The Early Years: Connection as the Natural Baseline

The early years of parenting were golden.

Days were filled with barefoot park adventures, sticky fingers from cookie dough, and sun-drenched afternoons wakeboarding on the Colorado River.

Evenings meant warm bubble baths, whispered chapters of Harry Potter under the covers, and sleepy snuggles that made the world feel safe.

My kids would crawl into my lap just to talk.

They'd hold my hand, look me in the eye, and tell me everything—unprompted, unfiltered, in incredible, winding detail.

Connection wasn't a strategy. It was the air we breathed.

But Then Came High School

And no one warns you how fast it changes.

Suddenly, you're no longer the center of their world.

You're just one voice in a chorus of TikTok influencers, group chats, and algorithms shaping their beliefs and behavior—sometimes in ways that feel impossible to reach, let alone reverse.

The conversations stopped.

Doors began closing the moment they got home from school.

And that once chatty child became silent, secretive, distant from me.

Now it's academic pressure that dominates the dinner table—or rather, the tension around it.

The same child who once beamed after drawing a lopsided circle in kindergarten was now shrugging at plummeting grades and missed assignments.

The stakes feel impossibly high: college, scholarships, the rest of their life.

And when I saw them start to struggle—social media drama, friend group shifts, the whispers of alcohol, weed, and worse—my instinct was to step in, hard.

To tighten the reins.

To fix it.

And like so many well-meaning parents, I gripped harder.

But the more I tried to control, the more they slipped away.

What once felt like connection started to feel like control—and they resented it.

I could feel their trust thinning by the day.

So trust me when I say– I've been there.

I Panicked, Just Like You

When my own teens started shutting down, showing up late, hiding things, and snapping at me like I was the problem—I did what any high-achieving mom would do.

I researched.

I listened to every podcast.

Read every parenting book.

Attended all the talks.

And like many well-intentioned parents, I went into control mode:

• Took away the phone

• Imposed stricter curfews

• Micromanaged everything from grades to friend groups

But the more I tightened my grip, the more they pulled away.

The silence got louder.

The arguments got sharper.

And I started asking myself, "Am I failing as a parent?"

Here's What Changed Everything

In 2016, I discovered what no one was teaching us:

Teenagers don't need more control. They need calm, consistent leadership—parents who can stay grounded when emotions run high, and who know when to step in… and when to step back.

Yes, I'm a Stanford grad and a professionally certified coach.

But my real education came through the messy, late-night breakdowns in my own kitchen, navigating three teenagers and learning that…

Behind every slammed door is a child trying to communicate something they don't yet have the words for.

I learned that both parents and teenagers are fundamentally good people trying their best. When teens push boundaries or pull away, they aren't being "bad"—they're expressing needs they can't yet articulate.

Once I stopped parenting from panic—and started parenting from presence—everything shifted.

My kids didn't magically become perfect.

But the tension lifted.

The late-night talks returned.

And I became someone they trusted again.

Today, I Help Parents Like You Do the Same

That experience showed me just how many loving, capable parents are silently struggling with the exact same heartbreak. I now work with families who "have it all together" on paper—but are quietly unraveling behind closed doors.

My approach blends:

• Evidence-based practices from CBT & DBT

• Trauma-informed strategies that heal the real root of behavior

• Deep inner work for parents who are ready to stop reacting and start leading with calm authority

This isn't just about changing your teenager—it's about your own growth too. Those moments when your teen's behavior triggers intense emotions? That's often a window into your own unresolved experiences—an opportunity to heal, not just react.

This isn't a one-size-fits-all parenting philosophy.

This is about helping you:

• De-escalate conflict without yelling, punishing, or giving in

• Set boundaries your teen respects—without constant power struggles

• Stop walking on eggshells and start enjoying your family again

I've supported hundreds of families through this transformation.

Parents who once felt hopeless now share stories of late-night conversations, morning coffee with their teens, and the quiet confidence that comes from a relationship built on understanding instead of control.

And if your heart is racing reading this because it feels too close to home… I want you to know:

You are not failing. Behind every worried parent is someone who deeply loves their child, and it's time for a new approach.

Let's Rewrite This Chapter—Together

If you're ready to stop tiptoeing around your teen and start rebuilding trust (without losing your sanity in the process), I'm here to walk you through it—conversation by conversation.

Because your child is still in there.

And you're still the parent they need.