The Parent Pivot Podcast

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 wa...

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 t...

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 e...

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...

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 inspirati...

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 y...

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 an...

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...

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 recen...

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 ta...

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," S...

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...

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 prayer...

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 an...

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...

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 ki...

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'...

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. N...

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,...

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...

“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 wh...

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 hostilit...

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 childre...

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....

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...