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 good cyber hygiene ✔️ Having ongoing conversations (without fear or overreaction) ✔️ Helping kids stay safe and confident online

If you’re parenting boys—or kids of any gender in a digital world—I hope this episode is helpful. Please feel free to share it with another parent who might need it. 💙

🎧 Listen here: mothersofboys.life/cyber-smart

#MOBsurvivalguide #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #CyberSmartKids #BoyMomLife #ParentingTeens #DigitalSafety

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, including screens, privacy, vaping, risky behavior, and how to stay grounded when everything in your body wants to react.

If you’re trying to stay connected with your teen without making things worse, this conversation is for you.

• Why self-regulation matters more than problem-solving in heated moments
• How fear and catastrophizing show up in parenting teens
• Talking about vaping and nicotine without turning it into a power struggle
• Privacy, trust, and the “Submarine Parent” approach
• Why curiosity works better than catching teens
• Technology, gaming, and teen social life
• Creating digital wellness and setting screen limits
• When to drop the rope and step out of power struggles
• A simple parenting mantra for the teen years

🎧 Looking for Part 1? Be sure to check out the first half of this conversation for foundational strategies on connection and boundaries.

📚 Resources & links – Joyful Courage podcast – Joyful Courage: Calming the Drama and Taking Control of Your Parenting Journey – More episodes and resources at mothersofboys.life

#ParentingTeenBoys #TeenBoys #RaisingBoys #BoyMom #TeenParenting #PositiveDiscipline #MothersOfBoys #MOBsurvivalguide #JoyfulCourage #ParentingPodcast

📚 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

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 and influential (without losing their cool).

This episode focuses on mindset shifts, language changes, and why caring for yourself is not optional—it’s essential.

Listen to Part 2 for more practical tools and strategies. #MOBsurvivalguide #ParentingTeenBoys #BoyMomLife #TeenParenting #PositiveDiscipline #RaisingBoys

📚 Resources & links – Joyful Courage podcast – Joyful Courage: Calming the Drama and Taking Control of Your Parenting Journey – More episodes and resources at mothersofboys.life

📚 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

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 conversation offers clarity, hope, and real strategies you can use now.

👉 Watch, share, and subscribe for more support for boy moms.

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 struggles (and how to survive them) ✔️ Lying, embarrassment, and shutdowns ✔️ Teen risk-taking (hello, cliff-jumping 😳) ✔️ Rituals that help boys open up ✔️ How to stay connected—even when they’re off at college, ignoring your calls

If you’re raising a teen boy, this episode is your emotional life raft. Give it a listen and share it with another boy mom who needs a little solidarity today.

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 how small changes in our responses can build lasting trust and confidence. From classroom frustrations to grocery store meltdowns, this episode offers real-world parenting advice and a deeper understanding of how to raise emotionally strong, self-aware young men.

Perfect for any parent who’s ever wondered what’s really going on behind their son’s silence—or his shouting.

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, she now helps parents stay grounded, protect their kids, and navigate toxic co-parenting dynamics without losing their sanity.

We talk about:

• Early red flags of a high-conflict divorce
• How to protect your kids from emotional manipulation
• The 10-minute connection rule every mom should know
• Supporting boys who internalize stress and anger
• Smart communication & documentation strategies
• Finding the right support — for you and your kids

This episode isn’t doom-and-gloom. It’s truth, strength, and real tools for moms who are fighting to stay strong and raise resilient boys through messy chapters of life. You are not alone in this. 💛

🎮 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).

• Gaming isn’t the enemy — It’s today’s playground for creativity, problem-solving, and social connection.
• Roblox is a platform, not a game — Kids can build, code, and even earn money creating games within it.
• Screen time ≠ wasted time — With guidance, gaming can develop real-world skills like coding, teamwork, and strategy.
• Safety starts with connection — Talk openly with your kids, set boundaries, and model healthy tech habits.
• Encourage creators, not just consumers — Help your kids channel their love of gaming into learning, building, and innovating.

👉 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform or at MothersOfBoys.life.