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This Is Not What I Was Expecting: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Parent Alliance
As moms who have watched our children struggle with their behavior or mental health, we remember so often feeling alone. If you’ve ever felt the same way—you’ve come to the right place! We are the people who get it. We know that parenting is not what you expected and may be a very different experience than your family and friends are having. Every other week our group of moms gather to share our stories, tips, and insights on managing the unique challenges that come with parenting our kiddos. From navigating insurance hurdles and waitlists to dealing with school issues and beyond, we cover it all. We laugh together, get angry at the system together, and most importantly, we support each other. If you're ever feeling like no one understand what you're going through, throw our podcast on. You belong here.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday27 min
Taking Phones Away at School Sounds Great… Until Your Kid Needs You
We spend half our time telling our kids to get off their phones. Now schools want to take them away, and suddenly we're not so sure!Cell phone bans in schools sound like a great idea. Fewer distractions, more learning, and maybe kids will actually talk to each other again. But what happens when your child needs to reach you?This week we're talking about the school cell phone debate and why it's not as simple as it sounds.We get into school safety, kids texting parents throughout the day, whether phones have become a crutch, and how hard it is to find the balance between keeping our kids safe and letting them figure things out on their own.As usual, we don't all agree, but that's what makes the conversation interesting.Where do you stand on cell phones in schools? Are you for the ban, against it, or somewhere in the middle?#SchoolCellPhoneBan #ParentingTeens #KidsAndPhones #ParentingChallenges #NotWhatIWasExpecting For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/parenting-resourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community
- 2 weeks ago51 min
Living With Adult Kids: Boundaries, Money, and Letting Go
You thought turning 18 would change things. Instead, you're still paying for groceries, coordinating rides, talking about chores, worrying about money, and trying to figure out where parenting ends and adulthood begins. This week we're talking honestly about what it's like when adult children continue living at home - or move back home after trying life on their own. From household expectations and finances to dating, privacy, and respect, we're sharing the conversations many parents are having but rarely talking about out loud. If you've ever wondered, "Am I helping too much?" or "How do I set boundaries without damaging our relationship?" this conversation is for you. You're not the only parent trying to figure this out as you go. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/parenting-resourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community
- 3 weeks ago43 min
The Friendships you Lose and the One You Find
Friendships change. Sometimes life gets busy. Sometimes we grow in different directions. And sometimes the people we expected to be there just...aren't. This week we're talking about how friendships change through the different seasons of parenting. We share stories about friendships that have faded, the people who've surprised us, and why making new friends as adults isn't always easy. We also talk about finding your people - whether that's reconnecting with an old friend, joining a group, or simply realizing you're not the only one looking for connection. If you've ever wondered where your village went or why friendships feel different than they used to, we hope this conversation reminds you that you're not the only one. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/parenting-resourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community
- Sep 24, 202637 min
When to Step Back and Let Your Teen Figure It Out
Sometimes raising an independent teenager means doing something that feels completely unnatural as a parent: not fixing it.When your teen forgets something, makes a questionable choice, struggles to stay organized, or faces disappointment, it can be incredibly hard not to jump in. Especially when you’ve spent years building support around a child who genuinely needed it.This week we talk honestly about learning to step back while our teens learn to step up. We share our own experiences with responsibility, ADHD and organization, driving, chores, jobs, appointments, self-advocacy, and those small failures that can become important life lessons.Because preparing our kids for adulthood isn’t about expecting them to suddenly know how to be adults. It’s about giving them safe opportunities to practice while we’re still there. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/parenting-resourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community
- Sep 3, 202634 min
When Your Kid Is Melting Down and You’re About to Lose It Too
Need a tool to help you prevent you're own meltdowns? Check out our Emotional Safety Plan worksheet! For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/parenting-resourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community
- Aug 20, 202631 min
How To Speak Up For Your Child Without Feeling Like That Parent
Have you ever walked out of a school meeting, doctor’s appointment, or conversation about your kid and thought, WHY DIDN’T I SAY THAT?! Same. Speaking up for your child sounds easy until you’re sitting across from someone with a title, a degree, or a whole lot more confidence than you have. Suddenly you’re worried about being annoying, confrontational, or labeled “that parent.” This week we’re talking about the very real discomfort of speaking up, what we’ve learned from getting it wrong (repeatedly), and some ways we’ve found to make those conversations a little less intimidating. No perfect scripts. No superhero parenting required. Just three moms trying to get better at using our voices when our kids need us to. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/parenting-resourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community
- Jul 9, 202649 min
What's for Dinner? Why This One Question Feels So Overwhelming
If you've ever asked your partner or your kids, "What does everyone want for dinner?" only to hear a chorus of "I don't know," this episode is for you. That one simple question somehow turns into meal planning, grocery shopping, picky eaters, food budgets, sensory needs, and one more decision at the end of an already exhausting day. In this episode, we're having an honest conversation about the mental load of feeding a family. We talk about what actually works in our homes—from "fend for yourself" nights and crockpot meals to getting teenagers involved in cooking, stretching grocery budgets, and giving ourselves permission to stop chasing perfect family dinners. Because sometimes the goal isn't a Pinterest-worthy meal. It's simply making sure everyone is fed. So tell us—what's your family's go-to dinner when nobody knows what they want? Share your favorite budget-friendly meals, time-saving tips, or family traditions in the comments. We'd love to hear what works in your home. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/parenting-resourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community
- Jun 4, 202647 min
The Parenting Badges We Wish Existed
Inspired by a conversation about adulting badges, we're asking our audience what parenting badges they've earned lately while sharing some of our own. From failed family outings and cereal-for-dinner nights to surviving summer break and mountains of laundry, we're creating badges for the parenting experiences you can only earn by living through them. Join us as we compare our hard-earned badges, laugh at the chaos, and remind ourselves that sometimes making it through the day deserves a little recognition too. What parenting badge have you earned lately? For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/parenting-resourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community
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About This Is Not What I Was Expecting
As moms who have watched our children struggle with their behavior or mental health, we remember so often feeling alone. If you’ve ever felt the same way—you’ve come to the right place! We are the people who get it. We know that parenting is not what you expected and may be a very different experience than your family and friends are having. Every other week our group of moms gather to share our stories, tips, and insights on managing the unique challenges that come with parenting our kiddos. From navigating insurance hurdles and waitlists to dealing with school issues and beyond, we cover it all. We laugh together, get angry at the system together, and most importantly, we support each other. If you're ever feeling like no one understand what you're going through, throw our podcast on. You belong here.
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