Parenting Through The Hard

What happens when you’ve spent years building your life around your kids… and they don’t need you in the same way anymore?

Lately, I’ve been realizing just how much of my identity, purpose, and emotional world became wrapped up in being a mom. And as my kids have grown, I’ve found myself facing a question I wasn’t prepared for:

Who am I when I’m no longer needed the way I used to be?

In this episode, I share a personal story from my younger years that has me seeing my o...

After last week's episode about learning to stop fixing and rescuing our kids, I realized there was something I left out: What am I trying to do instead?

In this short bonus episode, I'm sharing what letting go and breaking codependent parenting patterns looks like for me in real time. I talk about the urge to give advice, solve the problem, manage my child's emotions, or step in when they're struggling, and the uncomfortable work of learning to pause instead.

For parents of teens and adult children who struggle with overfunctioning, boundaries, codependency, or feeling...

When our teens or adult children are struggling, uncertain, or making choices we cannot control, the pressure to step in and do something can feel overwhelming. We may call it love or parental responsibility, but sometimes it is anxiety urging us to fix, rescue, or force a conversation before the time is right.

In this episode of Parenting Through the Hard, I explore what it means to pause instead of react, wait without abandoning our children, and recognize when fear is setting the pace of our parenting. I reflect on the difference between wise waiting and avoidance...

I thought I would feel better once things got better with my children. Once the crisis passed, their choices became steadier, and life felt more hopeful, I believed I would finally be able to exhale.

But even when things did grow quieter, the peace I had been waiting for didn’t come. Instead, I found myself still scanning, bracing, and wondering what might happen next.

In this episode, I explore the uncomfortable realization that I wasn’t simply hoping for my children’s stability. I had begun depending on it to create stability inside of me. I...

What does it look like to stay deeply connected to your teen or adult child while also learning to let go of the responsibility to manage their life?

In this episode of Parenting Through the Hard, I sit down with author, motherhood coach, and spiritual director Esther Goetz to talk about one of the hardest shifts parents face as their children grow up.

Together, we explore the difference between being responsible to our children and feeling responsible for them, why so many parents slip into overfunctioning, and how stepping back can actually strengthen the relationship...

In this episode, I name something that’s been quietly surfacing beneath my emotions lately. The pressure to disappear in order to be loving, faithful, or helpful.

This conversation isn’t about addiction, recovery, or outcomes. It’s about fatigue, resentment, and what can happen when caring deeply turns into self abandonment, especially in long seasons of responsibility.

I reflect on the fear of getting it right, the exhaustion no one prepares you for, and a midlife reorientation that’s reshaping how I carry love, including learning to speak honestly instead of shutting down.

This e...

What do you do when the relationship with your teen or adult child feels strained, when there is tension, distance, or an ache you cannot quite explain?

In this episode of Parenting Through the Hard, I share a deeply personal reflection on what happens when connection feels stretched thin. I talk about how attachment patterns, generational wiring, anxiety, over involvement, and withdrawal can quietly shape the way we respond to our kids, especially when their choices feel hard or scary.

If you have ever felt disconnected from your child, struggled between control and compassion, or...

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I wonder if they’ll ever understand what this was like for me?”

In this episode, I talk about a quiet ache many parents of adult children carry.. the longing to be acknowledged for what it cost to love them through addiction, rebellion, mental health struggles, or long seasons of distance.

Why does it hurt when your child doesn’t say thank you? Why does appreciation feel so important? And is there a way to let go of needing that acknowledgment without hardening our hearts?

I explore identity...

What happens when your identity has been shaped by being the steady one — and recovery changes your role?

In this episode, I talk about codependency in parenting, identity detox, and the grief and anxiety that surface when your child begins to stabilize. We explore how over-functioning can hide inside love — and how stepping back creates space for healthier connection.

If you’ve ever wondered who you are without crisis to manage, this conversation is for you.

If you’d like to partner with us and support the podcast, consider sponsoring an upcoming episode by makin...

If you’re the parent of a teen or adult child who is struggling, this episode is for you.

I’m talking about what it's like to stay calm when your child’s life feels unstable. How to stop reacting, regulate your emotions, and let go without giving up.

When the setback happens or the hard conversation catches you off guard, it’s easy to match their anxiety. I share what I’m learning about emotional regulation, steady hope, and how to love without trying to control the outcome.

You can’t control the tide. Bu...

In this Hope in the Hard episode, I slow down with a story many of us know, the one often called the prodigal son, and I reflect on it through a different lens. Instead of focusing on the child who wandered, I sit with the parent who stayed.

As a mom navigating the challenges of parenting teens and adult children, including seasons of addiction, distance, and unanswered questions, I explore the long, quiet stretch of waiting that lives between departure and return. I wonder about the unseen work God may be doing in our hearts during that...

In this episode, I share honestly about the early days when recovery enters the conversation, a season that feels both hopeful and fragile at the same time. I talk about the complicated emotions parents carry when the crisis quiets, the grief that can surface alongside relief, and what it means to stay connected to your child without guarantees.

I reflect on why I think it might be hard for families to speak openly about addiction, the fear many children carry of disappointing the people they love, and the quiet tension parents live with as they try to...

In this episode, I reflect on how fear, isolation, and discouragement can quietly shape the way we show up as parents during hard seasons.

I share what I’m learning about staying connected, turning toward the light, and noticing small signs of movement and hope, even when nothing seems to be changing yet.

In this episode, I share honestly about the cycle of hope and disappointment that often comes with loving a child through addiction, and the hard, quiet work of learning how to stay when the story isn’t resolved yet.

If you’d like to partner with us and support the podcast, consider sponsoring an upcoming episode by making a donation of any size to Parenting Through the Hard [by clicking here].

Your support keeps this podcast running — and goes directly toward production costs and continuing this mission.

For more resources and hope-filled tools, visit...

This Hope in the Hard continues last week’s conversation about loving a child through addiction. I’m sharing honestly from the middle of the uncertainty that comes after trying to let go and the quiet work of loving without controlling the outcome.

If you’d like to partner with us and support the podcast, consider sponsoring an upcoming episode by making a donation of any size to Parenting Through the Hard [by clicking here].

Your support keeps this podcast running — and goes directly toward production costs and continuing this mission.

For more resource...

For years, I tried to fix what was hurting my child by offering advice, solutions, even ultimatums. But none of it worked. It only built walls. In this episode, I share what it’s looked like to lay down control and choose presence instead. It’s raw, honest, and rooted in the belief that our greatest purpose as parents isn’t to fix it’s to be a faithful, grace-filled presence in the middle of the mess. You can find the journal prompts mentioned I've been working through here.

Disclaimer: The thoughts shared here come from my...

Lately, I’ve been paying attention to the moments when conversations with my big kids feel tense, guarded, or harder than they need to be, and what might be underneath that.

In this Hope in the Hard reflection, I share a personal story about a small but meaningful shift I’m practicing as a parent, and why it’s changing the way I think about connection, boundaries, and growth.

This episode is a gentle pause. An invitation to notice what happens when we stop managing the outcome and start listening more closely.

If you’d...

In this episode, I reflect on starting a new year feeling tired, stuck, and unsure how to move forward as a parent. I share how my practice of choosing a word for the year helped me reframe what it means to begin again—without pressure, perfection, or forcing progress.

Disclaimer: The thoughts shared here come from my own parenting and faith journey. Please remember this podcast is not a replacement for professional counseling or medical guidance.

If you’d like to partner with us and support the podcast, consider sponsoring an upcoming episode by making a do...

As this year comes to a close, I sat down to record what I thought would be a simple 7-minute Hope in the Hard reflection… but once I began, I realized this message needed more space. So today’s episode is a little longer — a gentle, unhurried conversation about looking back, letting go, and noticing the new thing God may already be growing beneath the surface.

If you’d like to partner with us and support the podcast, consider sponsoring an upcoming episode by making a donation of any size to Parenting Through the Hard [by clicking here].

Your support keeps this podcast running — and goes directly toward production costs and co...

In this special Christmas Hope in the Hard reflection, I’m sharing some tender thoughts about finding peace in the quieter moments of the season — the ones that don’t always feel “merry and bright.”

If you’d like to partner with us and support the podcast, consider sponsoring an upcoming episode by making a donation of any size to Parenting Through the Hard [by clicking here].

Your support keeps this podcast running — and goes directly toward production costs and continuing this mission.

For more resources and hope-filled tools, visit parentingthroughthehard.com

Disclaimer...

The holidays have always felt magical. But over time, and through hard seasons, they often felt more like survival. In this episode, I share honestly about what it’s looked like to navigate fractured family dynamics, quiet grief, and the slow work of healing. Even when it’s messy, love still matters. This episode explores how we as parents can hold onto hope and faith during the holidays, even in seasons marked by heartache, separation, or uncertainty.

Disclaimer: The thoughts shared here come from my own parenting and faith journey. Please remember this podcast is not a repl...

What do you do when the life you dreamed for your child collides with the choices they’ve made? When the future you pictured seems to slip out of reach, it can leave you aching with a grief no one prepares parents for.

In this episode, I share the raw story of discovering my teen’s hidden struggles, the shock and heartbreak that followed, and the truth I’ve learned walking beside countless moms facing their own detours. Together, we’ll talk about why grief is not failure but love in its rawest form, why we so often re...

In this Hope in the Hard reflection, I talk about the seasons when love itself feels heavy, when caring deeply for our teens or grown children begins to feel more like carrying than connecting. As I reflect on my own journey, I’ve noticed how easy it is to hold on to things that were never ours to carry, and how setting that weight down can make room for grace, trust, and gentler love. This episode is an invitation to breathe, to surrender the heaviness, and to remember that love was never meant to crush us — it was meant to c...

Do you ever feel that automatic pull to fix things for your teen or adult child, especially when their struggle triggers something tender or fearful in you? I feel that tug in my parenting all the time. 

In this episode, I’m sharing some of what I’m learning about the hidden cost of rescuing, why the urge feels so strong, and a small practice that’s helping me (little by little) stay close without taking over.

Disclaimer: The thoughts shared here come from my own parenting and faith journey. Please remember this podcast is not a replacement for professional counseling or medical guidance.

If you’d like to partner...

Join me for seven peaceful minutes to slow down, breathe, and rediscover hope, grace, and meaning in the middle of real life.

If you’ve ever ended the day completely drained and wondered why rest still feels out of reach, this one’s for you. In this short Hope in the Hard segment, I’m sharing some honest thoughts about what real rest looks like, not the kind that comes from scrolling or zoning out, but the kind that fills us back up from the inside out. Consider this your gentle challenge to find a few moments of tru...

You’re doing your best — but still not sure if it’s enough?

Friend, same! In this episode, we’ll talk about how to quiet the noise, reconnect with your inner wisdom, and parent from a place of love instead of fear.

You’ll walk away with a simple practice to help you check in with yourself and respond with clarity — even when emotions run high.

🛠️ Includes: The “3-Minute Heart Check” tool + journal prompts

Disclaimer: The thoughts shared here come from my own parenting and faith journey. Please remember this podcast is not a replacement...

In this Hope in the Hard reflection, I talk about finding beauty in the ordinary moments of everyday life — especially for parents walking through hard seasons with their teens or grown children. It’s a gentle reminder that healing often happens in quiet, simple ways, not dramatic ones. Join me for seven peaceful minutes to slow down, breathe, and rediscover hope, grace, and meaning in the middle of real life.

When our kids make choices that scare or disappoint us, it’s tempting to tighten our grip. But control and love can’t coexist. In this episode, I explore the raw struggle of letting go..why it feels so painful, how fear keeps us stuck, and what it looks like to release control without abandoning our children or losing ourselves.

Disclaimer: The thoughts shared here come from my own parenting and faith journey. Please remember this podcast is not a replacement for professional counseling or medical guidance.

If you’d like to partner with us and su...

This week, I’m introducing something new—short Hope in the Hard reflections in between our regular podcast episodes. These are simple, honest moments to pause and reconnect. In this first one, I talk about prayer when you have no words, and how silence can still be sacred.

In the middle of parenting teens and young adults, it's so easy to lose myself in the storm—caught between my children’s needs, my expectations, and the constant fear of what might go wrong. In this episode, I invite you into a quiet, honest conversation about what happens when we lose our inner voice—and how we can return to it through love, faith, and connection.

Disclaimer: The thoughts shared here come from my own parenting and faith journey. Please remember this podcast is not a replacement for professional counseling or medical guidance.

If you’d...

After a year and a half away from the mic, I’m stepping back into this space with a story I never expected to tell. Two days after releasing my last episode, my mom—who loved me with steady, unconditional love..passed away.

Grief and parenting through hard seasons have reshaped me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. They’ve taught me that control was never the answer, faith had to become part of the story, and showing up authentically means naming the mess as much as the beauty.

This relaunch episode is dedicated to my mo...

As I navigate through a deeply personal and challenging time, today's episode signifies a monumental shift in my life, one that I know will leave a lasting impact. In the midst of this, I've made the decision to take a break from recording to focus on being present with my family. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Have you ever found yourself trying to do all the right things with your child, pouring all your love and so, so much energy into parenting, only to start to question if you are even on the right path? Sometimes, even our best intentions can steer us off course.

In this episode, we cover:

Click here...

Are you exhausted, barely keeping your head above water, wondering if the next wave of fear will be the wave that finally takes you out? Well, friend, reframing is one powerful way you can start to protect your peace. 

In this episode, we cover:

In today's episode, we are going to take a look at some common fear triggers. How many of them resonate with you? We'll discuss the vicious cycle of fear, and what I've learned about the role of mirror neurons in my relationship with my teen. I'll also share some ways that I've been trying to break the cycle of fear in my own life & improve communication with my teens and adult children.
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About Through The Hard:
"Through The Hard," originally titled Unyielding, is proudly presented by Pathways to Hope Network—a parent-led non-profit organization co...

As we step into a new year, there's NO BETTER TIME to kickstart healthy habits and cultivate self-compassion. 

In this special rerun of Episode 32, we revisit an insightful discussion with Megan Dahlman, a Certified Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and mom of boys. Megan shares invaluable insights for moms navigating challenging seasons of chaos and uncertainty, emphasizing the crucial first steps on their self-compassion journey.

Key Takeaways:

Welcome to the final episode of 2023, where we take a reflective journey through some of my favorite clips of Through the Hard and Unyielding.

Join us as we revisit the memorable moments and lessons learned.....
Segment 1: Episode 10 Moving Through the Unknown with Purpose
Segment 2: Episode 27 Embracing Imperfection: Why You Need to Let Go of the Need to Fix Your Teen
Segment 3: Episode 12 What No One Tells You About Youth Probation
Segment 4: Episode 37 React Less, Respond More: Parenting Tips for Mindful Communication
Segment 5: Episode 35 The Role of Self-Reflection in the Healing Process
...

In this episode of Through the Hard, we dive into the topic of control and over-functioning in parenting. It's something many of us struggle with, and it can have negative effects on our teens. I often find myself in that same place, trying to control every aspect of my teen's life, thinking it is the best way to protect them. But I'm learning that it's so important to find a balance. Our teens need some freedom to make their own choices and learn from their mistakes.

That's where the concept of balanced oversight comes...

In this episode of Through the Hard, we dive into the topic of control and over-functioning in parenting. It's something many of us struggle with, and it can have negative effects on our teens. I often find myself in that same place, trying to control every aspect of my teen's life, thinking it is the best way to protect them. But I'm learning that it's so important to find a balance. Our teens need some freedom to make their own choices and learn from their mistakes.

That's where the concept of balanced oversight comes...

Today's Parenting Teens Through the Hard episode is a heartfelt throwback from last year.

We're diving into the challenges we all face during the holiday season while caring for a teen in crisis. Your experiences and emotions are valid, and we're here to explore them with compassion and understanding. Join us as we discuss the many conflicting emotions we experience and offer a few suggestions on how to approach setting boundaries, avoiding problematic gifts, planning how to handle difficult conversations, and creating new traditions to bring joy. Despite the hardships we are experiencing, this holiday season is...