional summer. Tiffany shares real-life parenting strategies that go beyond just surviving the season—and instead foster growth, independence, and joy for older kids and their families.
From co-creating summer plans with her daughters to managing screen time and helping teens build executive function, Tiffany unpacks the developmental truths of adolescence and how parents can structure the summer to support their teens emotionally, socially, and practically. Whether you're raising a soon-to-be driver or a preteen with big feelings, this episode is packed with thoughtful ideas to make this summer more constructive and connected.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to co-create summer plans that include your teen’s priorities and yours
- Why structure and explicit agreements reduce chaos and increase clarity
- Simple ways to build executive function and emotional resilience in teens
🎯 Key Tips Include:
- Use a weekly family meeting to align schedules and reduce “day-of” problem solving
- Co-define screen time limits with your teens for buy-in and accountability
- Post an “If You’re Bored” list and meal menu to support teen independence
- Assign life skills like budgeting, laundry, or grilling as summer learning goals
Timestamps:
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05:53) Key reminders for parenting teenagers
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09:57) Developing independence and social skills
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15:37) Balancing emotions in a task-oriented family
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17:55) Supporting constructive summer activities for teens
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18:02) Outsourcing laundry for more family time
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18:57) Co-creating a summer plan with your teenager
Check out the apps and sponsor of this episode:
Other Episodes in the Summer Sanity Series:
What is Life of And?
The Life of And podcast is for high-achieving women and working parents who are ready to stop living a life of “have to” and start designing a life they actually want. It’s a space where we talk honestly about the things we’re often afraid to admit — even to ourselves. The exhaustion. The ambition. The loneliness. The joy. The tension of wanting more without losing yourself in the process.
If you’re in the thick of it — feeling stretched, tired, hopeful, driven — this is your invitation to take a breath, get real, and find your way back to your own Life of And.