Confidence is what I wrote about in the early and middle childhood years because that’s what I lacked and needed the most. Then, entering into the pre-teen years, I began yearning for courage. The shift in focus was deeply felt. I had built skills in myself and my child to become confident but still lacked the courage to become the parent I needed to support my growing pre-teen and teen’s development. Facing into the truths of our current context that teens have to grapple with daily including A.I., social media, social comparison, anxiety, loneliness and so much more requires our courage as parents. I began exploring habits of courage in my own parenting, with my clients, and in cooperation with school partners. The results were powerful and I tell that story and many more in my next book, Humanaissance: Igniting Courage in Our Teens and Ourselves. Because the focus had changed dramatically, the images had to change too.

Check out this video with Jennifer Miller showing the illustrations from Confident Parents and how they’ve evolved in writing about parenting teens. Get a sneak preview of the very different illustrations from the next book more aligned with teen development.