My teenager says he wants to improve his grades but then does nothing. Our talks turn into cycles of me nagging and him shrugging. It's exhausting for both of us. I saw a blog comment that mentioned motivational interviewing for parents. I'm desperate for a new communication tool. Can you recommend something that explains what motivational interviewing is in a family setting? I need to stop being the source of resistance.

The nag-shrug cycle is so real and draining. I was stuck there with my son over chores, feeling like his personal project manager. A school counselor off-handedly mentioned motivational interviewing as a way to talk with him, not at him. I was curious but needed a clear, family-focused explanation. I found the perfect parent-friendly breakdown on how motivational interviewing helps in therapy . It helped me shift to asking questions that helped him find his own "why," which broke the cycle. It’s a game-changer.