How to Stay Calm and Connected With Your Teen—Even When They Shut Down
Laurie Moser . Published April 9th, 2025
Hike in the Rocky Mountains with my husband
Lately, I’ve been feeling heavy-hearted.
Maybe you have too.
With everything going on in the world—and two kids in University (plus one getting ready to leave this fall)—there are moments I find myself wondering:
“Does it even matter if I take 5 minutes for myself?”
When you're feeling anxious, stressed, scared, or heartbroken… it’s easy to think, What’s the point?
But here’s what I’ve come to believe—to my core:
It matters more now than ever.
There’s so much we can’t control right now.
But how you care for yourself—that’s something you can control.
And it makes a huge difference in how you show up during hard moments… especially with your teen.
Because here’s the thing:
They’re going through a lot too. And they need your calm presence and support more than ever right now.
Those days when I tell myself I don’t have the energy to journal, move my body, step outside, or connect with a friend?
That’s when I know I need it the most.
And every single time I say yes to myself—even for just 5 minutes—I feel more grounded, recharged, and ready to face whatever’s next.
This weekend, I went for a hike in the Rocky Mountains, and it reminded me:
🌿 Beauty is still here.
🥰 Connection is available.
💗 Give yourself permission to feel and enjoy it
5 Ways to Recharge in Just 5 Minutes
These aren’t “add more to your to-do list” strategies—these are tools to reset your nervous system and reconnect with yourself.
Movement
Stretch your arms overhead. Roll your shoulders. Do 10 jumping jacks.
Move the tension out of your body so it doesn’t build up inside.
Journaling
Set a timer for 5 minutes and write whatever’s in your head. This is a brain dump.
No filter, no pressure—just let it out.
Breathing Exercises
Try this: Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 6.
Repeat 3–5 times. Feel your body soften. This alone can change how you respond in the next hard moment by getting you out of your reactive part of your nervous system (sympathetic nervous system)
Connection With Others
Send a voice note to a friend. Ask for a hug. Share a real moment.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Mindfulness
Sit still. Feel your feet on the floor. Listen to the sounds around you. Look at your surroundings and notice.
Even one mindful moment can bring you back to center.
✨ You deserve this.
And when you feel grounded, your teen can feel it too. That’s where true connection begins.
💗 This is exactly what I help moms do—build simple, doable habits that calm your nervous system, strengthen your confidence, and create deeper trust with your teen.
With love and support,
Laurie 🌸
Staying Active Health & Wellness
LAURIE MOSER
Laurie Moser is a Wellness Coach, who helps support moms of teens struggling with mental health challenges, respond with calm & confidence and create an unshakeable bond with their child, no matter what.
Laurie has been featured by Focus on the Family, Real Biz Moms, Tracking Happiness and a guest on 5 Minutes for Me App, Voice of Women (VOW), I Never Knew (INK), Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads, The Teen Anxiety Maze, To Mom is To Love with Valerie Probstfeld, NP, Life Changing Habits Summit, Holistically Heal Your Child Summit and Host of the Tools for Moms With Teen Summit, Organized & Energized Summit and Parenting the Intensity Retreat.
