Why Your DISC Stress Pattern Causes More Drama Than Your Teen Does
Introduction The Laundry Room Door That Wouldn’t Listen At the campground this week, a laundry room door taught me more about parenting than I expected. The door wouldn’t shut.Not even a little. They had a giant cinder block shoved in front of it just to keep it from...
When Growth Feels Messy: 3 Ways to Stay Grounded in the Middle of Change
Introduction Right now, my hair is in that awkward stage of growth.Too short to pull back.Too long to stay out of my face. It’s driving me a little crazy. And every time I try to fix it — another clip, another headband, another plan — I’m reminded that there’s no...
The Output Is Only as Good as the Input: What AI Taught Me About Parenting
Introduction: When the Output Hurts “Mom, it’s not doing what I want!” Annabella’s voice cracked, and before I could respond, the tears started. She’d been using AI to help co-create a story she was dreaming up. At first, it was fun—she’d type her ideas, read the...
What Scrubbing My Skin Taught Me About Parenting: How Understanding Heals What Fixing Can’t
Introduction I saw a commercial the other day for a medication that treats vitiligo. And suddenly, I was 12 again — standing in the bathroom, scrubbing my arm raw, trying to fix something that was never broken. When the white patches first showed up on my shoulder,...
It’s Not About the Fox Hat: Small Ways to Reconnect With Your Teen
Introduction: The fox hat that changed how I see connection For Halloween, my daughter Annabella wanted to be a Kitsune — a mythical Japanese fox spirit.We found a beautiful kimono, the perfect mask, and she was thrilled.Until she realized she couldn’t wear the mask...
4 easy steps to navigate basically any teen argument
Introduction I almost lost it on my 12-year-old the other day. We were at the campground, and he was messing with the water spigot. Something he knows he’s not supposed to do. I told him to stop.He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Why?” Excuse me?We’ve been over...
When Everything Feels Urgent: How to Prioritize Family in a Busy Season
Introduction The other day, I showed my daughter Annabella a video of an echidna… a quirky little creature that looks like a cross between a kangaroo, a hedgehog, and an anteater. She watched wide-eyed and then announced, “This is now one of my top ten favorite...
3 superpowers every mom needs to build deeper connection with her kids
Introduction Riding in the car with five kids can feel like running a live talk show where every guest insists on speaking at once. Today, in the middle of the chaos, Zane asked me:“Mom, how do you keep all the conversations straight when we’re all talking at the same...
Sibling rivalry decoded: how I got my boys to stop fighting in 2 days
Introduction The yelling. The slamming doors. The fists flying. That was the moment I knew we had hit the boiling point. My two boys — who I love with everything in me — were fighting like cats and dogs again. But this time it wasn’t just bickering. It turned into an...
The French toast secret: simple ingredients for conversations that actually land with your teen
Introduction: the French toast epiphany The other morning, I did what moms do a thousand times over. I cracked a dozen eggs, splashed in some milk, whisked it together, dipped thick slices of Texas toast, and let them sizzle on the griddle until golden. In minutes,...