Power Your Parenting: Moms With Teens

Are your teens getting the sleep they truly need, or are their packed schedules leaving them drained and stressed? What if a better night’s sleep could improve not only their mental health but their academic performance as well?

In this episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, Colleen O’Grady dives deep into the topic of sleep deprivation among teens, a growing issue that affects 70% of high schoolers. Colleen is joined by Jessica Bryant, an expert in pediatric sleep and advocate for prioritizing rest in our busy lives. Together, they discuss how sleep deprivation not only impacts teens’ mental health, leading to anxiety and depression, but also hinders their academic performance and emotional regulation. They explore why it’s critical for parents to set boundaries around sleep, especially with the distractions of phones and extracurricular activities that extend into late hours. Through real-life stories and expert insights, Jessica emphasizes the importance of creating a sleep routine and being aware of the signs of sleep deprivation, such as trouble waking up or irritability throughout the day.

The conversation highlights three key takeaways for parents: First, sleep is a powerful tool for mental and physical well-being, and lack of it can directly contribute to academic struggles and mood swings. Second, teens often don’t recognize how sleep-deprived they are, so it’s crucial for parents to start conversations about how their bodies feel and encourage good sleep hygiene. Lastly, parents can help their teens by setting an example—putting down their own phones at night, establishing a bedtime routine, and making rest a family priority. These small steps can make a profound difference in reducing stress and creating a more balanced and harmonious home environment.

Jessica Bryant, representative of the Better Sleep Council (BSC), internationally recognized pediatric sleep strategist, keynote speaker, and the founder of Sleep Happy Consulting, is dedicated to answering the questions exhausted parents have about their child’s sleepless days and nights. She achieves this through a range of initiatives, including corporate wellness events, community workshops, and personalized one-on-one support.

Find out more at Better Sleep Council: https://bettersleep.org https://www.instagram.com/bettersleeporg/

Follow Jessica at https://www.instagram.com/sleephappy

https://www.sleephappyconsulting.com/

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Moms, have you ever struggled to set clear boundaries with your teen, only to be met with resistance or anger? Do you wonder how to create a space where both you and your teen feel empowered, respected, and connected?

In this episode, host Colleen O’Grady dives deep into the complex but essential topic of setting boundaries with teens, featuring expert therapist Juliane Taylor Shore. They explore the emotional and psychological work required to establish boundaries that stick—boundaries that not only help teens navigate tough situations but also encourage them to trust and respect themselves and others. Julianne discusses the importance of separating feelings from actions, especially when teens are lashing out. Moms are encouraged to understand the difference between a direct request and venting, and how to maintain their own emotional integrity even when things get heated. Through real-life examples, Julianne explains the four key types of boundaries—external, psychological, containing, and physical—and how each one plays a role in creating healthy family dynamics.

Juliane Taylor Shore, LMFT, LPC, SEP, is a therapist, author, and teacher who is creating spaces where people can move into more self-compassion, self-trust, empowerment, and integrity. She regularly teaches and speaks to people from all around the world and translates new understandings in neurobiology into practices that can support brain change. She is the author of Setting Boundaries that Stick: How Neurobiology Can Help You Rewire Your Brain to Feel Safe, Connected and Empowered. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Adam, their daughter, Stella, and their rescue pointer mix, Layla.

Three key takeaways from the episode include: First, setting effective boundaries is more about how we respond to our teens than controlling their behavior; it’s about building trust and living into your values. Second, maintaining your own emotional well-being during difficult moments is crucial, which is why practicing self-compassion and learning to pause before reacting is essential. Finally, boundary work is often accompanied by grief as it highlights the painful but necessary process of growth—for both you and your teen. Recognizing and embracing this emotional work is a critical part of parenting through the teenage years.

Find out more at https://www.julianetaylorshore.com/

Follow Juliane on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/julianetaylorshore/

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Are you struggling to get your teen to emerge from their bedroom? Wondering how to connect with your teenager in today’s digital age?

In this episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, host Colleen O’Grady sits down with parenting expert Anita Cleare to discuss practical strategies for understanding and connecting with teens, especially when it feels like they’re constantly withdrawing into their own worlds. Anita, author of the new book How to Get Your Teenager Out of Their Bedroom, shares her personal experiences of parenting teens and the challenges she faced, despite her professional expertise. Together, they explore the importance of respecting teens’ autonomy, collaborating with them to solve problems, and using small, meaningful moments to build connection. Anita emphasizes the role of a teen’s brain development in their behavior and how parents can shift from nagging to nurturing by managing their emotions and expectations. They also dive into the concept of avoiding catastrophic thinking, which can escalate conflict, and instead focus on guiding teens through their emotional and social struggles.

Anita Cleare (MA AdvDip) is a parenting expert, writer and coach and co-founder of the Positive Parenting Project a social enterprise which aims to bring the benefits of proven evidence-based parenting strategies to as many parents (and children) as possible.

Her new book How to Get Your Teenager Out of Their Bedroom tools and strategies for understanding connecting with and being there for your teenager which came out on September 10 th 2024. Anita’s first book, The Work/Parent Switch (known as The Working Parent’s Survival Guide in USA) is a positive parenting guide for working parents.

Key takeaways from this episode include the importance of collaboration, where working with your teen to find compromises fosters cooperation rather than conflict. Little moments matter, as small interactions, like casual chats in the kitchen, can build stronger relationships over time and help teens feel connected. It’s also crucial to understand their world, acknowledging that teens’ digital lives and friendships are integral to their identity, while helping them find balance with real-world activities. Lastly, regulating emotions is essential—parents should manage their own stress first, creating a calm atmosphere that can help teens better handle their own emotions and reactions. 

Follow Anita on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/anitacleare_parenting/

Learn More about Anita at https://anitacleare.co.uk/

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How do you currently help your teen distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information online? Have you noticed your teen questioning claims they hear on social media, and how do you guide them through those conversations?

In this episode of Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens, Colleen O’Grady interviews Alex Edmonds, author of May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases and What We Can Do About It. Together, they discuss the growing challenge of misinformation and how it impacts teens in today’s world. Edmonds breaks down how teens are vulnerable to false claims online and what parents can do to help them navigate this complex digital landscape.

Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School. His TED talk “What to Trust in a Post-Truth World” has been viewed two million times; he has also spoken at the World Economic Forum, Davos, and the UK Parliament. In 2013, he was awarded tenure at the Wharton School, and in 2021, he was named MBA Professor of the Year by Poets&Quants. Edmans writes regularly for the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review. His first book, Grow the Pie, was a Financial Times Book of the Year. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. 

The rise of social media and online platforms has made teens more vulnerable to misinformation, as they are frequently exposed to unverified information. Like adults, teens are susceptible to confirmation bias, meaning they gravitate toward information that aligns with their existing beliefs, which makes it harder for them to analyze opposing views critically. Their tendency toward black-and-white thinking further complicates matters, as they often see the world in absolutes, making them more likely to fall for exaggerated or simplistic claims. Teaching teens to engage in critical thinking, question the evidence behind the information they encounter, and assess sources is essential in combating misinformation. Parents play a vital role in this process by fostering an open dialogue, encouraging curiosity, and creating a home environment where critical thinking is valued. In a world dominated by social media influencers and viral content, misinformation spreads rapidly, especially when it taps into teens’ cultural identities or trusted public figures, making parental guidance even more important.

Find out more at maycontainlies.com

Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/aedmans/

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Are you sick of the constant arguing not only with your teens but also with your husband, father or partner. Would you like to put an end to arguing, or at least dial it down? Well I brought in amazing guests to talk about it.

Our guests today are Linda and Charlie Bloom

Married since 1972, Linda and Charlie Bloom have been working with groups, individuals, couples and organizations to enhance the quality of their relationships and communication skills since 1975. They both have Master’s degrees in Clinical Social Work and have lectured, led seminars and provided consultation at universities and learning institutes throughout the United States as well as internationally. They have written and published four books, Happily Ever After…and 39 Other Myths about Love: Breaking Through to the Relationship of Your Dreams, 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married: Simple Lessons to Make Love Last, Secrets of Great Marriages: Real Stories from Real Couples about Lasting Love, and That Which Doesn’t Kill Us: How One Couple Became Stronger in the Broken Places. Their organization, Bloomwork is dedicated to promoting healthy, fulfilling, and successful relationships for individuals, couples and organizations. Their newest book was just released, An End to Arguing: 101 Valuable Lessons for all Relationships.

For great content and to learn more about Linda and Charlie’s work go to https://bloomwork.com/

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Are you finding it hard to connect with your teen and wonder how your own upbringing impacts your parenting? Do you know the difference between supporting your teen and rescuing them, and why it matters?

In this episode, Colleen O’Grady continues her conversation with Eli Harwood, diving into attachment styles and how they shape our relationships with teens. Eli explains the four main attachment styles—secure, anxious-ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized—and how these patterns manifest in both children and parents. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in parenting, noting how unresolved childhood issues can shape our responses to conflict with our teens. Eli encourages moms to be present and supportive, not overly controlling or dismissive, which helps create secure attachments. The episode also tackles how to differentiate between rescuing and supporting your teen through life’s challenges, and the critical role of emotional regulation in parenting. Finally, Eli shares practical advice on how moms can take care of themselves and model healthy emotional behavior for their teens.

ELI HARWOOD is a licensed therapist who lives in Colorado with her husband, Trevor, and their three children. Eli has been nerding out on attachment research for the past two decades and is on a mission to help make the world a better place, one relationship at a time. She continues this mission in her clinical work, her writing, and running her mouth about attachment on social media. When she isn’t working to make the world a more secure place, she is playing dress-up with her kids, obsessing about her sourdough starter, and reminiscing about that one time she won a set of globes as a Price is Right contestant.

Takeaways:

1. Healing is crucial—When moms resolve their own emotional baggage, they model healthy attachment behaviors, which helps their teens feel more secure and confident.
2. Secure conflict—Conflict with teens is natural, but how you approach it matters. Avoid leading with anxiety or perfectionism; instead, use conflict as an opportunity for growth and understanding.

Learn more about Eli at AttachmentNerd.com.

Follow her on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/attachmentnerd/

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Are you struggling to maintain a strong connection with your teen as they navigate the complex emotions of adolescence? Do you find yourself caught between managing their daily tasks and truly engaging with them on a deeper level?

In this episode of the Power Your Parenting Moms of Teens Podcast, host Colleen O’Grady sits down with licensed therapist Eli Harwood to discuss the transformative power of connection-focused parenting. Harwood, who has spent two decades studying attachment, shares her insights on how building secure attachments with teens can foster confidence, empathy, and resilience. The conversation delves into the importance of attunement, co-regulation, and the shift from being a safe haven to a secure base as teens grow. Harwood emphasizes the critical role of maintaining an authentic connection with teens, even as they begin to turn to their peers for support.

ELI HARWOOD is a licensed therapist who lives in Colorado with her husband, Trevor, and their three children. Eli has been nerding out on attachment research for the past two decades and is on a mission to help make the world a better place, one relationship at a time. She continues this mission in her clinical work, her writing, and running her mouth about attachment on social media. When she isn’t working to make the world a more secure place, she is playing dress-up with her kids, obsessing about her sourdough starter, and reminiscing about that one time she won a set of globes as a Price is Right contestant.

Key Takeaways:

Connection-focused parenting is essential for fostering a teen’s emotional and mental health. By prioritizing connection over control, parents can help their teens feel seen, heard, and supported, which in turn strengthens their resilience and self-esteem. Harwood stresses the importance of showing up consistently for both the tender and triumphant moments in a teen’s life and encourages moms to focus on “lighting up” when their child enters the room, listening actively, and being quick to repair any relational ruptures. As teens grow, they naturally begin to rely more on their peers, but maintaining a secure attachment with their parents remains crucial for their overall well-being.

Learn more about Eli at AttachmentNerd.com.

Follow her on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/attachmentnerd/

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Are you constantly worried about your teen’s choices and future, especially in the middle of the night? Have you found yourself struggling to connect with your teen, wondering if your parenting approach is truly effective?

In this episode of the Power Your Parenting Moms with Teens podcast, Colleen O’Grady interviews Amy Betters-Midtvedt, author of You’ll Make It and They Will Too. Together, they dive into the realities of parenting teens, from dealing with midnight anxiety to navigating challenging relationships. Amy shares her journey of learning to let go of control and focusing on connection with her teens, offering insights on how to balance boundaries with empathy. The conversation also touches on practical strategies for managing teenage friendships, dating, and faith, emphasizing the importance of choosing love over judgment.

Amy Betters-Midtvedt, is a Today Parenting contributing author with more than a million readers and 25 years of experience working with adolescents and families. In both her job as a literacy coach and in her personal life—where she and husband, Todd, wrangle their five children—she has been surrounded by kids and teens and is passionate about serving them. Amy has a master’s degree in leadership, curriculum, and instruction.

Takeaways are–Let go of the fear-based approach to parenting, recognizing that trying to control every aspect of your teen’s life only creates more conflict. Instead, focus on understanding and guiding them, allowing space for their independence to flourish. Prioritizing connection over constant correction is key—building a strong relationship with your teen is more valuable than always trying to fix their behavior. Look for opportunities when they are open to talk, and listen without judgment. Additionally, embrace flexibility when it comes to faith and values; allow your teen to question and explore their beliefs, and support them as they find their own path, trusting that their journey will be unique and personal.

Learn more about Amy at https://amybettersmidtvedt.com/

Follow Amy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/amy.betters.midtvedt/

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How do you deal with intense emotions in your teens. It’s challenging right?

You are going to love this episode. Today we are going to dive into a teenager’s emotional life. I think what makes parenting teens so challenging is dealing with their intense emotions. Sometimes you’re the target of their emotional storms and sometimes they turn their emotions inward. You worry about them being depressed or anxious.

How many times have we brought up a simple request to our teen, but it turns out to be not so simple because it triggers a huge emotional response? Moms can find themselves avoiding talking about important topics because they don’t know how to handle their emotions.

I invited Dr. Lisa Damour, the author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, to talk about this nuanced subject of teenage emotions. In this episode we focus on her chapter called Managing Emotions, Part One: Helping Teens Express Their Emotions and the following chapter called Managing Emotions, Part Two: Helping Teens Regain Emotional Control

Recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association, Lisa Damour, Ph.D., co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, writes about adolescents for the The New York Times, appears as a regular contributor to CBS News, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and maintains a clinical practice. She is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents, Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. She and her husband have two daughters and live in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

To find out more about the Emotional Lives of Teenagers go to https://drlisadamour.com/ 

Follow Lisa on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lisa.damour/

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Are you struggling to connect with your teenage daughter? Do you find yourself wishing for more meaningful conversations that strengthen your bond?

In this episode of the “Power Your Parenting: Moms with Teens” podcast, Sandra Stanley and her daughter, Allie Stanley Cooney, join us to discuss their new book, Meet Me in the Middle: Eight Mother-Daughter Conversations About Life and Faith. They share their journey of co-authoring the book, where each wrote separate sections for mothers and daughters, and how they created a “meet me in the middle” section to foster open dialogue and deeper understanding.

Sandra Stanley received her Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Tech and Master of Arts from Dallas Theological Seminary. Sandra has a heart for foster kids and foster families, as she and Andy have been foster parents since 2010. Her ministry passion is promoting foster care in the local church. Much of her time these days is spent working on various writing projects and continuing her involvement with Fostering Together, the foster care initiative of North Point Ministries.

Allie Stanley Cooney graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Communication. She completed the North Point Residency program and simultaneously earned a Masters of Christian Education degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has a heart for middle school and high school students and can often be spotted at any number of local coffee shops pouring into girls in those seasons of life.

The episode is packed with practical advice on navigating the tricky waters of the mother-daughter relationship during the teen years, focusing on the importance of communication, understanding each other’s fears, and managing stress together.

Key takeaways include the importance of being a student of your daughter—understanding her unique personality, fears, and stressors—and how this awareness can transform your relationship. Sandra and Allie emphasize the power of preemptive conversations, discussing tough topics before they become conflicts, and how these dialogues can lay a foundation of trust and mutual respect. They also highlight that even when challenges arise, maintaining the relationship should always be the priority, helping moms and daughters grow closer through the ups and downs of adolescence.

• Website: https://www.sandrastanley.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrawstanley

https://www.instagram.com/alliekaycooney

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