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.

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/

Moms of preteens, teens, and young adults who want practical parenting tools, emotional regulation strategies, and insights to build a more peaceful, connected home.