Hey there! I’m Mikala—a family doctor, wife, mother of 5, well-being advocate, and author of the books Ordinary on Purpose and Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife. Each month my writing reaches millions of women, but I am thrilled to be connecting with YOU. I’m truly grateful to have you here!
All tagged #momofteens
It might look a little different now, but your boy will always need you in so many ways!
I’m pretty sure all those earlier parenting challenges were preparing us for today—these days of parenting a teenager. EVERYTHING feels multiplied!!
I cannot imagine CALLING him at college to wish him Happy Birthday. Singing the birthday song with the phone pressed to my ear. Asking him how he is spending his day or wondering “Did anyone get you a cake?”
It will be hard. SO HARD. And eight out of ten times you’ll forget and say exactly the wrong thing. But when you do remember this hack…I promise it will be worth it.
And because I love them SO MUCH, I try to make the best decisions I can which means…so often I say NO. I create boundaries and dole out chores and enforce consequences and follow through. What a Bad Guy!!
I try to be the one place in the whole world where my child doesn’t ever have to pretend. I try to be the safe, loving place he can softly sink into and feel seen. I try to be the person he can always, always come to…
I never imagined anything could fill my heart like chubby little cheeks and diapered little bottoms and drooly little smiles and teeny little feet covered in footed pajamas.
For I know one day very soon, my teenager will be gone. And my baby will walk through the door a grown man. Still the love of my life. What a gift! I never knew this kind of LOVE existed.
