Raising Boys Building Men/Parenting Solutions For Moms And Boys

Raising Boys Building Men/Parenting Solutions For Moms And Boys

Raising Boys, Building Men: 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 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!

Episodes

January 12, 2026 22 mins

The world your son is growing up in is very different from the one you were raised in. It’s louder, faster, and filled with constant distractions and if you’re raising a teenage boy, it can feel overwhelming and discouraging.

In today’s episode, Heidi tackles the big question so many moms are silently asking: How do I raise a good man in such a confusing world? If your teenage son seems distant, disrespectful, glued to his phone, o...

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WHAT'S IN TODAY'S EPISODE

Feeling like your son has shut you out? You're not alone. In this episode, we're breaking down the five things your teenage son desperately wants you to understand but doesn't have the words to express. From the confusing push-pull of needing space while still needing you, to why his stress is more real than you might think, w...

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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 sh...

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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

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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:

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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 Yo...

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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 c...

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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 th...

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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 ...

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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 par...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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If you’ve ever taken your son’s phone away and watched him lose it, you are not alone.

In this episode of Raising Boys, Building Men, Heidi sits down with screen-time expert and mom of five, Andrea Davis, founder of Better Screen Time. Together, they talk about what healthy tech boundaries really look like, how to know if your son is ready for a phone, and how to stop parenting from fear when it comes to screens.

You’ll learn pract...

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One year ago, Heidi hit “record” on the very first episode of Raising Boys, Building Men with one goal: to give moms of boys a voice of truth and hope. Since then, she’s talked with psychologists, educators, and hundreds of moms who are all asking the same question: Will my son be okay? Am I doing enough?

In this special anniversary episode, Heidi shares the five biggest lessons she’s learned after a year of podcasting. You’ll hear...

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Does your teenage son shrug his shoulders and mutter, “I don’t care” whenever you ask about school, friends, or the future? You are not alone and it’s not as hopeless as it feels.

In today’s episode of Raising Boys, Building Men, Heidi unpacks what’s really happening when your son seems totally checked out. Spoiler: it’s almost always one of two things. You’ll learn how to tell the difference, and more importantly, how to respond i...

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Feeling like you and your partner are parenting from different planets? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive into why different parenting styles aren't the problem you think they are, when misalignment becomes dangerous, and practical ways to create a united front even when you don't always agree.

 

Your ...

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What's in Today's Episode

Three powerhouse coaches—Molly Claire, Michelle Keil, and Maria Hendershot share their expertise on ditching the hustle culture, finding joy through creativity, and reclaiming your sense of self. We dive deep into why your relationship with yourself is the foundation for everything else, including raising confident sons who will become respectful men.

Why This...

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This isn't your typical episode - it's raw, unscripted, and straight from my heart. I'm sharing the terrifying phone call I received from my 23-year-old son Luke during a political assassination at his university where he stood just yards away from the tragedy.  And what this experience taught me about raising resilient boys in a world filled with tragedy and fear.

Why This Matters to You  <...

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Screens are everywhere - phones, video games, streaming shows and it can feel like your son is disappearing into them. In this episode, I share 5 practical steps you can use today to set healthy boundaries around screens without constant arguments.

Why This Matters to You (Mom of Boys): You don’t just want fewer battles over screens. You want connection. You want your son to grow into a motivated, balanced young man not someone stu...

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If you're exhausted from the daily battles. The nagging, reminding, and repeating yourself isn't working it's actually creating MORE resistance. You want peaceful mornings and a son who takes responsibility, but you're stuck in a cycle of control that's damaging your relationship.

In this episode we are talking about the real reason your teenage son is acting out during back-to-school season (hint: it's not what you think), why you...

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