How to Motivate Your Teen: Tips for Helping Them Find Direction and Purpose with Dana Roefer

Send us a textDo 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 showCheck 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 textDo you ever wonder why you get so reactive about what your tween or teen says or does? One minute, something they say doesn’t bother you, and the next, you feel like you’re about to lose it? What’s going on with that?In today’s episode, I’m joined by Shelly Robinson, a certified conscious parenting coach, the founder of Raising Yourself, and the creator of the Connected Kid Toolkit. Shelly is passionate about helping parents break generational cycles and build emotionally connected homes. With over half a million parents around the world engaging with her work, Shelly is transforming families one step at a time.Her work has been featured on platforms such as MindValley, GoZen, Raised Good, and Good News LA. Shelly has a wealth of wisdom to share, so I’m excited for you to hear her insights. You can find her resources at shellyrobinson.com.In This Episode, We Discuss:Shelly’s personal story and what led her to become a conscious parenting coach and the founder of Raising Yourself.The concept of reparenting—what it really means and why it’s such a vital process for today’s parents.A three-prong approach to parenting that helps parents do deep inner work while raising their children and healing generational wounds.The importance of emotional regulation—why it starts with the parent, not the child, and how we can practice it in everyday situations.Where to find Shelly:Website: shellyrobinson.com.The Connected Kid Toolkit: https://www.shellyrobinson.com/parenting-tools/connected-kid-toolkit/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raising_yourself/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raisingyourself/Support the showCheck 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 textDid you know that the ages between 6 and 12 are often referred to as ‘the forgotten years’? In reality, these years are some of the most crucial in shaping our kids’ mental health and development. In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Sheryl Ziegler back to the show to share insights from her upcoming book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood.Dr. Ziegler is a seasoned clinical psychologist, play therapist, podcast host, and author with over 20 years of experience. She has appeared as a mental health expert on major platforms, including The Today Show, The Doctors, and CNN, offering invaluable guidance to parents everywhere.In today’s conversation, we dive deep into the overlooked but essential years of middle childhood, exploring why these years between 6 and 12 are so foundational for kids’ mental health. We also discuss the impact of early puberty, modern challenges, and the growing pressures kids face in today’s digital world. Dr. Ziegler shares practical advice for parents on how to support their child’s mental health, resilience, and self-esteem during this transformative time.Where to find Dr. Sheryl Ziegler:Website: https://drsherylziegler.com/Her book - The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12): https://amzn.to/4iADtVMSupport the showCheck 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 textDo you struggle to get your teen to go to bed at a decent time?Are they so overloaded with homework and activities that late nights seem unavoidable?Do mornings feel like a constant battle to get them up?Jessica Bryant, representative of the Better Sleep Council (BSC), internationally recognized pediatric sleep strategist, keynote speaker, and the founder of Sleep Happy Consulting, is dedicated to answering the questions exhausted parents have about their kid’s sleepless days and nights. In a world that often prioritizes relentless busyness, Jessica is a staunch advocate for placing rest at the forefront of family life. She firmly believes that well-rested kids have the potential to make a profound impact on the world. Jessica is passionate about helping families prioritize rest and create calmer, more rested homes.Where to find Jessica:Here website: https://www.sleephappyconsulting.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleephappy/Link to Better Sleep Council's research on teen sleep mentioned on the show:  https://bettersleep.org/uncategorized/teens-and-sleep-2/Is your teen struggling to wake up in the morning? Grab Jessica’s Free Bedtime Chart Here > https://www.sleephappyconsulting.com/free Her Podcast, Sleep Happy: https://www.sleephappyconsulting.com/podcastAll her free resources: https://www.sleephappyconsulting.com/free-stuffSupport the showCheck 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 textNone of us get through this life without experiencing grief and loss. The question is, how do we work through that loss and come to believe that we can actually love our lives again? My special guest today is Krista St-Germain, who knows firsthand what it means to face unimaginable loss since tragically and unexpectedly losing her spouse in 2016, leaving her with a title she never thought she’d have: widow. Now a Post-Traumatic Growth and grief expert, life coach, and host of the Widowed Moms Podcast, Krista has been able to take from her own experience and help hundreds of widows navigate their lives after loss and not only survive but thrive and love their lives. In this episode, we’re going to dive deep into grief and loss - How do we navigate all the feelings?What the biggest myths about grief are.What post-traumatic growth is, and how this can make a huge difference in our healing process.How we can support our kids through grief and loss.And how we can come to not just survive but thrive.Where to find Krista and Resource Shared:Website: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachingwithkrista/Free Download: Support the showCheck 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 textParenting a teenager isn’t easy. Maybe your teen used to talk to you about everything, and now they’re constantly in their room and barely say a word. Or maybe every conversation seems to turn into an argument, and you’re struggling to connect. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and today’s episode is for you.I’m thrilled to have Susan Caso join us on the podcast. Susan is a therapist, consultant, and speaker with over 20 years of experience helping parents, teens, and families strengthen their relationships. She’s here to share insights from her new book, The Parent-Teen Connection: How to Build Lifelong Family Relationships, endorsed by Children’s Hospital Colorado and Crisis Text Line.In this conversation, Susan shares actionable strategies for building trust, creating emotional safety, and fostering a sense of belonging within your family. We dive into the challenges parents face when their teens push them away and how to overcome these obstacles to form lifelong bonds.Let's dive in!Where to find Susan:Website: https://susancaso.com/Get Her Book: The Parent-Teen ConnectionInterested in our Moms of Tweens and Teens Book Club? Reach out to me, Sheryl, at [email protected] the showCheck 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 textWelcome to the Moms of Tweens and Teens Podcast!Moms, let me ask you this: Do you ever feel like your mind is racing a hundred miles a minute like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel of to-dos, worries, and “what ifs”? It’s so easy to get distracted or feel overwhelmed when life demands so much from us. But what if there was a way to train our minds to slow down, reset, and find calm amidst the chaos?That’s exactly why I’m so excited to have Kelly Smith with us today. Kelly is a meditation teacher, yoga instructor, and the founder of Yoga For You. She’s also the host of two incredible podcasts, Mindful in Minutes and Meditation Mama (A collection of guided meditations for mothers at all stages of motherhood from expectant mothers to those with adult children. This is a podcast of meditations created by a mother for mothers, which are go-to resources for busy moms looking to find peace in their day.Her new book, Meditation for the Modern Family, is a breath of fresh air, filled with practical meditation techniques designed for real-life families. Kelly’s approach is warm, relatable, and so needed—especially for moms of tweens and teens navigating this wild and wonderful stage of parenting.If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on empty or just want to feel more grounded, this episode is for you.So take a deep breath and let’s dive in!Where to find Kelly:Website: https://www.yogaforyouonline.com/Podcast: Mindful In Minutes - https://www.yogaforyouonline.com/copy-of-podcastPodcast: Meditation Mama - https://www.yogaforyouonline.com/meditation-mama Her Book - Mindfulness for the Modern Family: https://www.yogaforyouonline.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogaforyouonline/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyuAzAFsNzcypnAa1XSlnogSupport the showCheck 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 textWelcome to the Moms of Tweens and Teens Podcast!Today, I'm excited to introduce two incredible guests, Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster, co-founders of ImpactParents and creators of the acclaimed podcast Parenting with Impact as well as authors of books, Parenting ADHD Now!: Easy Intervention Strategies to Empower Kids with ADHD and Parenting with Impact : Expert Advice to Empower Parents Raising Complex Kids.. These two powerhouses specialize in helping parents of neurodiverse and complex kids navigate the challenges of parenting with greater ease, connection, and understanding.Elaine and Diane are experts in neurodiversity-informed coaching, and they’ve spent over a decade equipping parents with the tools and strategies they need to build stronger relationships and support their kids’ independence. Their work has been transformative for countless families, offering hope and practical solutions to challenges like ADHD, anxiety, executive function struggles, and more.In this episode, we’re diving deep into topics like the independence paradox, collaborative problem-solving, and how to manage that fine line between support and enabling. If you’ve ever found yourself in a power struggle with your tween or teen—or if you’re wondering how to rebuild connection and trust—this conversation will give you the clarity and encouragement you need.Get ready to take away actionable insights, fresh perspectives, and the reassurance that you’re not alone on this parenting journey. Let's dive in!Where to find Elaine and Diane:Impact Parents Website: https://impactparents.com/Free Resources: https://impactparents.com/resources/Their Books: Parenting ADHD Now!: Easy Intervention Strategies to Empower Kids with ADHD and Parenting with Impact : Expert Advice to Empower Parents Raising Complex Kids.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparents/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParentSupport the showCheck 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 textToday, we're going to be talking about how to help our tweens and teens who are struggling with friendships, and this is really painful as a mom. If you have a kid who is lonely and is struggling with girl drama, it might look a little bit different if you have a boy, but they have their version of that. If they're spending a lot of time isolated and alone in their room, they're not connecting outside of social media. Maybe they've even been bullied or excluded from friend groups, and they can see that on social media, and then it can be so complicated when they have social media and all that goes with that. When it comes to friendships, it can just complicate things, and they can compare themselves. It can be really rough, and it can be difficult to know what to say and what to do that's going to help. And I hear from so many of you emailing me that you're saying, "Gosh, my kid is getting left out. They're lonely. They're spending all their time gaming, or they're coming home and crying every day because their best friend won't let them sit at the lunch table." It takes on many different forms, and my special guest today is Sheri Gazitt, the CEO and founder of Teen Wise. It is an organization that empowers teen girls to conquer girl drama and establish healthy friendships. And she does private coaching. They have online courses, presentations, and professional trainings. She has been on the podcast before, and she has so much wisdom and insight and a really beautiful way of taking it all and making it really simple and easy to understand. And in this episode, she talks to us about what we can do to help our kids. So let's dive in!What you will learn: The significant impact of friendships on our tweens' and teens’ lives, specifically how social struggles can lead to clinical depression and anxiety.The visible change in teens' body language and spark when they see a path forward in their social lives.Research on how patterns of popularity and bullying in middle and high school can persist into adulthood.Impact of the pandemic on teen friendships and their social skills. The "football effect," where disagreements lead to team formation, exacerbates the situation.Common mistakes parents make when supporting their children through social conflicts.Building confidence and addressing inner critic.LinksWebsitePodcastInstagramSupport the showCheck 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 textHey friend,If you struggle with clutter and being organized.If you are frustrated with your kid and their bedrooms and how disorganized they can be.If you’re wondering why it’s so hard to keep it all together with everything you have to do.I am so excited for you to listen to this episode with Laurie Palau!Laurie Palau is the author of HOT MESS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GETTING ORGANIZED, host of the popular weekly podcast This ORGANIZED Life, which has over 3M downloads, and founder of Simply B Organized, a lifestyle company that helps people live simply and work smarter.Her advice has been featured in national publications including Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens & The New York Times.Laurie speaks, teaches, and writes about Clutter, the Enneagram, and Women’s Entrepreneurship. Through coaching, consulting, and 1:1 mentorship, Laurie uses a mix of humor, tough love, and compassion to empower women whether they are running a household, a business or both! Buy her a coffee or a drink, and she’ll talk your ear off about all things BRAVO or true crime podcasts. She is a mom to two grown-ish girls and lives in New Hope, PA, with her husband Josh and their dog Jeter.Mentioned in this episode:Laurie's Freebie: https://simplyborganized.myflodesk.com/enneagramcoremotivationsThe Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by  Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile: https://amzn.to/3ybAlOUThe Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types: https://amzn.to/4fbuxG4Where to find Laurie:Website: https://simplyborganized.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyborganized/Podcast: https://simplyborganized.com/this-organized-life/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simplyborganizedFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thisorganizedlifepodcastHere book: HOT MESS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GETTING ORGANIZED: https://amzn.to/4d3hBzYSupport the showCheck 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.