The challenges become less about diapers and homework, and more about identity, independence, big life choices, and emotional resilience.

Yet the tricky part is that your responsibility doesn’t pause; it evolves.

The last thing you want is to be caught off guard when the next stage hits. Being prepared means adapting your mindset and skills before your kids need you to. The way you parent teenagers or young adults isn’t the same way you parent toddlers—and that’s exactly the point.

Preparing the way is a lifelong commitment—not just to raise kids, but to grow with them.

The K.I.S.S. ~ Prepare the way!

Think about how you have parented your kids in the past. Have you made changes along the way as they go through their stages of life?

Think back to a situation where you wished you had responded differently. Maybe it was when you were at the store, the movies, or church.

Consider the environment and how you could have responded differently in:

• What you said
• The tone of voice used
• Discipline used, or lack thereof
• How it ended

We can be so quick to try and put out a fire for hundreds of reasons. But what matters is how you prepare the way for them to learn the lesson. This isn’t about your ego or how good a parent you are; it must be in the child’s best interest. And yes, that means your response in how you prepare the way will differ for each child. One-size does not fit all!

Are you exhausted just thinking about it? Well, that means you care!! So give yourself a high-five!! Don’t beat yourself up over what you think you did wrong. Use your reflection to gain a deeper understanding of where you are and where your child needs you to grow.

Here are the three ways you grow alongside your kids—no matter their age:

1. Stay Curious and Keep Learning Together

Your kids don’t stop growing—and neither should you. When you embrace curiosity instead of trying to have all the answers, you set a powerful example. Read that book, learn that new skill, or dig into what fascinates them.

This isn’t about pretending to be cool or chasing trends; it’s about genuinely investing in the things your child cares about. Doing this together levels up your connection and shows that growth never stops. It sends the loud message that learning is a lifelong adventure, not a checklist.

2. Adapt Your Role as Their Needs Shift

When kids are young, parents are fixers, teachers, sheriffs. But as they grow, your job shifts from controller to coach, from manager to mentor. This requires self-awareness and humility because the way you lead and support needs recalibration.

Recognize when to step back, when to step in, and when to cheer on quietly from the sidelines. Your willingness to evolve moves your relationship beyond authority-based parenting into partnership and mutual respect.

3. Model Emotional Honesty and Resilience

Growth isn’t linear. Life throws curveballs, and the way forward isn’t always clear. Let your kids see you wrestle with your own challenges, express authentic emotions, and bounce back.

Showing how you handle setbacks teaches a crucial lesson: strength isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence. Letting go of the “super-parent” act and embracing real humanity actually empowers your kids to do the same.

If you look at Indiana University and how they won the College National Championship, you would see that their quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, wasn’t raised with the best of everything. Instead, his mom and I’m sure his dad, taught him how to do his best in whatever circumstances he found himself in. He wasn’t recruited by a top 10 football program. In fact, he was third string with more failures on the field than successes. That doesn’t work well for a hopeful NFL quarterback.

But Mendoza’s mom did everything she could to the best of her ability, even with her diagnosis of MS (Multiple Sclerosis). When her children were young, they didn’t know what mommy had been fighting as they were growing up.

Just from a few things I’ve read since all the hype from her son’s success on the field, Mendoza’s mom can teach us all a few things: be who you are becoming, love more, and be present.

Parenting doesn’t stop when your kids hit milestones or chase their own dreams. The “way” you’re preparing is never finished—it’s a living, breathing path you pave together. Grow with them, adapt, and show up honestly. That’s the living legacy your kids will remember.

“Be present. Be incredible. Be YOU!!!“