Your teen is going to get upset. The question is how will you handle it? This is a hard one for moms. We hate to see our teens unhappy, so we jump in and try to fix it, but we make it worse. Your teen needs what...
Read MoreWhat if boredom is the birthplace of your teen’s creativity—and your sanity? And what if your own playfulness is the most powerful “parenting tool” you’re not using? In this episode, internationally recognized play designer and RISD professor Cass Holman (creator of the RIGAMAJIG and author of...
Read MoreWhen your teen snaps or shuts down, could anxiety be hiding underneath?What can you do—today—to support them without “fixing” them? Colleen talks with therapist and author Sophia Vale Galano, LCSW about recognizing teen anxiety (including surprising signs like irritability and anger), the biological and cultural drivers...
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How would you answer this question? Why is parenting your teenage daughter so challenging? Is it your daughter’s attitude, defiance, rebellion, mood swings, and rude behavior? Is it her not obeying you or procrastinating? Is it her walling off in her room and not communicating? Yes, all of these things...
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My family loves to tell stories. One of my favorites is when my sister was 13. My dad, sister, and I were down at Memorial Park in Houston. We had hiked down to Buffalo Bayou. The bayou is brown and murky, and God knows what...
Read MoreDo you ever feel like stress is running your life? And are you worried about how stress is affecting your teen’s confidence and resilience? In this episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, Colleen O’Grady welcomes stress expert Dr. Rebecca Heiss, author of Springboard: Transform...
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Is your happiness dependent on your teen's happiness? Here's why I asked you this question. Last week, a mom told me with a big smile on her face, "I guess it's time to go back to my recovery meeting." I asked her, "Why?" She told me that...
Read MoreDo you ever wonder how you can help your teen truly love themselves from the inside out? Or how you as a mom can stay grounded and respond from love instead of fear when your teen pushes your buttons? In this empowering episode of Power Your...
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Sometimes the answer is no. It has to be, if we are going to protect our teens. This is not the fun part of being a parent. There she is, standing in front of you in her mature grown-up body. She tells you she can handle...
Read MoreHave you ever felt like you’re running on empty—giving everything to your family, your work, and your home, yet never feeling caught up? Do you wonder if balance is even possible for moms in today’s world? In this episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, Colleen...
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Summer is starting to fade away, and reality hits us. Another school year is upon us. For many mothers, the first day of school is a happy day. You get your time and space back. You can relax because you know your daughter is back...
Read MoreIs your tween or teen suddenly refusing school—or saying they’re “sick” every morning? How do you tell what’s normal pushback versus a red flag that needs support? In this conversation, Colleen and pediatric psychologist Dr. Ariana Hoet unpack school avoidance—what it is, why it happens, and...
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I love the ocean. I enjoy the smell of the ocean, the song of the seagulls, and the sound of waves crashing upon the shore. Nothing feeds my soul like the ocean. Last week it was still warm, so I went to the beach. I watched one...
Read MoreAre your teens labeling themselves—“I’m just bad at math,” “I’ll never get this”? What if one small language shift could help them persist, problem-solve, and bounce back? In this conversation, we unpack Growth Mindset through the lens of real classrooms and real homes. We explore why...
Read MoreCan your son or daughter relax at your house? Is your teen comfortable with having friends over? Do you like being in your home? If you answered yes, you have a thriving home environment. A thriving home environment is key to having a happy, healthy, and productive...
Read MoreWant your teen to swap scrolling for soul-filling creativity? Curious how “mind-watching” (kids’ word for mindfulness) can calm thought-storms and build resilience? In this episode, Colleen talks with artist and youth-mental-health advocate Rafael McMaster, founder of Indivisible Arts. Rafael shares how a 30-minute “Fundamental Life Tools”...
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I remember when I was 8 months pregnant, when an acquaintance came up to me and said, Is this your first? I said, "YES" in a happy voice. With a smirky grin, she said, "You just wait!!!!!!!!!" Several years ago, someone asked me how old my daughter was,...
Read MoreHave you ever wondered what kind of health information your teen is actually absorbing from TikTok, Instagram, or even AI chat tools? Do you know how to recognize—and gently disrupt—the misinformation that could be shaping your teen’s choices about their body and health? In this eye-opening...
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I know there are moms who have been counting the days till their teen moves out of the house and goes to college. And may even feel giddy with excitement till they can push their teens out the door. But actually, it is rare that moms...
Read MoreWhat if you could shift your child’s behavior not with consequences, but with calm? What if the most powerful tool you have is love—biochemically speaking? In this eye-opening episode, Colleen O’Grady welcomes trauma and adoption expert Bryan Post to unpack the neuroscience behind stress and connection...
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