Episode 55: Communication for Connection With Your Kids with Lisa Reichelt
Strong relationships start with strong communication. But for many parents, especially as kids enter their teen years, conversations can feel harder to start — and even harder to sustain.
In this episode, host Hannah Morgan welcomes Lisa Reichelt, a parenting coach who helps families build stronger connections by focusing on communication. Lisa shares practical strategies for nurturing conversations, showing up with presence, and repairing breakdowns when they happen.
You’ll learn why showing genuine interest in your child’s world matters, how to ask questions that invite more than one-word answers, and the simple habit that can transform trust: asking before offering advice.
Key Takeaways
Communication changes as kids grow — parents need to adapt, not withdraw.
Connection deepens when you enter into your child’s passions and interests.
Presence and small “bids for connection” are just as important as big conversations.
Quotes
“Parenting is the only job we’re expected to do perfectly, without a handbook.”
“Asking, ‘Tell me…’ opens the door to real conversation.”
“Sometimes the most powerful connection is just being there.”
Resources Mentioned
Champion Your Parenting — Coaching, tools, and support to help parents reduce conflict and build strong, lasting relationships with their kids.
Heron House Management — Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most.
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This episode of De-Stress the Nest is sponsored by Heron House Management.
About Heron House Management:
Heron House Management is a virtual house management service that takes the stress out of your busy life by taking on your mental load and managing your To Do list. We provide fractional virtual house management for busy families at 10, 15 and 20+ hours/month.
Meal planning, signing up for kids activities, scheduling doctor's appointments, finding a house cleaner, planning your kid's birthday party, getting quotes for that home renovation project, or scheduling a monthly date night with your significant other and so much more. We do it all!
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[00:02] Hannah Morgan:
Welcome to De-Stress the Nest, a podcast for busy parents where experts share bite-sized tips on how to create systems that minimize stress at home. I'm your host, Hannah Morgan.[00:12] Hannah Morgan:
Today’s episode is sponsored by Heron House Management — the first-ever virtual house management service that lightens your mental load by handling your to-do list with monthly subscriptions of 10, 15, and 20+ hours per month. From meal planning and doctor’s appointments to birthday parties and home projects, Heron House Management helps busy families reclaim their time and live their best lives. Learn more at heronhousemanagement.com.[00:36] Hannah Morgan:
Lisa, I’m thrilled to have you on the show today. You’re a parenting coach — let’s hear more about who you are and what you do.[00:43] Lisa Reichelt:
Thank you so much, Hannah. I love getting to share about what I do, because many parents don’t even know parent coaching exists. We often call in experts for things like plumbing or car repair, but when it comes to parenting, we think we should “just know” — and that’s not true. As a parent coach, I meet with parents one-on-one and help them adjust their parenting so their relationship with their child, regardless of age, can thrive and be sustained. It’s such a rewarding role.[01:19] Hannah Morgan:
I love that. Parenting is the only job we’re expected to do perfectly without a handbook. Thank you for offering this kind of support through every phase of childhood.[01:31] Hannah Morgan:
Today, you’re going to share how to repair communication breakdowns with our kids.[01:37] Lisa Reichelt:
Yes — communication with your kids is essential, because you can’t have a strong relationship without it. It often feels easier when kids are young — they’re eager to share their lives with you. But as kids hit their teen years, many parents lose confidence in how to communicate. That loss of confidence gets communicated back to the teens, and it can create distance.There are three key areas parents can focus on:
What you do together
What you talk about
How you simply “be” together
[02:25] Lisa Reichelt:
First: what you do together. Parents need to lean into their teen’s strengths and interests. Even if you don’t share their enthusiasm, showing genuine interest builds connection. Maybe it’s gaming, thrifting, or art. One mom I worked with started thrifting with her daughter — not her favorite activity, but it gave her daughter the chance to be the “expert,” which was powerful.[03:22] Hannah Morgan:
Yes — I’ve heard advice like, “Ask your kid to explain their favorite video game,” even if it seems boring to you. Kids light up when they can share their world. I’ve tried it with my young kids, and their excitement makes it fun for me too.[03:46] Lisa Reichelt:
Exactly. The second piece is what you talk about. Teens often fear that parents will give advice when they just want to be heard. A helpful phrase is: “Tell me…” For example, “Tell me about your day” leads to more sharing than “How was your day?”And the most important tool: ask before giving advice. “Do you want advice, or do you just need to vent?” Respecting their answer affirms their autonomy and builds trust.
[04:54] Hannah Morgan:
That’s brilliant — and it works in marriages too![04:59] Lisa Reichelt:
Yes, absolutely! Finally, the third piece: how you just “be” together. Presence matters. Maybe your teen sits in the kitchen while you cook — don’t ignore that moment. Make eye contact, open the door with a simple question.I had one client who quietly brought her laptop into her son’s room while he did homework. She just worked alongside him. After a few weeks, when she skipped it one night, he came to find her and said, “Aren’t you going to work in my room?” That presence opened the door to deeper conversations.
[06:04] Hannah Morgan:
That’s such a beautiful reminder — being there is often the connection. Kids’ bids for attention are really bids for connection, and time is our most precious gift.[06:20] Lisa Reichelt:
Yes. It’s not always about doing or talking — sometimes it’s just about being together.[10:46] Hannah Morgan:
Thanks for listening to De-Stress the Nest — the podcast where experts share bite-sized tips on how to simplify your life. Don’t forget to subscribe and tune in every Tuesday for more ways to make home feel easier.
