The Hardest Summer: Navigating Life with a 14-Year-Old

I know child development theory, I was a high school principal. But knowing why your 14-year-old acts like a different species every morning doesn't make living with them easier. This summer has been brutal: constant emotional regulation, being the "dumbest person alive" who apparently knows nothing about high school athletics (despite it being my job), and absorbing all the frustrations of a kid shedding their identity. My therapist reminded me this might be the one thing that isn't easy for me. The mom guilt is real when you know the science but still lose your patience. Sometimes admitting it sucks is the first step forward.