Hi, and welcome back to the Carol Markowitz Show on Iheart Radio.

And welcome to the new time slot.

The Carol Markowitz show is now airing Wednesdays and Fridays.

So you can get my non-political podcast, this show, the Carol Markowitz show on Wednesdays and Fridays, and then normally

the political podcast I co-host with Mary Catherine Ham every Tuesday and Thursday. Only day you

don't get me is Mondays. So after the last two weeks of talking about fostering likeability

and your kids and helping them make and coordinate friendships in their teens,

one listener writes in that I'm overthinking it.

Hi, Carol, love the show and your perspective, but you're overthinking it regarding kids.

They're going to be who they are, no matter what tips you give them to be more likable.

Kids don't listen to their parents, especially when they are teenagers. I mean, yes, of course that's true. I remember very well

instantly discarding the advice my parents would give me. That's why it's important to start young,

but also model the behavior.

Don't tell long-winded stories yourself.

Be personable.

Be funny.

Let your kids see you with your friends and show them what that interaction should look

like.

My kids hear us cracking jokes with our friends and they see us make plans with our friends,

sometimes spontaneous, sometimes weeks in advance.

But I don't think that they'll just pick it up by osmosis.

And so we've had a lot of conversations starting quite young about how to make friends,

...