Parenting teenagers comes with a strange sense of finality. A family vacation reminded me to enjoy every moment.

Tech Insider : Business
Dad with kids
The author (not pictured) took her four teens on a vacation.

Courtesy of the author

I don't hide my use of AI. I want my kids to see how I use it to make life easier.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports, Technology
family posing for photo
The author used Claude to plan a multigenerational trip with her family and dad.

Courtesy of the author

My 12-year-old son suggested we take the scenic route. It's helped us appreciate our town, and he's opened up to us more in the car.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
The author and her son.
The author's son suggested taking a more scenic route to school.

Courtesy of Ashley Archambault

I graduated debt-free, but my husband had $20K in student loans. Here's what we want our kids to know about taking out loans for college.

Tech Insider : Business
the author with her family
The author graduated from college without any student loan debt.

Courtesy of Kris Ann Valdez

My 2 sons moved back in with me, so my expenses have gone up. I'm forced to put off the financial freedom of an empty nest.

Tech Insider : Business
Smiling person in a red sweater hugs a white dog wearing a red sweater on an indoor bench.
The author has to put off having an empty nest since her two sons still live with her.

Courtesy of Kimberly Witt

I'm a 44-year-old mom of 4. I finally learned how to set clear boundaries, starting with dryer balls.

Tech Insider : Business
Two white dryer balls in a laundry basket filled with towels
The author said she realized her anger wasn't ajust bout dryer balls.

AnthonyRosenberg/Getty Images

We expected childcare help from our au pair. We got a new family tradition instead.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Family at Iguazu Falls
The author hired an Argentine au pair to take care of her kids.

Courtesy of the author

I applied for a job for the first time in 20 years. Job seekers are in a whole new world now.

Tech Insider : Business
The author takes a selfie next to a row of lockers in a high school.
The author said applying for a job for the first time in more than 20 years had some unexpected challenges. She persevered and landed a job as a test proctor.

Courtesy of Trisha Daab.

My daughter forgot her passport for our trip to the Turks & Caicos. I went on the trip without her.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Cheryl Maguire in Turks and Caicos Beach
The author went on a trip without her daughter.

Courtesy of Cheryl Maguire

I tried to be a '90s butter mom.' I'm now a more present parent, but it also reminded me that social media is idealized.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
The author wearing a dress and denim jacket in a garden.
The author tried the "90s butter mom" parenting trend for a month.

Courtesy of Annabel Lee

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