Glenbard Parent Series: 2022-03-20

Friday, March 25, 2022

Michele Icard provides a model for overcoming parent's language obstacles at GPS event on March 16, 2022

On March 16, the Glenbard Parent Series hosted Michelle Icard in programs based on her book, 14 Conversations You Need to Have by Age 14.

Author Michelle Icard provides a model for overcoming parent's language obstacles. Based on her most recent book, Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen, Icard guides parents of tweens and teens past their fears and challenges around covering “the important stuff” with their kids and into a confident enough position to have meaningful conversations where their kids will actually engage. While the book covers fourteen topics, Icard included five from the book: Becoming Independent, Keeping Creativity Alive, Taking Care of Yourself, Living with Technology, and Helping Others.

Michelle Icard is a speaker, author, and educator who helps kids, parents, and teachers navigate the complicated social world of adolescence. Her first book, Middle School Makeover: Improving the Way You and Your Child Experience the Middle School Years, is a primer for the social and emotional changes parents and kids navigate when mid-life meets middle school under one roof.

Link here for a recording of the Q and A from the program: https://youtu.be/ARDYsaKB76E

Community Consolidated School District 89 Superintendent Dr Emily Tammeru and Queen Bee School District 16 Superintendent Dr Joe Williams hosted the events and shared the following takeaway:

"Icard calls the years from age 11-the mid 20s a ‘construction phase’. It begins when tweens experience major changes to their brain, body and image, as their #1 fear becomes-am I normal? This period requires the adults in their lives to adapt, and be prepared for these normal, risk taking changes-as youth work to integrate with peers. They need us to pivot to the role of assistant manager, to ‘fix less and listen more’, empathize, get a hobby ('other than our children') and learn a new language in our communication with them: BRIEF, breathe, relate, interview, echo, give feedback. Try not to take these expected changes personally, and make time for fun, together."