parenting Archives

A parent listens to a teenager at the kitchen counter beside a school notebook.

Is Your Teen More Withdrawn This Winter? How to Understand What’s Going On and Help

Your teen comes home, disappears into their room, and gives you very little to work with when you ask about the day. A few chores are unfinished. They don’t seem interested in plans they used to enjoy. You may be worried, frustrated, or both, especially if every attempt to talk

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An adult and a teenager talk while seated across from each other in a living room.

Gave Your Teen Advice They Didn’t Want? How to Apologize and Listen

Practical words for the moment you realize your help got ahead of what your teen wanted to say.

By Dr. Katherine Jewett, PsyD, LMFT | Time to Thrive Therapy

“Fine. I'll deal with it myself.”

A minute ago, your teen was telling you about a difficult rehearsal. You suggested practicing … Read the rest

Mom Guilt, Parenting Anxiety, or Intuition? Learn How To Trust Your Inner Voice

“Am I being too much right now—or not enough?”
“Why do I keep second-guessing everything?”
“Everyone else seems so relaxed… is it just me?”

If these thoughts feel familiar, you’re in good company.

In fact, you’re not the problem. You’re a deeply attuned, emotionally invested mother navigating one of the … Read the rest

When Parenting Styles Clash: A Compassionate Framework for Co-Parenting Without Conflict

Introduction: When Parenting Styles Clash, Everyone Feels It

You’ve just spent 20 minutes patiently helping your child through a meltdown, guiding them with the tools of gentle parenting you’ve spent hours researching and refining. Just as you start to see them self-regulate, in walks your partner: “Enough. Go to … Read the rest

A Therapist-Backed Bedtime Routine That Helps Your Child Fall Asleep Faster

Bedtime Routine That Actually Works (For Your Child and You)

It’s 7:30 PM. Your child is bouncing off the walls—or melting down in protest. You’re trying to keep it together, but inside you’re counting the minutes until they’re asleep and you can finally exhale.

You’re not alone. According to a … Read the rest

Parenting Through Divorce: How to Stay a Family Without Staying a Couple

You loved each other once. You built a life. Maybe you built a family. And now, the structure has changed. You’re no longer a couple, but you’re still deeply tied: by your child, your history, and your shared hope that your kid grows up feeling loved, safe, and secure.

Divorce … Read the rest

10 Ways to Teach Teens Emotional Regulation—Without Fixing

Let’s Start Here: You’re Not Failing Because They’re Struggling

Your teen slams the door. Again. Your chest tightens—fight or freeze kicks in. You want to yell. Or cry. Or fix it.

Let’s slow this down.

You’re not doing it wrong because your teen is dysregulated. You’re just in the middle … Read the rest

The Ultimate Guide to Co-Parenting After Divorce: Strategies for Success

Divorce doesn’t end your story as parents. It just rewrites the shape of the family. When children are involved, co-parenting after divorce becomes a long, sacred, and sometimes heartbreakingly hard road. And if you’re walking that road with hurt still in your chest and worry in your gut, you’re not … Read the rest

When Letting Go Feels Like Losing Control: Parenting Teens and Facing the Empty Nest

You’ve raised them with love, taught them everything you could, and now they’re ready to leave the nest… so why does it feel like you’re the one unraveling?

If you’ve ever stood in the hallway after dropping your teenager at college or watched them drive off to their first job … Read the rest

When “Perfect” Hurts: How Perfectionism and Anxiety in Children Quietly Take Root—and How Parents & Teachers Can Help

If you’ve ever watched a child crumble after getting a 94%, refuse to raise their hand unless they’re 100% sure of the answer, or panic when their drawing doesn’t match what they imagined—it’s not just high standards. You’re witnessing the intersection of perfectionism and anxiety in kids.

What looks like … Read the rest

Parenting Without Losing Your Mind (Or Your Cool): How Your Nervous System Shapes Your Parenting—and How to Outsmart It

by Katherine Jewett, LMFT

Ever catch yourself in a power struggle with a pint-sized human and think, “Who is this control freak, and why does she look suspiciously like me?” If so, congratulations—you’re officially human! And believe it or not, the culprit behind your mini meltdowns over mismatched socks and … Read the rest

Breaking the Cycle: How Childhood Trauma Shapes Adult Relationships—and How to Heal

Childhood Isn’t Always a Soft Landing

Childhood is often imagined as a season of softness—sticky fingers, scraped knees, and wide-eyed wonder. But what happens when the story is different? When your nervous system learned to brace instead of trust? When connection was paired with confusion or pain?

If you’re nodding … Read the rest

Building Trust and Safety: The Science of Co-Regulation

The Importance of Co-Regulation in Personal and Professional Relationships

In our fast-paced society, we often hear about the importance of self-regulation — the ability to manage our own emotions and behaviors. While self-regulation remains crucial, there’s another concept that’s equally vital yet often overlooked: co-regulation. Co-regulation is how we … Read the rest

Exploring Parenting Challenges by Age: College-Aged Children

Has your child entered the college years (ages 18 to 22)? Congratulations! This is an exciting time, but it can also bring a whole new set of challenges for parents. Here are a few of the issues that parents commonly face during this stage:

Long distance – If your child

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Exploring Parenting Challenges by Age: Teenagers

The teenage years (ages 13 to 18) can present numerous challenges for parents, so if you’re struggling, just remember that you’re not alone. Below are some examples of issues that parents commonly face with their teens, as well as advice for how to handle these situations:

Romantic relationships – It’s

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How to Co-Parent on Birthdays, Holidays & Other Special Occasions

Co-parenting can present obstacles at any time of the year, but it tends to be especially difficult on birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. Here are a few tips for how to approach your next big event:

Decide on a schedule ahead of time. Chances are good that your co-parenting

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Understanding Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder causes a person to worry excessively about being separated from someone who’s close to them. For example, someone with this type of anxiety may worry about being separated from a parent or caregiver.

This anxiety disorder most commonly affects children. While it’s normal for infants and toddlers … Read the rest

Exploring Parenting Challenges by Age: Toddlers

If you have a toddler (1 to 3 years of age), you’re probably feeling overwhelmed. If so, you’re not alone. As children reach this stage of development, they often begin displaying more behavior issues, which can be incredibly challenging for their parents. Below are a few of the obstacles commonly … Read the rest

Tips to Help Bond with Your Teen

When our children are young, they come to us, it seems, innumerable times throughout the day wanting to share something with us. An idea they had, a discovery, questions about life. At times these visits aren’t so helpful or desired, like when we’re on an important conference call or having… … Read the rest

Creating a Parenting Plan

In a perfect world, marriages would never dissolve. But divorce is a reality and one that impacts everyone involved, including the children. To help children feel safe and secure during the weeks and months that follow a divorce, it is important that both parties work together to come up with … Read the rest

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Let’s Start Here: You’re Not Failing Because They’re Struggling

The Importance of Co-Regulation in Personal and Professional Relationships

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