Parenting teens is…the best?

Hello everyone! Happy (Almost) Mother’s Day to all the moms hanging out with us! We’re so grateful to have you as part of this crew, and we know you deserve to be celebrated this weekend (and all the time, if you ask us). Being a mom is the hardest, best thing either of us have ever done—hats off to everyone who’s ever changed a diaper, braved the pickup line on the last day of school, parented through the total guilt trips, and made everything magic for your kids. You’re the real MVPs! Happy Mother’s Day 💐

P.S. Keep reading for some special ideas to make your Mother’s Day exactly what you want it to be. 😉

Parenting Teens Is Actually Pretty Great

There are tons of things about parenting that are really, really hard. The “no” phase comes to mind. So does the dreaded birds and bees talk. But all things considered? Once you get to the teen years…parenting is kind of the best. 

We have better conversations with our kids. We learn about them as people. We enjoy unexpected moments of connection and thoughtfulness that toddlers and little kids just can’t give us. We get a full night of sleep!

That’s why we loved this: 5 reasons to look forward to the teen years. There’s so much to be excited about as parents—because, after all, you don’t lose your kids when they grow up. You just become a different kind of parent, and that’s cool as h*ll.

Teen Lying and Gaslighting, Explained

Why do teens lie? When should we be concerned about a pattern of lying? Is there a reason teens are the experts at gaslighting?

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. This episode of our Parenting: Unfiltered podcast is chock full of resources to better understand why our kids lie and what we can do about it, thanks to Dr. Deborah Vinall, a psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and certified EMDR and brainspotting practitioner. 

How to handle lying and gaslighting is one of the most common questions we get from parents, and this episode has the insight we’ve all been waiting for. Listen here!

 The Ultimate Sports Packing List for Parents

You sit through hours of practice and games because you love your child, not because it’s fun. But that doesn’t mean sports seasons have to be brutal for you in the bleachers. This list of the 9 things you can’t go to a game without was so helpful. A portable charcuterie board?? We’re so in.

Have You Heard of Reflective Parenting?

🚨 New parenting style just dropped 🚨 It’s called “reflective parenting,” and we’re definitely intrigued. The main gist? You, as the parent, think more critically about the behavior you model for your kids as a means of understanding that your child is their own person with their own thoughts and feelings.

The theory is that reflection helps you to better understand your child’s behavior (and what might be the real reason they refuse to leave for school on time). Check out some of the benefits and drawbacks of reflective parenting here and let us know…is this something you would try?

Want the best Mother’s Day ever? Turn off the pressure, put aside those people-pleasing tendencies, and lean into the reason for the season: celebrating moms. Today, the perfect recs to treat yourself to a Mother’s Day for the books.

• Zone out and don’t feel bad about it—give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing.

• Watch a movie made with moms in mind—we loved The Idea of You (who wouldn’t love the very sexy premise of a single mom falling for a crazy hot younger guy?), plus these 75 (!) other ideas.

• Tell your partner or family what you really want—no matter what that is. Get some ideas (or send some ideas to your spouse, more realistically) right here.

• If Mother’s Day is tough for you, no matter the reason? Let yourself feel those feelings—and consider these tips to make a hard day a little easier.

• One last thing—buy yourself something nice. You deserve it.