Many of us find that communication with our tweens and teens can be very different than when we're talking to friends or colleagues. Sometimes everything seems fine at first, and then suddenly, our middle schooler can just lose it. Maybe they blow up, or perhaps they do the opposite and just shut down. In either case, when this happens we’ve lost our chance to connect. In today's episode, I'm talking with Marni Ratner, founder of UniverSOUL Space, who has cracked the code on communication with teens. We talk about parent-teen, as well as kids' conversations with their peers. It may feel like it's out of our control, but there's a lot we as parents can do to foster an open dialogue with our teens and support them as they navigate peer-to-peer challenges. About the Guest:Marni Ratner is the founder of UniverSOUL Space, and creator of aCHIeve Vocal Studio, where she works with teens to express themselves better and with more confidence. Marni graduated from The Boston Conservatory of Music with a BM in Musical Theater with years of professional credits under her belt. Marni is a true creative and inspired teacher with over 20 years of experience in teaching creative arts. She connects more as a channel of expression rather than as a performer. Her skill set is wide and intuitive and includes wisdom junki, yoga teacher, optimal performance coaching in voice and communication, therapeutic breath facilitator, and Reiki Master. She energetically connects with clients on multiple levels that address the whole person.    Learn more about Marni's work at Www.UniverSOULspace.com.  Connect with Marni on Instagram or Facebook.Connect with Raising Middle School Girls:Thank you for listening to the Raising Middle School Girls podcast. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more conversations with experts designed to help you support your middle school girl, please subscribe. You can also sign up for the Raising Middle School Girls newsletter to receive tips and resources, upcoming events, and new podcast episodes, all designed to support you and your child.  And we want to hear from you! Let's connect on Instagram and send a DM to @RaisingMiddleSchoolGirls if you have a question you'd like answered on the podcast or have feedback on an episode. We're in this together, parents!