A closing reflection on what it actually means to parent teenagers in the long, messy middle.

This episode isn’t about doing more or fixing anything. It’s about noticing what’s already happening beneath the surface: the emotional labor, the restraint, the repair, and the quiet devotion that rarely gets named.

Julie revisits the five practices from Season 1—connection, truth, trust, joy, and unconditional love—not as a checklist, but as postures parents return to over time. Drawing from leadership, applied science, and faith traditions, she reflects on how these practices help parents play the long game: staying connected, regulated, and present even when outcomes are uncertain.

Most of all, this episode offers reassurance. Growth doesn’t always show up as immediate change. Often it looks like calmer responses, quicker repair, and a steadier nervous system. That work counts.

Season 1 closes by inviting parents to let go of the question “Am I a good parent?” and replace it with something more honest and sustaining: “Am I a devoted parent?”