What Really Prepares Your Teen to Thrive with Stuart Dow

What if we’ve been looking at our children's success all wrong? Senior year hits, and we're on an unexpected rollercoaster. It’s not just our kids’ transition; it’s ours, too. While they figure out who they are without us, we must figure out who we are without them. It’s a messy, beautiful, often terrifying process of letting go. Today, I speak with Stuart Dow, Head of School at Emery Weiner. He has a front-row seat to what readiness looks like for both our kids and us, the parents, as we learn to let go. As an administrator, he teaches every senior, providing them with a valuable perspective on their shifts that we might miss.

In this episode, Stuart and I explore what it takes for a teen to thrive, emphasizing patience and allowing kids to find their own path. Stuart highlights the importance of soft skills, such as respect, eye contact, and apologies, for long-term success, often more so than academic ability. He discusses common parental mistakes, such as projecting dreams and intervening too much, especially before college. This conversation offers a grounded, empowering perspective, reminding us our role isn't to control outcomes but to build a foundation and trust them to succeed.

In this episode, we discuss:

👉 The emotional transition for parents and teens

👉 Why patience is a parent’s greatest tool

👉 Soft skills that matter more than grades

👉 How parental interference can hinder growth

👉 Letting kids find their own unique paths

👉 The truth about following talent versus passion

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