Seeing our kids struggle is heart breaking for parents. In fact, it can be one of the hardest things for parents to do. It’s why they jump in where they shouldn’t and do more for their kids than is healthy. Parents want to protect their kids, to simply wave a magic wand to give them a perfectly wonderful life. While there isn’t a magic wand, there are important lessons that give kids a leg [...]
There is so much pressure for families to achieve, to be the best in whatever we do. Kids face this in school, sports, and activities. Parents feel pressured to be perfect parents. But what if there isn’t one right way to raise kids? What if we opt out of the pressure to do it all perfectly? Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler has a conversation with Kristen Howerton about her concept of [...]
When there’s conflict in the home, parents tend to say it’s because they have a difficult teenager. Arguments, eye rolling, tears, and the statements like, “You just don’t understand” or “You never listen” are frustrating. Parents feel like they’re walking on egg shells or always living with tension. They don’t know how to resolve the conflict. But what if you didn’t have to [...]
When asked what we want for our children, most parents say we want them to be happy. However, we also want them to be good, kind, responsible people. That's the premise behind Kara Kinney Cartwright's new book Just Don't Be An Assh*le: A Surprisingly Necessary Guide to Being a Good Guy. It's a straight-to-the-point conversation with our teenage sons about the unspoken rules of life. Kara brings [...]
Ever feel like all you're doing is fighting with your teenager? Whether it's an eye roll, the exasperated tone, push back, or an actual argument, it's exhausting. Parents get frustrated and end up feeling guilty. But Laurie Warren has a different view of the situation which she's sharing with Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler. They discuss the truth about fighting and how parents can [...]
With scheduling changes, living in close quarters, loss of stability and routines as well as income, many families are struggling to deal with social distancing. Stress-relief coach and Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler shares strategies for managing stress and anxiety, dealing with social distancing with teenagers, and even how to find the good in all of this. Coronavirus is a big issue[...]
We hear a lot of frustrated and worried parents commenting on the way teenagers aren't handling disappointment or failure well. When life gets frustrating kids are folding or melting down. Not being able to buy the gadget they want, not getting the grade they want, not making the cut for the team, not achieving 1st chair in orchestra or not getting praise and adulation from their boss, teens and [...]
Parents struggle to do what's best for their kids and often wonder, "Am I parenting right?" There are many different parenting styles and many ways to implement them. Parents may feel varying degrees of success in attempting any of them. Plus, we all have bad days or make a decision that's hard on our kids and we wonder what that will do to them. Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler talks to[...]
Trying out for the theatre or a team. Being graded on a performance. Trying to make friends or ask someone out on a date. Teenagers face rejection and failure frequently and they may not have the skills to bounce back. It takes resilience which is something many teens and twenty somethings don’t have. Additionally, parents can actually hinder the process when they attempt to help. Stephen David [...]
When teens are lethargic, unmotivated, or avoiding school work it makes parents crazy. We may try talking, taking away privileges, or even bribery to get them to do what they need to do. What they really need is motivation. Motivating teenagers can be sticky but tapping into their dreams can help. Adam Norse joins Mighty Parenting Podcast host Sandy Fowler to discuss motivating teenagers. Adam [...]