Do you struggle with anxiety about how your adult child(ren) are living their lives?  It could be the job they've chosen, or maybe they're struggling to make it on their own.  You're left feeling weary and asking yourself the question: "My adult child isn't living the life I'd like them to.  What's a parent, I mean . . . what's a PARTNER to do?" On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, you'll hear some honest, open and vulnerable talk from Steve and Julia and what they've been through themselves, as well as helping other parents pivot to becoming a "Prodigal Partner."  Get a cup of coffee and sit back and let this podcast soak deep into your heart.  It's worth every minute. Resources mentioned on this podcast: "The Problem of Anxiety" podcast with Tim Keller Dwell app "The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children" by Stormie Omartian "The Return of the Prodigal Son" painting by Rembrandt

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.”

What do junior high ministry, bluegrass music and long-distance grandparenting have to do with pivoting from a parent to a partner? You'll find out when you listen to this week's Parent Pivot Podcast as Steve and Julia interview Wayne Rice.  Don't miss hearing how you can have an impact on your children's children - even when your adult kids set hard boundaries. Throwback link to the 60-70's: Watch Brush Arbor on Johnny Cash. Legacy Grandparenting Summit 2025 Get a copy of Wayne's book, "Long Distance Grandparenting: Nurturing the Faith of Your Grandchildren When You Can't Be There in Person"

We spend so much of our lives constantly trying to avoid the inevitable challenges that come along from the difficult circumstances that our very own choices have led us to be in.  What buffaloes do is very unique for the animal kingdom. What does this have to do with being the parent of adult children?  Steve and Julia have a unique way to get their point across about the tough struggles and trauma we have faced and how we can find freedom and healing while deepening healthy relationships with our adult kids.    Buffalo Charge the Storm Story by Rory Vaden Resources mentioned on today's podcast: Will the Circle Be Unbroken?: A Memoir of Learning to Believe You’re Gonna Be Okay

We all do it.  We can't help it.  We choose hills to die on that we regret later and we ask ourselves, "Was it worth it?" Choosing to bite our tongue and have relationship with our adult child(ren) over being right is key to pivoting well from "parent" to "partner."  Join Steve and Julia on The Parent Pivot Podcast as they help us navigate the minefields that come up when our adult children like or do things we may not agree with.

Pivoting from a parent to a partner comes with a mixture of emotions. You might feel down, lonely, or a bit unsure about what to do with all the new free time you suddenly have. It's a big change, after all. Your job as the parent has shifted, and now it's time to watch your adult children make their way in the world. On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia shed some light on how we can navigate this season of life and become a help to our adult children at the same time.    Be sure to check out the resources these recommended resources: The Pause app.Dwell appAbide app"Seven Desires: Looking Past What Separates Us to Learn What Connects Us" - by Mark Laaser.

Life used to be so simple.  You grew up.  Went to college.  Got married.  Bought a house.  Raised your family. Worked for 30-40 years in the same place.  Retired.  Got a gold watch.  Played golf until you died.  We called it "The American Dream." Today - life looks VERY different and fitting into this mold is no longer possible for 90% of the population. Pivoting to being a partner who speaks life into their adult children and their spouses just got more complicated and confusing. On today's Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia welcome their son-in-law, Taylor Upchurch, to hear his story and how we can become an advocate for our in-law adult kids as they navigate life in a different culture than we grew up in.  (Psssst!  Don't miss this one!)   Resources mentioned on the podcast: "Guardian Angel" by Skip Moen.

Anxiety and control go hand in hand to destroy relationships and often times we are unaware of how our anxiety impacts our relationships with our adult child(ren). On today's Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia reflect on what we can do to decrease our anxiety so that we can maintain healthy relationships and pivot well from parent to partner.

If you google, "How to deal with an antagonistic adult children," quora.com will tell you:      Avoid them. They're grown. You have no control over them or               their behavior. Focus on things you can control. Take good care of.       yourself. Good thing you have The Parent Pivot Podcast to listen to! On this episode, Steve and Julia will help you pivot with your antagonistic adult child in a way that shows them love and acceptance mixed in with a splash of curiosity and a dash of ownership to their childhood experiences.  Resources mentioned on today's podcast: 1. "How We Love" by Miles and Kay Yerkovich 2. Take the RHETI Enneagram Test  3. "The Road Back to You" by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile

Your son or daughter has just gotten married, or is about to.  What does it look like to pivot from parent to partner with your new in-law kids? On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia sit down with their daughter-in-law, Ashleigh Cummings, for a transparent and insightful interview from her perspective on marrying into a different family than the one she was raised in.  You'll hear from her heart as she shares about what she needs from her in-laws, especially around having kids, and how we can become healthy partners for our adult in-law kids.  Don't miss this one! (I know we say that a LOT, but we really mean it this time!)

Pivoting well from parent to partner often times means taking a deeper look at things.  On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia tell us first-hand about the highly sensitive person and what that looks like to help us pivot well to being a partner.  If your adult child is an HSP, and 20% of the population is, you won't want to miss this podcast. Get a copy of "The Highly Sensitive Person" by Dr. Elaine Aron.

It was bound to happen sooner or later.  We simply can't avoid it.  Our kids grow up and become adults and soon we find ourselves in an "empty nest."  Now what? For some couples, one can make the transition quickly and the other one struggles greatly.   How can we approach this new season of life and really, the rest of our lives, and make it as enjoyable as possible? On this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia show us how we can reinvent our relationship with our adult children and become the partners our adult kids need.  Don't miss it!   Get a copy of Jim Burns book, "Finding Joy in the Empty Nest," Check out Jim's course on "Doing Life with Your Adult. Children."

Pivoting is never easy to do no matter what you're pivoting from and to.  It takes intentionality, courage, stepping outside your normal mode of thinking, and seeing life from a different perspective. Pivoting from parent to partner with your adult children is no different. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says,                        "There is a time for everything, and a season                          for every activity under the heavens." On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia remind us that sometimes pivoting can take longer that we think or want.  What do we do when it seems our adult children are "taking too long to ___________?" (fill in the blank).  Make it a point to listen and get some encouragement for your pivot!

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

Are you considered a "Type A" personality?  Maybe you have some of these common characteristics.  You are: outgoingambitiousrigidly organizedhighly status-consciousimpatientanxiousproactiveconcerned with time management.  On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve opens up to share his story of being a "Type A Parent" and how he has become aware of the impact it had on raising his kids.  Make it a point to hear how he made changes to pivot to being a healthy partner to his adult kids.  It's a story you won't want to miss. To learn more about the Enneagram and take the test, click here. Process your results by picking up a copy of "The Road Back to You" by  Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile.

It's very subtle and it can go undetected for years and wreak havoc on your relationship(s) with your adult child(ren).  Becoming aware of it and the "why beneath the what" can propel you to a joy-filled life of being a healthy Partner. On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia share their own story about how our identity and the worth we receive as "Mom and Dad" plays a foundational role in making a healthy pivot to being the kind of Partner our adult child(ren) need.  Make it a point not to miss this podcast!   For more about Jamie Winship and his ministry on identity, go to www.identityexchange.com Listen to Jamie's story that will blow your heart wide open to understanding how God sees us:  Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Like anything we do in life, there can be an "art and a science" to it.  Pivoting from Parent to Partner is no different.   On today's episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia take the in-depth time to personally respond to a loyal listener who invited them into her pivot about her college grad daughter and some things that aren't quite turning out the way she thought they would.  Steve and Julia provide some "art" AND "science" on making this pivot well from parent to parter.  Make it a point to download this episode and listen and refer back to it later.

"Put the Spotlight on Me?"  Wait.  What??!!  How does that help me pivot from a Parent to a Partner? Easy. Parenting was all about teaching our kids and instructing them on how to live a responsible life.  PARTNERING is all about what is "caught, not taught." On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia show us how shifting the spotlight to us and the changes we are personally going through creates healthier relationships with our adult child(ren).  Don't miss this one! (We say it all the time, but we really mean it!)

The pivot from Parent to Partner goes more smoothly when we "keep our mouths shut and the welcome mat out" - the main theme of Jim Burns' book and The Parent Pivot Podcast. Okay - but what is the balance between keeping our mouths shut - and dealing with our own emotions and resentment that pops up with our adult kids?   On today's podcast, Steve and Julia Cummings help you navigate what this looks like to help strengthen your communication and ultimately your relationship(s) with your adult child(ren).   Resources mentioned in today's podcast: For a FREE copy of Jim Burns book, "Doing Life with Your Adult Children" or Randy Alcorn's book, "The Treasure Principle" - send your name and address to: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com or text Steve at 714-742-9625. Order a copy of "How We Love" by Milan and Kay Yerkovich here. Get your free copy of Soul Words.

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 edition 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