Why Parenting Teens Feels So Hard (And What Actually Helps)
Based on Episode 1 of Root to Ring: A Resilient Parenting Podcast
If you’re a mom raising teens, you’ve likely thought:
- “Why does every little thing turn into a fight?”
- “Is it normal that my teen wants nothing to do with me?”
- “How do I stay calm when I feel like I’m walking through landmines every day?”
Here’s the truth: you are not failing.
You’re parenting in a system that was never designed to support you.
I’m Abi Brown, Parenting Coach and host of Root to Ring: A Resilient Parenting Podcast. I work with emotionally invested moms navigating the messy middle of motherhood, the season where connection feels fragile, communication feels impossible, and the parenting books just aren’t cutting it.
This post will walk you through why this season feels so hard and what you can actually do to lead your family with calm, confidence, and connection.
Why Parenting Teens Feels So Hard Right Now
Let’s name it. You’re parenting in a world that’s louder, heavier, and more overwhelming than the one you grew up in.
Today’s moms are raising teens in a landscape filled with:
- Constant digital distractions
- Rising teen anxiety and depression
- Fear-driven parenting culture
- Pressure to be the “perfect” mom, student, housekeeper, therapist, and chauffeur all in one
And still, you care deeply. You show up. You try again.
That matters more than you know.
3 Invisible Loads Moms of Teens Are Carrying
You’re not imagining it. This is hard, and it’s not just about your teen’s behavior.
Here are three invisible stressors I see in almost every client I coach:
- Nervous System Overload
You want to stay calm and supportive, but your body is in a constant state of stress.
When you’re maxed out, your ability to co-regulate, connect, or set boundaries shrinks. It’s not about “trying harder.” It’s about learning how to regulate your own system first.
- Cultural Fear + Pressure
We live in a world that tells you you’re either doing too much or not enough.
From social media to school performance to mental health, it feels like every decision carries massive weight. The fear of “messing them up” keeps you stuck in second-guessing and guilt.
- The Developmental Push-Pull of Adolescence
Teenagers are wired to pull away. It’s normal, but painful.
The parenting tools that worked when they were little often stop working now. You’re building a new parenting model, often without having seen one modeled yourself.
The Rooted Shift: From Panic to Grounded Leadership
Here’s the pivot point most parenting advice misses:
Control is not connection.
The goal isn’t to manage your teen. It’s to regulate yourself.
That’s where my Rooted coaching method begins. It’s not another script or checklist. It’s a full reset from the inside out.
- Roots = the stories, patterns, and pain you’ve inherited
- Rings = the strength, growth, and leadership you build from within
When you become rooted in your nervous system, values, and boundaries, your parenting shifts from reactivity to leadership.
- Boundaries feel cleaner
- Connection becomes possible, even in conflict
- Trust is rebuilt without needing perfection
And the whole family begins to soften and shift.
Because change starts with the parent, not the child.
This Work Isn’t Easy. But You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
You’re showing up. You’re trying.
You’re doing the hard work of building a new family legacy, and that is sacred.
If you’ve been navigating this on your own and you’re ready for a different kind of support, the kind that sees you and equips you to lead, you don’t have to wait.
🎧 Prefer to Listen?
Press play below to hear this episode on the podcast.
Episode Title: Why Parenting Teens Feels So Hard
Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Want to Go Deeper? Here’s How I Can Support You
If you’re nodding along, feeling like this is exactly what you’ve needed, then Rooted 1:1 Coaching may be your next step.
Inside this transformational mentorship, we’ll work together to:
- Identify your inherited patterns and nervous system blocks
- Rebuild trust with your teen, even after rupture
- Create a parenting rhythm rooted in clarity, not control
- Heal your own story so you can parent from wholeness
Because when you get rooted, everything shifts.
Book Your Free Discovery Call Here
Or DM me on Instagram @parentingwithabi with the word ROOTED and I’ll send you all the details.
You’re not behind. You’re growing from root to ring.
Let’s make this season one you can feel proud of.
—
Abi Brown
Parenting Coach & Host of Root to Ring: A Resilient Parenting Podcast
