Margit Crane, M.A., M.S., M.Ed. is a family relationship coach, speaker, writer, workshop leader and acclaimed expert on teens, ‘tweens, and their parents. She is the founder of Rock The World Coaching™ and is also known as The Gifted-Teen Coach.

I found Margit Crane through Vanessa Can Petten's "50 Best Mom Blogs." When I saw her blog and the great work she is doing I knew instantly that our cool people needed to meet her.

Margit was a middle and high school teacher for more than 25 years. In her journey, she has coached thousands of parents and teens in developing better communication skills, more confidence, and a richer, fuller life with lots more fun. Her encouragement of family interaction and growth is truly remarkable. She is now a Child Development Specialist, Coach and Speaker and published author. Here is a brief interview I had with her.

Enjoy!

Interview with Margit Crane

What inspired you to get involved with working with kids?

I've been working with kids for so long I think I just fell into it. My mother was the school psychologist for a place that had kids with varying challenges. There was a Head Start group there too and my mother was friends with the head teacher who got me a summer job when I was eleven or twelve. I had pretty low self-esteem and this gave me the opportunity to open my heart and not worry about being shunned. I loved that there were kids who just needed to laugh. I felt important and worthwhile. But probably the thing that inspired me to continue working with kids is that they challenged me to just enjoy life. When you're around kids and not having fun, nobody has fun and the kids will act out. Ya gotta have some fun in there!

What is the best tip you can give to parents who want to help encourage their children to make a difference in the world around them?

This is your big opportunity to explore all sorts of things that you've always wondered about. Take them EVERYWHERE and do EVERYTHING with your kids. Expose them to all sorts of non-profits and their events, show them how many people care about healing the world. Just seeing it on TV isn't enough. Most kids need to DO stuff. If you make it a regular thing, your kids will see how love and closeness and personal growth is tied to helping others and they will want to incorporate that into their own lives, in their own way, when they grow older.

The other things I would say is that what the world needs most right now (if not always) is FORGIVENESS. We spend so much time counting the wrongs that have been done to us. This becomes imprinted into our brains and we start to get a high from the drama of it all. We need to be able to let go of the stories. In fact, no one can hurt us (adults) if we don't let them. My next "thing" is to work with kids on forgiveness, as a key element to being a happy adult.

How do you give back to your community?

I've been involved in several non-profit organizations for about 15 years now. I speak, stuff envelopes, make calls, whatever they need. Before we moved to Seattle I was very involved with PFLAG (Parent, Family/Friends of Lesbians and Gays). I had the local HELPLINE number transferred to our home and it was amazing to help families and individuals who had questions about themselves or family members.

One thing that I've started to do a lot lately is to send friendly I'm-thinking-of-you emails to friends, family, colleagues, and former clients just to send some good energy without worrying about whether they respond or not. I just want to keep my heart open to what and whom the world offers.

How do you get kids excited about participating in life?

I LITERALLY get goofy with them. I don't lecture - what's the point? If I'm lecturing, I've lost them. But I do connect by letting them know that there's all kinds of stuff to get excited about, even when it feels like life sucks. I'm grateful that I'm still a kid myself in many ways. There is an amazing teen living inside me and I can tap into that to keep life fresh and full of hope. I like to pass on that hope to others. If I have to wave my arms around to get my point across, I will! Besides, there is no better feeling than sharing your gifts with others. It's heavenly!

About The Author

Margit Crane is an internationally recognized expert on teens, 'tweens and their parents. Over the past 25 years, Margit has coached thousands of teens and parents to achieve greater sanity, deeper love, clearer communication and a lot more FUN in their relationships with family and friends. In her years as a teacher, school counselor, and community volunteer, she has lectured on such topics as self-esteem, body image, sexual orientation, multiple intelligences, the teen brain, parenting teens, addiction, and ADD/ADHD. She specializes in working with young people who have ADD/ADHD or similar behaviors. Her technique employs a dynamic exchange of ideas between client and coach. This give-and-take, as well as Margit's unique perspective and devotion to her clients allows for rapid and wonderfully powerful shifts.

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