And to be honest, a path that wouldn’t ruin my professional reputation.

As a Sociologist specializing in adolescence, my margin for error felt non-existent.

I couldn’t fail my own babies when I knew so much about what they needed.

I’d invested year after year making sure they had the best opportunities.

Even when everything else was on the line, they still got the best I could give.

I knew there were no second chances at childhood.

Then they grew up, and with their choices out of my control and the news always reminding me of fatal consequences, I realized I didn’t have the luxury of making mistakes.

After my marriage ended, my teen daughters and I struggled to find a new balance.

I was worried that our years-long emotional roller-coaster ride could have dire consequences.

Or interfere with their trajectory into adulthood.

I was afraid of failing them, or even losing them as they navigated new friends, schools, and living arrangements.

Before I knew it, I couldn’t even listen to their conversations without injecting my own anxiety.

I’d try to jump in and solve their problems, sure I knew best.

They felt mounting pressure from my growing desperation for control and would shut down instead of talking.

I deeply missed them.

I had strong opinions about everything from their clothing styles to their school choices.

But I knew if I pushed too hard, they would stop listening to me altogether.

Life was a balancing act, walking a tight rope of knowing they were now out of my control, but still in need of guidance as they ventured further and further out into our big, unforgiving world.

I didn’t feel close to my parents as a teen.

Though they loved me, alcoholism and divorce drama left them with little time and energy to invest in my world.

I made a commitment for my own children that they’d never suffer from the same lack of loving support I’d experienced.

Yet, like most of us, despite my best intentions I ended up repeating history with my own struggles and divorce.

Fearing I’d failed, I was ever more determined to connect with my kids heart-to-heart, which led me to learn exactly how to show up so they would tune me in, instead of tuning me out.

I’ve spent the last 30+ years understanding what adolescents need from their parents to thrive.

It’s been my passion and my mission to learn how teens think and feel.

I’ve mastered the skills required to create supportive teen and parent relationships.

Those skills are what ultimately supported all of us during our journey through adolescence, divorce, college, and beyond.

Today, my girls–now grown women–are thriving on their paths.

And we still have a loving relationship.

They turn to me for guidance with a level of trust I worked damn hard to earn.

I’ve even learned how to embrace my quiet, creative empty nest and reclaim my leisure time.

Having the freedom to write, walk my basset hounds on the Gulf beaches, and make travel plans whenever I need to without worrying about my grown children is priceless at my age.

As a parent mentor and coach, I’ve helped 100’s of families navigate adolescence and create rewarding teen-parent relationships that can weather any storm.

And now I’ve put everything you need to learn exactly how to get your teen back on track into an easy, 5 step course, so you can find out how to completely transform your relationship with your teen in just 70 minutes.

That’s right, my online course is just 70 minutes.

You’re only one lunch hour away from creating new memories + a bond with your teen that will last a lifetime.