When parenting your teenage son feels heavy and hard, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. But your “why”—the deep reason behind why you show up every day—can change everything.

This isn’t a tips-and-tricks episode. It’s about going deeper. If you’ve ever laid awake at 3 a.m. wondering if your son will be okay… if you’ve found yourself frustrated while checking missing assignments again… this conversation is for you.

Let’s reconnect to your purpose so you can parent with more clarity, more meaning—and more joy.

Why This Matters (Especially on the Hard Days)

When we forget why we’re doing all of this—why we’re setting boundaries, having hard conversations, checking grades, or even just showing up with love every day—everything feels heavier.

Your “why” is your anchor.
It gives you:

• Motivation when you feel stuck

• Grit when things get messy

• Perspective when you want to give up

Without it, motherhood can start to feel like a burden. But when you're rooted in purpose, the same day can feel meaningful instead of just hard.

My Personal Story: The Minivan Moment That Changed Everything

After the birth of my fifth son (yes, five!), I remember driving home from the hospital in a minivan packed with boys, crying the entire way. I wasn’t crying because something was wrong—I was crying because the weight of it all hit me.

That was the moment I truly clarified my own why:

• I wanted to raise boys who love God and each other.

• I wanted them to grow into good husbands, fathers, and contributors to their communities.

• I wanted to raise strong, kind, capable men.

That clarity has fueled me on the hardest days—and the most beautiful ones too.

Reflective Questions to Discover Your Why

Take time to write down your answers. These questions will guide you to the real reason you keep showing up:

• When you imagine your son as a grown man, what qualities matter most to you?

• What value or principle do you find yourself trying to instill in him?

• What kind of relationship do you want with him at 25, 40, or even 50?

• What legacy do you want to pass on through your parenting?

Don’t write what you should say. Write what resonates deeply in your soul.

A Word on “Enjoy the Moments” (And Why It’s Not Wrong)

There’s a narrative out there that “enjoy the moment” is toxic advice—but I see it differently.

What if the message isn’t to enjoy everything, but instead to recognize the meaning in the ordinary?
To find sacredness in:

• The 3 a.m. worry

• The endless laundry

• The hard conversations about video games and grades

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about perspective.

Your Why Is a Gift—for Both of You

When you reconnect to your why:

• You become a more grounded, confident mom

• You model perseverance and purpose for your son

• You raise not just a boy—but a man who knows who he is

And that’s a legacy worth building.

Take Action This Week

Here’s your simple assignment:

Write down 3 powerful reasons why you’re doing this parenting work.
Put them where you’ll see them every day.

Then, when it’s hard? Go back to them.
Let them guide your next step.

And if you’d like support and encouragement from moms just like you, join my free Facebook group where we talk about this kind of stuff all the time.

👉 Join the "Raising Boys, Building Men" Facebook Community Here

You’re Doing Better Than You Think

You are not alone. You are not behind.
And most of all—you’re doing better than you think.

This isn’t about changing your son first. It’s about remembering who you are, why you started, and who you’re becoming in the process.

Let’s keep building men—together.

Related Episodes You Might Like:  

Teenage Boys and Big Emotions: A Conversation with Molly Claire

Gaining Perspective When Parenting Gets Hard: A Simple Framework for Handling Your Teenage Son's Most Challenging Moments