Care for the Kids

Kerry Stutzman and Palmer Skudneski

On parenting tweens and teens. And on staying yourself while you do it.

134 articles
You won the lottery!!!

You won the lottery!!!

Palmer reflects on the near-impossible odds of being who you are, and introduces "Definite Purpose," a way to envision and live your most meaningful life.

Raise your hand if.....

Raise your hand if.....

Kerry reflects on divorce's impact on her kids and how caring adults, alongside her son Palmer, help protect children's mental health through it.

I’m all good on the cocaine

I’m all good on the cocaine

Palmer reflects on a night an old friend offered him cocaine, and how years of small choices quietly shaped a very different life path.

What if venting isn’t what calms them down?

What if venting isn’t what calms them down?

A hot tub conversation reveals that what teens need when upset isn't endless venting, but a guided walk through their full range of feelings.

I HATED it, but loved the glimmer of hope

I HATED it, but loved the glimmer of hope

Palmer reflects on how the first day of school offers kids a glimmer of hope to reinvent themselves, and how parents can help nurture that hope.

The never-ending beginnings and endings

The never-ending beginnings and endings

Kerry reflects on the bittersweet mix of pride and grief that comes with each of her kids' milestones, especially dropping her youngest off at college.

He told three coaches to hit the road
Living with Teens

He told three coaches to hit the road

A client known as Jack fired three coaches before Palmer found a way to reach him. Five years later, he attended his wedding.

What I Wanted to Say in My Defense

What I Wanted to Say in My Defense

Kerry reflects on the defenses that rose up when her adult kids shared how she'd hurt them, and why every true excuse still misses the point.

I have a complicated relationship with Father's Day
Reflections

I have a complicated relationship with Father's Day

Palmer reflects on his complicated relationship with his father and what it means to be a dad himself, with honesty, grief, and hope.

The assignment one of my kids gave me
Parenting Skills

The assignment one of my kids gave me

Kerry shares what it actually looked like to seek repair with her adult kids, including the unexpected assignment one of them gave her: make a list of the ways

The season of parenting nobody prepared you for
Parenting Skills

The season of parenting nobody prepared you for

Kerry reflects on parenting one season ahead and asks the question most parents never think to prepare for: will you have a close family when your kids are adul

What I hope my kids inherit
Parenting Skills

What I hope my kids inherit

A father reflects on how children absorb everything parents model, the good and the bad, and offers a simple challenge: pick one thing and model it better thi

Big Smile, Arms Open Wide
Reflections

Big Smile, Arms Open Wide

A Mother's Day reflection on the one thing that matters most: letting your kids know they are your favorite people on the planet, just as Kerry's mom still does

What teenage me would hate for parents to know
Living with Teens

What teenage me would hate for parents to know

Palmer comes clean about the 741 times his mom didn't catch him, and explains why parents are usually more in the dark than they think.

Why I Sent My Son to Talk to Strangers
Living with Teens

Why I Sent My Son to Talk to Strangers

When 14-year-old Palmer was caught sneaking a beer, Kerry skipped the lecture and sent him to interview strangers instead, an ER doctor, a police officer, and

20 Second Hack to Connect with Your Kid
Parenting Skills

20 Second Hack to Connect with Your Kid

Palmer shares the research-backed power of a 20-second firm hug and how this simple act of physical connection can anchor your child's nervous system and shift

Essential Conversations
Divorce

Essential Conversations

Kerry's son Palmer told her he wished his parents had talked more about adult topics growing up, and it sparked a reflection on the conversations parents assum

Giving Your Kid the Gift of Courage
Parenting Skills

Giving Your Kid the Gift of Courage

My one-year-old son James reached his tiny hand toward the moon the other night, fingers wiggling, completely convinced he could grab it. And honestly, I haven't stopped thinking about it since.