Moms of Tweens and Teens – Details, episodes & analysis

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It’s so easy to lose it when our kids’ emotions are running high. We tell them to “calm down,” and before we know it… we’re yelling too.

If that sounds familiar, you’re going to love this episode.

My special guest, Lisa Danahy, is a certified yoga therapist, educator, and founder of Create Calm. She’s spent more than 35 years helping kids, parents, and teachers learn practical ways to manage big emotions, regulate their nervous systems, and create more calm at home, in classrooms, and within themselves.

Lisa shares some beautiful, down-to-earth tools you can start using right away — from “balloon breathing” to simple co-regulation practices that help both you and your kids reset in the heat of the moment. These are the kinds of things that actually work when your tween refuses to get out of bed, your teen is rolling their eyes, or you feel your own patience slipping.

You’ll walk away feeling encouraged, equipped, and reminded that calm isn’t about control — it’s about connection.

Grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and join us for this hopeful, heart-centered conversation.

Mentioned in this episode:

• CreateCalm.org
• Creating Calm in Your Classroom by Lisa Danahy - https://amzn.to/3LLiLaZ
• Moms of Tweens and Teens Membership – community, resources, and workshops to help you connect more deeply with your tween or teen

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

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In this insightful conversation, Dr. Anna Levy-Warren, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Organizational Tutors, breaks down the concept of executive functioning (EF)—the brain processes that help kids and teens organize, plan, focus, and manage their emotions. Discover how everyday tasks like getting ready for school, homework, and handling transitions can feel overwhelming for both kids and parents. Dr. Levy-Warren shares actionable strategies to help families support their tweens and teens with EF challenges, while also addressing the role of anxiety and how to manage family dynamics.

Key takeaways & tips:

• Use visual timers so time is seen, not just spoken.
• Do a 5-minute “start together”: help list the first 2–3 steps, then step back.
• Work backward from the real due date, including life events (games, birthdays, church, work).
• Expect a lag in shifting; name it and give a bridge (“Finish that last sentence, then let’s move to shoes”).
• Lead with repair over guilt: “I got activated. I’m sorry. Let’s try that again.”
• Model what you want to see: put your own phone away, breathe, open your calendar.

Where to find Dr. Anna Levy-Warren:

Organizational Tutors: organizationaltutors.com

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

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Do you have a tween or teen who struggles to get excited about their life or find a sense of direction? It can feel overwhelming as a parent knowing how to support them. 

As a parent, do you struggle to know how to motivate them or know how to help them discover their gifts and what they love to do?

As a parent, you want them to find purpose, but how can you help them find the right path in the midst of all the pressures and uncertainty of next steps and everyone else’s expectations?

Well I’m excited to have Dana Roefer is with us today to talk about all of these things. We are diving into How to Build an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Our Tweens and Teens.

Dana serves as the Vice President of Faith Driven Entrepreneur for Teens. Entrepreneurship has been at the heart of Dana’s career, both in launching her own ventures and supporting others in building theirs. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs gain clarity, navigate challenges, and bring their ideas to life.

Alongside her husband, Matt, Dana also founded the Grand Rapids Children's Business Fair and Journey Academy, creating opportunities for young people to explore innovation and entrepreneurship.

What We Talk About:

• Supporting unmotivated tweens and teens: How to help your child find purpose and direction when they’re unsure of what they want to do.
• Building an entrepreneurial mindset: Why fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in teens can help them navigate life’s pressures and challenges.
• Dana’s background: How Dana’s career in entrepreneurship led her to create resources for teens, including the Faith Driven Entrepreneur for Teens program.
• Asking “why” before “what” and “where”: Why it’s crucial to help teens discover their “why” before making major decisions like college or career choices.
• The importance of curiosity and self-discovery: How exploring your teen’s interests and strengths early on can lead to greater clarity and confidence.
• Overcoming pressure and comparison: How to help teens deal with societal expectations, academic pressure, and self-doubt.
• The Faith Driven Entrepreneur for Teens program: A 12-episode digital course that helps teens discover their strengths, explore different careers, and connect with inspiring stories from entrepreneurs.
• Practical ways to get teens involved: How volunteering, exploring various activities, and asking insightful questions can help teens discover their interests and strengths.

Where to find Dana and Faith Driven Entrepreneur for Teens:

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

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I’m really looking forward to you listening to today’s interview with Karen Young (I'm a huge fan).

You may know Karen from her website Hey Sigmund, an internationally popular online resource which attracts millions of readers each year worldwide.  Karen began her career as a psychologist in private practice and has worked extensively with children, teens and families. 

Karen shares with us:

• How much power parents have to strengthen their children through anxiety and to help them to use anxiety to be brave.
• She shares how the amygdala works and how we our kids are looking to feel safe and how much of our own anxiety gets triggered because we are hard-wired to want to protect them.
• She gives us tools to help your kids with big emotions and to be that safe place that they so desperately need.
• And we talk about Karen’s two latest books and how to strengthen the mental wellness of our children and adolescents. 

Where to find Karen:
Website: https://www.heysigmund.com/
Her books: https://www.heysigmund.com/shop/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenyoungheysigmund/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenyoung_heysigmund/

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

Send us a text

Are you worried about your child in college?  
Do you think the transition from high school to college may be difficult?  
Are you concerned about the choices your college student is making?  
Have you received text messages that concern you? 

You're not alone.  

Parents that have kids who have decided to choose the path of going to college often worry that their kids are ready. And based on college statistics there is a good reason for our concerns. Students are reporting higher levels of anxiety and depression every year. The dropout rate for freshmen is 30%.

Today, I'm interviewing Dale Troy, College Success Coach, a Certified Health Coach, and a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, who helps students create habits that will lead to college success. Dale Troy believes every college student can learn the self-management skills they need to handle the stress of college life and create a positive experience.

Dale's on a mission to empower college students by teaching them to implement habits that will reduce their daily stress and allow them to get the most out of their college experience. 

In this interview, Dale shares with us ...

• What we need to stop doing that disempowers our kids and gets in the way of setting them up for success in college.
• It's okay for our kids to make mistakes. Embrace the growth mindset when it comes to supporting your kids.
• Dale shares 5 tips to set them up for success.
• What to do if they aren't motivated to do their applications?

Where to find Dale:
https://crushcollegestress.com/
Dale's FREE CHECKLIST: TOP 7 HABITS TO REDUCE COLLEGE STRESS: https://www.crushcollegestress.org/7-...
Facebook:

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

Send us a text

Talking about puberty can be so awkward! What do you say? Where do you start? How to you get your tween or teen to open up?

Michelle Mitchell has practical and insightful wisdom and the most wonderful way of sharing this information with us and our kids.

Michelle an author, speaker and advocate for families and parenting teenagers. She is the author of 2 new books, “A Girls Guide To Puberty”, and “A Guys Guide to Puberty”.  She is also a mother of two teenagers. And lives in Brisbane, Australia. 

In this episode we discuss:

• What is normal when puberty hits and how you can support your kids in positive ways.
• What to say and not say when it comes to having the important puberty conversations.
• What to do if you're kid says they don't want to talk about puberty and the changes they are experiencing.
• How to be that open, safe and warm place that your kids will want to talk to even when it's awkward.
• How to approach the puberty talk with a lightness and fun spirit versus fear and dread.
• How important it is to listen when you are having these conversations.

Where to find Michelle:

Her website: https://michellemitchell.org/
Her books:  “A Girls Guide To Puberty”, and “A Guys Guide to Puberty”
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellemitchellspeaker/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellemitchellspeaker/

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

Send us a text

Today I'm interviewing Kim Muench, a certified parenting coach and the founder of the Real Life Parent Guide, and the author of the recent book, Becoming Me While Raising You: A Mother's Journey to Her Self.

In May 2008, Kim Muench received a call from the eldest of her five children, twenty-year-old son Nick, who confessed that his life was being destroyed by alcohol abuse. During his spiral through the darkness, Kim worked with her son to help him find long-term sobriety. But she knew that he was not the only person who needed to change. So, while she partnered with her family in her son’s recovery, she also began to make her own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being a priority. Knowing parenthood was her greatest role, Kim sought to uncover the limiting beliefs she had developed in childhood that were infecting the relationships she’d built with those she loved the most. Kim made a conscious choice to parent in a different light.

Kim’s amazing story will challenge and inspire you.

We discuss how our childhoods impact the way we parent our own kids.
How we formed core beliefs that limit us and our kids.
How hard it is to watch our kids struggle and not enable them. And the growth that can come from their struggle.
The importance of connecting with ourselves and our own inner wisdom.
And so much more good stuff!!

Kim's book: Becoming Me While Raising You: A Mother's Journey To Her Self - https://amzn.to/3sYyLsN
Kim's Website: https://reallifeparentguide.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimmuench.reallifeparentguide
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmuenchreallifeparentguide/
 

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

Send us a text

"When we struggle then we grow." - Becky Baudouin

Today I'm talking to my friend Becky Baudouin, author of Enjoy Every Minute and Other Ridiculous Things We Say to Moms.

You have to give this episode a listen...

If you're a mom that struggles with worrying about your kids.
If you find it hard to watch your kids struggle and find yourself wanting to fix things for them.
If you often react and don't like how you responded afterward.

You are not alone!

Today we're talking about transitions, worry, anxiety, and our struggle to let go of control. Of course, we want our kids to be safe and happy! And there is so much we can't control and that can be so hard!

Questions we're discussing:
How to best support our kids without fixing things for them.
How to be that open, safe place for our kids to be where they're at.

I can't wait for you to listen!

 Becky is also a speaker and former columnist for Chicago’s Daily Herald.
 
Where to find Becky and her book:

Her latest book: Enjoy Every Minute: And Other Ridiculous Things We Say to Moms
All of her books
Website
Facebook
Instagram

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Check out our Moms of Tweens and Teens website HERE

Sign up for our Moms of Tweens and Teens newsletter HERE.

 Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

Send us a text

“We’re Raising a Generation of Strivers, Not Thrivers” - Michele Borba

Today I'm interviewing the warm, delightful, and inspiring Dr. Michele Borba, who recently released her latest book, Thrivers, The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle And Others Shine.
 
Michele is an internationally renowned educator, award-winning author, and parenting child expert recognized for her solution-based strategies to strengthen children’s character, resilience, and reduce peer cruelty. She has spoken in 19 countries and five continents and served as a consultant to hundreds of schools and corporations. Dr. Borba is an NBC contributor who has appeared 150 times on the TODAY show and countless shows including Dateline, Dr. Phil, The View, NBC Nightly News, The Doctors, Dr. Oz, Anderson Cooper, MSNBC, Fox & Friends, Countdown, Fox, The Early Show, and CNN. Her work is featured in TIME, Washington Post, Newsweek, People, Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, The New York Times. Reader’s Digest and Globe and Mail.  And that's only the half of it!

In this episode, Michele shares with us...

• What the research shows contributes to why so many kids are overwhelmed, anxious, and burned out today. 
• What we often do as well-meaning parents that actually stifle their growth and development. 
• The 7 essential traits of kids that thrive and what you can do to help your kid develop these strengths and compensate for their weaknesses.

Can't wait for you to listen!

Where to find Michele and her book and resources:

Michele's Website
Her book Thrivers, The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle And Others Shine
Thrivers Core Assets Survey
Instagram

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.

Send us a text

Today I'm interviewing Nellie Harden a wife, mom of four teen daughters, a life-long learner, and a family experience designer, parenting coach & mentor. 

After experiencing several family crises, Nellie Harden decided things had to change. She decided to create and set goals for her own family and developed a system called The 6570 Project, to help other families do the same.

Nellie inspires and helps parents to proactively lead in their homes and build their own extraordinary stories. She's passionate about leading parents in fostering communication, fun, and growth in order to build an unshakable foundation for their children to take into their adult lives.

In this episode, Nellie shares with us…

• How mom failure can actually be a good thing.
• How it’s essential to lead yourself in order to lead your kids.
• How to positively inspire and motivate your kids to succeed in their personal goals and dreams.
• The importance of identifying your core beliefs
• Perfectionism is the wall and vulnerability is the key. And what you can do to be a safe place for your kids.
• How parents are architects of their family and proactive things you can do to lead in your family and build strong relationships for a lifetime.

Where to find Nellie:

Website: https://www.nellieharden.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nellie.harden
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nellieharden/

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Check out MOTTsUniversity.com for tons of resources to support you in raising your tweens and teens!

Our website: Momsoftweensandteens.com

Sheryl's email: sheryl@momsoftweensandteens.com

Support the show

Check out What's Waiting For You At Moms of Tweens and Teens

Find more encouragement, wisdom, and resources:

Website: https://momsoftweensandteens.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Join our Community HERE.

Find awesome resources HERE.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsoftweensandteens/

Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.