You’re Not a Bad Parent. You’re Just Doing It Alone

Why the MentorWell Parent Circle Exists and Who It Is For

The MentorWell was built to advocate for kids and to support parents.
That work shows up in schools, in homes, and in the workplace through our Mentorship programs, LifeLine Parent Workshops and Expedited Referral Service.

But something kept showing up that workshops alone could not solve.

Parents needed each other.

Not just tips.
Not just scripts.
Not experts on a screen.

They needed community. They want to talk to other parents who are living the challenges you’re living today.

That is why the MentorWell Parent Circle exists.

When you have taken more than 2,000 calls, zoom chats and emails with parents, most within the last two years, you start to see patterns. I continue to get dozens of messages every week.

Every story is different.
Every family is different.

But the theme underneath is the same.

The three most asked questions I’m asked: “How can I tell when my teen is really struggling?” “How do I get my teen to talk to me?” “Where can I get the mental health resources my child needs now?”

This is the primary focus of our LifeLine Parent Workshops. But parents have a lot more questions that go unanswered.

Sometimes parents do not need strategies.
They need to know they are not alone.

Talking with other parents who are in the same moment can matter more than any script. Hearing what worked. What did not. Sharing small wins. That shared experience can bring hope back into the room.

No one understands that weight like another parent who is up at night worrying about the same things.

Parents do not always know what to do next.
They do not know where to go.
They do not know who it is safe to talk to.

They worry about saying the wrong thing.
They worry about overreacting.
They worry about missing something that matters.

Many parents tell me the same thing in different words.
“I feel like I should know what to do, but I don’t.”

That gap is heavy.
And it is lonely. It’s shameful. It’s scary especially when you have no one to talk to.

If our child is struggling, there’s a very good chance the parent is struggling too. I know, because I was one of those parents.

The MentorWell advocates for kids first.
We support parents in the workplace through our LifeLine Parent Workshops.
We help parents show up stronger at home.

The MentorWell Parent Circle was built for what happens after the workshop ends.
The late nights.
The hard conversations.
The moments when you need to hear another parent say, me too.

The Parent Circle is international on purpose.

We can only offer formal mentorship in Canada right now.
That is a capacity and regulation reality.

But parenting fear does not stop at the border.

We want to hear from parents throughout Canada, and in the United States.
Europe.
Australia.

Different countries.
Same fears.
Same late nights.
Same worry in the chest.

Parenting pressure does not care where you live.
Neither does love.

This Circle is a resource for all parents.
No matter your country.
No matter your time zone.

This is not therapy.
It is community.

A safe, secure place for parents to connect with other parents.
To share stories.
To share wins.
To share strategies.
To laugh when they can.
To breathe when the weeks feel heavy.

Raising kids can be rewarding.
It can also be heart-wrenching.
This space holds both.

This Circle is for
Parents of teens.
Parents of young adults.
Parents who feel steady but still worry.
Parents walking through chaos.
Parents who are tired of feeling alone in it.

It is not for people looking for quick fixes.
It is not for people looking to argue.
It is not for people seeking therapy.

It is for honest conversation.

What happens inside is simple and real.
Weekly scheduled discussions.
Private parent threads.
Questions asked without fear.
Small wins shared without shame.
Support that does not judge.

Sometimes it is deep.
Sometimes it is light.
Both matter.

Community matters now more than ever.
Kids face pressure earlier and harder.
Parents feel underprepared more than they admit.
Isolation makes everything heavier.
Connection makes hard moments survivable.

Most parents do not need fixing.
They need support.

This work is personal for me.
It always will be.

Maddie is part of this story, even when she is not named in every post.
She is why I believe parents deserve support before crisis, not after.
She is why I believe no parent should feel alone with their fear.

If you are raising a teen or a young person and some days feel heavier than you expected, there is a place for you here.
Not to be fixed.
Just to be supported.

If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of.

On December 18th, we are officially open. All are welcome