Who’s in my corner?

I remember that moment like it was yesterday. There I was, sitting on my couch, staring at my phone after one of those hard conversations with my daughter who was away at college. My heart was racing, tears started flowing, and I felt completely alone. As a parent coach with over 25 years of experience, I knew exactly what I would tell another parent in this situation – but in that raw moment, I needed someone in MY corner..

That’s when it hit me: parenting doesn’t wait for scheduled coaching calls.

The Gap in Parent Support

You know those moments, right? When your freshman sends that “I hate my roommate” text at 11 PM. Or when you’re sitting in your car after dropping them off at college, trying to pull yourself together before heading back to an empty house. Or maybe it’s that moment when you’re crafting and re-crafting a simple text response to your college kid, wondering if you’re saying too much or too little.

These are the moments when traditional parent coaching falls short. Because let’s be honest – who wants to wait days (or even hours) for their next scheduled Zoom call when your heart is in your throat right now?

As a parent coach,this is what I have experienced on repeat;  A parent schedules a coaching session for next Tuesday, but by the time we meet, the immediate crisis or top of mind thing has passed. Sure, we can process what happened, but wouldn’t it have been more helpful to have support right in that critical moment? When they were sitting in their car during lunch break, trying to figure out how to respond to their teen’s roommate drama? Or when they were lying awake at 2 AM, wondering if they should book that last-minute flight home for their homesick freshman?

The Modern Parent Reality

Our kids text us from across the country. They FaceTime us between classes. They send us “help needed!” messages while we’re in the middle of work meetings. And in each of these moments, we’re expected to respond with wisdom, clarity, and just the right amount of support.

This isn’t the parenting world many of us grew up in. When I started my career working with parents, communication happened at scheduled times – phone calls home on Sunday nights, letters in the mail, maybe an occasional emergency call from the dorm phone. But today? Today’s parents are navigating a constant stream of digital connection, each message potentially carrying emotional weight that needs to be addressed now, not next week.

Let me share something I hear from parents almost daily:

“I used to know exactly what my kid needed. Now, every interaction feels like walking through a minefield. I second-guess every text, every call, every response. Should I ask about their classes? Is it too soon to check in again? Am I helping or hovering?”

Introducing, Pocket Parent Coach

The breakthrough came when I realized that parent coaching needed to evolve. Just like our relationships with our kids have adapted to include quick texts and voice messages, why couldn’t coaching do the same?

That’s how Pocket Parent Coach was born – from that moment on my couch when I wished someone was there to catch me so I could be there to catch my daughter.

But it wasn’t just about creating another coaching service. It was about revolutionizing how parents get support. Because here’s what I’ve learned after working with busy parents of college-bound and college-age kids:

1. The most critical moments often happen between sessions

2. Quick, timely guidance can prevent small concerns from becoming big problems

3. Parents need a safe space to process their own emotions without judgment

4. Support needs to fit into busy lives, not the other way around

5. Sometimes, all you need is a quick reality check from someone who gets it

Transforming Parent Support

hink of it as having a trusted friend and expert in your pocket. Someone who gets it. Someone who can help you:

• Process your own emotions without judgment so you can move through your day without that “think” weighing on you

• Find the right words when you’re not sure what to say so you can stay connected to your kid and navigate tricky conversation 

• Build a new kind of relationship with your young adult so you can understand how important you are in their life even if they are away from home

• Trust your parenting instincts while adapting to this new phase

Here’s what makes this approach different:

Immediate Support When You Need It

No more waiting for scheduled appointments or holding onto worries until your next session. When your kid texts about dropping a class or changing majors, you can get guidance right away using the Voxer APP and connecting with me.

Freedom to Process in Real Time

Sometimes you just need to voice your concerns or get a quick gut check. With voice messaging, you can share your thoughts as they come, wherever you are – in your car, on a walk, or during your lunch break.

Ready to learn more about Pocket Parent Coach? Click here to discover how on-demand parent coaching be transformative during this stage in your parenting.

Expert Guidance That Fits Your Life

Parent coaching shouldn’t require you to rearrange your entire schedule or add another Zoom call to your calendar. Support should work around your life, not the other way around.

A Safe Space for Your Journey

This transition isn’t just about your kid – it’s about you too. Having a space to process your own emotions, fears, and hopes is crucial for showing up as the parent your child needs right now.

What Pocket Parent Coach looks like in real life:

Sarah, a mom of a college freshman, sent me a voice message while sitting in her car after a difficult phone call with her daughter. Instead of spiraling for days about whether she said the right thing, she got immediate support and guidance. By dinner time, she had a clear plan for moving forward and felt confident in her approach.

Lisa used Pocket Parent Coach to navigate her daughter’s sudden desire to transfer schools. Rather than reacting from a place of fear, she had support processing her own emotions first, allowing her to show up as the steady, supportive parent her daughter needed during this decision.

The Path Forward

You’re a good parent. You wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t. But even good parents need support, especially during this transition. And that support should be there when you actually need it – not just when it fits into a calendar slot.

The truth is, you won’t need a parent coach forever, but your kids always need you. They need you to have someone in your corner so you can be fully present in theirs.

This journey of launching our kids into adulthood is both beautiful and challenging. It’s filled with moments of pride and panic, joy and grief, certainty and doubt – sometimes all within the same hour! Having the right support can make all the difference in how we navigate these moments.

Parenting at the speed of real life deserves support at the same pace.

Your kids are ready for their next chapter; they’ve met with teachers, coaches, counselors, advisors, and mentors along the way.  What about you? Are you ready? Pocket Parent Coach is here for you when you are.

Curious to learn more about Pocket Parent Coach? Click here

Cheering you on! 

Diana