AI and parenting teens

The headlines about AI and teens are concerning.

It can feel overwhelming to have yet another danger in our teen’s world that we have to monitor and protect them from.

And part of you might be tempted to skip this email because it just feels too hard.

But while the headlines are getting a lot of attention, there are also quieter ways AI is changing our families and relationships that I think we may be missing.

And unlike the headline items, these are easier to change.

Working in the online space for the past 6 years exposed me to AI long before many people were using it.

And while I still use AI in parts of my business, there are some things I’ve decided I won’t use it for anymore.

The first is this:

I don’t let AI be my voice, give me the words to say or speak for me.

This blog post is written by me. With all the time-consuming thoughts and backspaces.

I may use AI to check grammar and spelling like a copy editor would, but it’s an editor, not a writer, and for me that distinction is very important.

Because every human on this planet has a voice for a reason, and I want you to know

...the people in the world right now who need to hear what you have to say the most are your teens.

Not what a script tells you to say.

Your words.

Unfiltered.

Messy sometimes.

Your teen needs to hear your wisdom about friendships, schoolwork, chores, money, vaping, alcohol, emotions…

But scripts are not the solution to the problem of your teen not listening to you.

Your relationship forms the foundation for the conversations you have with them.

And the emotions behind the conversations often determine whether your teen hears what you have to say.

Your words of wisdom delivered in frustration or the heat of the moment are less likely to be heard than words delivered during a moment of connection and understanding.

It’s more important to focus on the emotions in your household, and how the emotional load is affecting your relationship with your teen, than it is to find the perfect words to say to get them to listen or behave.

So next time you're worried you can't find the right words to say, remember you've got this.

You have the words and the wisdom your teen needs.

What you say matters, and when the household is calmer, the message often gets across better.