Every Season Brings New Challenges

Week 3 of the “Parenting is a Skill” Series

You’d think after nearly two decades of parenting, I’d feel like I’ve got this.

But here I am, raising a high school senior and freshman twins, and I’ll be honest, some days I feel like I’m back at square one.

The questions are different now. The pace is faster. The emotions run deeper, and the stakes feel higher. There’s no “how-to” manual for navigating university applications, shifting social dynamics, growing independence, and late-night conversations about big life decisions. And with my younger two starting high school, we’re also stepping into a new phase where they want both space and support—sometimes in the same breath.

I’m realizing again what I’ve had to learn in every stage of parenting:

Every season brings new challenges

.And every season requires a fresh set of tools.

The toddler years taught me about patience.

The early school years taught me about structure.

Now, this season? It’s teaching me about letting go.

It’s asking me to listen more than I speak.

To hold boundaries with love and clarity.

To trust that the foundation we’ve laid will hold,

even when I’m not in control of the outcome.

Here’s what I’m learning to bring to this season:

Curiosity over certainty.

Instead of jumping to solve or advise, I’m asking more questions. “What do you think?” “What matters most to you?” I’m learning to be a sounding board, not a fixer.

Presence over productivity.

These years move fast. I’m trying to slow down enough to notice the little things—car rides, shared playlists, late-night chats that come out of nowhere. That’s where the connection lives.

Compassion over comparison.

It’s easy to look around and wonder if we’re doing enough, preparing enough, pushing enough. But every teen, every family, every timeline is different. We’re walking our path—and that’s enough.

Permission to not have it all figured out.

Just because I’ve been parenting for a while doesn’t mean I know how to handle everything that’s coming. And that’s okay. Growth doesn’t stop at any age—not for them, and not for me.

Some seasons stretch us. Others root us.

This one feels like both.

So if you’re in a season that feels unfamiliar, even after years of parenting, know this: You’re not starting over. You’re expanding. You’re evolving. You’re showing up with the experience of your past and the courage to meet what’s new.

That’s adaptive parenting. And that’s a skill worth honoring.

Let’s Reflect

What season of parenting are you in right now? What’s something you’ve had to relearn—or release?

I’d love to hear how this season is shaping you. We’re not supposed to have all the answers. We’re meant to grow through it.

—Kristi