I “glitched” in front of millions…

The internet gods are fickle.

You never can tell if the well-planned, high concept video will flop or if instead the off-the-cuff carpool line clip will soar.

Going viral is not predictable – and if I’m being honest, it’s not often entirely pleasant, either.

A recent comment from a 20-something year old Spicy One™ reads, “I am going to rip out my eyeballs and burn them so I never have to read anything you write again.”

(Ouch! Guard your eyeballs, if you decide to watch it.)

Meanwhile, at the time of writing, this seven second video has been watched more than 3.4 million times and garnered comments ranging from “wholesome flex,” to, “I’m crying,” “mom goals,” and, “cringe.”

(None of these responses are wrong.)

The video? Just me malfunctioning with giddiness in my kitchen while my teenage son and his friends can be heard playing board games in an adjacent room.

The headline: “When your teen has friends over for game night and you cant hide your mom satisfaction that you’ve created a welcoming home they want to come to.”

As someone fascinated by human behavior, I’ve noticed most responses have fallen into two categories.

First, there’s the moms who get it – they know how much work goes into creating warmth and welcome in your home, sometimes against all odds! They know or want this feeling I’m feeling. And they crave intergenerational wisdom - a mentor that helps them get to that mountain top I’m still climbing.

I too want a mentor. An older woman to teach me how to feed a crowd without wanting to tear my hair out, to explain menopause hacks to me, and to give me advice on how to keep my marriage fun and functioning.

What do you long to be mentored in?

A second group going coo coo for coco puffs in the comment section caught me off guard since it’s not my usual audience: hundreds of young adults who have NEVER felt free or safe to bring friends home.

Whether hosting feels too messy and overwhelming to their parents or there is outright unsafety or addiction in the home, there are so many people longing to be seen and supported by adults in their lives.

I think there’s a surprising learning here worth exploring – we parents sometimes believe our teens when they reject us for their friends. But each generation longs for connection, and not just with their peers. The loneliness epidemic cuts across age divides.

Being a teenager is lonely.

Meanwhile, I’m brainstorming an on-line parenting teens support group — because being a parent to a teenager can be lonely, too.

Can I ask your advice for those with kids 9 -19? If I was to create a Parenting Tweens & Teen subscription for $9/month, what would you need to be a part of it? I have a vision of me showing up on zoom twice a month to answer anonymous questions, hot seat coach a couple of brave souls, dig deeper into the Tweens & Teens curriculum and allow for breakout rooms where parents can talk to each other and feel less alone (teens will gaslight you hard!).

What feature(s) would you need to make this investment? Is coaching from me more important or having a community chat board for gentle parents of young adults?

I’d love it if you replied to this email with your thoughts and ideas!

I want you to know that the work you do to create a home that welcomes others in is changing lives.

Whether that’s the friends of your kids who don't have a stable home life or a Spicy One whose mom desperately needs another adult to just like her kid.

Dear [FIRST NAME GOES HERE],

The internet gods are fickle.

You never can tell if the well-planned, high concept video will flop or if instead the off-the-cuff carpool line clip will soar.

Going viral is not predictable – and if I’m being honest, it’s not often entirely pleasant, either.

A recent comment from a 20-something year old Spicy One™ reads, “I am going to rip out my eyeballs and burn them so I never have to read anything you write again.”

(Ouch! Guard your eyeballs, if you decide to watch it.)

Meanwhile, at the time of writing, this seven second video has been watched more than 3.4 million times and garnered comments ranging from “wholesome flex,” to, “I’m crying,” “mom goals,” and, “cringe.”

(None of these responses are wrong.)

The video? Just me malfunctioning with giddiness in my kitchen while my teenage son and his friends can be heard playing board games in an adjacent room.

The headline: “When your teen has friends over for game night and you cant hide your mom satisfaction that you’ve created a welcoming home they want to come to.”

As someone fascinated by human behavior, I’ve noticed most responses have fallen into two categories.

First, there’s the moms who get it – they know how much work goes into creating warmth and welcome in your home, sometimes against all odds! They know or want this feeling I’m feeling. And they crave intergenerational wisdom - a mentor that helps them get to that mountain top I’m still climbing.

I too want a mentor. An older woman to teach me how to feed a crowd without wanting to tear my hair out, to explain menopause hacks to me, and to give me advice on how to keep my marriage fun and functioning.

What do you long to be mentored in?

A second group going coo coo for coco puffs in the comment section caught me off guard since it’s not my usual audience: hundreds of young adults who have NEVER felt free or safe to bring friends home.

Whether hosting feels too messy and overwhelming to their parents or there is outright unsafety or addiction in the home, there are so many people longing to be seen and supported by adults in their lives.

I think there’s a surprising learning here worth exploring – we parents sometimes believe our teens when they reject us for their friends. But each generation longs for connection, and not just with their peers. The loneliness epidemic cuts across age divides.

Being a teenager is lonely.

Meanwhile, I’m brainstorming an on-line parenting teens support group — because being a parent to a teenager can be lonely, too.

Can I ask your advice for those with kids 9 -19? If I was to create a Parenting Tweens & Teen subscription for $9/month, what would you need to be a part of it? I have a vision of me showing up on zoom twice a month to answer anonymous questions, hot seat coach a couple of brave souls, dig deeper into the Tweens & Teens curriculum and allow for breakout rooms where parents can talk to each other and feel less alone (teens will gaslight you hard!).

What feature(s) would you need to make this investment? Is coaching from me more important or having a community chat board for gentle parents of young adults?

I’d love it if you replied to this email with your thoughts and ideas!

I want you to know that the work you do to create a home that welcomes others in is changing lives.

Whether that’s the friends of your kids who don't have a stable home life or a Spicy One whose mom desperately needs another adult to just like her kid.

If you didn't come from a family like my childhood best friend that had James Taylor music festivals and taco Tuesdays, it can be an uphill climb to create the very thing you never experienced. For help creating a plan check out Tweens & Teens Class.

I’m cheering for you!

Mary