If I Could Speak to the Father I Was in 2015
Eleven years after losing his 14-year-old daughter Maddie, Chris Coulter writes a letter to the father he was in early 2015. What he would tell him about "fine," about quiet, about staying one question longer. What that father got right. What he couldn't have known, because nobody teaches parents what to look for. For every parent carrying guilt, and every parent with a teenager home tonight: grace.
There Is a Grief That Has No Funeral
Parents of struggling teens carry a grief that has no name and no funeral. No diagnosis. No crisis. Just a low-grade fear that follows them through every day. This post names that experience, validates it, and offers a community for parents who are somewhere between noticing and knowing
When the Grades Are Fine But Something Isn't
High-achieving teenagers are often the hardest to read. Their success becomes the reason parents stop asking hard questions. This post names the signals hiding behind good grades and offers better questions to ask before the mask breaks.
What If Schools Treated Suicide the Way They Treat Fire?
Every school has fire drills, fire exits, and evacuation plans. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Canadian teenagers and most schools have no plan for it at all. This article explores why schools avoid the conversation, what that silence teaches teens, what actually works, and what parents can do when their child’s school won’t start the conversation. Includes the Teen Signal Check tool.
I Thought Loving Her Harder Would Save Her. I Was Wrong
When his daughter was hospitalized for the second time, Chris Coulter realised that loving her harder was not going to close the gap. This post explores why teens in crisis need more than one person, why mentorship fills the space between therapy and parenting, and how parents can take a first step before things escalate. Includes the free Teen Signal Check tool.
How to Listen to Your Teen Without Pushing Them Away
Many parents unintentionally shut down teen communication by jumping into problem-solving mode. This article explains why “fixing” backfires, what teens actually need when they open up, and simple conversation scripts that build emotional safety. Includes warning signs your teen may be struggling and a 2-minute tool to help you assess what’s normal and what needs attention.