Parent with Hope

02/21/2026

So good…

By now you probably know Alysa Liu won Olympic gold last night—the first American woman since 2002 to do it.

Everyone’s talking about her impressive comeback story…but I can’t stop thinking about what came before it.

Alysa was a bona fide skating prodigy: National champion at 13 (and 14!). World bronze medalist at 15. Olympian at 16. Graceful and powerful and bursting with talent.

She was the kind of young athlete adults get excited about and build futures around.

But after the Beijing Olympics (where she placed sixth), just when the world expected her to double down—she walked away.

Not because she couldn’t do it. Clearly, she could. She had.

But she was tired of having her life decided for her.

So she retired. She went on her first real vacation. Enrolled in college. Spent time with friends. And probably for the first time in her memory, she wasn’t skating.

Then on a ski trip a couple of years ago, she felt that familiar rush of adrenaline while flying down a snow-covered hill. And she wondered…could she find that on the ice, on her own terms?

So she came out of retirement. But this time, it was different.
She was different.

She decided what she wore. What she ate. What songs she skated to.

And she won.

First, the World Championships in 2025.
Then this week, Olympic gold in Milan.

If you’ve ever raised a teenager, Alysa’s story might make you a little uncomfortable.

Because a lot of us raise high achievers. Talented kids. Responsible kids. The kind of kids other people notice, and expect great things from.

And when you’re parenting that kind of child, pressure can be sneaky.

You don’t want them to waste their potential.

So when your teen says, “I don’t know if I want to do this anymore,” it almost feels personal.

It feels like scholarships and opportunities and years of investment hanging in the balance.

But Alysa Liu is a gentle reminder that it’s not about us.

There’s a difference between teaching our teens grit and teaching them to ignore their own hearts.

And I don’t want my kids to win at something and lose themselves in the process.

What I pray is they find the Alysa Liu inside.

To know they can step back.
To know they can choose.
To know their worth isn’t tied to achievement.

Because what the world saw in Milan wasn’t just talent—it was joy.

A young woman floating across the ice with a smile that said, “I’m here because I want to be.”

That’s the kind of win I want for my kids.

Well done, Alysa.

-Her View From Home

02/02/2026

When it feels like you can’t make a difference, don’t forget you are a parent.
It’s not always easy, but it’s one of the most powerful places to shift the world.
Our kids are counting on us.

01/28/2026

So much of parenting feels hard and so much of it doesn’t have to. If you’re a parent who finds ease in everything but parenting., or who desperately wants to connect better with their kids. I’m right here.

01/25/2026

I won’t regret prioritizing integrity and humanity over popularity.
This is not OK.
I would want someone to be outraged on my behalf and I won’t be silent.

History is watching and so are my children.

01/20/2026

Our children borrow our beliefs. What are you believing about what your child is capable of? What are you believing is possible for them? Who are you believing they are? Out thought thoughts have a lot of power. Be careful with yours.

01/15/2026

To the moms AND dads…I see you and the work you are doing. I see how you want be better. I see how you want the best for your children.

01/09/2026

I don’t really have the words, but this is the best I can do. #2026

01/08/2026

01/05/2026

Intentional parenting requires places we can return to.

I hope this becomes one of yours.

Because parenting isn’t about certainty - it’s about intention.
And trusting ourselves-again and again.
A place to return when things feel unclear.
A place to remember what matters. Substack will now hold both my past and future writing archived in one place.

Every reflection.
Every piece you may want to return to you just at the right moment.

If you’ve been missing out on my email list and want to hear more about what I have to say,

I’d love to have you join me.

https:/:substack.com/?

01/04/2026

In 2026, you can find my latest parenting reflections here.
If you are on my email list (or if you aren't), join me by clicking the link below – I can't wait to see you there!

Hope Seidel is a mom of two young adults, a board certified pediatrician, a certified parenting coach and a passionate advocate for children's wellness.

01/01/2026

Wishing all of you a gorgeous last day of 2025…you made it through so many challenging parenting moments this year!
Celebrate!

12/29/2025

Have you ever done a family mission statement? It can be one that needs to change every year as you expand as parents and as your children grow into adults.
This is a great time of year to take stock of where you’ve been, what you like about your parenting, what new boundaries you want to set, what rules you want to release, and to move into 2026 with some intentional goals.

If that list feels hard to make, or if you wrestle with accountability, I’m right here to help.

We get to decide the trajectory of our families in many ways and this is a great week to contemplate the direction you want to go.

You are the compass.
#2026