The teenage years bring big emotions, shifting boundaries, and a new kind of loneliness for moms. With kids' stories becoming more private, we explore the big question: how do we find support without oversharing? Ashley Reeves joins Vanessa in this episode as they dive into vulnerability, safe friendships, resilience research, and why a strong community isn't just good for moms—it's protective for our kids. An essential listen for anyone parenting teens.

Books:

Tiny Humans, Big Emotions

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Vanessa is joined by her sisters in another episode where they discuss the sneaking out hijinks they all got up to in a family of 12 kids as well as how they deal with their own families' stories of teens sneaking around. They wrestle with the big question: how do you trust your kids and let them have their own freedom while also protecting and doing your duty as a parent when it comes to curfews, bedtime, and rules of the home?

Vanessa's sister Shelly also shares about an upcoming product she and her husband are working on called Analog that helps protect families from the dangers of sneaking around online. She provides a checklist to watch out for:

• Set a baseline
  • Check and recheck the parental controls because they do reset
  • Don't let kids delete or install apps without permission
  • Limit screen time on apps
• Also watch out for:
  • Kids changing the timezones
  • Redownloading apps
  • Using VPNs
  • Using Siri to get around certain parental controls
  • Friends' phones

Growing up, Vanessa's family was basically two animals away from running a full-on zoo—but parenting with pets? That's a whole different story. In this episode, she sits down with Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt—New York Times bestselling author, animal advocate, and mom—to ask the big question: Are pets really worth it?

They talk about the beauty and chaos of raising kids (and animals), how pets teach responsibility and empathy, and the heartbreak that comes when it's time to say goodbye. Katherine shares stories from her new children's book Kat and Brandy—inspired by her own childhood pony—and offers thoughtful advice for families deciding whether to add a furry (or feathered!) friend to the mix.

Whether you're a lifelong "animal person" or still dodging your kids' puppy PowerPoints, this conversation will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even rethink what "family" really means.

Katherine's book is out now! Order Kat and Brandy today!

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