Welcome back to Your Parent Coach — and welcome to 2026. I honestly can’t believe I’m saying that.

In this short episode, I wanted to gently ease us back into the year together. Not to reflect or set goals, but to pause, take a breath, and acknowledge just how intense the Christmas–New Year period can be when you’re parenting tweens and teens.

If you’re feeling exhausted, flat, overstimulated, or emotionally drained right now, I want you to know this straight away: you are not alone. What you’re feeling is valid, real, and incredibly common — especially coming off the back of school holidays, summer heat, disrupted routines, and the mental load that so often falls on parents.

This episode is my way of being that calm voice in the background, reminding you to slow down, recognise what you’ve carried, and give yourself credit for getting through it.

I also share what’s coming in 2026 — including exciting guests, parent interviews, the launch of my Curious Parenting Community, and a sneak peek into a book I’m currently writing specifically for mums parenting teenagers.

In This Episode, I Talk About:

• Why the post-holiday season can feel so heavy as a parent
• The mental load of summer school holidays (especially here in Australia)
• Why you deserve recognition for making it through Christmas and New Year
• How to start thinking about lightening your load instead of carrying it all
• The launch of the Curious Parenting Community on Skool
• What The Curious Parenting Method™ is — and why it’s designed specifically for tweens and teens
• Why adolescence is the phase where parents need more support, not less
• What I have planned for 2026 — including my upcoming book

A Gentle Check-In

I invite you to pause and ask yourself:

• How full is my cup right now?
• What have I done for me lately?
• Who am I letting support me?

You don’t need to burn yourself out before the school year even begins. This phase of parenting was never meant to be done alone and I’m here to support.

Links & Resources

• Join the Curious Parenting Community.
• Website: www.melwhiteparentcoach.com
• Instagram: @melwhiteparentcoach
• Youtube - watch eps.

Thank You

If you’ve been listening for a while, thank you. I truly appreciate you showing up each week — it means more than you know.

If this episode resonated, I’d love for you to share it with one other parent who might need some support or just a new perspective.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow the podcast, and you can now watch episodes on YouTube as well.

I’ll chat to you again very soon 💛

— Mel

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