Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t get along with your teen? Are they exhibiting a behavior that you just can’t get them to change? Teen behavior problems are one of the top reasons parents listen to the Mighty Parenting podcast. What if that behavior isn’t really a problem? What if that difficult temperament in your teenager could get much better with a simple reframing and common [...]
Managing food allergies is exhausting and emotionally draining. While parents of are the keepers of the box when it comes to their children's food, when that food can be life threatening it's terrifying. We often handle that fear through vigilance. However, the older kids get the more often they'll be away from us and the more food choices they'll make on their own. They need, and want, to take [...]
We hear a lot about our children needing to be more resilient, better able to handle challenges and disappointments. One way a parent can help is to build self-confidence in your teenager. Self-confidence can help them take reasonable risks and reach for goals. It can change the way they see themselves and interact with the world. Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler interviews Dr. Melanie [...]
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 [...]
Children’s emotional and physical health are one and the same. The health of the body impacts our emotions and thoughts. Conversely, our thoughts and feelings impact the body. As our teenagers grow up they experience intense emotions and may even have thoughts of suicide. Actually, 17% of high school students have thought about suicide. Fortunately, parents are in a position to help. Dr. Lia [...]
Parenting teenagers is challenging. Pushback, arguments, silence and distancing are some of the hallmarks of this stage. One of the more challenging situations for parents comes from your teen pushing your buttons. It's like we're wearing a shirt with big pictures of buttons saying, "Push here!" They are masters at knowing what to say or do that sends our emotions into overdrive. Hunter [...]
Families everywhere are dealing with lack of routine, lost connection, living and working in close quarters, and even grief as COVID-19 runs its course. Our kids are living with a lot of disappointment and fear, and they may feel adrift. All of this is creating anxiety. Mighty Parenting podcast host and stress relief coach Sandy Fowler addresses Coronavirus anxiety. She shares insights on using [...]
Every parent wants their teenager to be happy and that means we want them to dream and to dream big. But what happens when life gets in the way? When they experience failure, bullying, or obstacles? How can we still connect with them and support them? How can we inspire them? Former NFL football player Marc Megna has been there. He was raised by a single mom who struggled financially. He was an [...]
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[...]