How to Let Go of Mom Guilt When Your Kids Are Teens

Do you end most days feeling like you're not doing enough? Mom guilt doesn't disappear when kids become teens. For many of us, it gets louder.

👉 Tired of carrying the guilt alone? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll find a judgment-free community of parents who get it, steady support from me, and a calmer way to parent from your own values. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with writer and professor Nancy Reddy, author of The Good Mother Myth, to talk about the crushing weight of unrealistic parenting expectations. We explore how outdated ideas about being a "good mom" fuel guilt and stress, the difference between helpful guilt and harmful shame, and how to let go of perfectionism as your teen grows more independent.

Nancy also shares why asking for help, and letting your teen see you do it, is one of the best lessons you can teach. If you're tired of feeling like you're not enough, this episode is both a sigh of relief and a gentle wake-up call.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• How outdated "good mom" myths create guilt for modern parents
• The difference between guilt, which can spark change, and shame, which keeps you stuck
• The truth about your role in your teen's happiness
• How to use a quick values check when guilt creeps in
• Why building a "friend family" and asking for help makes you a better parent

EPISODE CHAPTERS

• 00:00 The pressure to be a perfect mom
• 03:12 Shifting into parenting teens
• 06:05 Understanding mom guilt
• 09:01 The myth of the perfect mother
• 12:03 Guilt vs. accountability
• 14:48 Letting go of guilt and trusting your teen
• 18:11 Sharing the load with co-parents and community
• 21:22 Where mom guilt starts
• 24:38 Building your "friend family"
• 26:10 When guilt helps, and when it doesn't
• 30:09 Why asking for help matters
• 33:11 Modeling vulnerability for your kids
• 38:34 Using your values to quiet guilt

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The Good Mother Myth by Nancy Reddy
• Write More, Be Less Careful, Nancy's newsletter
• Work Like a Mother by Lara Bazelon
• Unfit Parent by Jessica Slice
• Erica Boothby's research on "the liking gap"
• Margaret Mead's anthropological research

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CONNECT WITH NANCY REDDY

• Website: NancyReddy.com
• Instagram: @nancy.o.reddy
• Newsletter: Write More, Be Less Careful

CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL

• Website: AskDrCam.com
• Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
• Parenting Teens Academy

ABOUT THE SHOW

Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.

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