They say it takes a village to raise a child—and when you’re raising boys, having other moms in your corner can make all the difference. In this episode, Suzy talks with Laurie Ann Steinmetz, mom of three adult sons, host of The MOOBment Podcast, and founder of a community for MOOBs—Mothers Of Only Boys.

Suzy and Laurie Ann share how mom friendships helped them navigate the chaos of raising boys, from carpools and sports fields to the moments when life simply became too much to handle alone. They talk about asking for help, Laurie Ann’s A-B-C-D theory of friendship, holding onto your own identity through motherhood, finding your village, and trusting that your boys really are listening—even when you’re pretty sure they aren’t.

🎧 Raising Boys Takes a Village: Why Mom Friends Matter

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📚 Grab Suzy Shaw’s Mothers of Boys Survival Guide  book

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Raising boys into confident, responsible young men means learning when to step in—and when to let them figure it out.

Author and mom of four sons Jennifer L. W. Fink returns to the MOBcast to talk about parenting boys through the middle and high school years. We discuss puberty, independence, school responsibilities, letting boys experience consequences, and why our role needs to shift from managing to coaching as they grow.

Plus, a reassuring reminder for anyone currently living with a “man cub”: all that love, guidance, and teaching you poured into him when he was little? It’s still in there.

🎧 Building Boys: Raising Confident, Responsible Young Men

Listen on your favorite podcast app, watch on YouTube, or visit mothersofboys.life.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another mom.

📚 Grab Suzy Shaw’s Mothers of Boys Survival Guide

🔗 Visit http://motherofboys.life for resources, links, and more.

📌 Subscribe for more parenting tips and support for raising boys!

⭐⭐⭐ Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast ⭐⭐⭐ https://mothersofboys.life/podcasts

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Divorce is one of the biggest life changes a child can experience, but boys don't always show they're struggling in obvious ways. In this episode, counselor Jarrod Hoffman shares how trauma can affect boys differently, the warning signs parents should watch for, and a simple framework—intensity, frequency, and recency—to help determine when a behavior may be more than a normal reaction to stress. He also explains why feelings of isolation can make trauma more difficult, how to introduce counseling in a positive way, and one powerful communication tool that encourages boys to open up: "Tell me more." Whether you're navigating divorce or supporting your son through another challenging season, this conversation offers practical guidance, reassurance, and hope.

Listen on your favorite podcast app, watch on YouTube, or visit mothersofboys.life.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another mom.

📚 Grab Suzy Shaw’s Mothers of Boys Survival Guide

🔗 Visit http://motherofboys.life for resources, links, and more.

📌 Subscribe for more parenting tips and support for raising boys!

⭐⭐⭐ Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast ⭐⭐⭐ https://mothersofboys.life/podcasts

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Paying for college can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. In Part 2 of this conversation, Suzy Shaw sits down with college admissions expert Shellee Howard, founder of College Ready, to break down practical strategies for making higher education more affordable. Shellee explains the four ways families can pay for college, how scholarships and financial aid really work, common FAFSA mistakes to avoid, and why it's never too early to start planning.

The conversation also explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping careers and what today's students need to do to prepare for an uncertain future. Whether your teen is headed to a four-year university, community college, trade school, or another path, this episode offers practical guidance to help families reduce college costs, avoid expensive mistakes, and confidently plan for what comes next.

Listen on your favorite podcast app, watch on YouTube, or visit mothersofboys.life.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another mom.

📚 Grab Suzy Shaw’s Mothers of Boys Survival Guide

🔗 Visit http://motherofboys.life for resources, links, and more.

📌 Subscribe for more parenting tips and support for raising boys!

⭐⭐⭐ Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast ⭐⭐⭐ https://mothersofboys.life/podcasts

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What comes after high school? Four-year college, community college, trade school, entrepreneurship, a gap year, or the workforce? With more options—and higher college costs—helping your son choose the right path can feel overwhelming.

In Part 1, Suzy talks with Shellee Howard, founder of College Ready, about helping teens discover their strengths, find their “why,” and make thoughtful decisions about their future. They discuss college and career planning, financial literacy, the value of letting kids fail, and how parents can guide their children toward independence without choosing the path for them.

Listen on your favorite podcast app, watch on YouTube, or visit mothersofboys.life.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another mom.

📚 Grab Suzy Shaw’s Mothers of Boys Survival Guide

🔗 Visit http://motherofboys.life for resources, links, and more.

📌 Subscribe for more parenting tips and support for raising boys!

⭐⭐⭐ Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast ⭐⭐⭐ https://mothersofboys.life/podcasts

👉 Follow for more parenting insights:

As parents, we naturally celebrate our children's achievements—but what if success is hiding anxiety, perfectionism, or self-doubt?

In this episode, elite mental performance coach Dr. Carla Caturia explains why achievement alone doesn't build confidence and shares practical strategies to help boys develop resilience, emotional intelligence, and a strong sense of self. We discuss recognizing the signs of burnout, supporting children without rescuing them, and giving them the confidence to navigate life's challenges with independence and self-trust.

If you've ever wondered how to encourage your son to pursue excellence without tying his self-worth to grades, sports, or accomplishments, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and practical advice for every parent.

As moms, it's easy to believe that successful parenting is about finding the right strategy, solving problems, and helping our children avoid mistakes. But what if the most important work we do as parents has less to do with changing our children and more to do with understanding ourselves?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw talks with Conscious Life and Parenting Coach Lynda Leonce about how awareness, presence, and personal growth can transform the parent-child relationship. Drawing on her own journey of self-discovery, Lynda shares how parents can let go of fear, expectations, and the need to control outcomes in order to build stronger connections with their children.

Together, they discuss conscious parenting, supporting children through challenges without overreacting, raising independent decision-makers, and helping children develop resilience through their own experiences. Lynda also offers practical strategies for quieting the mental "hamster wheel," becoming more present, and choosing peace during difficult parenting moments.

If you've ever worried about making the right parenting decisions or felt overwhelmed by the pressure to get everything right, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that your own growth may be one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.

Listen on your favorite podcast app, watch on YouTube, or visit mothersofboys.life.

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Co-parenting can be one of the most challenging aspects of raising children, especially when parents bring different childhood experiences, expectations, and parenting philosophies into the family. In this episode, Katherine Winter-Sellery returns to discuss how parents can communicate more effectively, reduce mixed messages, navigate power struggles, and create greater consistency at home.

Through practical examples and thoughtful insights, Katherine explains how empathy, listening, emotional awareness, and conscious communication can strengthen both parenting partnerships and relationships with children.

Listen on your favorite podcast app, watch on YouTube, or visit mothersofboys.life.

#MOBsurvivalguide #ConsciousParenting #ParentingBoys #Motherhood #RaisingBoys #ParentingPodcast #EmotionalRegulation #GentleParenting #ParentingSupport

What if the way we react to our children has more to do with our own upbringing than their behavior?

In this episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, I talk with Katherine Winter-Sellery, founder of the Conscious Parenting Revolution, about how generational patterns, emotional triggers, and fear-based parenting can quietly shape our relationships with our kids.

We discuss:

One of my favorite takeaways: “See your children beautiful.”

Listen on your favorite podcast app, watch on YouTube, or visit mothersofboys.life.

#MOBsurvivalguide #ConsciousParenting #ParentingBoys #Motherhood #RaisingBoys #ParentingPodcast #EmotionalRegulation #GentleParenting #ParentingSupport

In this heartfelt episode of the Mothers of Boys Survival Guide Podcast, Suzy Shaw speaks with author Kate Markland about how storytelling helped her stay connected to her young son during a painful separation. What began as one intentional hour a week of imaginative storytelling evolved into published books, school workshops, and StoryQuest Global, a project helping children become creators instead of consumers.

Kate shares practical insights about raising boys, encouraging emotional expression, building literacy through creativity, and why storytelling can help boys open up in ways traditional conversation sometimes cannot. This inspiring conversation offers moms encouragement, hope, and simple ideas for strengthening connection through imagination and play.

Visit the podcast webpage for links to the resources: Raising Boys Through Storytelling: How One Mom Turned Heartbreak into Connection