The Summer I Turned Pretty and the stories we tell ourselves as parents

There’s a scene in The Summer I Turned Pretty (season 3) that had me completely exasperated.

Which scene? Maybe not the one you expect - there was plenty of drama in that season.

The scene that stopped me

We’re halfway through the season. Belly and Jeremiah have just announced to their families that they’re getting married - and the reaction is not great.

Laurel, Belly’s mum, is blunt and scathing, telling them they’re foolish and far too young. Everyone else tries to soften their concern, but Laurel is dead against it. She doesn’t want the wedding to go ahead.

Belly and Jeremiah ignore everyone’s warnings and carry on with their plans. Then comes the moment. It’s Belly’s birthday, and she wants to go wedding-dress shopping with her mum.

Laurel refuses. Flat-out. She wants nothing to do with the wedding. Belly is crushed and ends up shopping with her best friend, Taylor, and Taylor’s mum, instead.

That’s the moment that had me shouting at the screen. Laurel’s reaction felt so extreme. Would she really want to miss her own daughter’s wedding? Really?

The storytelling lesson: Every reaction has a reason

From a storytelling point of view, this moment adds drama and tension. But for it to truly work, it has to make emotional sense. Otherwise, we’re left unconvinced.

And a few scenes later, we finally understand.

Laurel is talking to Belly’s dad, her ex-husband, and says something like:

“Marrying you and having our two kids were some of the best things that ever happened to me. But I was too young. I didn’t know myself. I lost myself in marriage and motherhood. I don’t want that for Belly.”

Ahhh. Now it all clicks.

Laurel’s reaction wasn’t really about Belly at all - it was about herself. About the parts of her that got lost when she became a wife and mother too young.

The real conversation: What’s ours, and what’s theirs?

This is where it gets interesting - not just for the story, but for us as parents.

Sure, you can talk with your teen about Belly’s choices, or whether you’re Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah (for the record, I’m Team Conrad all the way).

But you can also use it to open up deeper questions:

• Why did her mum react that way?

• What might make a parent refuse to be part of their child’s wedding?

• What’s really going on for her underneath the anger?

And as parents, we can reflect too. When have we overreacted to something our teen has said or done? What might that moment be stirring in us?

Maybe, like Laurel, we’re bumping into our own unfinished stories - our fears, regrets or the parts of us that are still affected by the past.

Finding our own calm in the chaos

Thankfully, Laurel eventually realises that, even if she disagrees, she wants to be there for her daughter. She recognises what’s hers to hold, and what belongs to Belly.

And in true coming-of-age style, Belly has her own reckoning: is she losing herself in love, or finally learning to stay true to herself?

So yes, Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad…But maybe, in the end, it’s really about Team Belly.

For parents watching with teens

Next time you watch a series like The Summer I Turned Pretty, try asking:

“Why do you think they reacted that way?”
“What might be going on underneath?”

It’s a simple way to move from judgment to curiosity - and to open up conversations that connect.

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Want to connect to your teen through story?

It’s such a powerful way to do it - less confrontational and more conversational.

For more ideas, get the Teen Connection Guide - free! Download here

FAQ: More about The Summer I Turned Pretty and parent–teen connection

Curious to dig a little deeper? Here are some common questions about Laurel’s reaction, the psychology behind it, and how you can use moments like this in The Summer I Turned Pretty to start meaningful conversations with your teen.

• Why did Laurel react so strongly to Belly and Jeremiah’s engagement?

  Laurel’s intense reaction wasn’t really about Belly - it was about herself. She married and became a mother young, and lost touch with her own sense of self and freedom. Her overreaction comes from wanting to protect Belly from repeating her mistakes.

• What can parents learn from Laurel’s reaction?

  Laurel reminds us that sometimes our biggest reactions to our teen’s choices are actually about us. Our fears, regrets or unhealed experiences. When we pause to notice what’s being stirred up, we can respond with more curiosity and compassion.

• How can parents talk with teens about this storyline?

  Use the show as a conversation starter. Ask: “Why do you think Laurel said that?” or “What would you do in Belly’s position?” It’s an easy way to explore values, independence, and emotional insight - without turning it into a lecture.

• Why is The Summer I Turned Pretty so relatable for parents and teens?

  Because it captures both sides of growing up - the teen longing for freedom and the parent struggling to let go. It’s full of emotional truths about family, love, and the messiness of becoming who we are.

• Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah - does it even matter?

  Not really! The deeper question is whether Belly is staying true to herself. In the end, the real team might just be Team Belly - choosing authenticity and self-awareness over safety or expectation.