Raising Boys Building Men/Parenting Solutions For Moms And Boys

43. How to Raise Kind Teenage Boys When the World Isn't

This episode gives you three practical ways to teach your teenage son that kindness is actually strength, not weakness, even when his world tells him otherwise.
Listen if: You're struggling with a son who's becoming mean to siblings or friends, or you want to prevent your kind boy from hardening as he navigates high school social pressures.
Key takeaways:
Model kindness in your own conversations - Pay attention to how you talk about teachers, coaches, and neighbors in front of your son because he's learning from every word
Celebrate kindness like you celebrate wins - Point out acts of kindness you see and praise them specifically so your son learns to value character over status
Show him that his heroes are kind people - Help him see that true strength comes from choosing kindness, not from being the loudest or most aggressive
Golden quote: "The most confident kids that come through my house are also the kindest kids... confidence and kindness go hand in hand."
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
 

42. The Quiet Sadness of Motherhood: Grieving Your Little Boy While Loving Your Teenager

If you've ever caught yourself wishing for "just one more day" with that sweet little boy who called you "mommy" - you're not alone. That quiet sadness you carry? It's universal, it's normal, and it doesn't make you ungrateful. But living there will rob you of the beautiful relationship you can have with your teenager today.
Today we're diving deep into that ache you feel when you hold a little one and miss your own boy's chubby hands. I'm talking about the homesickness for who your son used to be while you're trying to embrace who he's becoming. This episode gives you permission to feel that grief AND practical ways to stay present with the amazing young man in front of you right now.
Today is tomorrow's reminiscence. Don't miss it while longing for yesterday.
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

41. How to Connect with Your Teenage Son Using Humor (Stop the Power Struggles)

If you're tired of walking on eggshells around your teenage son or feeling like every conversation turns into a power struggle, this episode is for you. You don't need to be naturally funny - you just need to be a little less serious. Your son is gauging your reaction to his struggles, and humor can be the bridge that keeps you connected through the tough moments.
Discover why humor isn't just "nice to have" - it's a neuroscience-backed parenting superpower that can transform your relationship with your teenage son. I'm sharing real stories from our family (yes, including multiple car incidents!), the science behind why laughter works, and practical one-liners you can use this week to break tension and build connection.
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
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

40. What to Do If Your Son Argues With Everything You Say (4 Science-Backed Solutions)

If you're questioning whether you know anything at all because your son argues with literally everything you say - from room cleaning to what time it is - you're not alone. This isn't about disrespect or failure. It's developmental, it's normal, and most importantly, it's fixable.
Today we're diving deep into the nitty-gritty of that argue-about-everything phase that hits around age 14. I'm sharing the science behind why your son challenges YOU more than dad, plus four practical strategies you can use TODAY to stop those circular arguments that leave you both frustrated.
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
Additional Support:
Visit our website Raisingboysbuildingmen.com HERE
Schedule a FREE Relationship Reconnection Call with Me HERE
Follow us on Instagram HERE
Grab Your FREE BRIDGE METHOD (how to bounce back after conflict) PDF HERE

39. Stop Focusing on What You're Doing Wrong: How to Parent from Your Strengths

If you're exhausted from the constant self-criticism. The guilt. The comparison to "perfect" moms. This episode gives you permission to stop beating yourself up and start building on what you're already doing well.
You will discover the game-changing "gap vs. gain" mindset that transforms how you see yourself as a mom. Learn why your brain is wired to focus on what's wrong, plus three simple strategies to parent from your strengths instead of your struggles.
Today's episode will help you:
Understand why focusing on deficits keeps you stuck
Learn the 3-win daily practice that builds confidence
Identify your top parenting strengths (and how to use them)
Shift from measuring yourself against perfection to celebrating progress
Create momentum in your relationship with 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 8 tips to connect with your son today HERE
 

38. Sibling Rivalry: How to Stop Being the Referee and Start Building Peace at Home

If you're exhausted from breaking up fights, tired of being the family referee, and wondering if your boys will ever actually like each other - this episode is your lifeline. You're not failing as a mom. Your kids aren't broken. This is normal, and it gets better.
In todays episode you'll walk away knowing exactly how to respond with wisdom instead of weariness, create more connection in your home, and stop parenting from panic so you can start parenting from peace. Most importantly, you'll have hope that this phase won't last 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 8 tips to connect with your son today HERE

37. How to Stop Fighting With Your Teenage Son: 3 Steps to End Daily Arguments

If you're tired of the guilt, confusion, and that aching feeling that something is breaking between you and your son after every argument, this episode is for you. Those explosive moments aren't really about the chores or curfew - there's so much more happening underneath.
Today we're breaking the exhausting cycle of daily arguments with your teenage son. I'm sharing my simple 3-step framework that works even when your teen isn't calm - because we can't count on them to stay levelheaded, but we can control ourselves.
Learn why anger is just the tip of the iceberg and discover what's really driving those heated exchanges. I'll teach you exactly how to pause the panic, recognize your choices, and respond instead of react - keeping your connection intact while still being the parent.
Key Takeaways:
Why anger is a secondary emotion and what's really underneath
The 3-step framework to break the argument cycle
How to stay in your thinking brain when tensions rise
Why connection and control rarely coexist
Resources Mentioned:
Join our Private Facebook Group HERE - Real Moms, Real Talk, Powerful Tools
Download the FREE Bridge Method HERE - Recover & Reconnect After Arguments
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
 

36. Help! My Teenage Son Doesn't Talk to Me Anymore: A Mom's Guide to Reconnection

If you're lying awake wondering where you went wrong or feeling like you're failing because your son barely speaks to you anymore, this episode will be your lifeline. You're not alone, you're not failing, and most importantly - this phase doesn't last forever when you know how to navigate it.
This episode introduces the three-step roadmap to move from feeling isolated and rejected by your teenage son to building a strong, connected relationship that lasts into adulthood. We'll break down why that cuddly boy suddenly went quiet, how to stop taking his distance personally, and practical ways to reconnect without trying to "fix" him.
This Episode Help You:
Stop the spiral of self-blame when your son pulls away
Get specific strategies for one-word-answer conversations
Learn to be his guide instead of trying to be his hero
Create simple daily connection points that actually work with moody teenagers
Download Your FREE "8 Tips to Connect" 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

35. What My 79-Year-Old Dad Learned from His Mom That Every Mother Raising Boys Needs to Know

As a mom raising boys, you're constantly wondering if you're doing enough, doing it right, or if your influence will last. In today's heartwarming Father's Day tribute, Heidi sits down with her dad, Larry Rigby, to explore the timeless wisdom passed down through generations.
This conversation spans three generations of parenting wisdom, from the Greatest Generation to today's digital challenges. You'll gain perspective on the long game of parenting and understand that your steady presence and example are shaping the future for generations to come.
If You Are:
Overwhelmed by parenting advice? Learn to focus on the few things that make lasting impact
Struggling with a difficult teenager? Discover the 80/20 rule that will change your perspective
Worried about raising good men? Understand the key attributes that define real manhood
Need practical strategies? Get the "Eugene technique," "start over" method, and other tested approaches
Feeling discouraged? Receive encouragement that you're already halfway there just by being a mother
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
 

34. When Your Son Struggles Socially: Two Powerful Shifts Every Mom Needs to Know

If you've ever watched your son sit home alone on Friday nights, wondered why he doesn't have friends, or felt that pit in your stomach when he seems lonely and disconnected - this episode is for YOU. You're not alone in this worry.
Learn how to create genuine safety at home (not just asking 50 questions)
Discover why your own social story might be driving your panic
Get practical tools to support your son without trying to "fix" everything
Transform from anxious rescuer to confident anchor
Ready to dive deeper? Join our private Facebook community HERE where moms just like you share real struggles and celebrate wins together.
 
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