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Raising Boys Building Men ®/: Reconnect with Your Teenage Son — Kids & Family
Raising Boys Building Men ®/: Reconnect with Your Teenage Son

The Go-To Parenting Podcast for Moms Raising Sons from Middle School to Manhood

Are you a mom caught in the whirlwind of raising sons? Do you find yourself:
• Wishing the arguments would just… stop?
• Frustrated by the constant battle with screens, schoolwork, and indifference?
• Longing for those simpler days when you could just enjoy your boy?
• Searching for a parenting approach that actually works?

Look no further! ”Raising Boys, Building Men” is your lifeline in ups and downs of boy-mom life.
In each episode, you’ll discover:
• Practical, same-day solutions to your most pressing parenting challenges
• Confidence boosters to become the mom your teenager needs
• Strategies to nurture good men while nurturing yourself and your relationships

My mission? To help you raise a resilient, happy son, take care of yourself, and have a blast doing it!
Ready to trade worry for fun? Conflict for connection? Short-term fixes for lifelong bonds? You’re in the right place, my friend.

Hey there! I’m Heidi – mom to 5 incredible sons, wife, social worker, and master certified life coach. With three decades of boy-raising under my belt, I’ve tried every parenting trick in the book. But it wasn’t until I discovered that effective parenting doesn’t have to be complicated or miserable that everything changed. Now, I’m here to share those game-changing insights with you.
If you’re ready to:
• Become the mom you’ve always dreamed of being
• Raise sons who’ll thrive in this world
• Actually enjoy this wild ride of parenting
Then this podcast is your new secret weapon.

So, pop in those earbuds, and let’s transform your parenting journey together. It’s time to raise boys, build men, and have an absolute blast along the way!

Latest Episodes:

63. How to See the Wins With Your Teenage Son (Even After a Hard Year) Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

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 Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

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 Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

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

60. How to Stop Your Teen Boy's Complaining Without Starting a Fight (5 Strategies That Actually Work) Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Discover the real reason your teenage son complains more during busy seasons (hint: it's not ingratitude), plus 5 practical strategies to respond with connection instead of combat. We're breaking down the neuroscience behind his pushback, when complaints spike the most, and exactly what to say when he's melting down over something that seems ridiculous.

Why You Care

Because you're working so hard to make things special for your family, and when your son complains about dinner or the WiFi going out, it feels personal. You're tired of the same arguments every day, walking on eggshells, and wondering why he can't just appreciate what you're doing. You want connection with him, not constant conflict.

How This Episode Helps You

This episode gives you a completely different lens to see his complaining, not as defiance or ingratitude, but as communication from an overwhelmed nervous system. You'll learn the 5 hidden reasons behind his complaints (overstimulation, lost independence, brain development, poor communication skills, and lack of ownership) and get specific scripts to de-escalate tension in under 5 minutes. No more resentment. No more taking it personally. Just practical tools that create lasting change.

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

59. When Motherhood Doesn’t Go as Planned: A Conversation with Margo Fordonski Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

Every mom has a picture in her mind of how motherhood will feel… and then real life shows up. Today’s conversation goes deep into something most moms of teenage boys feel but rarely name: grief in motherhood, specifically, the kind that comes from expectations not matching reality.

In this episode, Heidi sits down with Margo Fordonski, a master-certified life coach and grief educator, to talk about non-death grief, the grief that comes when your son makes choices you didn’t expect, when connection feels harder than you thought it would, or when you miss the little boy who used to curl up on your lap.

You’ll learn why this grief is normal, how it silently affects your relationship, and how to move through it so you can reconnect with your teenage son without shame, panic, or over-controlling. You’ll hear practical, compassionate strategies for creating connection, holding boundaries, and staying grounded even when your heart aches.

Guest Details and gift:

Margo Fordonski is a Master Certified Life Coach, Certified Grief Educator, and a twice-bereaved parent. After losing both of her children—most recently her son Andrew, who lived with brain cancer for 24 years—Margo has walked the long, complex path of grief firsthand. Her personal journey led her to a powerful calling: to support other mothers navigating life after the unthinkable.

Margo helps grieving moms find peace, resilience, and renewed hope—not by “moving on,” but by learning how to carry their grief with love. Her 1:1 coaching approach is deeply personalized, meeting each mother where she is with compassionate guidance and tools that support nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and holistic healing. She guides her clients in healing at their own pace, rediscovering who they are now, and gently rebuilding a life that honors both their child and their continued growth.

Her work is trauma-informed, heart-led, and rooted in the belief that grief is not something to fix—it’s something to tend to with care, courage, and support. Through her coaching, writing, and lived witness, Margo offers a safe and understanding space for grieving moms to feel less overwhelmed, more connected to themselves, and begin to rebuild a life that holds both sorrow and joy

Make sure to grab Margo's FREE Holiday Grief Support Guide 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

58. The Self-Care Lie We’ve Been Sold: And What Actually Works for Boy Moms Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

If one more person tells you to “just practice more self-care,” you might lose it, and honestly? Same.

This week’s episode of Raising Boys, Building Men takes that guilt-filled phrase and flips it on its head.

In today’s conversation, we dig into why traditional self-care often feels impossible for moms of teenage boys and why it’s NOT the answer you actually need. Instead, we talk about self-awareness, the simple, doable shift that keeps you from drowning, even during the busiest seasons of motherhood.

You’ll hear the story of the moment Heidi realized she had completely lost herself (yes… the crying-in-the-car moment) and the three self-awareness practices that helped her take her power back:

This episode will help you breathe again no spa days required.

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

57. What to do When Parenting Your Teen Doesn’t Feel Fun Anymore - and How to Change That Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Parenting your teenage son used to be fun, the laughter, the easy connection, the hugs. Now it feels like silence, arguments, or distance. You wonder if you’ve messed something up.

In this episode, Heidi unpacks why parenting stops feeling fun and how uncertainty steals your joy. You’ll learn the one mindset shift that will change everything, plus three ways to bring joy and connection back into your relationship right now.

You’ll hear real client stories, science-backed insight, and a heart-to-heart reminder that you and your son really are going to be okay.

👉 Listen in to discover how to bring fun and freedom back to motherhood, even when your teen’s behavior feels unpredictable.

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

56. Finding Balance as a Working Boy Mom: A Conversation with Denise Tallcott Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Balance sounds amazing, but it often feels impossible. Between work, schedules, and trying to actually sleep, most moms feel like they’re failing somewhere. In this episode, Heidi talks with leadership coach Denise Tallcott, founder of Working Moms Redefined, about what balance really looks like and how to stop beating yourself up for not “doing it all.”

They unpack the truth behind mom guilt, how to give yourself permission to parent differently than your mom did, and why defining your own version of success brings peace and connection at home (especially with teenage sons).

Denise also shares her simple “9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection” framework; three small moments that can change everything - Grab it HERE

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or “not enough,” this one’s for you.

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

More about Denise:

For more information about Denise visit: Workingmomsredefined.com

55. Spoiled Boys Make Weak Men: 3 Ways to Raise Strong, Resilient Sons Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

What happens when we make life too easy for our boys?

In this episode, Heidi shares the powerful truth behind a phrase her husband told her years ago: “Spoiled boys make weak men.”

This isn’t about judgment or shame it’s about awareness. Heidi walks through the research on how overindulgence, overparenting, and avoiding conflict weaken a boy’s ability to grow into a capable, resilient man. You’ll learn three practical ways to help your son develop strength and responsibility whil

e keeping connection front and center.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I helping too much?” or felt guilty saying no, this episode will give you clarity, encouragement, and permission to raise a boy who can handle life with confidence.

Listen now to get your courage back and rediscover the joy in raising strong sons.

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

54. The Confidence Crisis in Teen Boys: Why Your Son Doubts Himself (And 3 Ways to Build Him Back Up) Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

Do you ever look at your teenage son and think, “He’s capable of so much more, what’s stopping him?” You’re not alone.

In this episode of Raising Boys, Building Men, Heidi shares the truth about confidence. And it’s not built by pep talks or praise. It’s built through experience. You’ll learn three powerful ways to help your teenage son strengthen his confidence and self-esteem without nagging, rescuing, or pushing:

Let him struggle safely (and why that matters)
Give him meaningful responsibility
Encourage him to serve others

These small but powerful shifts will help your son develop grit, self-trust, and a sense of purpose which is the real foundation of confidence.

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

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