Explore every episode of the podcast The Parent Pivot Podcast

In the Cummings' kitchen is a wooden plaque that says, "Simplify."  We often get overwhelmed in life trying to balance, juggle, and learn new things.  Don't you wish you could just simplify life more?

On today's "Best of" The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia help us simplify how we can focus on a few things on the road to becoming a champion partner to our adult child(ren).

Get a copy of "How We Love" mentioned in today's podcast.

Take the Enneagram Test here and get a copy of "The Road Back to You" for understanding and insight.

Please rate us, write a review, and share us on social media!   PROGRAMMING NOTE:  We are traveling in out of the country and hope you enjoy listening to some of our "Best of" podcasts.

Your kids are grown. You love them deeply. So why does staying close sometimes feel so hard?

Join Steve and Julia for a special Parent Pivot Podcast with Dr. Gary Chapman, bestselling author of "The Five Love Languages."

We’re talking about his book, "Your New Life with Adult Children"—and the shift from telling our kids what to do to becoming someone they want to talk to.

Unsolicited advice. Difficult conversations. The power of an apology.

How do we let go of control and keep building connection?

Listen now on the Parent Pivot Podcast.

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

1. "Your New Life with Adult Children" by Gary Chapman, PhD & Ross Campbell, MD
2. "The Love Language That Matters Most" by Gary Chapman, Leslie Parrott & Les Parrott

Whether we realize it or not, or even BELIEVE it, shame can affect our relationships with our adult children.  It seeks to destroy our identity as a parent and replace it with a damaged version of ourselves.  The good news is: we don't have to continue to live this way.

On this "Best of" episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia unpack how shame can be overcome and you can begin to have that healthy relationship with your adult children you've always desired and didn't know how to get there.

PROGRAMMING NOTE:  We apologize for the late release this week but we will make it up to all our faithful listeners with an interview NEXT week with Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the book, "Your New Life with Adult Children". Be sure to listen to next week's episode!

“Where did we go wrong?”

Ever asked that question while watching your adult child struggle? You taught them. Prayed for them. Did your best. And still, their choices leave you second-guessing your parenting.

On this “Best of” The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia revisit a conversation about the blame so many parents carry—and the freedom of releasing responsibility for choices that belong to our adult children.

You can love them deeply without making every struggle a verdict on your parenting.

If you’ve been carrying that weight, take a breath—and join us.

Be sure to check out The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children, a practical guide for moving from authority figure to trusted partner - by Steve and Julia Cummings

And if you’ve already read the book, would you take a moment to leave an honest Amazon review? Your review helps other parents discover it.

2. Need someone to process or dump on about your adult child and what's going on?  Text Julia at 714-392-2060 to set up a virtual counseling session or visit her website at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

On today’s Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia sit down with author and parenting expert Catherine Hickem for a powerful conversation about one of the hardest transitions we make as parents: learning how to parent our adult children without trying to control them.

Catherine says influence has to be earned—not demanded.

We talk about expectations, estrangement, boundaries, identity, fear, and why repairing a relationship starts by looking in the mirror instead of blaming your son or daughter.

And maybe most importantly, Catherine reminds us that broken relationships can be redeemed and she explains what that looks like from her own life with her father.

If you’re the parent of an adult child, you don’t want to miss this conversation.

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

1. "The Father Eclipse: How Your Earthly Father Shaped Your Identity and How to See God Clearly Again" by Steve Cummings.  Your 5-star Amazon review would be gratefully received.
2. Identity Exchange with Jamie and Donna Winship
3. Identity Exchange YouTube Videos
4. Parenting Adult Children Today with Catherine Hickem
5. Pre-order Catherine's new book coming our February 16, 2027, "It's Never Too Late to Be a Great Parent."

When your adult child is hurting, everything in you wants to step in.

Fix it. Solve it. Make the pain go away.

But what if the most loving thing you can do is… not rescue them?

On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia get very real about what we’ve been walking through with our own adult kids—and the emotional tightrope of knowing when to step in and when to step back.

How do you support them without taking over?

How do you listen without fixing?

And how do you trust that they can figure this out?

When Helping Becomes Rescuing - on The Parent Pivot Podcast.

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

1.  The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children, a practical guide for moving from authority figure to trusted partner - by Steve and Julia Cummings

And if you’ve already read the book, would you take a moment to leave an honest Amazon review? Your review helps other parents discover it.

2. Need someone to process or dump on about your adult child and what's going on?  Text Julia at 714-392-2060 to set up a virtual counseling session or visit her website at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

Every family has a “gold standard”—a picture of how life should go, how our children should respond, and what the right choices should look like.

But what happens when our adult children choose differently?

In this Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia talk about the difference between holding healthy values—and holding our children to our expectations.

The goal isn’t to lower the standard.

It’s to stop using that standard as a measuring stick that damages the relationship.

Sometimes the most loving pivot we can make is giving our adult children room to become who God created them to be.

Resources mentioned on this podcast: 

1.   "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children." by Steve and Julia Cummings

2.  Need someone to talk to and process a situation with your adult child?  Book some time with Julia by sending her a text at 714-392-2060 - or go to www.MeadowbrookCounselingGa.com

You probably inherited more from your parents than your eye color, your laugh, or your last name.

Some of us inherited patterns.

Control. Criticism. Shame. Fear. Ways of relating that we swore we'd never repeat.

And then one day, we hear ourselves doing the very thing our parents did.

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia talk about intergenerational trauma, the wounds we carry from childhood, and how those wounds can quietly shape the way we relate to our adult kids.

But here's the good news:

The pattern doesn't have to continue.

You can own your stuff. You can heal. You can choose relationship over being right.

And you can decide:

The buck stops here.

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

1.  The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery: Connecting Neuroscience and Faith to Radically Transform Your Life by W. Lee Warren, MD (Author), Daniel G. Amen, MD (Foreword) 

2.  "The Father Eclipse; How Your Earthly Father Shaped Your Identity and How to See God Clearly Again. by Steve Cummings

3.  Jazzed Podcast - Our Big Move

This week on The Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we’re going back to an episode every parent of an emerging adult needs to hear:

“Why is This Taking SO Long?” — The Emerging Adult.

What do you do when your son or daughter seems stuck?

They don’t know what they want to do. Their career isn’t taking off. Their timeline looks nothing like the one you imagined.

And suddenly their uncertainty becomes your anxiety.

In this episode, we talk about backing up, taking the pressure off, recognizing the unique gifts God has placed in your adult child — and resisting the urge to manage a journey that isn’t yours to control.

Sometimes the most important thing a parent can do is keep the welcome mat out, protect the relationship, and trust that the Father is still at work even when you can’t see what He’s doing.

Don’t miss this week’s Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast.

When your kids were growing up, so much of life revolved around them.

School. Sports. Schedules. Problems. Decisions. Launching them into adulthood.

And then one day, they’re gone—and you look across the room at the person you started this whole thing with.

Your spouse.

On this “Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast,” Steve and Julia talk about something that’s easy to lose sight of while we’re trying so hard to navigate relationships with our adult children:

Our marriage still matters. A lot.

In fact, one of the healthiest gifts we can give our adult kids is a marriage that continues to grow.

So today, we’re going back to the archives to keep the main thing…the main thing.

This week on The Parent Pivot Podcast, we’re reaching back into the archives for one of our favorite conversations: “Be a Better Version of Yourself.”

As parents, we spend a lot of energy trying to help our children grow, mature, and make better choices. But sometimes the most powerful change in our family begins when we stop focusing on fixing them—and take an honest look at ourselves.  More is caught than taught - especially with adult children.

What would it look like to become a healthier, more intentional version of you?

Be sure to check out Steve and Julia's book, The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children, a practical guide for moving from authority figure to trusted partner.

And if you’ve already read the book, would you take a moment to leave an honest Amazon review? Your review helps other parents discover it.

Need someone to process or dump on about your adult child and what's going on?  Text Julia at 714-392-2060 to set up a virtual counseling session or visit her website at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

What happens when concern for your adult child crosses the line into control?

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Julia shares how one worried text to her 35-year-old son quickly turned into a family-wide intervention he never asked for—and what happened next.

Steve and Julia talk honestly about helicopter parenting, owning your mistakes, and why repairing small relational ruptures can protect the relationship with your adult child.

They’ll also share more about their book, The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children, a practical guide for moving from authority figure to trusted partner.

And if you’ve already read the book, would you take a moment to leave an honest Amazon review? Your review helps other parents discover it.

Need someone to process or dump on about your adult child and what's going on?  Text Julia at 714-392-2060 to set up a virtual counseling session or visit her website at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

What if one of the greatest gift you could give your adult child isn’t advice, correction, or another solution—but your blessing?

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you     and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you     and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

These verses from the Old Testament are known as "The Blessing" and are the focal point of this “Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast.” 

Steve and Julia revisit the power of intentionally speaking words of love, value, and affirmation over our children. Even when they’re grown, they still need to know they are seen, accepted, and deeply loved—not because of what they accomplish, but simply because they belong.

Listen to "The Blessing" by Kari Jobe 

Contact Steve and Julia at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com Need to talk to someone about your adult child situation? Contact Julia at: julia@meadowbrookcounselingga.com

Get a copy of Steve and Julia's book, "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children."  Available on Amazon.

This week on The Parent Pivot Podcast, we’re continuing our conversation with our long-time friends, Jon and Cherie Talbert, on Multi-Generational Family Living.

In Part 2, we go deeper into what it looks like to build a family culture where multiple generations are connected, supported, and invited into each other’s lives.

Jon and Cherie share more wisdom on the practical realities, the relational challenges, and the beautiful kingdom opportunity of living with legacy in mind.

If you missed Part 1, go back and listen — then join us for this encouraging second half of the conversation.

This week on The Parent Pivot Podcast, we’re going back to one of our favorite conversations with our long-time friends, Jon and Cherie Talbert on Multi-Generational Family Living.

What happens when adult children, aging parents, grandparents, and grandkids begin sharing more than just holidays together?

Jon and Cherie help us think through the beauty, challenges, boundaries, and blessings of multi-generational family life — and how God can use it to shape legacy, deepen relationships, and strengthen the family.

This is Part 1 of 2, and we’ll re-air Part 2 next week.

Grandbaby #7 is arriving and Steve and Julia will be back next week with new content. Please enjoy this "Best of" episode.

It's bound to happen.  Your adult child is hurt by something they see their grandparents do for their sibling and not for them.  Do you get involved? Ignore it? Take sides? Explain it away?

In yet another "real time" episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia walk through a situation that just happened that involved their adult child and their grandparent. How do you navigate this one when there's so many paths to take? Be listening for some practical, loving counsel that will strengthen your relationship with your adult child.

Contact Steve & Julia on Facebook at The Parent Pivot Podcast, or via email at: 

parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com

www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

www.bringingkingdom.org

Resources by Steve and Julia include:

1.  "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children." by Steve and Julia Cummings

2. "The Father Eclipse: How Your Earthly Father Shaped Your Idnetity and How to See God Clearly Again" by Steve Cummings

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a disagreement with your adult child?

Maybe it's about parenting, career choices, relationships, faith, or simply how they're living their life. The disagreement itself may seem small—but over time, it can create distance neither of you intended.

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia explore how unresolved disagreements can slowly become disconnection, and why preserving the relationship matters more than winning the argument.

And at the end of the episode, Steve shares how his book, The Father Eclipse, can help parents understand the powerful influence they still have in their adult children's lives—and how to keep that influence from becoming an obstacle to connection.

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1.  "The Father Eclipse: How Your Earthly Father Shaped Your Identity and How to See God Clearly Again" by Steve Cummings.  Available on Amazon.

2.  "I Know a Guy" Podcast with Steve Cummings.  A 5-min daily podcast for men who are tired of performing.  Available on Apple, Spotify and all podcast platforms.

3.  Need to talk?  Book some time with Julia by sending her a text at 714-392-2060 - or go to MeadowbrookCounselingGa.com.

What happens when you stop holding on and start trusting God with your adult child?

In this special episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia sit down with their daughter, Jamilyn, to hear her side of the story—from mission trips as a teenager, to the World Race, to discovering her identity, hearing God's voice, and finding her calling.

Along the way, she shares one powerful truth every parent needs to hear:

"Your adult child will never become your answered prayer if you're holding on to them."

If you're struggling to release your adult son or daughter, this conversation may give you the courage—and hope—you need.

Please share this episode on social media, rate and review us so other parents of adult children can find us. Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1.  When It Seems Hopeless: Interview with Jamilyn Upchurch - Apple podcast link.  Spotify link.

2.  "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings

What happens when parents stop trying to protect their adult children from every risk and start trusting God with their future?

This week on The Parent Pivot Podcast, we sit down with Seth Barnes, founder of Adventures in Missions and The World Race, to talk about launching adult children into purpose, faith, and real-world responsibility.

We discuss fear-based parenting, why young adults need challenge and adventure, the power of listening prayer, and how some of the greatest growth happens when parents learn to let go.

If you're navigating the transition from parenting to partnership with your adult child, this conversation will encourage and challenge you.

Join us for this powerful discussion with Seth Barnes.

There comes a time when you have to take a step back from life for a bit and take a deep breath.  Life gets crazy fast, doesn't it?  It's all about balance.

Summer break is finally here—and for many pivoting parents, that brings a mix of excitement, opportunity, and maybe a little anxiety too.

In this "Best of" The Parent Pivot Podcast re-air, Steve and Julia talk about how to make the most of the summer months with your adult kids and grandkids, creating meaningful memories instead of simply surviving the schedule changes.

As we record this, we're excitedly awaiting the arrival of our 7th grandbaby, and it reminds us just how quickly these seasons pass. We hope this conversation encourages you to slow down, be present, and make the most of the gift of family this summer.

What if the young man you’re worried about is still becoming who he was created to be?

In this deeply personal episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia talk honestly about boys, brain development, unmet expectations, parenting fear, and why so many parents panic too soon. From the science behind the prefrontal cortex developing around age 26… to the emotional impact parents can unknowingly have on their sons… this conversation is filled with hope, wisdom, and practical encouragement.

Steve also shares part of his own story behind his new book, The Father Eclipse, and how fathers can unintentionally shape a son’s identity for decades and block his view of the Father.

If you’re parenting a teenage or young adult son, this episode will help you breathe, step back, and love him well through the journey.

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1. The Parent Pivot Podcast, "I'm Going to the Sidelines" - When It's Time to Take a Step Back: Interview with Jackson Cummings

2. "The Father Eclipse: How Your Earthy Father Shaped Your Identity and How to See God Clearly Again" by Steve Cummings.  Available on Amazon.

3.  I Know a Guy Podcast - 5-minutes each day. Real talk for men who don't do small talk.

4. "Stop Fixing Her: Why Your 'Help" is Killing Connection" Episode 126 of I Know a Guy Podcast with Steve Cummings

5.  YouVersion Bible Plan - "The Heart of a Warrior: Before You Can Become  the Warrior, You Must Become the Beloved Son." with Michael Thompson 

6.  "The Heart of a Warrior" book by Michael Thompson.

Pivoting is not easy.  It never is.  You have to be intentional to change your trajectory.  When it comes to pivoting from being a parent to a partner, we need to start with us - Mom and Dad.

What's the key to pivoting and becoming the healthy partner to your adult child?

On this "Best of " The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia walk us through ways we can achieve a healthier balance in life which in turn will create deeper relationship with your adult child.  Don't miss this one!  (I know, we say that all the time.  But this time we REALLY mean it!)

Contact Steve and Julia on Facebook at The Parent Pivot Podcast, or via email at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org

Mother’s Day can bring up a lot more than flowers and brunch reservations.

For many moms of adult children… it brings disappointment, loneliness, fear, and the painful question:  “Am I still needed?”

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia talk honestly about the struggle of releasing your adult children without losing your identity in the process.

From unmet expectations around holidays… to learning how to let your kids fail, grow, and find their own way… this conversation is full of encouragement, honesty, laughter, and hope for parents navigating this difficult season.

If letting go feels harder than you expected… this episode is for you.

Resources:

1.  Email us at parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com.

2. Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

3. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings.

What do you do when your relationship with your adult child isn’t what you hoped it would be?

In this powerful episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Kathy Koch to talk about the real struggles parents face—grief, distance, conflict, and conversations that don’t have easy answers.

You’ll hear how to love your adult children without controlling them… how to hold onto truth without compromising… and why “being sad before you’re mad” might change everything.

If you’ve ever felt confused, hurt, or unsure of your role as a parent of adult children—this conversation will meet you right where you are and give you hope for the road ahead.

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1. www.CelebrateKinds.com

2. "Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children: Strategies and Conversations that Work" by Dr. Kathy Koch.

3. "Raising Gender-Confident Kids: Helping Kids Embrace Their God-Given Design" by Dr. Kathy Koch

What do you do when you look back on your parenting and wish you had done something differently?

In this deeply honest episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia share a powerful conversation sparked by a true story film—and the emotions it brought to the surface. Together, they explore the weight of regret, the reality that “you didn’t know what you didn’t know,” and how shame can quietly follow parents into their children’s adult years.

You’ll hear real stories, raw reflections, and practical wisdom on how to release yourself from guilt, extend grace to your past, and take meaningful steps toward healing—whether that includes a conversation with your child or work in your own heart.

If you’ve ever replayed parenting moments in your mind and wondered “what if…”—this episode is for you.

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings.

2. Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text   Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

What if the way you’re trying to help is actually hurting your relationship with your adult child?

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia say something that’s hard to hear—but incredibly freeing: you might not be helping.

They talk about the tension every parent feels—wanting to step in, fix it, protect them and why that instinct, if left unchecked, can actually get in the way of their growth.

Because failure isn’t the enemy.  It’s often the very thing that shapes who they’re becoming.

So how do you know when to speak and when to stay quiet?

When to step in - and when to trust and let go?

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just trying to help…” this conversation might change how you see everything.

Got something you'd like Steve and Julia to talk about? Email them at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com.

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

Get a copy of Steve and Julia's book, "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children." 

What do you do when your adult child is already carrying something heavy… and everything in you wants to correct, fix, or pile on?

In this episode of the "Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we’re talking about a trap so many parents fall into—adding pressure when our kids are already overwhelmed.

There’s a better way.

A way to stay connected… to lead with wisdom instead of reaction… and to become the kind of parent your adult child actually wants to come to.

If you’ve ever felt that tension between speaking truth and protecting the relationship—this episode is for you.

Listen now and learn how to pivot when it matters most.

1. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings.

2. "Doing Life with Your Adult Children" by Jim Burns. 

4. Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text   Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

Your child just got engaged. You’re excited… maybe emotional… maybe even a little anxious.

Because suddenly—you’re not in control anymore.

There are new voices. New opinions. New dynamics. And if you’re not careful, this season meant to bring joy… can quietly create distance.

So how do you stay close to your son or daughter…without overstepping, controlling, or damaging the relationship?

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we’re talking about how to navigate the engagement season with wisdom, humility, and love—

Because this isn’t just about a wedding.  It’s about the future of your relationship.

Watch Steve and Jamilyn in their Father-Daughter Dance - Boomer vs. Millennial.

Most parents don’t lose connection with their adult children because they stopped loving them. They lose connection because they won’t stop trying to control them.

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we sit down with Miriam Groom, Founder & CEO of Mindful Career, to unpack one of the biggest tensions parents face: How do you let go without losing your relationship?

We talk about what your adult child actually needs from you right now—and it’s probably not advice. It’s being seen. It’s curiosity. It’s learning how to stay connected without controlling the outcome.

If you’ve ever felt the tension of wanting to guide your kids - but not push them away - this episode will change how you show up—starting today.

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1. Truity Career Aptitude Test https://www.truity.com/test/career-personality-profiler-test

2. VARK Learning Styles Questionnaire https://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/

3. Morning Pages (The Artist’s Way) https://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/

Being an empty nester doesn't have to be a sad season of life. It CAN be a hoot! Just ask comedian Jeff Allen.

On this "Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast," Steve and Julia Cummings interview Jeff as get his life experiences of being an empty nester. You'll also get a chance to see the personal side of Jeff as he shares about his new book, "Are We There Yet?" (Available on Amazon).

It's an inspirational account and at times laugh-out-loud story of how God rescued him from alcoholism and despair through the book of Ecclesiastes.

See Jeff Allen on tour at: https://www.jeffallencomedy.com/tour

What happens when grandparents want to help… but they’re running out of energy?

In today’s episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we tackle a real-life tension so many families face— grandparents stepping in to help with the kids… and parents who don’t want any screen time.

It sounds simple… until real life hits. Aches. Fatigue. Rainy days. And a toddler who never stops moving.

So how do you honor your adult child’s parenting… without burning yourself out in the process?

We’re talking about communication, boundaries, and how to have this conversation without damaging the relationship that matters most.

If you’re a grandparent—or you will be someday—this one’s for you.

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings.

2. "Doing Life with Your Adult Children" by Jim Burns. 

3. Legacy Coalition Grandparenting Summit. 

4. Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text   Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

The season of becoming a new empty nester is finally here.  As author and speaker, Jill Savage says, "It can be either a time of 'boo-hoo' or "WOO-HOO!"  

You might find yourself caught between grief and delight and full of questions, hopes and regrets.  How can we make sense of it all?

On this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia interview Jill and get her wisdom, encouragement and ideas for thriving in this next season of life.  Don't miss it!

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

"Empty Nest, Full Life" - by Jill Savage

Other books by Jill

Empty Nest Retreat and Course

Marriage Intensives

What if the “difficult” daughter-in-law in your family… isn’t angry at all?

What if she’s just alone?

In this week’s episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we unpack a powerful reflection called the “Angry Daughter-in-Law Theory.”

We talk about what really happens when someone marries into an established family system — the inside jokes, the unspoken rules, the old loyalties — and how easy it is to label someone as “too sensitive” or “too much” instead of asking deeper questions.

If you have married children — or hope to one day — this conversation might change the way you see your in-law forever.

Because pivoting from parent to partner sometimes begins with empathy.

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

What do you do when your adult child costs you a boatload of money?

A wrecked car. A bailout. Another “can you help me just this once?”

As parents, we want to be generous. But what happens when generosity turns into enabling? And how do you pivot when your adult child needs more than grace — they need growth?

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we talk about a powerful moment from a recent workshop where a mom admitted she hadn’t always been the parent her son needed… and decided it was time to “go full Miyagi.”

We unpack tough love, ownership, financial boundaries, adult children living at home, and why clear communication matters more than control.

Sometimes the most loving thing you can do… is teach discipline with humility.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re being too generous — or not generous enough — this conversation is for you.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sometime just have a conversation with someone to process with brings validation and relieves those feelings of guilt, anxiety and frustration.  We are here to help.  Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com.

Also - pick up a copy of "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia. Available for $9.99 on Amazon.

What do you do when your adult child starts parenting in ways you completely disagree with?

Maybe it’s gentle parenting. Maybe it’s food rules. Bedtime. Discipline. Screen time. And you’re sitting there thinking… “We would never have done it that way.”

Here’s the harder question: Do you want to be right… or do you want a relationship?

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia talk honestly about biting your tongue, respecting your adult child’s authority, avoiding triangulation in their marriage, and learning how to pivot from parent to partner.

If you’re a grandparent — or you will be someday — this conversation could save your family from unnecessary fractures.

Listen now and learn how to stay connected without stepping over the line.

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

1. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children"

2. Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

Let's face it . . . not only is there NOT instructions handed to new parents by the doctor explaining "what to do" when you leave the hospital and take your baby home.

The same can also be said when your adult kids leave home. Where's the "partner manual"? Where do you go to find out how to make the pivot from parent to partner? We got you on this one!

On this "Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast," Steve and Julia interview Gill Tillmann, author of the book, "Pour the Wine: We're Talking About Our Adult Children . . . Again".

Sit back, relax and pull up a chair and join us for this delightful conversation about "life after parenting."

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/fished.my.wish/?hl=en

Pour the Wine - book

Looking back at raising your kids brings both joys and sorrows.  Often times we see how we could have done things better - or maybe how we messed up.

On this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia give us some practical counsel on how we can do some repair work to strengthen our relationship with our adult kids.  

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1. "I Know a Guy" podcast with Steve Cummings - a ministry for men from www.BringingKingdom.org.

2. Subscribe to Steve's free Substack newsletter here.

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

On the next Parent Pivot Podcast, Dr. James Banks joins us with a story every parent needs to hear. He opens up about his son Geoff — a bright, likable kid who spiraled into addiction and walked far from faith… and the raw, hard years his family lived through as they prayed without giving up.

Dr. Banks shares what it really looked like to trust God through fear, anger, shame, and unanswered prayers — and how, through grace and love, Geoff not only came back — he discovered purpose and now serves in ministry alongside his dad.

If you’re carrying hope for a prodigal — or praying for a relationship that feels lost — this conversation will encourage your heart and renew your faith that hope really does lie ahead.

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

1. "Prayers for Prodigals" by Dr. James Banks.

2. "Hope Lies Ahead: Encouragement for Parents of Prodigals From a Family That's Been There" by James Banks & Geoff Banks

3. www.jamesbanks.org

4. Other books by James Banks.

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org

One of the pains of our hearts is when we hear from our listeners that their is a broken relationship with an adult child.  Maybe they have cut-off all communication and Mom & Dad are left wondering, "What can we do?"

On this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia welcome Dr. Ken Canfield and his wife Dr. Michelle Watson-Canfield to the podcast to dive deeper into this subject and bring hope to hurting pivoting partners.

If you have an adult child who is not speaking to you, or know someone who is going through this, this podcast is for you/them.  Please share it, rate it, and write a review.

[Podcast production note: We apologize for the change in audio about halfway through. We lost internet connection to our recording platform and had to use our laptop speakers as mic's.]

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

1. "Let’s Talk: Conversation starters for Dads & Daughters" by Dr. Michelle Watson-Canfield.

2. "Forgiving the Unforgiveable" by Beverly Flanagan

3. For a FREE copy of the 6-step process Dr.Michelle mentioned on today's podcast -  A PROCESS FOR FORGIVENESS - send us an email: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com and we will send it to you

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

Background on today's guests:

Ken Canfield PhD, is a nationally-known leader and scholar, and has committed his life to strengthening fathers and families. He founded and is president of the National Center for Fathering (www.fathers.com), as well as the National Association for Grandparenting (www.grandkidsmatter.org), and continues to engage in several organizations dedicated to improving family well-being.

Michelle Watson Canfield, PhD, LPC, is a national speaker, author, professional counselor of 30 years, and founder of The Abba Project, a nine-month group forum for dads whose daughters are in their teens and 20’s.  She writes guest articles regularly for journals and magazines as well as her own bi-monthly Dad-Daughter Friday blog, and is the host the award-winning The Dad Whisperer Podcast.

If you've ever wanted to be a "fly on the wall" of a real-life, real-time, intimate conversation with pivoting partners and their adult child - this is the podcast you will be glad you heard.

The tables get turned on Steve and Julia on this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast when their daughter Jamilyn interviews them about a variety of issues she is facing as their adult child living under their roof.  Real life conversations with adult children in real time! 

Don't miss it - and then share it with your adult child.

Mentioned on the podcast:

18 year-old Jamilyn does Dance Dares in the Airport.

https://www.instagram.com/heyitsjamilynjoy/

https://www.youtube.com/@heyitsjamilynjoy

Quote from Jim Carrey on depression:  “I believe depression is legitimate. But I also believe that if you don’t exercise, eat nutritious food, get sunlight, consume positive material, surround yourself with support, then you aren’t giving yourself a fighting chance.” 

A new year has begun—and so has a new season of The Parent Pivot Podcast.

After a season of loss, reflection, and hard conversations, we are back with a powerful reminder for parents of adult children.

Today we talk about grief, legacy, forgiveness, and what really matters when the noise fades.

How do you stop majoring on the minors? How do you keep short accounts with your adult kids? And what kind of parent do you want them to remember when you’re gone?

This conversation will challenge you to pivot—from control to connection, from parenting to partnering.  If you want healthier relationships with your adult children in 2026, this episode is for you.

Pivoting from "Mamma parent" to "Mamma partner" can be one of the toughest things you'll ever have to do - especially if you have an adult son.

On this Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia discuss the unique dynamics of the Mother/Son relationship and what you want that to look like as they start their own life without you as the #1 woman in their life. It's not a sad story and doesn't have to be. Find out how to see the joy in this next season.

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

1. "A Tale of Two Brains - Men's Brain Women's Brain" - Mark Gungor. 

2. "The Parent Pivot" - by Steve and Julia Cummings. 

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org

It happens to all of us at some time.  Our kids become adults.  Leave home.  Get married.  And all their stuff from childhood remains in our basements and garages.

What does that have to do with pivoting from parent to partner?

On this Best of The Parent Pivot podcast, we get an insightful look at how Julia faced this recently and what this "emotional torture" taught her in her pivot to partner.

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org

One dynamic that comes into play as we pivot from being a parent to a partner is: What is the balance between financially helping our adult child(ren) - and enabling them?  

Whether it's paying for college, a car, a down payment on a new home, or childcare for the grand babies, how much is too much?  Especially when you aren't seeing any grateful hearts and expectations begin to take over because, "Mom and Dad will cover it."

Can you relate?

On this "Best of" editon of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia sort that tension out for us and provide wisdom to help you have the right conversation with your spouse about how generosity plays out for you with your adult child(ren).  Don't miss it!

For a free copy of "The Treasure Principle" by Randy Alcorn, text Steve at 714-742-9625 or email parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org

In the Cummings' kitchen is a wooden plaque that says, "Simplify."  We often get overwhelmed in life trying to balance, juggle, and learn new things.  Don't you wish you could just simplify life more?

On today's Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia help us simplify how we can focus on a few things on the road to becoming a champion partner to our adult children.

Resources mentioned on this "Best of" podcast:

1. "How We Love" by Milan and Kay Yerkovich

2.  Take the Enneagram Test here

3. "The Road Back to You" for understanding and insight.

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you     and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you     and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

These verses from the Old Testament are known as "The Blessing" and are the focal point of this "Best of" edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast. Steve and Julia share how it's not to late to change generational "stuff" and see what God does in the lives of your adult children, and their children's children.  Don't miss it!

Listen to "The Blessing" by Kari Jobe 

Email Steve & Julia your story at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org

This Thanksgiving, families gather, memories surface, and… so do the opinions.

On this week’s episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we’re leaning into the heart of the holiday—gratitude, connection, and the power of choosing peace.

Join us as we share fun family memories, talk about how to stay unoffended around the dinner table, and give you practical ways to steer conversations away from hostility and toward harmony.

Whether your family is calm, chaotic, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you navigate Thanksgiving with grace, humor, and a whole lot of love.

So before you pass the mashed potatoes, hit play on this special Thanksgiving edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast—and make this holiday one your family will actually be thankful for. 🦃✨

Email Steve & Julia your story at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

Pivoting from parent to partner isn't easy.  It's a road of what seems like constant change.  But! . . . the intentional effort you put in, will reap a stronger, deeper and more healthy relationship with your adult children.

On this "Best of" episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia show us how we can have a lasting legacy that will strengthen your relationships with your adult children for a lifetime.

Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship?

Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or email her at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com

On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we're talking about the legacy you’ll one day leave—and how to be intentional about it now. As parents, we don’t just pass on our DNA; we pass on values, wisdom, traditions, and faith. Today, we walk through how to create a simple "Legacy List"—a thoughtful inventory of the lessons, stories, and blessings we want to pass down to our kids and grandkids.

Join us as we explore practical and meaningful ways to invest in the next generation so your influence endures long after today. Your legacy isn’t about what you own—it’s about who you are and what you share. Let’s build that on purpose.

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1. "Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times" by John Eldridge. 

2. One-Minute Pause App.

Whether it’s hours of Fox News, CNN, or scrolling through heated headlines, constant news consumption can shape our attitudes, heighten emotions, and unintentionally create relational distance with our adult kids.

On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia tackle a challenge many pivoting partners may be facing today—navigating the tension that can arise when our over indulgence of media habits can alienate our adult children.

Resources mentioned on this podcast:

1. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships With Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings. Available on Amazon.

2. Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or email her at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com