Parenting is a journey filled with challenges, and few experiences prepare you for resilience and adaptability quite like having a baby in the NICU. As a NICU mom and a therapeutic placement specialist, I’ve discovered that the lessons learned during those intense, emotional days—navigating uncertainty, advocating for your child, and focusing on what truly matters—are the same skills that equip parents to raise thriving teens and young adults. This article explores how those early parenting experiences provide a foundation for guiding your child through the twists and turns of adolescence and beyond.