The Parent Pivot Podcast

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
 

It’s easy to brag about one of your adult kids — especially when you’re proud of who they’ve become. But what happens when your other kids feel overlooked or compared?
On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia  unpack why bragging (even the innocent kind) can damage family relationships and how humility, gratitude, and biblical wisdom can keep everyone feeling valued.
Learn how to celebrate each child’s story without creating competition — and how to keep your family connected for the long haul.
Resources mentioned on this podcast:
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

The holidays are here and can be a LOT of stress as we try to negotiate the plans to be made when our adult kids are married.  What do you do when you have traditions that have been going on for decades and now you have a new member of the family?
How do we navigate this season when there are so many emotions pulling us in different directions?
On this "Best of" episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia share some of their own experiences and help us use the holidays as a turning point in developing richer, more meaningful relationships with our adult children.  If you've ever struggled with what to do with the holidays and your traditions, be sure to listen.
Tell us your story!  Contact Steve and Julia at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com
Need someone who "gets it" to talk to?  Text Julia at 714.392.2060 for a free consultation - OR visit her website to schedule a virtual session at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com