In a world where teens often feel misunderstood and parents feel shut out, Mel White is on a mission to help parents connect naturally and effectively with their tweens and teens. With lived experience and a background in youth mentorship, she created The Curious Parenting Method™, a refreshing, connection-first approach that helps parents decode their adolescent’s world with empathy and clarity. What began as a heartfelt response to a communication gap has grown into a powerful movement that empowers parents to unlearn old habits and embrace a more curious, connection-based approach. Here, Mel shares the story behind her work, the breakthroughs along the way, and what it really takes to build bridges between generations.
The Passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I saw a huge gap in the way parents and teens communicate. Parents often feel like they’re losing their kids, and teens feel misunderstood. With my lived experience and background in youth mentorship, I knew I could bridge that gap. My passion is helping parents connect with their tweens and teens in a way that feels natural, supportive, and effective. My lived experience as a teen who struggled gives me a really powerful advantage to relate to both sides.
The Launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
It all started with my work as a youth mentor. I kept seeing the same struggles over and over – parents who wanted to support their kids but didn’t know how, and teens who felt unseen. I began offering support and guidance, and as demand grew, I turned it into a business. The Curious Parenting Method™ was born out of a need for a different approach to parenting adolescents – one that fosters understanding, connection, and growth with curiosity at the helm.
The Innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The biggest breakthrough was realising that parents needed a translator-someone who could help them truly understand their teens. That’s when I embraced my role as the ‘Google Translate’ of teen-parent communication. When I stopped trying to “fix” things for parents and instead helped them decode their kids’ behaviour, everything changed. That shift led to deeper conversations, more trust, and stronger parent-teen relationships. Understanding that change needs to begin with parenting and then flow through into their teens lives.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Since I work with families, I make it a priority to practice what I preach-modelling healthy boundaries, communication, and self-care. I’ve learned to schedule intentional breaks and ensure I’m not always “on.” The beauty of my work is that it’s fuelled by passion, but I remind myself that rest and balance allow me to show up fully for the families I support. One of the major strengths that I have as a Parent Coach is that I have zero parental bias, as I am not a parent myself.
