Life Navigator, parenting teens with confidence.

16/02/2026

3️⃣ Threats & Intimidation

Threatening self-harm if the relationship ends

Threatening to share private photos or rumours

Punching walls, breaking things, using size to intimidate

Silent treatment as punishment

Example teens may hear:
“If you leave me, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

🚩 Teach your teen: Fear has no place in love.

1 John 4:18

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside,

14/02/2026

2️⃣ Manipulation & Psychological Abuse

Name-calling, insults, humiliation

“You’re too sensitive” or “That never happened” (gaslighting)

“If you really loved me, you would…” (guilt-tripping)

Blaming them for the other person’s bad behaviour

“Love bombing” — extreme attention and affection early on, followed by control

Example teens may hear:
“If you really loved me, you would do this for me.”

🚩 Teach your teen: Healthy partners take responsibility. They don’t twist reality.

Philipians 2: 3.,4 "... as you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others"

13/02/2026

Is Your Child Ready to Date?

Here’s a conversation worth having before they’re actually in a relationship.

Most parents wait until their teen starts dating to talk about relationships.

But by then, they may already be emotionally invested — and emotional abuse in teen relationships is often subtle, confusing, and disguised as “love.”

Research shows that 1 in 3 teens experiences some form of dating abuse. Emotional and psychological abuse is the most common — and often the hardest to recognise.

Before your child ever says “I have a boyfriend” or “I have a girlfriend,” TEACH them the difference between healthy love and toxic control.

🚩 What Toxic / Emotionally Abusive Relationships Often Look Like

Emotional abuse is a pattern of behaviour used to control, intimidate, or diminish someone. It can happen long before any physical violence.

1️⃣ Control & Possessiveness

Telling them what to wear or who they can talk to

Criticising their friends or family to isolate them

Constant jealousy or accusations of cheating

Demanding passwords or location access

Expecting instant replies to texts

Example teens may hear:

“Why do you need other friends when you have me?”

🚩 Teach your teen: Love respects independence. Control is not love.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NWT)

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up,
does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked.
It does not keep account of the injury.
It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth."
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

13/02/2026

Emotional abuse is a pattern of behaviour used to control, intimidate, or diminish someone. It can happen long before any physical violence.

06/02/2026

Sextortion experience
(Anon for obvious reasons)

My 18yo son was being sextorted after sending explicit photos that a “girl” solicited from him. Thankfully they were not photos of him but this person took photos of his face and these photos and started group chats with his friends on Instagram. The person threatened to send these photos to those chats unless my son sent gift cards. When my son pretended his debit card wasn’t working for the gift card, the person asked him to Zelle money to them. So he came into my room at midnight asking for help. I called our police department who dispatched two officers to our home and talked him through it. While they were here, this pos actually CALLED my son. The officer answered it and the guy started going off, threatening my son, etc.

We’ve had young men from our area commit su***de in these situations. I’ve told my kids so many times to not send pictures, not engage online with strangers, etc and that if anyone ever threatened them they could come to me.

The guy did send threatening messages to my son through the group chats and threatened to send these pictures to his principal at school. My son is mortified that he did something so boneheaded and that his friends are now kind of aware. This sucks so much for him and I wish I could take it all away but I can’t. All I can do is empathize and sit in the suck with him.

Let me just tell you how thankful I am that he felt safe bringing this to me and trusted me to help him figure it out rather than letting this fester into something much worse.

Keep telling your kids that your love is unconditional, that you’ll be there to help them no matter how dumb they act, and that together you can find solutions to life’s toughest challenges. They hear it and they will be so grateful when that time comes.

It’s going to be a long day for both of us.

30/01/2026

Why does my teen act before thinking?

What’s really controlling your teen’s decisions?

Why teens do risky things — even when they know better

Because your teen’s brain still under construction!

29/01/2026

A different kind of connection. Before apps, algorithms, and alerts…

Families were

Seen ✔️
Heard ✔️
Fed ✔️

Battery life: unlimited.
Attention span: excellent.

This was Snapchat when I grew up

How do we create more moments like this for our kids today?

15/01/2026

If we are honest we have all been there. What is one peer pressure moment you wish you had said NO to?

Tip: "I would rather not, it makes me uncomfortable"

Anyone who tries to convince you after you have said this is NOT YOUR FRIEND!

07/01/2026

Many teens who are seeing a psychologist still feel incredibly alone.

They may have professional support once a week, but struggle the other six days — especially when they feel like no one their age truly understands what they’re going through.

I’m launching Off The Record, a private, facilitated peer-support group for teens (ages 12–18) who are:

• Experiencing anxiety, low mood, or emotional overwhelm
• Already working with a licensed psychologist or counsellor
• Wanting safe, guided connection with peers facing similar challenges

This is not therapy and does not replace professional care.
It is structured peer support, with clear boundaries, parental consent, and a crisis protocol in place.

Key points for parents:
✔ Small, moderated online groups
✔ Invite-only & private
✔ Parental consent required
✔ Teens must already be in professional care
✔ Facilitated by a teen coach with lived experience

If you’re a parent who feels your teen would benefit from safe peer connection, you’re welcome to message me privately for more information.

Please note: this group is parental consent-based. Teens are not enrolled without parent involvement.

Drop your email to book your spot and receive your information pack.

— Chantelle

03/12/2025

Come Home to This…

Imagine returning from holiday…

to a room that feels THIS calm.

Do a quick pre-holiday clean & set up your space right ready for 2026

11/11/2025

10/11/2025

Here are 5 simple ways to give your kids more of the attention they truly need:

Slow down. Pause what you’re doing and really listen when they talk — even if it’s about Minecraft or their favorite show.

Show interest in their world. Ask questions about their friends, hobbies, or dreams. Let them see you care about what matters to them.

Build small moments of connection. A chat while cooking, bedtime stories, or laughing together in the car — it all counts.

Be playful. Say yes to silliness, board games, or dancing in the kitchen. Joy builds bonds.

Be emotionally available. Notice their moods, offer hugs, and remind them that your love doesn’t depend on how they behave.