I'm Cristal, owner of Photography by Cristal, and I'm so excited to be here! I have over 30 years of experience as a photographer, former international model, and actress, and I recently created something very special—Hollywood-level family portraits that can be done remotely from anywhere in the world. 🌎✨ As a mom myself, I know how quickly children grow and how precious family memories become. Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen right in our own homes. I'm honored to be joining the Unplug & Play Summer Summit for a full hour, where I'll share how families can create beautiful portraits together without traveling to a studio. All you need is a phone, and I will guide you live through lighting, posing, expressions, and capturing genuine moments together. I can't wait to meet everyone, hear your stories, and show you what's possible. Thank you for welcoming me into this wonderful community that celebrates connection, creativity, and making memories with the people we love most. 🩷📸 What are the ages of your children or grandchildren? I'd love to get to know everyone! Photography by Cristal @Mary Nunaley

Hello, most of you don't know me as I'm not on here all that often, mostly because I'm either running a math learning center or building various things to help overwhelmed parents. I've done a wide variety of things throughout my life, but always tend to come back to teaching (2 legs, 4 legs, it doesn't matter, LOL). I've noticed people (kids included) tend to always have a good reason for their behavior. They might not always understand the reason, but it's there. Recently, I started a blog (PlayEdVenture.com) and well, one thing led to another (involving a child who was hard to reach at the math center, a couple of conversations with her father and a late night talk with ChatGPT) and I figured out I can finally create the tool I've been wanting to create for years. I'd already shared the 'lite' version here (my GPT) but I'm also working on a more robust free-standing tool - the Resistance Reset Coach™ App. No need for an account with any AI tool needed and while the premise is the same as the GPT, it also allows parents to do things like save conversations, print them off and, probably most importantly, continue the conversation.... how did the advice work? Based on that feedback, the tool refines suggestions. At this time, anything saved, is saved only to your device so no one else has access to it but you can go back to it later and sometimes, if relevant, saved conversations might be referenced by the tool. Books are great, courses are great, but time is often at a premium and the reason I have developed this tool is to give parents a way to get advice in the moment. I've done quite a bit of testing on my own, but my son is nearly 30 and what I need is some real life testing... real parents (or grandparents) with real kids. Do the suggestions work? Do they make sense? If you try out the tool, it is yours to keep using (if you like it) as my way of thanking you for helping me move this project forward. :) Thanks for considering!

I was reading this article about teenage brain development this morning and how the teen pruning process I discussed in the playful shift episode might not be entirely accurate. For those of you working in this area, I’d love your thoughts. Article link attached. @Des Cooke @Adam Cyster @Lisa Vanderveen @Celia Kibler https://scitechdaily.com/new-brain-discovery-challenges-long-held-theory-of-teenage-brain-development/

This one is for those of you with teen’s in the house or who work with teens. @Lisa Vanderveen @Heather Wilson @Max Orlewicz I’m thinking of you. Have you noticed how teens behave differently than their younger siblings or even who they were not too long ago? Much has been said about the teen years being stressful, I know I caused my parents lots of angst and yet my kids not so much. I think some of that is personality and some parenting style. Anyway, one reason for this shift is based on brain growth and another factor is hormones. Let’s stick with the brain. The teen brain is undergoing a Great Remodel. It’s clearing out the "dirt roads" it doesn't use to make room for specialized expertise. As babies, those neural pathways were growing and developing but now it’s time to prune what isn’t needed. Here’s the hard truth: if a teen doesn't feel like they are in charge, the learning circuitry simply doesn't fire. They don't want a manager; they want Ownership. When we hover or "suggest" how they should spend their time, their brain views it as an intrusion on their growth. To reach them, we have to stop being the "Boss" and start being the "Consultant." As parents, this can be a hard shift. Think about your teen years, who in your life let you be in charge and how did that impact your decisions?

We’re going to take a stable system, a game your kids know by heart, and let them break it to see how it works. 1. Pull out a classic game (Uno, Jenga, Checkers, or even a basic deck of cards). 2. Announce: "There is a glitch in the system. You are the Lead Game Designer. You have to change TWO rules to make this game harder for the adults and more interesting for you." 3. You are the player; they are the Game Designer. If they make a rule that seems "unfair," don't correct it. Play it out. Let them see the consequences of their own design. 4. The Twist: If the game gets too easy, ask: "The Game Designer needs to add a 'Risk Factor.' What happens if someone does (suggest action)?" For Teens and Adults The Blank Slate Challenge For the teens and even you as adults, we’re skipping the "hacks" and going straight to Systems Engineering. A. Give them a "Junk Drawer" of components: a deck of cards, a handful of coins, a pair of dice, and three random objects (like a remote, a spoon, and a rubber band). B. Tell them: "You have 15 minutes to invent a completely new game using at least four of these items. You have to define the Win Condition, the 'Illegal Moves,' and the Scoring System." C. This is the hard part. They will hit a moment where the game is "broken" or doesn't make sense. Stay in Observer mode. Count to ten. Let them realize the logic gap on their own. D. Once they have a "Beta version," play it with them. After one round, ask: "If you had to sell this to a game company, what’s the one 'hook' that makes it different from anything on the shelf?" Why it’s Inspiring: Whether they are hacking Uno or inventing "Spoon-Dice-Poker," they are practicing metacognition, thinking about how systems work. They aren't just playing; they are designing the logic that everyone else has to follow. That is the ultimate exercise in ownership. Your Turn: Did your kids go for the "Glitch" or the "Blank Slate"? What was the weirdest rule that actually ended up being fun? Drop it in the comments!