The Tenacious Mama: Confessions of An Adoptive Mother

Leslie
  • 5.0 (14)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

I’m currently on the roller-coaster ride of single parenting an adopted teenage son.  Join me each week as I share my lived experience by starting with a confession, in the hopes of normalizing the complex issues that often come with parenting an adopted child. 

  1. 5D AGO

    S2E34: #BLESSED!

    Confession: Lane has an incredible sense of humor and impeccable comedic timing. Honestly, his ability to make me laugh daily is the only thing standing between me and a full psychological break. And…a Netflix documentary about me.  You know, because I’ve killed him.  Included in this episode: *the things Lane does every day that make me crazy! *my new coping mechanism- I now do THIS instead of getting angry (most of the time...) *current deterioration of Lane's behaviors and why I think he's struggling *reconnecting with Lane's first foster family *we are looking into EMDR and searching for a new therapist *I was in an original jukebox musical! And Lane assisted on the tech team *things are looking up- the current storm has already passed Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback Thanks for listening, Beloveds.  Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will?   Keep advocating for your child.  And, most importantly, stay tenacious! PODCAST RECOMMENDATION: The TBRI Podcast QUICK VIDEOS TO WATCH: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah Naish Resources on suicide prevention: Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. - Call or text 988 - Chat at 988lifeline.org  Connect with a trained crisis counselor...

    23 min

  2. APR 17

    S2E33: Weed and the developing teen brain

    Confession: Lane is exposed to vapes, cigarettes, and weed on a daily basis at school.  My current expectation (after Lane has been struggling with all of these substances throughout this school year) is this: you might take hits off of friends during the school day, but you will not have it on your person or in our home.  If I find it, the established consequences will be enforced. Included in this episode: *a funny Christmas story *Lane's first time smoking weed and his dabbling in it continues *why I do not allow Lane to have cigarettes, vape pens, or weed in my home *the dangers of teens smoking weed Teens and Weed American Addiction Centers Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback Thanks for listening, Beloveds.  Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will?   Keep advocating for your child.  And, most importantly, stay tenacious! PODCAST RECOMMENDATION: The TBRI Podcast QUICK VIDEOS TO WATCH: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah Naish Resources on suicide prevention: Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. - Call or text 988 - Chat at 988lifeline.org  Connect with a trained crisis counselor...

    23 min

  3. MAR 13

    S2 E32 Dear Nicotine, You messed with the wrong mama!

    Confession: My son first tried vaping in 4th grade with a friend at school. In 5th grade, I caught him smoking a cigarette he’d found on the street in our garage. He’s vaped off and on ever since, and now at 16, he’s addicted to nicotine and has no interest in quitting. I’ve had all the talks, tried consequences, bribery—even bought him Nicorette gum to help him quit. And honestly? I’m exhausted, and it’s starting to feel futile.  I refuse to give up.   Included in this episode: *the details of Lane's first cigarette *Lane vaping on school grounds in middle school *the history of e-cigs in the Netflix series Big Vape The Rise and Fall of Juul *sobering statistics of teens and vaping *the pervasiveness of vaping in schools, according to educators *Lane's current nicotine fix is cigarettes *growing up with a father who smoked and how I encouraged him to quit when I was in high school *why I won't give up this fight! Big Vape on Netflix Surgeon General Information Page  Youth Vaping Resource Guide 2016 Surgeon General’s Report on Youth and Vaping It’s Everywhere article Trying to help your teen quit?  Check out these resources: The Real Cost Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback Thanks for listening, Beloveds.  Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will?   Keep advocating for your child.  And, most importantly, stay tenacious! PODCAST RECOMMENDATION: The TBRI Podcast QUICK VIDEOS TO WATCH: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah Naish Resources on suicide prevention: Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. - Call or text 988 - Chat at 988lifeline.org  Connect with a trained crisis counselor...

    22 min

  4. FEB 27

    S2 E31 Whitewater teen parenting: let go of the rock!

    Confession: The last two weeks have been a fabulous reminder that I can only do so much to set my son up for success, that he’s also got to put some effort in, and most of it is out of my control.  Radical acceptance, baby! Included in this episode: *updates on Lane's lifeguarding written test *updates on diving on a high school team *Lane is starting to see himself in new ways *finding ways to focus on what I can control and letting go of the rest! She's Working On It! podcast Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback Thanks for listening, Beloveds.  Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will?   Keep advocating for your child.  And, most importantly, stay tenacious! PODCAST RECOMMENDATION: The TBRI Podcast QUICK VIDEOS TO WATCH: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah Naish Resources on suicide prevention: Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. - Call or text 988 - Chat at 988lifeline.org  Connect with a trained crisis counselor...

    20 min

  5. FEB 13

    S2 E30: Accomplishments Unlocked: Teen Edition

    Confession: I sometimes catch myself falling into the bad habit of letting the weekly issues with Lane prevent me from seeing the bigger picture with him.  Can’t see the forest for the trees, type of thing.  However, when I create space to reflect and celebrate his wins, it keeps it in better perspective. Spoiler alert for this episode: things are going REALLY well for Lane.  Included in this episode: *some of the reasons I slipped into a depressive episode last fall *brief overview with my (failed) experiences with TMS, Sprovato, and Lithium *celebrations of Lane!  Things that are currently going well *my new strategies picked up from the Mel Robbins podcast episode with time management expert Laura Vanderkam Mel Robbins with Laura Vanderkam on Better Time Management Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback Thanks for listening, Beloveds.  Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will?   Keep advocating for your child.  And, most importantly, stay tenacious! PODCAST RECOMMENDATION: The TBRI Podcast QUICK VIDEOS TO WATCH: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah Naish Resources on suicide prevention: Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. - Call or text 988 - Chat at 988lifeline.org  Connect with a trained crisis counselor...

    27 min

  6. 11/22/2025

    S2 E29: Tired of these dark sunglasses

    Confession: I am currently climbing out of an almost three month-long deep depression that really threw me for a loop. As the clouds are finally beginning to part, and I’m feeling more myself, I’m ready to get back into creating content for this podcast and I’d like to share what depression looks like for me.   Included in this episode: *why my two month hiatus from this podcast dragged on into 6 months *why I've had to start talking to my son about my depression *my analogy of living life while underwater *how depression showed up for me this time (lack of interest, difficulty completing daily tasks, procrastination linked to mindless activities, irritability, and self-isolation) *the lies depression told me: you are a burden and no one cares about you *what I was still able to accomplished while in a deep depression *some of my cognitively distorted thoughts during that time *why I'm hiring someone to clean my house- PRONTO! SHOWNOTES:  5 Lies Depression Tells You Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback Thanks for listening, Beloveds.  Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will?   Keep advocating for your child.  And, most importantly, stay tenacious! PODCAST RECOMMENDATION: The TBRI Podcast QUICK VIDEOS TO WATCH: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah Naish Resources on suicide prevention: Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. - Call or text 988 - Chat at 988lifeline.org  Connect with a trained crisis counselor...

    23 min

  7. 06/20/2025

    E28: Sagging, and earrings, and belts, oh my!

    Confession: It is sometimes hard for me to allow Lane to express himself through his appearance, whether it’s coloring his hair, wearing goofy earrings, or sagging his pants.  However, I realize if I stifle this important teen outlet of creativity, the risk of rebelling increases exponentially.  I have no research or data to back this up.  It’s just my opinion.  Included in this episode: *summer activities for a 15 year old *executive functioning skills class for teens *his first day camp experience at 2 and 1/2 and what I realized *Lane's questionable attire on day one of this week's day camp *I love boobies! belt *his love for wearing fancy clothes when he was little *our car's google tells us a joke and sings to us every day *Tesla's on the road- blegh! SHOW NOTES: Keep A Breast Foundation Example of a rockabilly kids’ shirt Example of a guayabera Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback Thanks for listening, Beloveds.  Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will?   Keep advocating for your child.  And, most importantly, stay tenacious! PODCAST RECOMMENDATION: The TBRI Podcast QUICK VIDEOS TO WATCH: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah Naish Resources on suicide prevention: Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. - Call or text 988 - Chat at 988lifeline.org  Connect with a trained crisis counselor...

    22 min

  8. 06/06/2025

    E27: Let's talk about chores, baby!

    Confession: I secretly judge parents and caregivers who do not expect their child or teen to help out around the house with regular chores.  I don’t know how many of them are out there, but I certainly know a few personally.  I don’t typically judge others, however, I’m gonna get on my soapbox about this one. Also included in this episode: *my shift in perspective from the dreaded teen years to parenting a teen is fun! *Lane's spot on application of a classic quote from the movie Elf *Lane's household chores over the years *allowance for chores? *how I have motivated him through the years to help out around the house *why chores are a good thing for kids and teens and why I'm secretly judging those who have no expectation for their children *two things I said (and sang) to put a stop to whining, complaining, and begging when he was younger SHOWNOTES: Chores and Children Love and Logic Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J Siegel Talk to me! Click here to provide feedback Thanks for listening, Beloveds.  Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will?   Keep advocating for your child.  And, most importantly, stay tenacious! PODCAST RECOMMENDATION: The TBRI Podcast QUICK VIDEOS TO WATCH: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah Naish Resources on suicide prevention: Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. - Call or text 988 - Chat at 988lifeline.org  Connect with a trained crisis counselor...

    22 min
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5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

I’m currently on the roller-coaster ride of single parenting an adopted teenage son.  Join me each week as I share my lived experience by starting with a confession, in the hopes of normalizing the complex issues that often come with parenting an adopted child. 

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