I don't know what's normal anymore

You run into a few moms at the pool.

One says her son starts working at the golf course on Monday.

Another mentions the summer program her daughter got into.

Someone else is talking about SAT prep classes and college visits.

You smile.

Ask questions.

Say things like, "That's exciting."

And then you drive home thinking:

Mine slept until noon.

He still hasn't applied anywhere.

We haven't talked about college once.

Should I be worried?

Should I back off?

Am I underreacting?

Am I overreacting?

I genuinely don't know what's normal anymore.

That's the part of summer I don't think we talk about enough.

It's not just worrying about your teenager.

It's wondering whether you're seeing things clearly at all.

Because when everyone around you seems to have a kid with a plan, it's easy to start questioning your own instincts.

Somewhere along the way, what other parents were saying started feeling more important than what you knew about your own child.

What am I missing?

Should I be doing more?

Do they know something I don't?

And then your teenager wanders downstairs asking what's for lunch.

You think about bringing it up.

The job applications.

The sleeping until noon.

The amount of time disappearing into video games.

But instead, you hesitate.

Not because you've stopped caring.

Because you're not sure whether this is the moment to push... or the moment to trust.

And when you don't trust your own read on the situation, even ordinary conversations become harder.

You second-guess yourself.

Replay things in your head.

Wonder whether you said too much.

Or not enough.

You're not struggling because you don't care enough.

You're struggling because you care so much that getting it wrong feels unbearable.

If you've ever smiled through a poolside conversation only to get in the car wondering whether you should be doing more... you're not alone.

🧡 Jeanine

Tell me—what are you second-guessing yourself about right now?