My Personal Parenting Story
As a parent myself- I know we each have our own journey. Learn about my own personal parenting journey & how I can be here for you and your family!
My Journey as a Parent
I’m a mother of four incredible children—two bio and two bonus and am “mom’ to many more. My son, in his early 20s, is navigating the uncertainty of early adulthood, testing different careers to find something that truly resonates with his passions. My daughter, fresh out of high school, is taking a gap year to travel and explore the world before making decisions about college or a trade. I also have a daughter who’s finishing nursing school and a son pursuing his dream in the ski industry.
I’ve parented through a worldwide pandemic and spent much of the past decade as a solo parent. Our home became the place where kids felt safe, welcomed, and supported—whether they were hanging out on the couch, raiding the kitchen, or having deep, late-night conversations at the kitchen counter. I was the mom who got the middle-of-the-night phone calls for help and provided a safe haven for kids needing a place to talk, cry, or simply be themselves. It was exactly the kind of home I had always dreamed of creating.
Let me be clear: I wasn’t a perfect mom, nor a perfect parent. No one is. Parenting is complex, and what works today might not work the next time or definitely what may have worked a decade ago. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. I made mistakes. I questioned my choices. I had sleepless nights, I cried behind closed doors, I worried for my children. There were times I felt judged—and probably criticized—for my parenting decisions. Even with my professional background in childhood and adolescent psychology, I struggled, and most of those struggles were during the teen years, when the challenges felt the most overwhelming.
There is no perfect way to parent. What works for one child may not work for another, It’s easy to feel like you’re lost and struggling when you don’t have all the answers or when things don’t go as planned. I believe that parenting isn’t just about having all the right answers and doing all the right things, it’s about showing up—especially when things get hard.
I would joke how I wasn’t a “mainstream” parent, I parented from my heart. I parented for what I felt would best support my child’s need in that moment. I was fortunate, I had my education and professional experience to help me make the best decisions I could for my children, even when those choices didn’t fit conventional norms. I wasn’t perfect, but I was present, persistent, and loving—always striving to guide my kids through the challenges of adolescence with acceptance and understanding.
Parenting isn’t easy. It’s messy, it’s hard, and there are days when you feel like you’re in way over your head. But I can tell you this—it’s worth it. All the struggles, all the sleepless nights, all the self-doubt—it’s all part of the journey. And now, as a parent coach, I’m here to help other families navigate those tough times. Because I get it. I’ve been there, and I know how hard it can be. But I also know that, with the right support and tools, you can get through it and come out stronger on the other side.