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196. Why Friendships Shift in the Tween Years & How Single Parents Can Support That Transition

Is your tween suddenly struggling with friendships—being left out, confused by shifting dynamics, or dealing with drama you don’t know how to fix? As a single parent, it can feel overwhelming to know how much to step in—and when to step back.

In this episode of The Single Parenting Reset Podcast (formerly The Parenting Reset Show), Tess Connolly, LCSW, sits down with friendship expert Jessica to unpack the emotional rollercoaster of tween and teen friendships. Together they explore how shifting social circles impact your child’s confidence, behavior, and communication—and what single parents can do to provide steady support at home.

You’ll discover:

  • Jessica’s Friendship Pyramid—a simple tool tweens can use to identify safe, healthy connections.
  • How to guide your tween through friendship shifts, social pain, and party exclusions without overreacting.
  • Real-world strategies for helping your child build self-awareness, resilience, and better communication skills that strengthen relationships at home and with peers.

 

When friendships feel shaky, home becomes the anchor. By learning how to support—not rescue—your tween during these transitions, you can strengthen your parent-child connection and reduce conflict around other stressors like screen time and managing behavior. This episode gives you the tools to stay grounded while helping your tween handle the ups and downs of growing up.

🎧 Press play now to gain practical strategies for supporting your tween’s friendship journey—without losing your own balance as a single parent.

👉 If you’re a single parent of tweens and teens who wants more support around screen time, managing behavior, and improving communication, join Tess inside her community and coaching programs at Mindful Kids & Families.

You can purchase Jessica Speers book here - BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends)? A Girls Guide to Happy Friendships

Friendship Pyramid - Friendship Pyramid.pdf 

You can find out more about Jessica Speer here - www.JessicaSpeer.com

Jessica Speers first interview can be found here - The Parenting Reset Show: 71.Navigating Middle School Years on Apple Podcasts

📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: [email protected]   Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

🆘 Need 1:1 Support?  Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset” session: Parent Reset Call

⭐Got screen time problems at home? Get the Tech Reset Agreement here 👉Mindful Kids and Families

⭐️Join the Family and get your weekly Mindful Kids and Family Journal here:  https://www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com/join-the-family (Get ready for lessons, podcast leads, offers for parents, and ways to win free parent coaching or masterclasses)

The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection.

#singleparents #parentingtweensandteens #ScreenTime #behaviorproblems #Communication