Show Notes
Parents often worry about the teenage years. The term 'threenager' is frequently used to describe the toddler tantrums that leave parents tearing their hair out. I used it myself, with an eyeroll and a wry smile, but now that I've been through the teenage years I'm apologetic about that. I think it's patronising, and it doesn't help our relationships with our teens.
Katia Vlachos has experienced this from the teen point of view, and it took her until adulthood to realise that her 'good girl' behaviour wasn't serving her. She talks to me about how easy it is to raise a people-pleasing teenager (even when we think we're on the receiving end of full-scale rebellion), and why it's not such a good thing to have a teenager who sticks to the rules.
Who is Katia Vlachos?
Katia Vlachos is a coach and author of a new book called Uncaged. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncaged-Good-Girls-Journey-Reinvention/dp/B0D94Y7JRF/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QwzM-p6u89XLuqprT_3DtFkj3xIO866m4cD1u4-L04xo7yhiU0Y1oWIY4egD-7cE18xSgyxGHvFjnvgu26bKwlgaoIpZHBLPqVwnJzIGWP8.FOii9QOKAhDkp2TUIR7rnSglrV3sEAK6OIq1VU6sBA4&dib_tag=se&qid=1725351504&refinements=p_27%3AKatia+Vlachos&s=books&sr=1-3] Raised in a traditional Greek family, Katia's early years were spent trying to please others as the perfect daughter and student, but she often found ways to embrace her rebellious spirit - including sneaking out at night and driving off into the sunset on the back of her boyfriend's Harley Davidson. As she grew up, Katia became more weighed down by this 'good girl' persona she'd be trying to live up to until one day, when she was in her 40s, she faced the reality that the life she was living had been designed to make other people happy and not herself.
After a series of life-altering events – including the death of her beloved father and the end of her 17-year marriage – Katia confronts how being obsessed with being seen as 'good' has affected her life decisions and sets out on a path of self-discovery and reinvention. Unpicking how she had been conditioned since childhood to chase societal approval and put the needs and desires of others above her own, Katia used her experiences to write a book about her story and inspire other women who are fed up of feeling guilty for wanting more.
* Katia's book - Uncaged: A Good Girl's journey to reinvention [https://amzn.to/3X5rVBS] * Katia on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katia.vlachos/] * Katia on LinkedIn * KatiaVlachos.com [https://www.katiavlachos.com/] * How to Fail podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-fail-with-elizabeth-day/id1407451189]
More teenage parenting from Helen Wills
* Helen Wills Counselling and Parent Coaching [https://helenwills.com/] * Actually Mummy parenting teens blog [https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/] * Helen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/iamhelenwills/]
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Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.
Episode produced by Michael J Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-cunningham-245586266/]
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