This episode is for parents of teens — especially parents of high school seniors navigating college admissions decisions — who are feeling emotionally stretched during seasons of uncertainty.

Whether your student is facing college rejection, deferral, acceptance anxiety, or simply standing at the edge of a major transition, this Christmas Eve message is a reminder that nothing needs to be fixed right now.

Recorded for Christmas Eve but designed to be evergreen, this episode holds space for the emotional rollercoaster of parenting teens, waiting for college decisions, and letting go of familiar routines — without rushing grief or forcing solutions.

In This Episode, We Talk About

• Supporting teens through college admissions stress
• Parenting high school seniors during the holidays
• What parents can say when students are disappointed by college decisions
• Why emotions often surface when academic pressure eases
• How parents can hold space without trying to fix everything

Who This Episode Is For

• Parents of teens
• Parents of high school seniors
• Families navigating college admissions decisions
• Parents supporting teens through rejection, deferral, or waiting

A Note From Me

In my work with students and families, I see how heavy this season can feel — especially when answers are still unclear. If this episode resonated with you, please know you’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate this season by yourself.

Ways to Connect or Reach Out

If you’d like to get in touch, learn more about my work with students and families, or ask a question sparked by this episode, here are a few ways to connect:

• 🌐 Website: www.thecollegecounselingmom.com
• 📧 Email: lindsay@thecollegecounselingmom.com
• 📱 Instagram: @thecollegecounselingmom

College decisions are starting to land—and for many families, this season feels heavy, emotional, and charged. Whether your teen is celebrating an acceptance, navigating a deferral, processing a rejection, or simply watching it all unfold from the sidelines, December can feel like everything is suddenly on the line.

In this episode, we slow the moment down.

You’ll hear why college decision season hits teens so deeply, what different admissions outcomes actually mean (without the spreadsheets), and how parents can support their kids without making the process more stressful or assigning meaning too quickly.

This conversation is about perspective, steadiness, and remembering that one decision does not define a life.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why teens experience college decisions as identity-level events
• How social comparison and school environments amplify emotions in December
• What acceptances, deferrals, and rejections really mean—and what they don’t
• Why December decisions are inputs, not conclusions
• How to avoid panic-driven changes to your teen’s college list
• What parents can say (and avoid saying) to support their teen emotionally
• How your calm and perspective matter more than any outcome

Key Takeaway for Parents:

College is a path, not a prize.

This week doesn’t determine your teen’s worth, future, or potential—and your steadiness right now can make all the difference.

Resources & Support:

If you’re navigating the college process or supporting a teen through high school decision-making, you don’t have to do it alone.

👉 https://freebie.thecollegecounselingmom.com/newsletter-sign-up

January brings clarity—and we’ll be talking more about next steps, perspective, and planning in the weeks ahead.

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: lindsay@thecollegecounselingmom.com

🌐 Website: www.thecollegecounselingmom.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollegecounselingmom/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecollegecounselingmom/

(If this episode resonated, send it to another parent who could use a little perspective this week.)

Loved This Episode?

• Follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Leave a review — it helps other parents find the show
• Share this episode with a friend, school parent group, or family member

Thank you for listening — and for showing up for your teen with steadiness and care.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a moment from the Jasmine Star Business Mentorship community that sparked a powerful reflection on how we—and our teens—view progress. When someone vulnerably shared their struggle to celebrate small wins, I responded with encouragement, and what unfolded was a reminder of how deeply this mindset shows up in adults and students alike.

But just as meaningful as the conversation itself was the community behind it. The support, the “me too” moments, and the shared humanity inside that space revealed something important: we don’t grow alone. And this isn’t just true for us as adults—it’s true for our teens as well.

Parents need community. Teens need community.

And both need environments where growth is seen, celebrated, and supported.

This episode explores why celebrating small wins matters, how identity is shaped in the process, and how community plays a vital role in helping both adults and teens see their own progress more clearly.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why adults and teens struggle to celebrate small wins
• How your reactions shape the way your teen interprets their own progress
• The powerful role community plays in helping us see our growth
• How small wins influence identity, motivation, and confidence
• Language shifts parents can use to support a growth mindset
• Ways to reframe academic pressure, rejection, and stress for your teen
• Practical strategies to help your teen value the journey, not just the outcome

The Power of Community (For Teens and Parents)

Inside the mentorship program, the moment someone admitted they struggled to celebrate small wins, the community responded with empathy—not judgment. That collective support is what makes growth feel possible.

Parents need that same kind of support.

Raising teens can feel isolating, and yet so many families face the same challenges. When parents have a trusted community—other adults who understand the pressures, the emotions, and the desire to get it right—it helps them stay grounded, patient, and confident.

And when teens have community, they feel less alone in their challenges and more empowered to keep trying.

Community creates belonging.

Belonging fuels resilience.

And resilience helps small wins take root.

Key Takeaways for Parents:

• Small wins reveal who your teen is becoming, not just what they achieve.
• Your home can be the safe place where effort is valued more than perfection.
• Community helps adults and teens feel supported, understood, and less alone.
• Micro-celebrations are essential for motivation and emotional regulation.
• Rejection isn’t a verdict—it’s redirection, and you can help your teen see that.
• Modeling your own small wins helps your teen learn to recognize theirs.

Try This at Home:

• Ask your teen: “What’s one small win from today?”
• Praise identity traits (courage, perseverance, initiative) instead of results.
• Share your own small wins out loud to normalize the practice.
• Create a “family win jar” to read together each week or month.
• Encourage community—clubs, teams, study groups, supportive adults.

Shoutout

A heartfelt thank-you to the incredible humans inside the Jasmine Star Business Mentorship community. Your vulnerability and support inspired this episode and reminded me how deeply we all need spaces where we feel seen and supported.

Connect With Me

If this episode encouraged you or helped you see your teen differently, I’d love to hear from you. Share a small win—yours or your teen’s—and let’s celebrate together.

lindsay@thecollegecounselingmom.com

www.thecollegecounselingmom.com

On Social: @thecollegecounselingmom