Grief Wasn’t the Enemy. My Resistance to It Was.
After ten years of living with profound loss, I learned that grief was never the enemy. My resistance to it was. This reflection explores how grief transforms when we stop trying to control it and begin to live alongside it, revealing clarity, presence, compassion, and a quieter kind of strength. A hopeful reframe for parents, caregivers, and anyone carrying loss.
To the Parent Who Feels Like They’re Failing: You’re Not Alone
A heartfelt message for parents who feel like they’re failing as they navigate a teen’s emotional struggles. This piece reframes doubt into connection, reminding parents that presence—not perfection—is what matters. It offers foresight, hope, and community through the MentorWell Parent Circle for those feeling alone.
You’re Not a Bad Parent. You’re Just Doing It Alone
Parents aren’t failing, they’re isolated. The MentorWell Parent Circle offers a safe, international community where parents of teens can share stories, ask questions, and feel supported beyond workshops. A place to breathe, connect, and remember you don’t have to do this alone.
5 Quiet Cries for Help I Missed, and What Every Parent Should Know
Teens rarely show obvious distress. Their early cries for help appear as small shifts—short answers, irritability, isolation, sleep changes, and losing interest in what they love. This article helps parents spot these signs sooner and respond with steady, hopeful presence. MentorWell offers support for teens who need a neutral, trusted adult.
Parenting Out Loud: The Questions We’re All Afraid to Ask
Parents aren’t failing—they’re overwhelmed, uncertain, and trying their best. This article answers the 24 questions parents ask most about their teens, with steady guidance, early warning signs, and practical next steps drawn from lived experience. A hopeful, human roadmap to help families connect sooner and with more confidence.
You May Think It’s Just a Photo, But for a Grieving Parent, It’s Everything
A heartfelt reflection on why photos and memories matter so deeply to grieving parents. This piece reframes loss into gentle foresight, reminding readers that simple gestures—sharing a photo, a moment, a memory—offer profound connection. A warm, hopeful invitation to reach out, honour, and keep loved ones present in small, meaningful ways.
If You Want Your Teen to Open Up, Sit Beside Them, Not Across From Them
Teens open up when moments feel natural, not serious. This article explains why side-by-side conversations—driving, walking, cooking—build trust faster than face-to-face talks. With warm stories about Maddie and practical insights for parents, it offers hopeful, doable ways to reduce pressure and increase honesty at home.
The Day I Realized Love Could Not Save My Child
A raw, hopeful reflection on the moment a parent realizes that love alone cannot save a struggling child. Through Maddie’s story, this piece highlights what teens need beyond reassurance: connection, calm, and another steady adult. A compassionate call for early support and a reminder that parents do not have to navigate these moments alone.
The Darkest Season of My Life Became the Work I Was Meant to Do
A deeply human reflection on how the darkest season of life became the work you were meant to do. This piece traces the journey from early honesty about mental health to losing Maddie, grieving forward, and building MentorWell with compassion and purpose. It offers grounded hope, gentle guidance, and one clear reminder: small steps and support matter more than perfection.
The Strong Kids Who Hold It Together Are Often Falling Apart
Strong kids like Maddie often seem fine on the outside—popular successful and composed—but inside they’re breaking under the weight of unspoken expectations. This post explores how emotional strength can mask silent struggles why parents miss the signs and how mentorship and honest conversations can give strong kids the space to be real.
7 Conversations Every Parent Should Start with Their Teen (So You’re Not Living, What I Can’t Undo)
If the first time you talk about mental health is during a crisis, you’re already behind. These 7 questions help parents reach their teens before the breakdown—by starting brave, simple, often imperfect conversations. This guide offers practical scripts and insights for building trust, safety, and connection when it matters most—before it’s too late.