Am I the parent my children need me to be?

It would be silly to try to count the number of times I’ve asked myself, “Am I the parent my children need me to be?” Countless times.

As a mother of seven children —two now in heaven— and with most of them in their teens and pre-teens, I’ve faced many loops over the past 21 years. Moments of doubt, frustration, and uncertainty, wondering with my husband how to truly show up for each one of them.

That question —Am I the parent my children need me to be?— sparked a new chapter in my learning. It led me to study Positive Discipline, deepen my understanding through a Diploma in Applied Positive Psychology, and eventually qualify as a certified parent coach —building on my earlier efforts in Humanistic and Communication Studies.

That persistent question is what led me to create WeSee Education, a non-profit that empowers parents of teens with trusted, practical knowledge —I highly recommend you watch our foundational masterclass series. And it’s this same question —this ongoing desire to grow alongside my children— that now brings me here, to Seventeen®, my personal practice, where I hope to support other parents as they navigate adolescence with grace.

Our families shape who we are. Each of those seven children teach me something about patience, presence, and unconditional love. Through them, I discovered something simple yet powerful: when I find calm within myself, my children feel safer, more connected, and more confident.

Through both lived experience and professional training, I’ve learned that even small shifts in awareness can transform family life. We are the foundation on which our children grow.

Why Seventeen®

The name Seventeen® carries my story within it —seven children who showed me who we are, and teen, the stage that keeps teaching me how much we’re still growing. Together, they represent the journey from parenting young children to guiding young adults —a time of transformation not just for them, but for me too.

The e's in Seventeen® come together to form a continuous loop —a symbol of life’s loops and constant movement and growth. It represents the ups and downs of parenting, and the belief that every turn is an opportunity to reconnect and begin again and again. Seventeen is also the legal age to start learning to drive in the UK, the turning point from childhood to adult responsibility, the bridge age to independence.

The pre-teen and teen years can be a beautiful stage —full of change, discovery, and second chances. At Seventeen, I’ll walk beside you at your own pace —supporting you as you help your children grow in confidence, responsibility, and independence, even through the beautiful messiness of real life.

And if you’re wondering whether it’s too late —it’s not. The adolescent brain keeps developing until around age 25, which means every calm moment, every pause, every reconnection still matters. One step at a time.