Hi everyone, it’s Brad again. I just finished reading Cathy’s latest Zen Parenting Moment email, and it resonated with me. Especially as we approach the much-anticipated Zen Parenting 2024 event, Cathy’s thoughts offer a timely reminder of why these conversations are so crucial. But first, let’s hear it directly from Cathy:

Cathy’s Zen Parenting Moment Message:

“Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve received feedback from our listeners, clients, and friends indicating the difficulty in finding resources for adolescents. Parents are increasingly aware of their teens and preteens’ need for support, but they are left with so many questions: Where should we even start? When is intervention necessary? What are the most critical issues we should be attentive to, and what signs should we be on the lookout for?

We are parenting two teenagers and a young adult, and the parenting landscape today is markedly different, constantly evolving, and frequently challenging to navigate. Our kids are having vastly different experiences than we did during our own adolescence. They need us to educate ourselves, approach them with open minds, and do our best to see the world from their perspectives. They also need us to take care of ourselves so that we can be a calmer and more effective support system for them.

That’s why we made the decision to dedicate Zen Parenting, 2024 in Chicago to the topic of TEENS—as well as emerging teens and young adults. These kids are older and more independent, but they are navigating the most volatile and confusing phase of their lives. They still look to us as their support system, confidants, and people who genuinely care about their well-being.

To address the issues facing teens and families today, we reached out to some of the most knowledgeable people we know, discussing pressing topics such as the rise in eating disorders, the often-misunderstood issue of human trafficking, the challenges associated with monitoring our teens through apps like Life 360, talking to our kids about sexting, porn and social media, the significant transition from middle school to high school, acknowledging anxiety, depression, and mental health, the complexities of navigating identity in terms of gender and sexuality, advocating for learning differences and finding ways to prioritize self-care and nurture our most important relationships.

We’re excited to announce that we have a new venue for 2024, but this means seating is limited this year. Be sure to reserve your spot as soon as possible to secure your place. Our goal is for you to leave feeling well-prepared, informed, and deeply connected to your child’s experiences, with a clear understanding of how you can be most supportive. This is a learning curve for all of us, so let’s navigate it together.”

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A Brief Reflection

Being a teen has never been easy. But today’s youth are facing unprecedented challenges. Thirty years ago the greatest threats to teen health were drunk driving, pregnancy, and illicit drugs. Today, they are anxiety, depression, suicide, self-harm, cyberbullying, and serious mental health disorders. Their experience is vastly different than our own. So let’s get together and talk about it. We owe it to them to listen. To have honest conversations. And to live our way through it, together.

Zen Parenting 2024: The Next Step

The upcoming Zen Parenting 2024 event aims to take these discussions to the next level. It’s an opportunity to dive deeper into the issues facing our teens and to learn from experts in various fields.
Zen Parenting 2024 is right for you if:

• Your teen is struggling and you’re not sure how to support them
• Your child is about to become a teen or young adult and you want to understand the issues ahead
• You want to connect with like-minded parents and caregivers having similar experiences
• You’re open and ready to learn new ideas from thought leaders in the field
• You’re seeking resources for how to communicate with and support teens on their journey to healthy adulthood

Connection Matters

The upcoming event offers a more immersive experience with an impressive lineup of headline speakers including Dr. Shefali, Dr. Alexandra Solomon, Dr. John Duffy, Dr. Devorah Heitner, best-selling author Michelle Icard, and many others.  It’s a chance to share stories, strategies, and find a community that understands what you’re going through.

Don’t Miss This Opportunity

Cathy’s message is clear: the seats for Zen Parenting 2024 are limited. If you find value in these emails, the event is sure to offer even more.  If you’re navigating the maze of teen parenting, this event promises to offer some clarity.

Learn more and join us for Zen Parenting, 2024!

Take care, Brad