Got a teen who lies?

Don't we all

Big news: We’re doing an epic Mother’s Day Special Show in Boston on May 9th. This is going to be our biggest party yet…what else would you expect from us on Mother’s Day?? 🥂

And even bigger news: We’re raffling off two VIP tickets + a one-night hotel stay the night of the show. You’ll get the full Cat & Nat experience, viral acrobatic stunts included. The details:

  • You must be a member of our parenting community, The Common Parent, to be eligible for the raffle.

  • If you’re already a member (nice 😎), you’re automatically entered into the raffle.

We can’t wait for this show and to celebrate some very cool parents. Sign up here to enter the raffle and get the mini-vacay you deserve! Good luck! 🎉

—Cat & Nat

How Not to Raise a Narcissist

We all know someone like this. Arrogant, lacking empathy, entitled, manipulative, validation seeking, selfish, and controlling. It’s classic narcissist behavior…and raising a kid with all those bad traits is one of many parents’ biggest fears—including us.

So how do you avoid raising a kid with a narcissistic personality? It’s tough, since many typical behavior patterns of narcissistic people are also typical behavior patterns of teenagers (hello, invalidating relationships with other people, taking advantage of loved ones, and running hot and cold!)

But we got the answers from Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist who helped us understand how to avoid raising a narcissist, how to differentiate between narcissistic behavior and regular teen behavior, and what to do if your teen is in a relationship with a narcissist. This one is so packed—check it out.

What is “Starvemaxxing?”

Remember “bone smashing,” the awful trend among teen boys trying to achieve a more chiseled jawline? Well, it’s got a new contemporary: Starvemaxxing.

Starvemaxxing is part of the bigger “looksmaxxing” trend that encourages young boys to engage in extreme dieting, skincare, exercise, and other routines in the hopes of getting the young Brad Pitt look. While a lot of teen boys say it’s (mostly) a joke, it’s important to take these kinds of trends seriously, especially when they could have a real impact on your child’s wellbeing. 

Worried your kids are falling victim to dangerous trends that could hurt them long term? The National Eating Disorders Association has a ton of resources for parents and caregivers.

Handling Teens Who Lie

It’s a hallmark of modern parenting: Your child will lie to you at some point. When this parent in our Common Parent community posted about her daughter lying about having a vape, the moms came running. Turns out…just about everyone has dealt with a teen lying before.

The whole crew offered their advice—love to see parents helping parents. Check out the conversation here (and join The Common Parent here if you haven’t already). And if you want more resources on lying? 5 Things To Do When Your Teen Lies To You.

Sidestepping Triangulation for Your Family

Ever been subjected to “triangulation?” It’s like monkey in the middle, but so much worse. The details:

  • “Triangulation refers to a scenario in which two individuals engaged in a conflict seek to draw in a third person,” Michelle Felder, LCSW and founder/CEO of Parenting Pathfinders, told Parents.

  • “It is often used as a tool of deflection to avoid conflict or having to express their own frustration, displeasure, or other genuine emotions.”

Translation: When one parent pulls aside a child to vent about the other parent. It can be harmful for your kids and your relationship…so how do you avoid it?

Parents has some great resources. And we recommend this episode we made with Alyson Schafer about resetting your parenting relationship with your partner.

We recently polled our IG community about the longest they’ve been away from their kids. The consensus is that everyone, and we mean everyone, could use a vacation from parenting. Today, the perfect recs to help you get some much-needed time to yourself.

Sometimes, seeing your little ones grow up into teenagers and young adults is tough. You realize that every time they take a step forward, you have to take a step backward. They don’t need you the same way they used to, and that can make you feel useless as a parent.

But the thing is…it’s not that our kids don’t need us as they get older. It’s just that the way they need us changes. So next time you’re crying looking at baby photos, remember that you’ll get to redefine your relationship with your child countless times over your life. The best is yet to come. ❤️

—Cat & Nat