Raising Boys Building Men/Parenting Solutions For Moms And Boys

70. Parenting a Teenage Boy: Why This Season Feels So Hard (And What To Do About It)

Some seasons of motherhood feel light and joyful.Others feel heavy especially when you're parenting a teenage boy.
If your teenage son won’t talk, seems distant, moody, or easily irritated… you’re not alone. 
In today’s episode, we’re talking about how viewing parenting teenage sons as “seasons” changes everything. When you stop fighting this stage and start responding to it, connection becomes possible again.
You’ll learn:
Why the teenage years feel emotionally heavier
How pressure to “do it right” is hurting your relationship
Why choosing connection over control changes everything
How allowing your humanity (and his) rebuilds trust
This season doesn’t have to mean it's hard or heavy, it may just mean it’s important.
You are doing better than you think.
 
Want more conversations like this?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook
 
For Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab 8 tips to connect with your son today HERE

69. When Your Teenage Son Won’t Like Your Answer: The Power of No

Saying no to your teenage son can feel heavy.Will it hurt your relationship?Will he resent you?Will you become that parent?
In today’s episode, Heidi breaks down why no might be the most powerful parenting tool you have and how to use it in a way that actually builds trust and connection.
You’ll learn:
Why clear boundaries help teenage boys grow into confident, resilient men
The difference between fear-based “no” and values-based “no”
Three practical keys for answering your son’s requests without power struggles
How to say no without over-explaining, guilt, or damaging the relationship
Heidi shares real-life examples, research-backed insight, and compassionate guidance for moms raising teenage boys who want independence but still need safety and structure.
If you’ve ever worried that saying no makes you the mean mom, this episode will change how you see boundaries forever.
Want more conversations like this?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook
For Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab your "5 Things Teenage Boys Want Their Moms To Know"  HERE
 

68. What Your Teenage Son Is Telling Himself (And Why It Matters More Than His Behavior) with Micaela Clegg

When a teenage boy messes up, fails, or feels rejected, something powerful happens inside his brain long before you ever see the behavior. He tells himself a story. And that story quietly shapes his confidence, his choices, and how he shows up in the world.
In today’s episode of Raising Boys, Building Men, Heidi is joined by confidence coach and belief expert Micaela Clegg to unpack what teenage boys believe about themselves and why arguing, fixing, and lecturing rarely helps.
You’ll learn how thoughts turn into beliefs, how beliefs become identity, and why your son’s brain is wired to protect even the beliefs that hold him back. Most importantly, you’ll discover what moms can actually do to help with curiosity instead of correction.
This episode is for any mom who’s worried her son believes:
“I’m not good enough.”
“Nobody likes me.”
“I’m bad at school.”
You’ll walk away with practical tools to reduce emotional blowups, build emotional awareness, and help your son question limiting beliefs without pushing him away.
 
Guest Details and Resources:
Micaela Clegg is a life coach, entrepreneur, and subconscious rewiring practitioner who helps people change the beliefs running beneath their behaviour, building confidence and self-trust from the inside out.
Make sure to grab Micaela's free ebook HERE 
Also find here at:
Micaelaclegg.com
INSTA:  micaela.clegg
FB: Micaela Clegg Coaching
LINKEDIN: Micaela Clegg
 
Want more conversations like this one?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook
 
For Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab 8 tips to connect with your son today HERE
 

67. The Real Reason You Keep Fighting With Your Teenage Son (And What To Do Instead)

If your teenage son shuts down, pushes back, or seems to argue with you no matter how calm you try to be, this episode is for you.
In today’s episode, Heidi explains why communication with teenage boys so often gets stuck in the same cycle. She shares why these moments are not a sign that you are failing as a mom and why telling yourself to just stay calm rarely works.
You will learn what neuroscience tells us about emotional reactions, why your brain goes offline during conflict, and how repeated arguments become automatic patterns for both you and your son. Heidi also walks you through three practical steps you can start using right away to interrupt the cycle, respond differently in the moment, and slowly shift the dynamic in your relationship.
This episode connects directly to Heidi’s live workshop, where she goes deeper and teaches you how to apply these tools in real time conversations.
 
👉 Sign up for the workshop HERE
 
Want more conversations like this?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook
 
For Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab 8 tips to connect with your son today HERE
 

66. Why You Keep Arguing With Your Teenage Son (And What Actually Works Instead)

If arguing feels like the only way you and your teenage son communicate right now, this episode is for you. And before we go any further, you need to hear this. Arguing does not mean your relationship is broken. It means something important is happening, but it is not happening well.
In today’s episode, Heidi explains why arguments with teenage boys escalate so quickly, why they leave both of you feeling awful, and why arguing actually works against the connection and influence you want to protect. You will learn how arguing puts boys into defense mode, turns conversations into power struggles, and quietly trains them to avoid talking altogether.
Most importantly, this episode helps you let go of shame and self blame so you can see the real issue. The problem is not you, and it is not your son. It is the dynamic that has developed, and dynamics can change.
If you are ready to stop arguing and start having calmer, more meaningful conversations, Heidi has created a live workshop just for you.
In this workshop, you will learn exactly how to change the dynamic with your son so you can stay calm, confident, and connected and remain his greatest influence.
Join Heidi live on January 29 at 7:00 PM Mountain Time. A replay is included.
👉 Save your seat HERE
 
For Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab 8 tips to connect with your son today HERE
 
Want more conversations like this?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook

65. You Haven’t Lost Him: What Moms of Teenage Boys Need to Hear Right Now

The world your son is growing up in is very different from the one you were raised in. It’s louder, faster, and filled with constant distractions and if you’re raising a teenage boy, it can feel overwhelming and discouraging.
In today’s episode, Heidi tackles the big question so many moms are silently asking: How do I raise a good man in such a confusing world? If your teenage son seems distant, disrespectful, glued to his phone, or pulled away from family, this episode will reset your confidence and remind you of the influence you still have.
You’ll learn why moms often fall into a victim mindset without realizing it, how that mindset quietly damages connection, and what truly shapes boys into kind, resilient, grounded men. Heidi shares a powerful personal story that proves character isn’t taught through lectures it’s learned through connection, presence, and how we show up under pressure.
If you’ve been worried that society, screens, or peers have more influence than you do, this conversation will remind you of the truth: your voice still matters.
🎧 Listen now and be reminded that you’re doing better than you think.
Want more conversations like this?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook
For Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab 8 tips to connect with your son today HERE

64. 5 Things Your Teenage Son Wants You to Know (But Doesn’t Know How to Say)

WHAT'S IN TODAY'S EPISODE
Feeling like your son has shut you out? You're not alone. In this episode, we're breaking down the five things your teenage son desperately wants you to understand but doesn't have the words to express. From the confusing push-pull of needing space while still needing you, to why his stress is more real than you might think, we're getting underneath the behavior to help you understand what's really going on with your boy.
Plus, I'm sharing a free downloadable resource to help you remember these five truths when things get tough.
WHY YOU CARE
Because that grunt you're getting in response to your questions? It's not rejection it's just adolescence. And you deserve to understand what's happening beneath the surface so you can keep your connection strong during these critical years.
You want to raise an independent, emotionally healthy man, but right now you're stuck in the guessing game of "does he need me or does he need space?" This episode gives you the roadmap.
HOW THIS EPISODE HELPS YOU
This episode solves your biggest problem: feeling disconnected from your son and not knowing how to reach him.
After listening, you'll stop second-guessing every interaction and start parenting with confidence, knowing you're on the same team as your son.
 
WANT MORE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook
 
FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab 5 Things He Wants You to Know Printable HERE

63. How to See the Wins With Your Teenage Son (Even After a Hard Year)

What's In Today's Episode
Before you jump into setting goals for next year, we're hitting pause. This episode is all about looking back at your year with compassion instead of criticism. You'll learn why reflection is the secret to breaking old patterns, what really counts as a win with your teenage son, and how a few simple questions can completely shift the way you parent in the year ahead.
Why This Matters to You
If you're exhausted from making the same resolutions year after year without seeing real change in your relationship with your son, this is for you. You're not failing you're just setting goals from the wrong starting point. When you begin with defeat instead of building on your wins, you're wiring your brain to look for more failures. This episode gives you a different path forward.
How This Episode Solves Your Problem
You'll discover:
Why your brain keeps finding evidence of what's going wrong (and how to rewire it)
The difference between reflecting on facts vs. the emotional story you're telling yourself
What actually counts as a win (hint: it's smaller than you think)
Three powerful reflection questions that will change how you see yourself and your son
How to use the Bridge Method to bounce back after conflict and actually strengthen your relationship
This isn't about toxic positivity it's about honest reflection that creates real change. You'll walk away with clarity, confidence, and a foundation for a better year ahead.
 
Want more conversations like this?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook
 
For Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab The BRIDGE Method HERE
 

62. What Three Holiday Disasters Taught Me About Connecting With My Teenage Son

What's in Today's Episode
Three messy, real-life Christmas disasters, a tree broken in half, a double case of pink eye, and rage cleaning on Christmas Eve that taught me the one thing that actually matters during the holidays. Spoiler: it's not the perfectly wrapped presents or the spotless house.
Why You Care
You're exhausted. You're trying to make the holidays magical while managing a teenage son who may or may not be cooperating. You're wondering if all this effort even matters. This episode gives you permission to let go of what doesn't matter and hold onto what does so you can actually enjoy the holidays with your boy instead of surviving them.
How This Episode Helps You
Learn the three powerful questions that will help you navigate holiday chaos without losing your mind or your connection with your son. Discover what your teenage boy will actually remember in 20 years (hint: it's not the clean house). Get practical permission to lower your standards on the things that don't build memories and raise them on the things that do.
Want more conversations like this?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook
 
For Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab 8 tips to connect with your son today HERE

61. The Supermom Lie: Why Doing It All Is Breaking Your Connection With Your Teen

What's in Today's Episode:
This week before Christmas, we're cutting through the noise. I'm giving you permission to stop chasing the impossible "do it all" standard and showing you a better way to measure success, one that actually strengthens your connection with your teenage son instead of breaking it.
Why You Care:
Because you're exhausted. You're juggling gifts, schedules, programs, last-minute school projects, and trying to keep everyone happy while running on empty. And deep down, you're wondering if you're failing because you can't keep all the plates spinning. Spoiler: You're not failing. You're just chasing something that doesn't exist.
How This Episode Helps:
You'll learn how to redefine success based on seasons (not balance), let go of perfectionism that's killing your connection, and show up as the authentic mom your son actually needs. I'm giving you specific questions to ask yourself and a framework that makes parenting lighter, your home calmer, and your relationship with your teen stronger without adding more to your to-do list.
Want more conversations like this?
Join our private Facebook community for moms raising teenage boys. We talk about real-life challenges, share strategies, and lift each other up—because you don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Join “Raising Boys, Building Men” on Facebook
For Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab 8 tips to connect with your son today HERE