275. Single mom burnout: how to stay grounded when your teen pushes every button

Single mom burnout is real, especially when you are raising tweens and teens through behavior problems, screen time battles, emotional ups and downs, curfews, money stress, and hard conversations that you may not feel ready to have.

When you are parenting alone, every decision can feel heavier. Every boundary can feel like a battle. And when your teen pushes back, it can be easy to wonder, “Am I doing this wrong?”

In this episode of the Single Parenting Reset Show, Tess Connolly, LCSW, is joined by life coach and fellow solo parent Carrie Spranzi for an honest conversation about single parenting, resilience, burnout, communication, and raising teens through difficult seasons.

Carrie shares her experience becoming a single mom at a young age, navigating financial stress, parenting through major life challenges, and learning how to stay connected with her son through honesty, trust, and open communication.

Together, Tess and Carrie talk about what it means to parent tweens and teens with both boundaries and humanity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why single mom burnout often shows up during the tween and teen years
• How to stay grounded when your teen is pushing back
• Why trust-based boundaries can work better than constant control
• How to talk honestly with your teen about money, curfews, sex, safety, and real-life limits
• Why showing your humanity as a parent can actually strengthen your relationship
• How to build communication that lasts beyond the teen years

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that your teen does not need you to be perfect. They need you to be honest, steady, respectful, and willing to keep showing up.

If you are feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or unsure how to set boundaries with your tween or teen without constant conflict, this episode will help you reset.

Listen to the full episode, then take one small step this week:

• Choose one boundary that needs more clarity.
• Have one honest conversation instead of avoiding it.
• Let your teen know what you need while still communicating trust.
• Remind yourself that connection and leadership can exist at the same time.

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📧Connect with Therese (Tess) Connolly, LCSW, CCC here👇: [email protected] Website: www.mindfulkidsandfamilies.com

🆘 Need 1:1 Support? Book right here to connect with Tess for a 45-minute FREE “Parent Reset Strategy Session”: Parent Reset Strategy Session

The Single Parenting Reset Show supports single moms, working moms, and all parents with practical parenting tips on screen time, emotional regulation, co-parenting, stress relief, setting boundaries, building trust, and raising confident tweens and teens, while tackling tech addiction, behavior problems, and parent burnout with conscious parenting strategies for stronger family connection.

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