The Parent Pivot Podcast

“You’re Not Helping: Why Your Adult Child Needs You to Let Them Fail”

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." 
 

"Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast" - When Your Adult Child is Hurting: What NOT to Do

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
 
 

When Your Adult Child Gets Engaged: Where Do You Step In… and Step Back?

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.
 

Seen, Not Controlled: The Secret to Staying Close to Your Adult Child”

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/
 

"Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast:" Comedy, Empty Nesting and Ecclesiastes - Interview with Comedian Jeff Allen

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

Grandparents vs. No-Screen Parenting: How to Have the Conversation

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

"Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast" - How to Thrive After Your Kids Leave Home: Interview with Jill Savage

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

The “Angry” Daughter-in-Law — Or Is She Just Alone?

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
 

When Generosity Backfires: Tough Love, Adult Kids & Going "Full Miyagi"

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.
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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.

Bite Your Tongue: When Your Adult Child Parents Differently Than You Would

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