Coaching with Carolyn at Nathan's Waypoint

03/03/2026

Do you feel as if you live in a constant state of vigilance? Is there a persistent, low-level stress running through every day?

These questions were among the primary themes of February’s Virtual Parent Connection Group discussion.

When your child struggles, whether they’re eight or 28, you can’t help but be vigilant. Can you?

You may wake each morning wondering what challenge the day will bring. You try to celebrate the good days. And sometimes the hard ones drag you down.

The Virtual Parent Connection Group is a safe space where parents may come to share these feelings. Where you can feel seen and understood by others who truly appreciate what you and your child are living with.

Our next gathering is on Tuesday, March 10, at 7:00 pm EDT. If this kind of connection and support sounds like something you could use, please join us. We’d love to meet you!

01/28/2026

We’re really good at holding it together on the outside. Acknowledging the emotional pain we carry as parents? That’s much harder.

In my experience, that’s the only way to move through it and begin to heal.

This belief is one of the main reasons I decided to open a Virtual Parent Support Group.

Acknowledging emotional pain isn’t easy. Most of us can’t do it unless a few important things are already in place, like:

• A safe, non-judgmental place for what we’re carrying
• The reassurance that we’re not alone
• Others who truly understand this kind of pain
• Support that helps us move through it—not rush past it or try to fix it

This group is all about connection—offering and receiving a supportive ear, sharing experiences, and exchanging advice only if it’s wanted.
No fixing. No pressure. Just understanding.

I also know how scary it can feel to let emotional pain out of the box you may have it locked up in. Many parents worry that if they open it, the pain will overwhelm them—that they won’t be able to function.

What often helps is a slow uncovering. Bringing that pain into awareness a little at a time, in the presence of people who can truly empathize. Shared experience can lighten the load and make it feel more manageable.

If this sounds like something that could support you—or someone you know—you can find all the details at the link in my bio.

And if you’d like more information before deciding, feel free to email me. I’m always happy to answer questions and help you see if this feels like the right fit. 🤍

01/26/2026

How Do You Manage the Emotional Pain?

Hi , I keep this quote front and center on my desk and I've shared it with my kids as well. It reminds me to genuinely acknowledge my emotional pain. In my experience, that’s the only way to move through it and begin to heal. This belief is one of the main reasons I decided to open a Virtual Paren...

01/21/2026

It’s not about the money.
But what if it is?
And what if that’s okay?

When your child is suffering, it’s natural to want to help.
To offer every resource you have.
Because when your child is hurting, you’re hurting too.
And yet, the cost of help is one of the biggest stressors parents face.

At some point, we’re forced to ask hard questions:
• How much can I realistically spend?
• What other resources might be available?
• What options are most likely to help—not just right now, but long term?

Most parents I know (myself included) feel compelled to do whatever it takes.
If this were a physical illness, we wouldn’t hesitate… right?

And still, there’s more to consider:
• Is my child fully engaging in the help I’m providing?
• Am I creating financial stress that may cause problems later?
• How much is enough?
• When does helping stop helping?

That last question matters.

Sometimes, in trying to protect our children from pain, we unintentionally limit their ability to build confidence, resilience, and trust in themselves.
This is one of the conversations we’ll likely have in the Virtual Parent Group starting February 3.

If you could use support sorting through these questions—or want to hear how other parents are navigating them—you’re welcome to join.

01/14/2026

💞 Are you the parent of a teen or young adult living with debilitating anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges? You are not alone—and you don’t have to navigate this journey by yourself.
I’m launching a new virtual Parent Support Group starting February 3, 2026, created specifically for parents who want connection, understanding, and real support. This is a safe space to share challenges, celebrate wins, and learn from others who truly get it.
Please see the flyer for all the details—and feel free to message me directly with any questions.

10/19/2025

A beautiful day for peaceful protest in Atlanta. It’s uplifting to gather with others who care deeply about humanity, our country and the Constitution.

06/05/2025

💞 Does this sound like you?

1. You have an adolescent or young adult child who lives with serious anxiety or depression that disrupts the lives of your whole family, most especially the child who struggles.

2. You find it hard to set and enforcing boundaries to maintain peace and safety in your relationship and your home.

I understand. This was me. And I’m offering something this something that will help.

I’m excited to announce the start of my summer virtual group - Exploring, Establishing and Enforcing Effective Boundaries 
 
This group is for parents like you and me!
 
We’ll cover the personal nature of selecting effective boundaries, how to best talk about them, and the challenge many of us experience when it comes to enforcing them.

Best of all, the last few sessions will be dedicated to selecting and practicing boundaries that will help in your specific circumstances.

Do you have an hour and a half a week this summer to hang out with me and other parents, learn something new, support others, laugh a little and explore a way to make life easier?
 
If so, come join us! DM me with any questions.

06/04/2025

💞 This really struck me. It may apply in many different types of relationships. Parent/child, partner, friend, colleague, family . . .

It also begs a couple of questions:

Do you want to be understood?

Do you want and are you committed to understanding?

Understanding and being understood requires authenticity and vulnerability. Our intuition tells us when it is safe to open ourselves up to being understood and when it is not.

I could go on, but I’d rather hear from you.

Thoughts?

10/11/2024

05/02/2024

💞 Some days it just feels like more than you can handle.

You’re trying to

✅ Figure out how best to support a child who is fighting a battle for their mental health;
✅ Give your other children the time and attention you know they deserve;
✅ Work with a partner whose opinion on the best approach is different from yours:
✅ Go to work every day;
✅ Keep the household running;
✅ Maintain friendships . . . .

✅ Oh, and take care of yourself in the midst of it all.

I feel overwhelmed just thinking about it. And I can relate like few people can.

You see, I’m a mother who has has been where you are. I know just how difficult it is to find support that really gets what you’re going through. It’s why I became a parenting coach who works exclusively with parents of teens and young adults who live with mental health challenges.

When my son first started to struggle with his mental health 10 years ago there were plenty of therapists and psychiatrists available to work with him.

There were none, however, who could support me in a way I found helpful. I felt so lost and alone that I decided to retire from my 20 year career in conflict resolution and become a certified parenting coach.

Now, I work with parents like myself to help them:

💗 Understand what their kids are experiencing;
💗 Process their own experience;
Learn new ways to connect with their child;
💗 Set boundaries they’re willing, able and likely to enforce; and
💗 Take care of themselves along the way.

If you’d like to know more let me know in the comments or send me a DM. I’d love to talk to you about your particular challenges and how I might be able to help.