What the Parents Who Move FORWARD Have in Common
Aug 01, 2026
I Can Usually Tell Which Parents Will Move FORWARD
Not because I can predict the future.
And certainly not because I believe some parents are "better" than others.
But after three decades walking alongside parents, teens, young adults, and families through parent coaching, parenting support, and teaching young adults and kids, I've had the privilege of witnessing thousands of stories unfold.
I've seen crooked roads and broken roads.
I've seen heartbreaking setbacks.
I've seen families who felt completely stuck.
I've seen remarkable resilience.
I've seen relationships heal after years of hurt.
I've also seen parents carry enormous guilt because they believed they had somehow failed.
Over time, I've started noticing something.
The parents who move FORWARD aren't usually the ones with the easiest circumstances.
They aren't the ones who never make mistakes.
They aren't the parents with the "perfect" kids.
They're the parents who remain willing to grow.
That doesn't mean growth is easy.
In fact, it's often uncomfortable.
It asks us to pause when we'd rather react.
To become curious when we'd rather control.
To admit we don't always have the answers.
And perhaps most importantly, to believe that one new perspective can change what happens next.
Why Parent Mindset Matters More Than Perfect Parenting
This past week, I found myself thinking about this pattern several times.
I met with a single mom who cared so deeply about helping her family that she wanted to begin implementing every suggestion immediately.
I loved her commitment.
Truthfully, I can relate. If I believe something will help, my instinct is to jump in and do it all.
Instead, we slowed down.
Together, we focused on one meaningful step at a time.
Because lasting change rarely comes from trying to change everything overnight.
It comes from consistently working on the right things.
I also met with a dad who was doing something incredibly courageous.
He's been working on changing his own behavior before working on his child's.
Both were learning to let go of generational patterns they had grown up with—the only way they had ever known—and create something healthier for their own family.
That isn't easy.
It takes humility.
It takes patience.
And it takes a willingness to keep learning, even when it's uncomfortable.
This week also included conversations with parents carrying their own pain while still trying to become better parents than they were yesterday.
Different families.
Different stories.
Different challenges.
Yet they all shared something powerful.
They were willing to grow.
Parent Coaching Has Taught Me That Behavior Is Communication
People often assume progress comes from working harder to find a solution or the right answer.
Sometimes it does.
But not always.
After listening to thousands of stories over the years, I believe something else matters even more.
The families who make the greatest progress aren't usually the ones who work the hardest.
They're the ones willing to work on the right things. Instead of focusing only on stopping the behavior, they're willing to get curious about what's underneath it. That isn't always easy. Sometimes it's uncomfortable. Sometimes it's painful. But understanding what the behavior is communicating is often where healing and moving FORWARD begins.
That isn't about trying harder.
It's about learning to see differently.
Sometimes the biggest shift isn't changing your child.
It's changing the question you're asking.
Better Questions Lead to Better Family Communication
Instead of…
"How do I stop this behavior?"
Try asking…
"What might this behavior be telling me?"
Instead of…
"What's wrong with my child?"
Ask…
"What might my child need right now?"
When we remember that behavior is communication, we often stop fighting the behavior and start understanding the child.
Sometimes the next step isn't another parenting strategy.
Sometimes it's a new lens.
Parenting Teens and Young Adults Requires a Different Lens
That's exactly why I continue teaching my free workshop,
When Nothing Is Working: Try A New Lens on Parenting & Behavior
Parents don't usually come because they want another parenting checklist. They don't want to be told what to do.
They come because they've already tried so many things.
They're tired.
They're worried.
They're wondering what to do next.
The workshop isn't about becoming a perfect parent.
It's about learning how to pause, understand behavior differently, strengthen family communication, and identify one meaningful step FORWARD.
Because I don't believe parents need more pressure.
I think they need more clarity.
And sometimes one new lens is enough to help a family begin moving FORWARD again.
No blame. No shame. Just FORWARD.
👉 Join my next free Parenting Workshop on August 25 at 7:00 PM PST. Sign up with this link and discover one meaningful step you can take for your family.
Siah Fried, MPH, NBC-HWC
Parent & Family Wellness Coach
Move FORWARD Coaching
www.siahfriedcoach.com