Skill Building Strategies, Relatable Laughs, and Room to Breathe

From bedtime battles to teenage drama, we’ve got stories, strategies, and a little self-care on the side.

MOM IN REAL LIFE

Full disclosure: I don’t share the tips and research you’ll find in this blog to come across as someone who has it all figured out (spoiler alert: I definitely don’t). Instead, I share ideas, strategies, and skills that I’ve personally tested along the way, raising my two amazing daughters and yes, practicing on my husband too. Have all the strategies been wildly successful? Absolutely not. Some have been epic fails, some were surprising successes, and many took several tries… then several more (and deep breaths). Patience and persistence have been the keys to my own learning process, and trust me, patience was not always my strength…ask anyone. I’ve fallen short many times, especially in the patience department, but those struggles have brought me closer to understanding myself, my kids, and this beautiful process of raising humans. And I didn’t always say that. 

Important note: not all strategies work equally well across all subjects. My daughters often needed different approaches, and I’m still debating whether any strategy really works consistently on my husband. Stay tuned…

While I started my career in education before becoming a mom, focusing on child and adolescent development (and eventually specializing in executive functioning skills), it wasn’t until I had my own kids that I truly understood the nuances of raising strong, independent, sometimes very stubborn humans. Gee, they must take after mom. Motherhood has forced me to grow in ways I never imagined…more on that in a later post. It’s given me the gifts of resilience, patience (yes this developed!), giving grace and an appreciation for my sparkling sense of humor (and my husband’s for that matter). 

If you’re here, I can only assume that you too are navigating the wonderful chaos of raising humans. Someone once shared with me the sage advice to take a win as a win, and after years of testing it out, I can say with confidence they were absolutely right. Parenting is a wild mix of trial, error, and those glorious moments when something actually works. It’s humbling, unpredictable, and often hilarious—but also the most meaningful adventure I’ve been on. And it’s taken me 17 years to fully appreciate that fact, now that I have a minute here and there to fully process it.  

A cup of coffee with motivational notes and vibrant tulips on a dark table.

WELCOME!

Welcome to Caffeinated Life Lessons, where parents like you can find some practical info to help raise a future full of confidence, independence, and resilience for kids and teens. Caffeinated Life Lessons was brewed from a love of two things: parenting and education — with a generous splash of humor (and coffee, of course…because let’s face it I couldn’t do either without coffee). 
Parenting in a fast-paced, tech-driven world of convenience isn’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re navigating screen time, teaching responsibility, or fostering emotional growth, we serve up advice, real-life strategies, and a sprinkle of encouragement to make your parenting journey just a bit smoother. Take a look around, check out our tips and resources, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for your weekly dose of inspiration (and maybe a laugh or two) delivered right to your inbox. 
Together, we can help your family thrive—with or without a latte in hand!

Coffee FUN FACT!

Espresso = Pressed Out 
It’s not a bean or a roast — it’s a method! High pressure = high energy…

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