Light Up Your Face: A Simple Way to Support Teen Mental Health
Kerry reflects on how a parent’s warmth can nurture teen mental health. She explores how eye contact, gentle delight, and everyday moments of connection can make teens feel seen, valued, and safe in their own skin.
It Takes a Village to Raise a Good Dad
This Father’s Day, Kerry reflects on what it takes to raise good dads—from teaching empathy and accountability to surrounding boys with healthy male role models. A heartfelt reminder that raising a good dad starts long before fatherhood begins.
Don’t ask. Invite the story.
When teens feel interrogated, they close off. When we invite their stories, they open up. Kerry explains how parents can use storytelling and deep listening to help teens feel safe, understood, and connected—especially when life gets hard.
The unexpected gifts of mothering
Kerry here! Four years ago, I visited a friend with her new baby. After going through the intensity of childbirth herself, she was in absolute awe that every single one of us on this planet has someone who did that for us. She laughed at herself, saying that even when she went to a restaurant, […]
Dirty Socks, Clean Rooms, and Raising Adults
Oh my gosh, did you see Palmer’s email last week—the one with the towering pile of dirty laundry? I laughed out loud! Maybe it was a slightly trauma-induced laugh…it brought back so many memories of trying to get Palmer, my strong-willed middle son, to clean his room as a teenager. It was a serious challenge! I pulled […]
Your Kid Is Doomed If They Do This
You are doomed if your kid does this… You got Palmer today! First off, happy Easter if you celebrate! Whether you enjoy an Easter egg hunt or deeply reflect on its meaning, I hope it’s a lovely day for you 😊. I’m just kidding about them being doomed, but I have had something on my mind […]
They didn’t tell me it’s about the little things
In today’s email, I want to share a realization I’ve had about what truly matters in parenting. I wish they had told me that parenthood is about the little things. I used to think that parenting was about raising a good kid. Responsible. Successful. Smart. Kind. Good values. Yada, yada, yada. Now I know that parenting […]
The Success Trap Every Parent Should Avoid
As a parent having pride for your kids can be a mixed bad. It’s good to be proud of your kids; it can help them feel encouraged, but it can also be overdone if we start to let their lives dictate our own sense of worth. Since 2017 when I first worked door-to-door sales selling educational resources to […]
Challenge to Learn New Things About Family and Friends
When Palmer was 15 and 16, he couldn’t stand me much of the time. It was so hard to connect with him. Makes sense. It’s hard to connect with someone who doesn’t like you. But dang it, this was my kid! The precious little baby I used to rock in my arms. The little guy who always said, “Mommy […]
What If Change Isn’t Something to Fear?
View in browser Dear Friend,I make myself laugh. Two weeks ago, for my Sunday email, I told myself, “In two weeks, you can really sit down and give a lot of thought to your email because by then, life will be mostly back to normal.” Ha Ha Ha. What a joke. Here we are, two weeks later, and I am […]
