Parenting Through The Hard

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Carl Jung “And every day, the world will drag you by the hand, yelling, “This is important! And this is important! And this is important! You need to worry about this! And this! And this!” And each day, it’s up to you to yank your hand back, put it on your heart, and say, “No. This is what’s important.”...

Sometimes it can feel like we are full-time firefighters. We rush from one crisis to the next, never really fixing problems, just trying to slow down the spread.  Today we talk about the difference between reacting and responding and give you some practical advice on how you can begin the process of being more mindful of the things that are important to you in your relationship with your teen. Lea...

"Friendship is a key coping mechanism for life’s tougher moments 💙" In this final episode of our series on self-compassion, we're delving into one of the most cherished ways to practice self-care when you have a teen in crisis—spending time with friends. Fact: The importance of self-care and the support of friends cannot be overstated. Joining me in this conversation is my very best friend, Tonya...

"Journaling is simply thinking through your fingers 💙" Join us for the second part of my enlightening interview with Leif Holmes as we delve deeper into the profound connection between journaling and self-compassion. In this episode, we candidly explore the personal benefits we've experienced through journaling, the obstacles that sometimes hinder this practice, and the crucial steps to take when...

“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I wrote” Flannery O’Connor Join us in this week's episode as we continue to sow the seeds of self-compassion, accompanied by our insightful guest, Leif Holmes. Leif, a pastor with over 30 years of shared life experience with his wife, Laura, and raising three kids together, brings a unique perspective to our conversation. Discover the be...

In our recent survey, we asked parents navigating the tumultuous journey of raising teens in crisis about their self-care practices. Here's a glimpse into their go-to strategies: Exercise/Physical Movement Spending Time with Friends Counseling/Support Groups/12 Steps Prayer/Meditation/Journaling Massage Today, we're delving into result number 3—Counseling, Support Groups, or 12-step Programs and h...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Show-notes Episode 32 Self-Compassion 101: Your Body "If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete."  Jack Kornfield In today's episode, Megan Dahlman, Certifi...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Pause for a moment; there's something crucial here. In the world of parenting a teen facing challenges, self-care isn't just a luxury—it's a lifeline. It's about showing up as t...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Show-notes Episode 30 Title: A Look at Teen Behaviors: Conflict Today's episode is part 3 of our 3-part series looking at some common teen behaviors that you may be witnessing i...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Show-notes Episode 29 Title: A Look at Teen Behaviors: Manipulation Today's episode is part 2 of a 3-part series where we will look into some common teen behaviors that you migh...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Today's episode is part 1 of a 3-part series where we will be looking into some common teen behaviors that you might be witnessing in your child and dive a little into you why i...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Did you know studies show that over-involved parenting is associated with anxiety, depression, life dissatisfaction, and emotional dysregulation? In today’s episode, we talk abo...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Show-notes Episode 27 Strengthening Your Relationship with Your Child If life as a parent is less than perfect right now, if you feel like you are on a hamster wheel, living the...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. The Greatest Risk You Are Facing In today’s episode, we talk about the greatest risk you are facing this season (it’s not what you may think). We also discuss replacing reaction...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Getting Through the Holidays The holiday season can be challenging. In today's episode, we talk about some of the challenges you may face and a few new unexpected opportunities ...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Show-notes Episode 23 Finding Your Own Path From the moment we become parents, we condition ourselves to recognize potential dangers. For this reason, as parents with children i...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Raw, Real & Unedited Warning: Emotional Episode.  Today, I was feeling all the feels. Having a podcast or running a social media page doesn’t make you an expert on anything....

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Show-notes Episode 21 Building Teen Competence and Confidence with Loving Detachment One of the reasons we get so exhausted as parents is that we can become a little over-involv...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Unyielding  Episode 20 The #1 Reason You Feel Exhausted Raising teenagers can be EXHAUSTING; in this episode, we discuss the #1 reason for it.  Join the conversation as I talk a...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. When Does the Healing Begin? Parents who have been stretched thin are questioning their ability to continue holding and often ask when does the healing begin? In this episode, w...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Finding Meaning in the Mess How do I do this, and how do I do it right?  That’s the question nestled deep in the heart of every parent I meet. In this episode, we talk about the...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. The Secret to Reestablishing Trust  For this final episode in Season 2, we are talking about trust. Upon reading that word, some of you are already thinking to yourself… I can’t...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Down Grief Mountain with Mary Cranston  In part two of my interview with Mary Cranston, we begin looking ahead to the journey down the other side of Grief Mountain.   What can w...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. Sometimes we are so consumed with trying to keep our heads above water with court dates, challenging behaviors, and worrying about the future that it's easy to dismiss the fact ...

Note: This episode was originally published under our former podcast title. While the name has changed to “Parenting Through the Hard,” the heart of this conversation remains the same. Thanks for being part of the journey. When The Challenge Changes You - Part 2 In Episode 14, A quick part two of our interview with Blake, he continues his candid conversation about what life was like as a teen in t...