I hear this very often during sessions:

”She thinks she’s always right”

“She educates based on what she was taught — without questioning it — as if everything she lived was the universal truth” without realizing it, “she repeats patterns that no longer work today”

Does it sound familiar?

It’s one of the most common complaints among teenagers:

• “My mom doesn’t listen, she just wants to correct me.”

• “My dad thinks he knows it all, and that I have to live the way he did.”

In a world overloaded with social media advice, parenting tips, and endless “dos and don’ts,” many parents feel a huge fear of failing their children.

This fear often leads to parenting from a place of insecurity — being overly vulnerable, apologizing for every boundary set, or becoming overly condescending, which leaves kids and teens feeling confused.

When we parent from fear, we lose the clarity, confidence, and consistency that children truly need to grow into emotionally healthy adults.

Signs that fear may be leading your parenting:

• Constantly apologizing for setting limits 🙇‍♀️

• Being afraid to say “no” ❌

• Overexplaining or justifying every rule 📜

• Acting more like a “friend” than a parent 🤝

Remember:

Children don’t need perfect parents — they need real, grounded ones.

They need limits with love ❤️, empathy with firmness ✨, and adults who can say, “I may not know it all, but I’m here to guide you.”

If you’re feeling unsure, lean into your support network (trusted family, professionals, friends), trust your instincts — they rarely fail — and most importantly, listen to your child.

Every child has unique needs and their own learning journey to discover.

Parent with courage, not fear.

Lead with love, not perfection.