Raising Her Confidence | A podcast for women navigating life transitions with faith and confidence

When your teen’s mood shifts, it’s easy to feel unsteady as a mom. One moment feels connected, the next feels tense and suddenly you’re questioning what to say, what to do, and whether you’re handling things the right way. In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, we talk about how moms can stay emotionally steady when their teen isn’t without shutting down, snapping, or chasing connection. You’ll learn how to regulate your own nervous system, respond with calm confidence during emotionally charged moments, and recognize the difference between everyday teen mood swings and true cries for help. This conversation is about discernment, emotional leadership, and protecting connection while still trusting your instincts. We explore how teens often interpret words differently than intended, why peer responses can deepen feelings of worthlessness, and why a mother’s steady presence matters more than perfection. You’ll walk away with practical tools, reassurance, and a grounded framework for supporting your teen while staying anchored in yourself. If you’re raising a teen and want to feel more confident, clear, and steady in how you show up especially during emotional highs and lows, this episode offers a compassionate, forward-thinking approach to parenting teens with strength and care. Listener Safety Note: This episode focuses on everyday emotional regulation and parenting through teen mood shifts. It is not intended to replace professional or crisis support. If your child is expressing hopelessness, thoughts of self-harm, or not wanting to be here or if your intuition tells you something is more serious, please trust that instinct and seek immediate help from a qualified mental health professional or local crisis resource. You do not have to handle that alone.

Why Boundaries Feel So Hard for Moms and What Actually Works Instead Boundaries feel complicated for many moms especially as kids grow older and the stakes feel higher. The pressure to say the right thing, protect connection, and avoid regret can slowly quiet a mom’s inner voice. In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim shares her personal story of losing trust in her intuition over time and how over-caution, fear of mistakes, and outside voices can make boundaries feel heavy instead of supportive. This conversation reframes boundaries through a calm leadership lens, showing moms how emotional regulation, body awareness, and self-trust create clarity without guilt or rigidity. Kim introduces the Power Shift™ as a tool for self-leadership and emotional regulation, and weaves in a perspective to explain how physical signals like stress, sleep, food, and inflammation influence emotions and decision-making. This episode offers reassurance, strength, and hope for moms who feel stuck, hesitant, or quietly overwhelmed without asking for perfection. If boundaries feel exhausting, this episode provides a grounded path back to clarity, confidence, and calm authority. Visit us at www.powerwithinmovement.com or join our private facebook group for moms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/powerwithinmoms

🎧 Episode 22 Description (Primary / Recommended) Letting go is supposed to feel right, so why does it still hurt? In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim explores the quiet emotional shift that happens when life changes in healthy ways when adult children grow, roles evolve, and nothing is technically wrong… yet something still feels different. This conversation is for women, especially moms who have raised capable, independent people and are now navigating a new season of leadership, identity, and emotional steadiness. It’s not about fixing relationships or questioning decisions. It’s about understanding why letting go can feel heavy, even when it’s right and how confident women lead themselves through that transition without clinging, withdrawing, or losing their sense of self. Inside this episode, you’ll explore: Why letting go can feel painful even when you’re confident and grounded The hidden grief many women experience during healthy transitions How strong women navigate change without self-blame or emotional shutdown What “quiet leadership” looks like in motherhood and in life How confidence evolves when roles shift and identities mature If you’re a woman or a mom navigating change, identity shifts, or emotional transitions, this episode will help you feel steadier, clearer, and more confident in who you’re becoming.

In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim explores why so many high-functioning women struggle with clarity, overthinking, and decision fatigue, especially during seasons of transition. If you’ve ever felt stuck between options, mentally drained by choices, or frustrated that decisions feel heavier than they should, this conversation will shift how you understand what’s really happening. You’ll learn why decision-making isn’t a confidence problem, why more information doesn’t always create clarity, and how unseen pressure and emotional responsibility quietly interfere with your ability to decide. Kim introduces a powerful reframe that helps women move out of relief-based decisions and back into grounded, steady leadership without burnout or second-guessing. This episode is for women who are successful, self-aware, and capable but ready to stop carrying invisible weight and start making decisions that reflect alignment, not pressure. This is where clarity returns. This is where confidence steadies. This is where the Power Shift begins.  

Many capable women don’t feel overwhelmed, they feel constantly on. Always responding. Always adjusting. Always managing what comes next. In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim explores why confidence can quietly erode when life is lived in reaction mode and how true confidence returns when you shift from responding to life to leading yourself within it. This conversation isn’t about doing more, fixing yourself, or pushing harder. It’s about understanding how urgency hijacks leadership and how slowing your internal pace restores clarity, steadiness, and self-trust. You’ll learn: Why reaction mode feels exhausting even when life looks “fine” How confidence shifts in seasons of motherhood, transition, and midlife The real difference between reacting and leading A simple, practical way to reset your internal orientation when everything feels urgent How self-leadership creates calm for you and the people who rely on you This episode is for women who are capable, thoughtful, and ready to stop living on alert and start leading their lives with confidence, clarity, and intention. You don’t need to become someone new, you simply need to lead yourself again.  

Have you ever thought, “I just want to quit”? At the start of a new year or a new season of motherhood that thought can feel unsettling. Especially for moms who have spent years being everything for everyone else. In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, we explore why that inner message doesn’t mean you’re burnt out, broken, or failing and what it may actually be asking of you instead. This conversation is for: moms raising small kids, teens or young adults empty nesters navigating a quieter chapter women in transition who feel “off,” but not lost We talk about the difference between discernment and overwhelm, why many women misinterpret their intuition as a problem, and how learning to pause before fixing or pushing can become a powerful form of self-leadership. Drawing on personal reflection and intuitive discernment principles inspired by one of my mentors, this episode offers a grounded reframe for moms who sense that something is shifting  and want to listen without fear. If you’ve been feeling the urge to step back, simplify, or reclaim yourself without guilt… this episode is for you. join our facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/powerwithinmoms  

When your child is grown, the relationship changes and so does your role as mom. In this episode, we explore what it really means to stay connected with your older or young adult child when the familiar dynamics no longer fit. Not from a place of control or fixing, but from calm presence, emotional maturity, and steadiness. This conversation is for the mom who has spent years supporting, managing, planning, adjusting, and holding everything together and is now realizing that the role she once lived in so naturally feels different. Maybe quieter. Maybe uncertain. Maybe harder to name. We talk about the subtle shift from protecting and mentoring to supporting and anchoring and why learning how to stay steady matters more than always having the right response. We explore how fear, over-accommodation, and the instinct to fix can quietly shape our decisions, and how letting life teach can build real resilience for both you and your child. If you’ve ever wondered: What is my role now that my child is growing up? How do I stay connected without losing myself? How do I stop fixing and start leading with calm? This episode offers reassurance, perspective, and a grounded reframe for this season of motherhood. You are not behind. You are not failing. You are learning a new way to be mom and that matters. XOXO

Episode 17: The Unspoken Pressure Why Our Kids Are Exhausted From Pretending They’re Okay Is your child actually okay… or have they just become very good at acting like they are? In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim explores a pressure many kids carry quietly, the pressure to perform, to stay strong, and to look fine even when they’re overwhelmed inside. Building on the previous episode, The Invisible Reset, this conversation goes deeper, beyond nervous system overload, into emotional masking, identity protection, and why so many kids hide what they’re really feeling, even at home. Kim shares why unmasking is not quick or spontaneous, how many layers of masking teens are already carrying by early adolescence, and why telling kids “you can talk to me” often isn’t enough. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why emotional masking is at an all-time high in teens and tweens How many “masks” kids are actually wearing and why they exist The subtle signs your child may be struggling beneath “I’m fine” Why calming a child and creating emotional safety are not the same thing How moms can reduce the pressure to perform without forcing conversations What actually helps kids loosen the mask, slowly, safely, over time Kim also shares a personal connection to this topic through her chapter “Removing Your Mask” from the international bestselling book Step Into Your Brave, and why this message matters now more than ever for the next generation. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering: “Why won’t my child open up?” “Why do they say they’re fine when my gut tells me otherwise?” This episode will help you see what’s really happening and how to respond with clarity, steadiness, and compassion. Here is the link to Vault with the latest resources -https://powerwithinmovement.com/the-vault/  

Any time your family feels overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in old patterns, it’s a sign a reset is needed. In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim Mittelstadt introduces a powerful, non-traditional approach to helping teens reset, not by changing habits or pushing motivation, but by shifting the emotional atmosphere of the home. You’ll learn why teens resist traditional resets, how emotional safety and energy shape behavior, and how simple mentor-style questions can help your teen build confidence and trust themselves without pressure or nagging. This episode is especially helpful for parents navigating: overwhelmed or stressed teens motivation struggles social shifts or friendship challenges emotional shutdown or resistance major transitions or new seasons ✨ Free Resource: Download the Invisible Reset Guide for Moms inside the Power Within Vault, a gentle 7-day rhythm to help you reset the emotional climate of your home anytime it’s needed.

Every mom feels that emotional shift the moment kids come home from school break. Whether it’s winter break, summer vacation, spring break, or even a long weekend home from college, kids of all ages often return acting different. Moodier. Quieter. Irritable. Overwhelmed. Detached. Or simply… “off.” This emotional transition isn’t random, it’s a real psychological and nervous-system response. And when moms don’t understand what’s happening, school breaks can become stressful and full of conflict instead of peaceful and connected. In this grounding and eye-opening episode, Kim Mittelstadt breaks down The Coming Home Shift™ why kids change the minute routine stops and how to help them re-regulate, reconnect, and reset without power struggles, guilt, or frustration. You’ll learn: ✨ Why your child’s mood and energy shift after school break ✨ The “freedom-to-structure whiplash” no one warns parents about ✨ How comparison, social pressure, academics, and peer dynamics affect BOTH boys and girls ✨ Signs your child is overwhelmed, overstimulated, or emotionally shutdown ✨ What to do when your teen withdraws, snaps, or avoids family time ✨ How to stay calm and emotionally neutral when emotions run high ✨ Simple connection rituals that rebuild trust and communication ✨ Practical ways to create a peaceful, grounded home environment ✨ How to support preteens, teens, and young adults during ANY transition This episode is perfect for moms navigating: teen mood swings college kids returning home emotional dysregulation family tension during school breaks sibling conflict connection challenges parenting stress nervous system overload independence vs. house rules If you want to understand your child’s behavior on a deeper level — and learn how to keep your home calm, connected, and emotionally safe — this episode will give you the tools you need. ⭐ FREE BONUS: Access the Coming Home Reset™ Cheat Sheet inside the Power Within Movement™ Vault, your quick, confidence-building guide to helping kids decompress, regulate, and reconnect after any school break. https://powerwithinmovement.com/the-vault/ ⭐ This episode is ideal for: Moms of preteens, teens, and young adults who want practical parenting tools, emotional regulation strategies, and insights to build a more peaceful, connected home.

When your daughter feels overwhelmed, withdrawn, or emotionally drained, it can leave you wondering how to help her recover not just quickly, but deeply. In this powerful episode, Kim breaks down what emotional resilience really looks like for today’s teen girls and young women, and how moms can guide their daughters through disappointment, stress, and setbacks without losing connection. You’ll learn the surprising signs that your daughter may be emotionally overloaded, the neuroscience behind resilience, and the three foundational tools every girl needs to rebuild inner strength. Kim introduces a brand-new framework The Resilience Cycle to help moms support recovery without rescuing, rushing, or “fixing.” Whether your daughter is facing friend drama, school stress, emotional burnout, or simply a tough season, this episode will show you how to help her rise again with confidence, grounded identity, and emotional stability. ✨ In this episode, you’ll discover: The hidden signs your daughter is emotionally overloaded What happens inside the teen brain during stress or disappointment Why emotional exhaustion is more common than ever The three foundations every girl needs to rebuild resilience The Resilience Cycle and how to use it at home What moms should avoid when supporting emotional recovery A simple nightly ritual that strengthens emotional regulation How your presence becomes your daughter’s emotional anchor 💛 Perfect for moms who want to: Strengthen their relationship with their teen or tween Help their daughter handle stress without shutting down Teach emotional regulation and healthy coping skills Build confidence from the inside out Feel more calm, grounded, and equipped as a parent Raising a confident teen isn’t about preventing every heartbreak it’s about giving her the tools to rise after them. This episode will remind you that emotional resilience isn’t built in the easy moments. It’s built in the quiet, steady, ordinary days where you choose presence over pressure, connection over control, and compassion over quick fixes. Your daughter doesn’t need you to be perfect. She needs you to be present, grounded, and willing to walk with her as she becomes stronger than she ever realized. This episode is your guide to doing exactly that.

So many of today’s kids, not all, but many are quietly drowning in the need to be liked, accepted, and chosen. And when that validation disappears, some of them don’t know how to stand, how to cope, or how to regulate the emotions that come rushing in. In this powerful episode, Kim Mittelstadt speaks directly to the heart of a growing crisis affecting teens and young adults: the emotional fallout of external validation. You’ll learn why rejection feels catastrophic to so many teens, why emotional regulation has become a lost skill, and how five years of post-pandemic social shifts have intensified anxiety, comparison, and loneliness. Kim shares the deeply personal story of her own daughter’s struggle with bullying, emotional collapse, and the night everything changed and how their family fought their way back to healing. With raw honesty and gentle guidance, she explains what our kids are missing, what they’re truly asking for, and how moms can step into a new role using her signature Power Shift Theory™. If you’ve ever felt helpless watching your child crumble under pressure, pull away, or chase approval from the wrong places, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening beneath the surface and what you can do today to anchor your child in true, unshakeable worth. In this episode you’ll learn: Why external validation has become the new emotional currency The connection between teen rejection, anger, shutdown, and self-harm How the pandemic changed social development and emotional literacy The real reason boys and girls express pain differently The missing skill every teen needs to survive disappointment How to shift from Protector → Mentor → Supporter using the Power Shift Theory™ Simple ways to model internal confidence and emotional calm in your home Go deeper: Unlock ongoing support, tools, and resources inside the Her Power Within™ Vault  exclusively for moms committed to raising emotionally strong, grounded, confident kids.  💗 Real talk. Real tools. For moms raising kids in a high-pressure world.

If conversations with your teen feel tense, one-sided, or emotionally draining, this episode will help you rebuild trust, one calm, connected moment at a time. In this powerful, heart-centered episode, Kim Mittelstadt, mom of six and founder of the "Power Within Movement™"  reveals the communication shifts every mom needs to reconnect with her daughter and create emotional safety at home. Instead of more tension, shutdowns, or eye-rolling, you’ll learn how to speak in a way your daughter can actually hear. 💬 In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why your daughter suddenly stops listening  and how to rebuild safety so she lets you back in • The secret to moving from Protector to Mentor using Kim’s signature Power Shift Theory™ • The 3 Keys to Bridge-Building Communication that instantly lower defensiveness • Simple, repeatable Bridge Phrases™ that soften conflict and open the door to connection • The 5-Minute Connection Method  a daily ritual that helps even the busiest moms rebuild trust ✨ Perfect for: Moms raising tween or teen girls who feel like they’re losing connection and want to create a home where conversations feel peaceful, safe, and meaningful again. 💗 This episode is your guide to reconnecting: not through perfect words, but through calm, intentional presence. Join our facebook group for moms - https://www.facebook.com/groups/powerwithinmoms Visit our "Power Within Vault" for resources, tools and tips - Power Within Vault

You ever notice how some days just feel loud? Not the kind of loud that comes from sound but from energy. The endless notifications, the mood swings, the comparison, the pressure to keep up for both you and your daughter. She’s growing up in a world that never stops talking, a world that feeds anxiety, self-doubt, and constant performance. And when her nervous system is overloaded, yours usually is too. That’s why today’s episode is one every mom needs, “Be the Calm: Helping Your Daughter Find Peace When the World Feels Loud.” We’re talking about emotional regulation, nervous system balance, and the power of a mother’s energy to bring peace into the home. Because your calm is more than a mood, it’s medicine. When you learn to stay grounded through the chaos, you don’t just change the atmosphere in your home you change the story your daughter tells herself about who she is.  Check out the Vault for free resources www.teenimageacademy.com Join our Facebook group for moms - https://www.facebook.com/groups/supportformomsofteendaughters 

Have you ever stood in front of your closet, tried on five outfits, and thought, “Nothing looks good on me”? You’re not alone, and neither is your daughter. In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim pulls back the curtain on one of the most powerful tools from the world of personal style: illusion dressing. This isn’t about hiding or changing your body. It’s about harmony, proportion, and balance, learning how lines, lengths, and fabrics work with your shape instead of against it. Because when you understand how clothes are designed, you stop criticizing your body and start dressing with intention and confidence. You’ll learn: ✨ Why “nothing looks good on me” is never the truth and how to reframe it. ✨ The stylist’s secret to using proportion and length to create balance and polish. ✨ How to stop the cycle of body-blame and model self-kindness in front of your daughter. ✨ A real-life transformation story that shows how the right clothes can change more than your look, they can change your outlook. By the end of this episode, you’ll see illusion dressing not as fashion fluff, but as a confidence skill, something you can model, teach, and pass down. Because when moms dress with confidence, daughters learn it. And that’s a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Color has power!  it shapes how we feel, how we show up, and even how we see ourselves. In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim dives into the comeback of personal color analysis and why discovering your natural palette is about so much more than style. It’s about aligning color, personality, and authenticity and helping both moms and daughters feel comfortable, radiant, and confident in their own skin. You’ll hear how: Your style personality and color choices are deeply connected and why wearing colors that don’t fit your energy can leave you feeling off. Color apps might point you in the right direction, but a trained stylist can reveal the deeper harmony that transforms how you dress and how you feel. And how learning your unique color family can help you (and your daughter) rediscover confidence that looks natural and feels real. This isn’t about trends or standing out. It’s about discovering your glow, the kind that can’t be faked.

In this heartfelt episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim introduces the Final Shift—the often-missed stage of parenting that begins when our kids start living more independently and needing us less day-to-day. Whether you’re parenting teens, launching college students, or navigating life with adult children, this conversation will bring you comfort, clarity, and a new framework for staying close—even as you let go. You’ll learn: What it means to become your child’s Trusted Anchor Why continuing to “parent” adult children can unintentionally push them away How to build emotional safety and mutual respect in this new stage of life What your grown kids really want from you (hint: it’s not more advice) This episode is a loving guide for every mom who’s ever asked: “How do I let go… without losing the bond?”

Ever find yourself replaying the same conversation, moment, or regret wishing you could go back and do it differently? In this episode of Raising Her Confidence, Kim unpacks the concept of emotional loops... those invisible, unresolved thoughts that keep circling in your mind and quietly shaping how you parent. These loops often begin in moments of guilt, fear, or misunderstanding… and unless we learn how to close them, they can stay open for years draining our peace and confidence. You’ll discover: • What emotional loops are and why moms are especially vulnerable to them • How unhealed loops cause you to parent from fear instead of confidence • The subtle signs you’re stuck in a loop and how to finally break free • Five powerful tools to release the past, feel lighter, and show up as the calm, grounded mom your daughter needs If you’ve been feeling emotionally heavy, easily triggered, or weighed down by old patterns, this episode offers hope, healing, and a new path forward. Because when you learn to let go of what no longer serves you, you create space for your daughter to rise with clarity, connection, and confidence.

In this powerful episode, Kim shares a simple but life-changing tool that helps moms and daughters protect their energy, set emotional boundaries, and stay calm in overwhelming situations. Learn how to use The Invisible Bubble—a visual, mindset-based practice to help you pause before reacting, respond with intention, and model healthy boundaries in everyday life. From handling strong personalities to diffusing teen drama, Kim shares real-life stories (including how her 9-year-old used this tool and how it helped a client face an aggressive ex) to show how effective this practice really is. You’ll learn: How to teach your daughter to protect her peace without being rude What to say when you feel emotionally overwhelmed or drained Why pausing before reacting builds lasting self-esteem Whether your daughter struggles with friendship drama or you're juggling high-stress days yourself, this episode offers a calming reset—and a confidence boost for both of you.

Want to help your teen daughter feel confident every time she gets dressed? In this episode, I’ll show you how just 9 clothing pieces can create 27+ stylish outfits she’ll actually love to wear. We’ll use a simple capsule wardrobe approach to mix and match for endless combinations — and I’ll share how to add seasonal pops of color, trendy items, and versatile pieces that expand her options all year long. This isn’t just about fashion — it’s about teaching her creativity, intentional shopping habits, and how to build a wardrobe that reflects her personality and boosts her confidence.