What do puberty, screen time, friendship difficulties, and curfews have in common? If you're parenting kids between 11 and 18, you've likely been navigating these universal challenges.

In this continuation of our Honest Parenting series, Gretchen and Jennifer share both ideals and real-life experiences as we raise children who are impacted by how puberty changes both bodies and emotions, layered onto a growing awareness of the world around them. As parents, we’re called to prioritize building trust with our sons and daughters. This trust becomes the foundation that gives us access to their hearts and minds during a season that can quickly overwhelm both them and us.

As our children begin to understand how and why their bodies change, we have the opportunity to come alongside them with nonjudgmental support, empathy, and practical information. They will have questions, and we can respond with gentleness and care.

The screen time conversation has exhausted many of us as we try to set healthy boundaries around digital media. With devices now serving as hubs for socializing, learning, shopping, finances, and entertainment, it’s increasingly difficult to define what’s healthy. In this episode, we discuss common challenges and share practical resources to help families create boundaries that are both realistic and sustainable.

What happens when our children begin to question (or even walk away from) the faith traditions of our family? Or when friendship disappointments lead to loneliness and isolation? This episode offers a vulnerable conversation filled with honest lessons, thoughtful guardrails, and encouragement for walking alongside our children during this critical stage without defaulting to fear, guilt, or constant conflict.

If you’re looking for voices shaped by experience, wisdom, and a touch of humor, you’re in the right place. We hope you’ll take a moment to listen.

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In the first ten years of parenting, we encounter an endless list of habits to train and attitudes to shape. The list rarely slows. Just as one milestone comes into focus, another appears on the horizon. Sleep schedules, potty training, picky eating, sibling conflict... the list of high priorities is unending.

In the fourth episode of our Honest Parenting series, Jennifer lightens the conversation with a few humorous anecdotes and a sprinkle of honest regrets. Gretchen shares both personal and professional wisdom with her voice as a seasoned mother and pediatrician.

As parents, we want to love and serve our children well, guiding them through their most formative years with intention. But real life rarely unfolds in tidy categories. We carry ideals of the kind of parent we hope to be, while navigating full days, divided attention, and the human limits of our time and energy.

In this episode, we step into the tension between what we envision and what everyday life actually looks like. From welcoming a new sibling and being mindful of how attention shifts, to creating small, consistent rhythms that help a child feel seen and secure, we talk through practical ways to build connection in the middle of change.

Whether it’s maintaining a simple routine with an older child, marking transitions with something meaningful, or just noticing where your presence matters most, this conversation focuses on the small decisions that shape a child’s experience over time. We hope you'll find a moment to listen.

Be sure to check out our show notes page for links to all of the resources mentioned. www.medicinemotherhood.com/blog/honestparenting

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How do we know when it’s time to make a change in our parenting? Why are we so drawn to promises of first-time obedience and simplified step-by-step formulas? Is there value in sharing our personal faith journey with our children?

In the third episode of our parenting series, Gretchen and Jennifer open up about mistakes, regrets, and the areas where things might be been different, wrapped up with a reminder that it’s never too late to pivot toward building trust and depth in our relationships with our kids.

After hearing from so many of you following our conversation on spanking in episode two, we circle back with a few additional thoughts and reflections.

More than anything, this episode is a reminder: our mistakes don’t get the final word. We’re not defined by the places we fell short. Whether you’re parenting toddlers, teens, adults, or somewhere in between, our hope is that this conversation feels like a tender nudge toward seeking what the Lord desires for you and your family.

May we be courageous and honest with one another as we learn to honor the image of God in the personhood of our children. We hope you’ll find a moment here to pause, reflect, and consider whether it's time to pivot.

Be sure to check out our show notes page for links to all of the resources mentioned. www.medicinemotherhood.com/blog/honestparenting

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