Are you up yet?

Jeanine Mouchawar, parenting coach for parents of teenagers

It’s 6:55.

You knock on your son’s door.

“Are you up?”

“Yeah.”

Ten minutes later, you walk by and his door is still closed.

“Are you getting ready?”

“I said I’m up.”

Okay.

You go downstairs. Make your coffee. Try not to look at the clock.

7:12.

You can’t help yourself.

“You need to leave soon!”

“I KNOW, Mom!”

And now you’re irritated.

Because clearly, he does not know.

Or he wouldn’t still be moving this slowly when he should already be walking out the door.

And somehow, you’re the one watching the clock.

Again.

You don’t want to keep reminding him.

You don’t want to start every morning annoyed with each other.

But what are you supposed to do?

Just watch him be late?

There’s something about that that feels irresponsible.

So you remind him one more time.

And five minutes later, he’s rushing out the door irritated with you.

And you’re standing there thinking:

Why does every morning have to be this hard?

🧡 Jeanine

How many times did you remind your teenager this morning? 😂

Jeanine Mouchawar

I’m Jeanine Mouchawar, a Stanford graduate and parenting coach based in Dana Point, California. I work privately with parents of tweens, teens, and young adults over Zoom. If you’re dealing with something similar in your own family, a Parenting Breakthrough Call is where we can look at what’s happening and figure out what would actually help.

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But if I don’t remind him...

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