Golden's Bridge Mom Hangs in There with New Book on Raising Teenagers

See John Jay Crowd Shots and all Winter Photos Below

When Ali Flynn became an empty nester in September 2025, it wasn’t the sight of her twins leaving that brought finality. Out food shopping, the mother of four realized that she had no idea how much broccoli to buy. “I started crying,” Flynn remembered. Broccoli obviously not the point, the feelings are, and the angst and joy of raising teenagers is meant to be shared as a form of support. So that’s just what the Golden’s Bridge mom has done.

Hang in There, Mama! Encouragement and Advice for Moms Raising Teens and Beyond is now out in paperback and the Wiley published novel intends to lend an ear and a shoulder. “A lot of moms isolate themselves. So by providing a book, it’s like that trusted friend you’re getting advice from,” said Flynn.

The impetus was Covid. An English teacher before becoming a stay at home mom, the shutdown opened up her computer. “I decided to start writing again and sent work into online publications,” she remembered.

Social media next, the accumulation of prose focused the need to create synergy. Encouraging words, affirmation and food for thought, Flynn said the little vignettes let moms know they are not alone and you’ll get through this.

So Hang in There is divided into the three sections and navigating the motherhood journey is first. “The journey is the path we are all on as mothers. The journey takes each mom through many seasons of parenting and motherhood, and as moms, we watch our kids grow up. But we also experience ourselves as mothers growing up.”

Part two details the nitty gritty. “It’s all about raising teens,” Flynn said.

In this, the author is mostly a storyteller in which her expertise emanates from the experiences she’s lived. So sharing is the real advice and hopefully gets moms off their islands when they struggle “We need to support each other and to give the support of knowing I’m with you. I’ve been there. I’ve gone through this. You’re not the only one,” Flynn explained. “It’s going to be ok. You’re going to get through it.”

The exodus of your teenagers isn’t the end, though. So part three focuses on becoming an empty nester. “I share a lot of stories about those emotions of walking back in the house and it’s empty and quiet,” she said. “There aren’t kids in and out the door anymore, and there isn’t a mess.”

Two sided for sure, this mom was at a loss either way. “It made me question my identity and who I am,” Flynn revealed. “So I needed to find myself.”

A personal journey that includes letting go of those that have flown. “You have to allow them to follow their own path,” she explained, “not the path we envisioned for them.”

So when the tether brings her girls home, mom knows how good she had it. “Yes, there were days that were hard, but my kids made it easy to be a mom,” she assured.

Of course, mom didn’t leave her daughters out to dry when it came to sharing. “Any piece related to them, I had them approve,” said Flynn.

Either way, sharing wasn’t a hard sell. “I think they are really proud of me - especially since I’m being honest, vulnerable and sharing my heart," said Flynn. "All so I can support other moms.”

Failure and success, it depends on the day but the bottom line of the book is the same. “There’s always a new day tomorrow,” she concluded. There’s always hope, and you can always find support. You just have to keep positive and moving forward.”

Links

https://www.hangintheremama.com

https://www.instagram.com/hang.in.there.mama

https://www.facebook.com/hangintheremama

Click Image for John Jay Crowd Shots

Click Image for all Winter Photos