Welcome back to Part II of the introduction to this new series on The Almost Empty Nest Podcast where I dive into the mindset traps that can hold us back as moms of teens and almost empty nesters. This week focus on our instinct to avoid pain and how this shapes the lens through which we view our role as parents and our kids' moods, behavior and outcomes. This basic instinct is a really good thing in many ways, but it can also hold us back and cause us to show up in ways that we don't really want. But here’s the game-changer: by understanding this instinct and learning to supervise our thoughts, you can free yourself from unnecessary stress and foster a deeper connection with your teen. Join me in this series to learn how to trust yourself to navigate this pivotal stage of motherhood.