This Is Not What I Was Expecting

Why is parenting my teen harder than I expected?

February 26, 2026·11 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

This week is a shorter conversation — because sometimes that’s all we have the bandwidth for. We were told parenting would get easier when our kids got older. We believed it. And then… they got older. The double stroller stress turns into adult-problem stress. The toddler chaos turns into late-night phone anxiety. The mental load doesn’t disappear — it just changes. If you’ve ever thought, Shouldn’t this feel easier by now? you are not alone. The stress shifting doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It just means you’re still a parent. Take a few minutes with us this week. We’re right there with you. 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/helpfulresourcesTo 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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