The Home Stretch

What every Matric and Grade 11 parent needs to know — before the pressure peaks.

Something shifts in Matric and Grade 11.

The stakes feel higher.
The emotions run closer to the surface.
And somewhere in the background, there’s a clock ticking that nobody asked for.

The kind of support that worked before - the reminders, the check-ins, the “have you studied yet?” - starts landing differently now. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it creates friction. And sometimes you’re left wondering whether you’re doing too much… or not enough.

Many parents feel this tension acutely:
wanting to stay involved, while sensing their teen needs more space.

It’s confusing - because both things are true.

Your teen still needs you.
But how they need you is changing.

This stage calls for a different rhythm.
Less managing, more anchoring.

Less fixing, more steady presence when things wobble.

That doesn’t mean stepping back completely. It means learning how to stay connected while honouring your teen’s growing independence - keeping the door open without hovering over the threshold.

This recalibration is one of the hardest parts of parenting adolescents.
And most of us were never taught how to do it.

A calmer, clearer way to navigate this year

The Home Stretch is a live course designed to help you feel more prepared, more grounded, and less alone during what can be one of the most demanding parenting years you’ll face.

This isn’t about adding more pressure to your already full life.
It’s about equipping you - so you can be the steady, informed presence your teenager needs when everything feels intense.

We’ve designed this course for parents of Matric and Grade 11 learners who want to feel calmer, clearer, and more confident in how they show up this year - without second-guessing every interaction.

What this course will give you

Course Format : 3 x 90 minute Live Sessions over 1 Week - Starting 10 February 2026

Session 1:

The parent - the person. It starts with you.

Before you can support your teen, you need to be resourced yourself.

This session focuses on you: how to prepare emotionally and practically for the year ahead, understand the role you now play, and recognise what your teen actually needs from you at this stage.

We explore the tension between staying involved and stepping back - helping you find a rhythm that honours your teen’s growing independence while keeping connection intact. We’ll address the balance between encouraging excellence and protecting wellbeing, so your teen can perform without burning out.

This is about learning to anchor rather than manage - to be a steady presence instead of constantly trying to fix.

Session 2:

The timeline - understanding what’s really coming

Matric isn’t just a year. It’s a sequence.

From January to November - and everything in between - this session walks you through what to expect, when to expect it, and where the pressure points tend to rise.

We’ll unpack key dates, application deadlines, exam periods, and the emotional highs and lows many teens experience along the way. When you understand what’s coming, you can prepare rather than react - plan rather than panic.

You’ll receive a comprehensive matric timeline: a clear roadmap for the year ahead, helping you anticipate instead of scrambling.

Session 3:

Post-school options - guiding without taking over

Results day. Applications. Gap years. Big decisions - all converging in one intense season.

This session prepares you to support your teen through post-school choices without taking control or adding pressure. We’ll focus on how to have grounded, constructive conversations about expectations, success, failure, and uncertainty - conversations that strengthen your relationship rather than strain it.

We’ll cover how to support decision-making, navigate application timelines, manage anxiety about the future, and help your teen build confidence in their own path forward.

What’s included in your registration?

90 minutes of live teaching per session
Each session includes informative guidance and dedicated Q&A time, where you can bring your real-life concerns and hear from other parents navigating similar situations. Parenting during these years can feel isolating - the live format reminds you that you’re not doing this alone.

Practical worksheets
Take-home resources you can return to throughout the year as new situations arise. Use them gently - glance at them, revisit them, or focus on one small, doable step when that’s all you have capacity for.

A comprehensive matric timeline
Your year-long roadmap, designed to help you anticipate pressure points and pace yourselves. This is a marathon, not a sprint - for your teen and for you.

Replay access to all sessions
If life gets in the way or you can’t attend live, you can still join The Home Stretch. You’ll have access to the recordings so you never feel behind.

When you register, you’ll receive:

Full recordings of all live sessions, so you can watch them at a time that suits you
Access to the course worksheets and resources
Access to our coaches for guidance, questions, and support

You don’t need to be present live to benefit from the course.

Many parents choose this option so they can move through the content at their own pace, revisit key sections, or fit the course around family and work commitments. Once registered, you'll be part of the course community and online discussion amongst the coaches and parents.

Who you’ll be learning from

This course is hosted by Parenting the Teen Tribe, in collaboration with Milena Raaff, matric specialist and integral coaching practitioner.

Milena brings deep expertise in supporting both students and parents through the Matric and Grade 11 years, alongside the integral coaching approach that underpins all of our work. You’ll benefit from her specialised understanding of the matric system, common challenges, and proven strategies for navigating this year successfully.

Together with Jax and Kath from Parenting the Teen Tribe, you’re learning from practitioners who understand that effective parenting in high-pressure years requires preparation, perspective, and ongoing support.

This isn’t generic advice.
It’s informed, experienced guidance from people who’ve walked alongside countless families through exactly what you’re facing.

Your investment to feel prepared

R650

Includes all three 90-minute live sessions, worksheets, the comprehensive timeline, and replay access.

This is preparation-focused learning that respects your time while giving you exactly what you need to feel confident throughout the year. You’re not just receiving information - you’re gaining a framework, a supportive parent community, and the reassurance that comes from knowing what lies ahead.

Here’s what we want you to hear

If this year already feels like a lot, you’re not imagining it.
Matric and Grade 11 carry a particular weight.

You’re not behind.
You’re not supposed to have it all figured out.
You’re not meant to feel calm and in control every single day.

And if you’re second-guessing yourself, that doesn’t mean you’re getting it wrong - it means you’re paying attention.

The parents who move through matric with the most confidence aren’t the ones with perfect teenagers or stress-free circumstances. They’re the ones who understood what was coming, equipped themselves with practical tools, and kept perspective when things felt overwhelming.

Your teenager needs you steady, informed, and present this year.
And you deserve to feel prepared for that role, rather than constantly uncertain.

You don’t have to carry this year alone

At Parenting the Teen Tribe, we believe in learning as preparation for the parenting ahead. The Home Stretch reflects that belief - offering knowledge, tools, and a sense of shared experience that can carry you through one of the most demanding parenting seasons you’ll face.

This is learning that works with you, not against you.
It’s calm. It’s practical. And you’ll be alongside other parents who truly get it.

The matric year is coming whether you feel ready or not.
With the right preparation, you can move through it with confidence, clarity, and calm.

That’s what this course offers.

Recap of what is included

3 x 90 Minute Sessions.

Session Dates and Times :

1 : 10 February 2026 at 12h00 SAST

2 : 11 February 2026 at 12h00 SAST

3 : 12 February 2026 at 12h00 SAST

A comprehensive matric timeline

Live Q&A with coaches after each session

Practical Worksheets

Full recordings of all live sessions, so you can watch them at a time that suits you, as well as access to the course worksheets, resources and coaches even if you don't attend live.

You don’t need to be ready, you just need to show up

You don’t need perfectly formed questions.

You don’t need to prepare or read anything beforehand.

You just need to show up.

Three sessions. Real conversations.

Practical support.

And the reassurance that comes from being prepared.

We’d love to have you with us.