Your child rips through presents without a thank you in sight. Your relative gives a pointed look. You feel the judgment. But here's what the research actually shows: gratitude isn't a manners problem, it's a brain development timeline your child hasn't hit yet. And forcing it early might do more harm than good.

Many parents fear that letting go means losing control. But the real danger is trying to parent teens the same way we parented them as kids. Shared control isn't permissive parenting—it's strategic scaffolding. We dives into why adolescents need increasing autonomy, what the research says about power-sharing, and how one simple shift can prevent risky behavior, strengthen trust, and build long-term connection.