We hear lots of horror stories about parenting - from the accidents that cost us a hefty bill, the arguments and bickering we bump into as they get older, the worries about our what they're doing when we're away, and the concerns of how social media's affecting their mental health.

But we do it because we love them - unconditionally. And part of that is having to embrace the numerous versions of people they grow up to be. So what are the moments and things that make all the stress melt away for you, and reminds why being a parent's all worth it?

Parenting Expert, and host of The Real Life, John Cowan joins Tim Beveridge for the Parent Squad...

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Our kids are growing up, and with that comes the parental obligation to allow them to start making decisions for themselves.

This come after we saw the story of the Gaza Flotilla and an interview with the father of Sam Leason, an 18 year old who was a part of the recent flotilla to Gaza.

I think regardless of your views, most parents would be pretty hesitant to allow their teenager to head off into a warzone. But truly, at 18, what can we really do?

How much guidance should parents be giving their kids once they reach those older years?

Psychologist at MindWorks Sara Chatwin joined Tim Beveridge on The Parent Squad.

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It's that time of the year when many high school kids are having to make choices when it comes to subject options, perhaps some of which will determine what choices they have in future careers.

So how can parents support their children through the choice process?

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Students are dropping out of high school at the highest rate since 2007.

It's become fairly accepted in recent years that you don't need a diploma or a degree to be successful in life, but many parents will still be concerned if their child comes to them wanting to leave early.

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Around 96.8% of children in New Zealand attend some sort of Early Childhood Education at some point before entering school.

Some begin right from a few months old, while some are only enrolled at 2 or 3 for kindergarten.

But why is ECE so important?

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Parenting in the modern world comes with a slew of challenges - not just in terms of technology and social media, but the people who have influence over your children.

The majority of those born into Generation Z or earlier looked up to sports tars, actors, and the like. But today, it's whoever the public finds interesting enough to follow online.

Whether it's a good or a bad thing, raising children in a modern world seems to bring more problems than parents have experienced in the past few decades.

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Literacy and numeracy rates in New Zealand are still shameful compared to other countries in the OECD.

23% of year 8 students are at the curriculum benchmark for maths following recent curriculum changes from the Government, up from 22% in 2023.

Teachers in recent years have put the blame on parents, saying kids are starting school without the basics.

Harpreet Singh is the founder of SIP Abacus New Zealand, and he joins for Parent Squad.

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The first 1,000 days are the most important in any child's life - to set the foundation for a well-rounded and stable adulthood.

A key part of those first 1,000 days is early attachment, the importance of forming healthy attachments, and what that means for children as they grow up.

Nathan Wallis is a neuroscience educator and he joins to discuss early attachment.

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