The teenage years can bring some big shifts in our relationships with our daughters. As they begin to pull away, ask for more independence, and take ownership of their decisions, it can be tempting to step in, manage the details, or hold on a little tighter. But what if part of loving them well in this season means learning when to step back?

We’re joined by licensed professional counselor Tristen Collins for an honest conversation about navigating adolescence and helping our teens grow in responsibility. We talk about the importance of self-regulation, allowing our daughters to experience the consequences of their choices, and learning not to take their growing independence personally.

🔹 Grow Their Responsibility: Help your teen recognize and take ownership of her thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and decisions.

🔹 Resist the Urge to Rescue: Give your daughter room to make choices, experience consequences, and grow in confidence and responsibility.

🔹 Don’t Take It Personally: Remember that a teenager’s growing independence is a natural part of development, not a reflection of how much she loves or needs you.

🔹 Stay Connected: Build consistent rhythms of connection that give your daughter space to grow while reminding her that you’re still there.

Our daughters need room to grow, but they still need us. As moms, we’re learning to adjust our expectations, regulate our own emotions, and lead with grace through each new stage. We don't have to have it all figured out—we just need to keep showing up, staying connected, and trusting God as we walk alongside our girls.

Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com

Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls

Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson

Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.

We all carry expectations about how our stories will unfold—especially when it comes to motherhood. But what happens when those dreams are delayed, derailed, or deeply wounded?

In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with Julie Fowler to talk about infertility, loss, and the long, painful road of waiting. Together, we explore what it means to trust God when the story doesn’t go the way we planned—and how to help our daughters build an identity rooted in Him, not outcomes.

With honesty and hope, Julie shares her journey through miscarriage, failed adoptions, and grief—and how God met her in the middle of it all. This conversation is a reminder that suffering is not the end of the story, and that God is still writing something meaningful in every chapter.

🔹 God meets us in the waiting – How Scripture and community anchor us when life feels uncertain and painful.

🔹 You are not alone – Why isolation is a lie and how widening your circle can bring healing and perspective.

🔹 Identity beyond outcomes – Teaching our daughters their worth isn’t tied to motherhood, marriage, or milestones.

🔹 Grief and faith can coexist – Learning to be honest with God while still trusting His goodness and sovereignty.

Whether you’re walking through loss, supporting someone who is, or raising daughters in a world full of expectations, this episode invites you to hold your story with open hands—and trust the God who sees.

CG Podcast: Growing Up, Staying Connected with Tristen Collins

CG Podcast: Helping Girls Build Healthy Friendships with Linsey Driskill and Jonathan Pitts