Presence, Not Fixing: Four Small Actions for Your LGBTQ Kid's Dating Life

What do you actually say when your kid is hurting, and how do you know something's wrong before they tell you? This is the Friday follow-up to Tuesday's episode on queer dating and breakups. Heather offers four small actions split between the before-it-happens world of prevention and awareness and the it's-already-happening world of simply showing up. The facts equip you, but they aren't what your kid actually needs from you in the moment. In this episode you'll learn how to: Open the door to a relationship conversation by asking how it feels instead of how it's going Trust your gut and gently name a red flag, even when you're afraid of overstepping Have one line ready for the moment you hope never comes, starting with belief before a single follow-up question Press play for four small ways to stay present for your kid, before and after heartbreak. Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here! Feeling uncertain or overwhelmed? Download my free guide to take you from Panic to Plan. Stay informed - visit my website Join the Conversation on Substack Read my book, Parenting with Pride. Share More Human. More Kind. Invite me to speak at your workshop or event Watch on YouTube Listen to *NEW* episodes every Tuesday and Friday! This is a place to feel messy while you're figuring it out. At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and grow their capacity for courageous connection. For parents, allies, and those pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heartwarming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action. Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in, I see you. And I’m so glad you’re on this journey with me. More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive podcast in a heartfelt and empowering space where a mom and advocate offers the wisdom of lived experience and practical guidance and education to parents and allies, teaching empathy, kindness, love, and strong boundaries while supporting LGBTQ teens and the diverse LGBTQ community, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, transgender, and queer individuals, through conversations about mental health, grief, gender identity, sexual orientation, human rights, social justice, parenting, parent support, and meaningful LGBTQ allyship and allyship in action. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy