I Hope I Don’t Lose My Job, But My Teen Needs Me More Right Now

The Guilt Sandwich No One Talks About

What is a day in the life of a parent dealing with an angry teenager like?

It’s Thursday. You sneak into the office at 9:25 a.m., for the third time this week. My boss doesn’t say anything, but I see him glance at his watch. That smile he used to give? It’s thinner now. Tighter.

He doesn’t know that before every late entrance this week, you’ve been in full emotional triage mode. Your teenage son has blown up or shut down at bedtime every night, filled with rage, silence, accusations, and despair. Lately, you feel like everything you do makes it worse.

He won’t talk to you. Not really. Not about what matters. He’s angry, and you think, I know, he blames me for his world being turned upside down. The divorce. The move. The grief of a life he didn’t choose.

And every morning, you get up and try to fake calm. Try to perform. Try not to unravel.

You come to work late and stare at your computer mindlessly, expecting it to do the work for you. It’s not until after lunch that you can completely wrap your head around your work. Even that is at a fraction of your usual output. Another work day hijacked.

What Happens When Your Teen Stops Talking to You

If you have ever raised a teen through a major life disruption, you know the wall that can go up.

Maddie’s voice used to fill our house.
Then came one-word answers. Slammed doors. Silence.

She was not clinically depressed, I was told.
But she was not okay either.

We tried therapy. She resisted.
She said, "I am not broken. Why do I need to talk to a shrink?"

She wanted to feel normal. Not labelled.

And I understood that.

But what about me?

I was carrying her pain.
My own heartbreak.
And the pressure of running my business.

The bills do not disappear. They grow.
And there is no time or money left for therapy for yourself.

There is no space to fall apart.
No margin for error.
No room to screw up.

Why Parents Need More Than Encouragement

People love to say:

"You are doing great."
"Hang in there."
"They will come around."

But encouragement is not support.
It does not fix the system.
It does not shorten waitlists.
It does not help you navigate the hard moments at home when your kid is in pain and pushing you away.

While others are handing out platitudes, you are juggling crisis texts, missed assignments, school phone calls, and emotional chaos.

Your focus is gone.
Your productivity is slipping.
Your patience is running out.

You do not need another employee wellness pamphlet.

You need real support. You need options.

How Mentorship Changed My View of What Support Could Look Like

That is why we created The MentorWell.

It pairs teens with trained mentors who are not therapists..
They are something else.

They are guides.
They listen.
They validate.
They help teens build confidence, emotional resilience, and practical skills to manage life effectively.
And they do it outside a clinical setting.

Mentorship is not a replacement for therapy.
But it is a bridge.
It is a safe space.
It is another option.

Many teens do not want a treatment plan.
They want someone to talk to.
They want to feel heard.

Your son does not feel analyzed when he talks to his mentor.
He feels understood.

That is huge!

You may still occasionally arrive late to work.
But now, you are not carrying the weight alone.

💬 If you are a parent in the thick of it, I see you.
You are not failing. You just need backup.

Explore mentorship through The MentorWell.
For your teen. For your sanity. For your future.

And if you are in HR or leadership, think about the parents who work for you.

Mentorship is not a perk.
It is a support system.
It gives families a chance to catch their breath.

Because parents are not just employees.
They are the lifeline for the kids who need them.
And they need support too.