Mothers of Boys Survival Guide

Why do so many boys start saying “I hate school” as early as kindergarten?

In this eye-opening episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide, Suzy Shaw talks with Jennifer Fink—author of Building Boys and The First Time Mom’s Guide to Raising Boys—about why so many boys struggle in elementary school, often long before parents expect it.

From behavior referrals and reading frustration to developmental differences, classroom bias, an...

Teaching kids about money can feel overwhelming—especially when many of us weren’t raised having open conversations about finances ourselves.

In this episode, Geoff Howard, dad of two and CEO of the Money Confidence Project, shares practical ways parents can help tweens, teens, and young adults build confidence with money, develop healthier financial habits, and learn real-world skills that last far beyond childhood.

From entrepren...

What happens when a boy grows up feeling unseen?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw talks with E.A. Johnson—father, motivational speaker, and creator of the VIBE Success System—about how childhood trauma and the pressure to “tough it out” can shape boys into adulthood.

E.A. shares his journey from abuse, bullying, and addiction to rebuilding his life with purpose and offers practical insight in...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere—but most of our kids are only using it, not understanding it. So the real question is: are we raising kids who can just use technology… or kids who know how to think with it?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, I talk with tech entrepreneur and Coco Coders' founder Elizabeth Tweedale about why coding and computational thinking are becoming essential life skills. We di...

Are you just getting through the day… or intentionally raising a good man?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, I talk with Nathaniel Turner, author of Raising Supaman, about how to raise boys with purpose—without adding pressure or perfection to your already full plate.

Nate shares the intentional framework he and his wife used to raise their son as a “Man in Training,” including three powerful pillars th...

If you’ve ever wondered how your kids can grow up in the same home yet be completely different, birth order may have more to do with it than you think. In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw talks with Dr. Robert Hurst, author of Life’s Fingerprint: How Birth Order Affects Your Path Throughout Life, about how birth order shapes personality, behavior, and sibling dynamics—especially when raising boy...

Middle school is a turning point for boys—and for parents. As curiosity grows and boundaries are tested, it can be hard to know what’s normal and what might signal something more concerning.

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy talks with educator and recovery coach Chris Rogers about risky behavior in middle school boys—how to spot early warning signs and how to respond in a way that keeps communicat...

Parenting can be joyful, but it can also feel overwhelming. In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw talks with mental fitness coach and mom of five, Penny Wilson, about what happens when parenting stress pushes moms into survival mode—and how learning to pause, breathe, and reset can help us respond more calmly in the heat of the moment.

Penny shares practical tools for regulating the nervous system...

Some children don’t follow the typical developmental path—and when that happens, many moms suddenly find themselves navigating a maze of evaluations, acronyms, therapies, and school meetings.

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, I talk with special education advocate Michelle Choairy, a mom who knows this journey firsthand. Michelle shares her story of raising her son, who was born prematurely and later di...

Raising boys on your own can feel overwhelming—but you are not alone.

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, host Suzy Shaw talks with Pat Hankin, author of The Field Guide for Single Parents, about the real-life challenges and strengths of solo parenting. Drawing on insights from a community of more than 470,000 single parents, Pat shares practical advice on managing finances, building a reliable support ne...

Raising kids online can feel overwhelming—especially with AI, gaming, and social media changing faster than most parents can keep up.

In our latest Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, I sit down with a cybersecurity expert and mom of three boys to talk about what parents really need to know about online risks today—from predators and scams to AI and digital privacy.

This is a calm, practical conversation about: ✔️ Teaching goo...

Parenting teen boys can feel like a daily power struggle—especially when emotions run high, and the stakes feel scary.

This is Part 2 of my conversation with parenting coach Casey O’Roarty, host of the Joyful Courage podcast. Around here, I call the mothers of boys the MOB, and this is where we talk honestly about raising sons and what actually helps.

In this episode, we dig into the real-life challenges parents face with teen boys...

Parenting teen boys can feel like one long power struggle—especially when they’re growing fast and pulling away. 

In Part 1 of our conversation on the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, I’m joined by Casey O’Roarty—host of the Joyful Courage podcast and a trusted voice in teen parenting. We talk honestly about why the teen years are supposed to be messy, how power struggles sneak in, and what actually helps moms stay connected...

Many boys who struggle to read aren’t lazy or unmotivated — their brains are wired differently.

In this episode of Mothers of Boys Survival Guide, Suzy Shaw talks with dyslexia expert Russell Van Brocklen about the early signs of dyslexia in boys, why it’s often missed in school, and practical ways parents can support their child at home and advocate for the right accommodations.

If you’ve been told to “wait and see,” this conversa...

Teen boys are… a mystery. One minute sweet, the next minute grunting, eye-rolling, or insisting they’re “fine” while their world is clearly on fire. 

In this week’s Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, I’m joined again by psychologist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, and we dig into what’s actually happening inside the brains and hearts of our pre-teens, teens, and young men.

We talk about: ✔️ Why communication gets harder ✔️ Power str...

Why do young boys sometimes shut down or struggle to express what they feel? Psychologist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst joins the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide to explore the emotional world of boys and how parents can help young boys use their words instead of their fists or feet.

Dr. Vanderhorst explains how boys develop emotional intelligence differently from girls, why they often communicate through action rather than language, and h...

Divorce isn’t just a legal process — it’s an emotional earthquake. And when you’re a mom trying to protect your kids (especially boys, who are more emotional than you think), the pressure can feel next-level.

In this week’s episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide, I sat down with Lisa Johnson, a certified domestic-violence advocate and co-founder of Been There, Got Out. After a decade fighting through a high-conflict divorce,...

🎮 Is your son obsessed with Roblox, Minecraft, or Fortnite?

You’re not alone! In this week’s episode of The Mothers of Boys Survival Guide podcast, Suzy and Cheryl talk with Matt Highland, former teacher and co-founder of Hackingtons.com, about what every mom should know about gaming.

From screen time limits and online safety to turning gaming into real-world coding skills, this episode is packed with insight (and a few laughs).

Childhood vaccines raise some of the biggest questions parents face. In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide, host Suzy Shaw welcomes back retired pediatrician Dr. Barnaby Starr, who spent decades guiding families with trusted, practical advice. Together, they cover everything from newborn vaccines like Hepatitis B to school and teen immunizations including MMR, HPV, meningococcal, flu, and COVID-19.

Dr. Starr explain...