Ep. 137: Taking on Teens (A Chat with RuthAnn Zimmerman)

Ep. 137: Taking on Teens (A Chat with RuthAnn Zimmerman)

From M Is for Mama Podcast by Abbie Halberstadt

March 4, 2026 · 55 min · Season 3 · Episode 137

About this episode

Abbie Halberstadt and RuthAnn Zimmerman discuss the challenges and joys of parenting teenagers, debunking myths and sharing strategies for thriving during this stage.

In a world that tells every parent of young children, “Just you wait until they’re teens. Then you’ll really know how bad parenting can be,” RuthAnn Zimmerman and I are here to call hog wash. Yes, teens are a unique challenge and need to be treated with kindness and discernment. Yes, teen struggles can feel much bigger and scarier than toddler meltdowns. But teenagers also can be delightful, funny, and thoughtful. In this show, we debunk the myth that the teen stage has to be miserable and talk about some strategies we’ve employed to not just survive but thrive through it. I know you’ll be encouraged to reframe your mindset about teenagers to one of hope rather than dread. Sponsor Info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voetberg Music Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Voetberg Music Academy provides online, at home, shareable lessons so that your kids can pursue their musical passions without stress or hassle. Use Code: MISFORMAMA20 For 20% Off Of Each Month That You're Enrolled! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Summit Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give your kids a stronger foundation to embrace a biblical worldview and learn to navigate complex topics, such as abortion, doubts, evolution, gender identity, God’s existence, homosexuality, marriage and family…

People in this episode

Host: Abbie Halberstadt

Guest: RuthAnn Zimmerman

Topics covered

  • parenting teens
  • myths about teenagers
  • strategies for parenting
  • positive teen experiences
  • reframing mindset

Keywords

  • teen parenting
  • parenting strategies
  • teen challenges
  • positive parenting
  • myths about teens

Sponsors

Voetberg Music Academy, Summit Ministries

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Heart of the Homestead

Places: Galatians, Proverbs, Ephesians, Matthew, 1 Corinthians

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