TEENAGERS: The Lie of 18 Summers

We’ve been told we only get 18 summers with our kids—but what if that’s not true? All month long, I’m joined by therapists Sissy Goff and Niro Feliciano to talk about teens and parenting. In this episode,we’re unpacking the pressure, guilt, and anxiety parents feel around the ticking clock of childhood. We’ll expose the myth of 18 summers, explore why parenting feels so stressful, and offer a more hopeful, realistic way to connect with your kids—long after they’ve left the nest! This kicks off our month-long series on TEENAGERS and PARENTING—because this season of parenting deserves real talk, expert insight, and its own spotlight. Connect with Sissy Goff Connect with Niro Feliciano  Sign up to receive Paula’s newsletter where she keeps it real about what it’s like being a parent in America. And, if you’re a working mom, make sure you’re getting The CARRY ALL email, the load-lessening newsletter for and by working moms.    Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe!  Listen in to learn more:  (6:45) The lie of 18 summers (11:52) When parents need to feel needed (15:43) Shifting back to intergenerational living (23:20) The bumpy road of adolescence for parents and kids (28:16) Misconceptions about parent-child relationships (29:29) Unrealistic expectations and pressures on parents  (33:30) Advice for more peaceful parenting SUMMARY:  In this episode, we are diving into the lie that we only have 18 summers with our kids, where the lie of 18 summers comes from, when parents need to feel needed, the pull back to intergenerational living within families, misconceptions about relationship between parent and child and how the parent-child relationship changes over time, unrealistic expectations and pressures of parenting, and advice for more peaceful parenting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices