What My Old Dog Taught Me About Connecting With My Teen
Laurie Moser . Published July 8th, 2025
Bella - 14.5 years young
I love to hike on the weekends with my family.
We have two golden doodles, Penny (7 months) and Bella (14.5 years). One reason we got Penny was that I wasn't sure Bella would still be with us this summer and I knew how much I wanted another dog.
But here's what's amazing: Bella is still the queen of mountain hiking. She’s actually turned things up several notches this summer. She insists on leading the way, won’t stop until it's time for water or food, and won’t even let the puppy get ahead of her.
Bella reminded me: it’s never too late to surprise yourself.
Bella - 14.5 years young!
Just like I underestimated Bella’s ability to thrive, sometimes we underestimate how capable we (and our teens) are of change, even when everything feels exhausting and hopeless.
In my workshops and conversations with moms, I've consistently seen how a simple, doable approach can restore calm, trust, and genuine connection, without endless battles.
I know right now it might feel like your home is tense, everything is a struggle, and you're emotionally exhausted. Parenting a teen with mental health challenges adds an extra layer of complexity.
But here's the truth: it doesn't have to stay this way.
Try this next time you find yourself yelling, crying, or reacting intensely:
Example: instead of battling your teen when they refuse to get out of bed, pause. Wait until you’re both calm, and ask with genuine curiosity what's really going on.
This small shift can change everything.
This is exactly what moms experience through my Connected Mom Reset: they stop yelling, start listening, and reclaim calm, even when things feel messy.
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, Authority Magazine, 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.
