Eps 633: Revisiting Control vs Influence While Parenting Teens

Eps 633: Revisiting Control vs Influence While Parenting Teens

Author: Casey O'Roarty December 11, 2025 Duration: 31:22
During this week's solo show, I am digging back into one of the biggest parenting struggles: the illusion of control. As a parent educator with nearly 20 years of experience, I'm breaking down why trying to control our teens backfires and how shifting to influence transforms everything. Learn why getting out of your teen's way doesn't mean permissive parenting, how to move from the driver's seat to the passenger seat, and why relationship-centered parenting beats rewards and consequences every time. If you're struggling with power struggles, school avoidance, or screen time battles, this episode offers a completely different approach that actually works. For more show notes and info go to: https://www.besproutable.com/podcasts/eps-332-solo-show-the-challenges-of-giving-up-control-with-our-teens/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting adolescents often feels like navigating a landscape without a reliable map, where the old rules no longer apply and connection can feel just out of reach. Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens, hosted by Casey O'Roarty, meets you right in that uncertainty. This podcast operates from a simple, powerful belief: the challenges of raising tweens and teens, while deeply personal, are also a shared human experience. Instead of offering quick fixes, conversations here focus on the foundational work of building and repairing relationships, fostering essential life skills in our kids, and perhaps most importantly, doing the internal work required of us as parents. You’ll hear honest discussions that blend practical strategies with compassionate insight, all aimed at transforming this demanding season from a battle of wills into an opportunity for mutual growth. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining a thoughtful, experienced friend who reminds you that courage isn't about being fearless, but about finding joy and resilience within the beautiful mess of family life. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to move beyond reaction and toward a more intentional, connected approach with the young adults in their home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Podcast Episodes
Eps 606: Middle School Series Part Two - Essential Conversations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:59
In this episode, I dive into the tough but essential conversations we need to be having with our middle schoolers — around tech, social media, consent, substances, mental health, and more. I remind parents that silence d…
Eps 605: Middle School Series Part One - Growth, Change and Belonging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
Middle school is a wild ride — bodies changing, moods shifting, friendships evolving, and parents wondering how to keep up. In this first episode of my four-part middle school series, I unpack the developmental landscape…
Eps 604: Alyssa Blask Campbell on Parenting Big Feeling Teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:28
On this week’s Joyful Courage Podcast, I welcome Alyssa Campbell, author of Big Kids, Bigger Feelings. We dive into what’s really going on in our teens’ nervous systems and how parents can support them through big emotio…
Eps 603: Building structure and connection with older teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Parenting a teen with neurodiversity, mental health challenges, or a fiery personality can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re realizing senior year is here and boundaries have been blurry. In this week’s Joyful Cou…
Eps 601: Revisiting Validation, Mutual Respect and Back to School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:01
Back-to-school season stirs up ALL the emotions for our teens—and for us too. In this replay episode, I’m diving deep into how validation and mutual respect can shift everything at home. Your teen’s emotional world is re…
Eps 599: How to Talk to Your Teen About the New School Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:47
Back-to-school season with tweens and teens can stir up anxiety, avoidance, and tricky conversations. In this episode, I share Positive Discipline tools and mindset shifts to help you move from “manager” to “mentor” so y…