Parenting Through The Hard

In this episode, I name something that’s been quietly surfacing beneath my emotions lately. The pressure to disappear in order to be loving, faithful, or helpful. This conversation isn’t about addiction, recovery, or outcomes. It’s about fatigue, resentment, and what can happen when caring deeply turns into self abandonment, especially in long seasons of responsibility. I reflect on the fear of ge...

What do you do when the relationship with your teen or adult child feels strained, when there is tension, distance, or an ache you cannot quite explain? In this episode of Parenting Through the Hard , I share a deeply personal reflection on what happens when connection feels stretched thin. I talk about how attachment patterns, generational wiring, anxiety, over involvement, and withdrawal can qui...

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I wonder if they’ll ever understand what this was like for me?” In this episode, I talk about a quiet ache many parents of adult children carry.. the longing to be acknowledged for what it cost to love them through addiction, rebellion, mental health struggles, or long seasons of distance. Why does it hurt when your child doesn’t say thank you? Why does appr...

What happens when your identity has been shaped by being the steady one — and recovery changes your role? In this episode, I talk about codependency in parenting, identity detox, and the grief and anxiety that surface when your child begins to stabilize. We explore how over-functioning can hide inside love — and how stepping back creates space for healthier connection. If you’ve ever wondered who...

If you’re the parent of a teen or adult child who is struggling, this episode is for you. I’m talking about what it's like to stay calm when your child’s life feels unstable. How to stop reacting, regulate your emotions, and let go without giving up. When the setback happens or the hard conversation catches you off guard, it’s easy to match their anxiety. I share what I’m learning about emotional...

In this Hope in the Hard episode, I slow down with a story many of us know, the one often called the prodigal son, and I reflect on it through a different lens. Instead of focusing on the child who wandered, I sit with the parent who stayed. As a mom navigating the challenges of parenting teens and adult children, including seasons of addiction, distance, and unanswered questions, I explore the lo...

In this episode, I share honestly about the early days when recovery enters the conversation, a season that feels both hopeful and fragile at the same time. I talk about the complicated emotions parents carry when the crisis quiets, the grief that can surface alongside relief, and what it means to stay connected to your child without guarantees. I reflect on why I think it might be hard for famili...

In this episode, I reflect on how fear, isolation, and discouragement can quietly shape the way we show up as parents during hard seasons. I share what I’m learning about staying connected, turning toward the light, and noticing small signs of movement and hope, even when nothing seems to be changing yet.

In this episode, I share honestly about the cycle of hope and disappointment that often comes with loving a child through addiction, and the hard, quiet work of learning how to stay when the story isn’t resolved yet. If you’d like to partner with us and support the podcast, consider sponsoring an upcoming episode by making a donation of any size to Parenting Through the Hard [by clicking here]. Yo...

This Hope in the Hard continues last week’s conversation about loving a child through addiction. I’m sharing honestly from the middle of the uncertainty that comes after trying to let go and the quiet work of loving without controlling the outcome. If you’d like to partner with us and support the podcast, consider sponsoring an upcoming episode by making a donation of any size to Parenting Through...

For years, I tried to fix what was hurting my child by offering advice, solutions, even ultimatums. But none of it worked. It only built walls. In this episode, I share what it’s looked like to lay down control and choose presence instead. It’s raw, honest, and rooted in the belief that our greatest purpose as parents isn’t to fix it’s to be a faithful, grace-filled presence in the middle of the m...

Lately, I’ve been paying attention to the moments when conversations with my big kids feel tense, guarded, or harder than they need to be, and what might be underneath that. In this Hope in the Hard reflection, I share a personal story about a small but meaningful shift I’m practicing as a parent, and why it’s changing the way I think about connection, boundaries, and growth. This episode is a gen...

In this episode, I reflect on starting a new year feeling tired, stuck, and unsure how to move forward as a parent. I share how my practice of choosing a word for the year helped me reframe what it means to begin again—without pressure, perfection, or forcing progress. Disclaimer: The thoughts shared here come from my own parenting and faith journey. Please remember this podcast is not a replaceme...

As this year comes to a close, I sat down to record what I thought would be a simple 7-minute Hope in the Hard reflection… but once I began, I realized this message needed more space. So today’s episode is a little longer — a gentle, unhurried conversation about looking back, letting go, and noticing the new thing God may already be growing beneath the surface. If you’d like to partner with us and...

In this special Christmas Hope in the Hard reflection, I’m sharing some tender thoughts about finding peace in the quieter moments of the season — the ones that don’t always feel “merry and bright.” If you’d like to partner with us and support the podcast, consider sponsoring an upcoming episode by making a donation of any size to Parenting Through the Hard [by clicking here]. Your support keeps t...

The holidays have always felt magical. But over time, and through hard seasons, they often felt more like survival. In this episode, I share honestly about what it’s looked like to navigate fractured family dynamics, quiet grief, and the slow work of healing. Even when it’s messy, love still matters. This episode explores how we as parents can hold onto hope and faith during the holidays, even in...

What do you do when the life you dreamed for your child collides with the choices they’ve made? When the future you pictured seems to slip out of reach, it can leave you aching with a grief no one prepares parents for. In this episode, I share the raw story of discovering my teen’s hidden struggles, the shock and heartbreak that followed, and the truth I’ve learned walking beside countless moms fa...

In this Hope in the Hard reflection, I talk about the seasons when love itself feels heavy, when caring deeply for our teens or grown children begins to feel more like carrying than connecting. As I reflect on my own journey, I’ve noticed how easy it is to hold on to things that were never ours to carry, and how setting that weight down can make room for grace, trust, and gentler love. This episod...

Do you ever feel that automatic pull to fix things for your teen or adult child, especially when their struggle triggers something tender or fearful in you? I feel that tug in my parenting all the time.  In this episode, I’m sharing some of what I’m learning about the hidden cost of rescuing, why the urge feels so strong, and a small practice that’s helping me (little by little) stay close without...

Join me for seven peaceful minutes to slow down, breathe, and rediscover hope, grace, and meaning in the middle of real life. If you’ve ever ended the day completely drained and wondered why rest still feels out of reach, this one’s for you. In this short Hope in the Hard segment, I’m sharing some honest thoughts about what real rest looks like, not the kind that comes from scrolling or zoning out...

You’re doing your best — but still not sure if it’s enough? Friend, same! In this episode, we’ll talk about how to quiet the noise, reconnect with your inner wisdom, and parent from a place of love instead of fear. You’ll walk away with a simple practice to help you check in with yourself and respond with clarity — even when emotions run high. 🛠️ Includes: The “3-Minute Heart Check” tool + journal...

In this Hope in the Hard reflection, I talk about finding beauty in the ordinary moments of everyday life — especially for parents walking through hard seasons with their teens or grown children. It’s a gentle reminder that healing often happens in quiet, simple ways, not dramatic ones. Join me for seven peaceful minutes to slow down, breathe, and rediscover hope, grace, and meaning in the middle...

When our kids make choices that scare or disappoint us, it’s tempting to tighten our grip. But control and love can’t coexist. In this episode, I explore the raw struggle of letting go..why it feels so painful, how fear keeps us stuck, and what it looks like to release control without abandoning our children or losing ourselves. Disclaimer: The thoughts shared here come from my own parenting and f...

This week, I’m introducing something new—short Hope in the Hard reflections in between our regular podcast episodes. These are simple, honest moments to pause and reconnect. In this first one, I talk about prayer when you have no words, and how silence can still be sacred.

In the middle of parenting teens and young adults, it's so easy to lose myself in the storm—caught between my children’s needs, my expectations, and the constant fear of what might go wrong. In this episode, I invite you into a quiet, honest conversation about what happens when we lose our inner voice—and how we can return to it through love, faith, and connection. Disclaimer: The thoughts shared...