ABCs of Parenting Adult Children

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

Parenting Adult Children Through Disability, Resilience, and Trust

James Moffitt speaks with Ken Kunken about fatherhood, identity, and raising three sons while living with quadriplegia. The conversation explores what strength looks like when a father cannot rely on physical ability, and how trust, patience, and presence shaped Ken’s relationship with his sons.Ken also shares his story as a student, attorney, author, and caregiver, including the barriers he faced before the Americans with Disabilities Act and how he turned adversity into a model of resilience for his children.

Key topics

• Ken’s family today: His triplet sons are 21 years old, attending three different colleges, and thriving independently.
• Fatherhood without physical mobility: Ken describes how his limitations helped him become a better listener and a more patient parent.
• A memorable moment of care: He recalls a frightening episode in a crowded store when his son Joseph helped him through dizziness and a blood-pressure issue.
• Redefining strength: Ken modeled resilience by returning to college after his injury, earning degrees, and building a career as an assistant district attorney and supervisor.
• Facing fears as a father: He reflects on worrying that his sons might be embarrassed by his disability—and how their pride helped ease that concern.
• Family teamwork: Daily caregiving helped the family build independence, cooperation, and mutual support.
• Meeting his wife, Anna: Ken shares how an ad for a caregiver led to a relationship that grew from employer and employee to friendship and marriage.
• Inclusion at home: He discusses how cultural, religious, and physical differences helped his sons develop a strong sense of equity and inclusion.
• Accessibility and perseverance: Ken recalls returning to Cornell in 1970, when ramps and curb cuts were scarce, and becoming the first quadriplegic to graduate from Cornell, earn a graduate degree there, and work as an ADA on Long Island.
• Why he wrote his memoir: Ken wanted to show that people with spinal cord injuries can build meaningful, successful lives with support and determination.
• Advice for parents: Spend quality time with adult children, listen carefully, build trust, and stay emotionally available.

Timestamps

00:00 — Introduction to Ken Kunken’s story of fatherhood, disability, and resilience
 00:51 — Ken introduces himself and his triplet sons
 01:25 — Why it matters to Ken that his sons stay close
 02:15 — A son helps his father through a medical scare in public
 04:12 — How disability shaped Ken’s approach to fatherhood
 05:10 — Modeling strength through work, education, and leadership
 06:27 — Worrying whether his sons would be embarrassed by his disability
 07:43 — Discipline, respect, and the family’s approach to correction
 08:39 — Teaching triplets teamwork and independence
 09:38 — How Ken met Anna and how caregiving became marriage
 10:19 — Diversity, equity, and inclusion at home
 11:00 — His sons’ martial arts training and physical confidence
 11:49 — Teaching empathy through vocational rehabilitation work
 13:14 — Inclusion across religion, culture, and physical ability
 14:47 — Early career barriers in courtrooms
 16:01 — College accessibility before the ADA
 17:11 — Ken’s milestones at Cornell and in his legal career
 18:55 — Parenting through the COVID pandemic and the transition to adulthood
 19:51 — Letting adult sons provide care in certain moments
 20:55 — Growing up with extended family after losing his mother as an infant
 22:39 — His sons read his book and better understand his experience
 23:33 — Why he wrote his memoir
 25:26 — The story behind the book’s title
 26:32 — What Ken would do with one day of full physical ability
 27:07 — Advice to parents of adult children: listen, trust, and stay present

Notable quotes

Copy

“There is an awful lot we all can do, if we work hard, try our best, work with others and hopefully help each other along the way.”

Copy

“Spend time with your children, quality time, and listen to them.”

A few takeaways for parents

• Spend uninterrupted, quality time with your adult children.
• Listen without rushing to fix or judge.
• Build trust by being emotionally safe and consistent.
• Remember that a problem may feel bigger to your child than it does to you.
• Keep showing love as your role shifts from director to support.

Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

Letting Go Without Losing Love: Communication, Boundaries, and Adult Children

James Moffitt talks with Rebecca Mullen, a relationship coach, writer, and author of Six Steps to Better Marriage Communication, about how parents can stay close to adult children without slipping into control, guilt, or mixed signals. The conversation centers on healthier communication, especially how to respect grown children as independent adults while still keeping the relationship warm and connected.Rebecca shares practical ways to navigate family dynamics, apologize well, and use praise, agency, and boundaries to build trust instead of conflict.

Key topics

• Rebecca Mullen introduces her work as a relationship coach, podcaster, and author focused on clear communication in families and marriage
• The discussion frames adult parenting as a shift from control to mentorship, support, and respect for a grown child’s agency
• Rebecca explains how family intimacy is built through both repeated routines and exceptional shared experiences like vacations and camping trips
• A camping-trip story shows how mixed signals can create conflict when a parent says they want less responsibility but still wants control
• The episode explores how naming grief can help parents understand why letting go feels painful and why they may send inconsistent messages
• Rebecca describes how praise changes family dynamics by highlighting what is working instead of focusing on what is wrong
• The hosts discuss how children learn relationship patterns by watching how parents handle conflict, apology, and appreciation
• Rebecca lays out a four-step apology process that rebuilds trust by saying sorry, naming the behavior, naming the other person’s feelings, and stating a plan to do better
• The conversation distinguishes clean asks from attacks and explains why giving the other person agency increases intimacy
• Boundaries are defined as what you will and will not tolerate, not as a way to control another person’s behavior

Timestamps

00:00 - Opening and introduction to the episode’s focus on adult children and communication
 01:52 - Rebecca shares her background as a coach, author, and podcast host
 03:21 - Rebecca’s family story, marriage, medical school years, and long-term resilience
 06:49 - Why vacations and shared experiences help create family intimacy
 09:37 - Respecting adult children as separate people with their own lives
 13:15 - Camping trip story: mixed signals and a parent’s struggle with letting go
 15:21 - Naming grief and understanding the emotional side of changing family roles
 17:56 - The hidden labor problem in marriage and what gets overlooked
 24:48 - Assuming positive intent instead of defaulting to blame
 26:30 - Why praise works better than nagging or criticism
 30:21 - Why children need a safe place to make mistakes and repair them
 31:20 - The four-step apology that rebuilds trust
 36:39 - Common communication blunders and why boundaries need clear requests first
 39:17 - The clean ask formula: overcome fear, get clear, ask cleanly
 42:33 - Why agency matters and how vulnerability strengthens connection
 43:57 - What boundaries really are, and why they are not punishments
 48:56 - Using affirmation to support boundaries without damaging intimacy
 51:31 - Rebecca’s closing encouragement and resources for listeners

Notable quotes

• “We all want to feel seen.”
• “An attack is not a clean ask.”
• “Agency in a relationship is the thing we're most scared to give away, but it is the thing that most fully cultivates intimacy.”

Action items

• Ask yourself what you are really afraid of before reacting to your adult child
• Replace mixed signals with a clear, clean request
• Use praise intentionally and look for what is going well
• Apologize with specificity, not vagueness
• Define boundaries as your own limits

Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

Healing, Boundaries, and Grace in Parenting Adult Children

In this episode of ABCs of Parenting Adult Children, host James Moffitt speaks with Dr. Beth Long, a licensed professional counselor, board certified behavior analyst, and therapist who works with children, families, and parents navigating adult children. They discuss how childhood patterns show up in parenting, how to recognize triggers, and how grace and emotional regulation can reshape strained relationships.We discuss why parenting adult children exposes fear, shame, and approval-seeking, how boundaries differ from control, and what repair looks like when trust has been damaged. Dr. Beth Long also shares personal stories from her own family, including her son on the autism spectrum, her daughter’s wedding invitations, and the challenges of letting go while staying connected.

Key topics

• Dr. Beth Long introduces her background in counseling psychology, her work with children and families, and her experience parenting two adult children.
• She

Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

The Father, the Son, and the Aha Moment with Steve Barton

This episode focuses on the shift from parenting children to relating with adult children as equals, with Steve Barton sharing hard-won lessons from his own family and coaching work. James Moffitt and Steve discuss communication, boundaries, and how to stay connected without overstepping.Steve Barton, owner of Steve Barton Coaching and co-author of The Father, the Son, and the Aha Moment with his son Spencer, explains how the book grew out of real conversations about politics, growth, and accountability. The conversation centers on practical ways parents can support adult children while respecting their independence.

Key topics

• In this episode: Steve Barton introduces his background as a coach in Portland, Maine, and frames parenting as a leadership relationship.
• Steve shares that the book began after repeated political debates with his son Spencer, which led him to ask, “What are you doing about it then?”
• He explains that the writing process revealed how similar he and Spencer are, especially around ADHD, procrastination, and direct communication.
• James and Steve discuss the common mistake parents make of treating adult children like children instead of respecting their adulthood.
• Steve says the best approach is to ask adult children whether they want advice or simply a listening ear.
• He describes the difference between a mentor and a helicopter parent, emphasizing that unsolicited advice often creates distance.
• Steve reflects on a major life change after 19 years of marriage, saying it forced him into a more hands-on, weekly shared parenting arrangement with Spencer.
• He outlines what healthy parent-adult child relationships look like to him: mutual respect and clear boundaries.
• Steve explains the “everyone is 10” idea from the book, meaning everyone is doing the best they can with the awareness they have.
• He connects the book’s message to self-awareness, emotional regulation, and moving from grievance and comparison toward authentic selfhood.

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome to the podcast and topic overview
 00:49 - Steve Barton introduces his coaching background
 01:18 - How a political disagreement with his son inspired the book
 03:32 - What writing together revealed about father and son
 05:17 - The biggest communication mistake parents make with adult children
 06:50 - Mentors versus helicopter parents
 07:49 - The origin of the book’s “aha moment”
 10:39 - How a major family change altered Steve’s parenting perspective
 12:30 - Supporting adult children who feel distant
 13:20 - Respect, boundaries, and what healthy connection looks like
 14:36 - The message behind the book and the “everyone is 10” framework
 16:26 - Steve’s short pitch for his coaching and the book
 18:32 - How to get the book and connect with Steve
 19:08 - Closing thoughts and listener send-off

Key frameworks

• Everyone is 10 - everyone is doing the best they can with the awareness they have
• Ask before advising - listen first, then offer guidance only if requested
• Healthy boundaries - love can include yes, no, stay, and go depending on the situation

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

Healing the Past, Parenting with Grace

This conversation follows host James Moffitt and Dr. Carla Kataria as they explore how childhood experiences shape our emotional patterns, parenting style, and the way we support young adults. The episode focuses on healing, emotional regulation, autonomy, and the grace parents need as their children move into adulthood.In this episode:

• Dr. Carla Kataria introduces her work as an elite mindset coach, helping kids, teens, and families build mental performance, emotional regulation, and stronger relationships.

• She shares that her biggest childhood challenge was not a lack of love, but not knowing how to handle big emotions, which showed up later in adulthood through anxiety and overwhelm.

• James reflects on his own childhood and how becoming a parent made him determined to do better than what he experienced growing up.

• The discussion highlights how some parents overcompensate by giving too much or preventing failure because they want to correct what they lacked.

• Dr. Kataria talks about healing through personal development, somatic tools, coaching strategies, and a deeper faith journey that brought her peace.

• They discuss the shift parents must make as children become young adults, moving from direct control into a mentoring and support role.

• Dr. Kataria emphasizes that autonomy builds confidence, and young adults need room to make choices, mistakes, and sometimes different life decisions than their parents expected.

• The conversation distinguishes between healthy independence and choices that are out of alignment, such as unhealthy relationships, chronic conflict, or careers pursued for the wrong reasons.

• James and Dr. Kataria revisit the importance of letting children catch their own vision rather than forcing a parent’s dream onto them.

• Dr. Kataria closes with three pillars for parents: regulate yourself first, see your child through the lens of who they can become, and allow ownership so confidence can grow.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro: how childhood shapes the way we parent and support adult children
 01:28 - Dr. Carla Kataria introduces herself and her work with families
 03:21 - Emotional regulation as a childhood wound that carried into adulthood
 05:13 - Seeing parenting patterns more clearly as an adult and educator
 07:04 - Overcompensating for a difficult childhood by giving too much
 08:20 - Finding peace through personal development, faith, and inner healing
 09:50 - What it means to let go as children become adults
 11:24 - Dr. Kataria describes the strengths and gaps in her own childhood
 13:14 - The specific qualities she appreciated most in her mother
 14:46 - How parents can respond when adult children make choices they do not agree with
 17:49 - Defining unhealthy decisions as choices out of alignment with the true self
 19:16 - Unrealistic parent expectations and the pressure to follow a parent’s career path
 20:24 - How to tell the difference between giving up and making an authentic change
 22:20 - Preparing emotionally for the transition from parent-child to mentor-support role
 24:32 - Reparenting later in life and making small shifts that matter
 28:20 - A personal story about a teen choosing a bold hairstyle and staying calm
 30:20 - Apologizing later in life and realizing some guilt weighs more on us than others
 31:43 - Dr. Kataria explains her House of Rise framework
 35:20 - A story about a young man who left medical school, then returned by choice
 37:44 - Why young adults need to catch their own vision
 39:04 - A college student shifts direction after reflection and support
 40:49 - Three takeaways for parents of adult children
 43:55 - How to get in touch with Dr. Kataria and where to find her work
 44:45 - Closing reflection on healing, grace, and breaking generational patterns

Key Frameworks

• House of Rise - Dr. Kataria’s framework built around resilience, identity, self-confidence, and emotional intelligence.
• Two millimeter shifts - Small, repeated changes in how parents respond can create long-term transformation.
• Identity before behavior - Seeing a child through the lens of who they are becoming, not just what they are doing now.
• Ownership builds confidence - Autonomy helps young adults develop trust in themselves through real responsibility.

Notable Quotes

Copy

“The biggest thing that has made a shift for me through all of that is also my actual journey with my faith.”

Copy

“The key is really having values and standards as a family.”

Copy

“Ownership really builds that confidence.”

Action Items

• Regulate yourself before difficult conversations with your adult child.
• Move from micromanaging to mentoring.
• Ask whether a decision is truly unhealthy or simply not the path you would have chosen.
• Let your child own age-appropriate mistakes so confidence can grow.
• Make small shifts in how you respond instead of trying to overhaul everything at once.

Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

Parenting advice to help you stop feeling guilty. Learn how to be kinder to yourself while navigating the challenges of raising kids.

Being a parent is undeniably difficult, and it is common to worry about making mistakes with your children. This video offers perspective on the pressure many parents place on themselves, providing a reminder that learning as you go is a natural part of the journey. If you often feel guilty about your parenting style, this discussion is designed to help you release that weight.

We explore the importance of self-compassion when raising children and why you do not need to be perfect to be a great parent. By acknowledging that you are doing your best, you can create a healthier environment for your family. This guidance focuses on practical ways to manage parenting stress and maintain your confidence, even when things feel overwhelming.

Subscribe for weekly parenting advice breakdowns, and share in the comments: what is one way you practice self-care during a busy week?

Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

Parenting Adult Children, Unconditional Love, and Supporting LGBTQ Families

This episode brings together James Moffitt and Ron Platt of the National Association for Single and Divorced Families to talk about parenting adult children, family boundaries, and how support systems can change lives. Ron also shares the story behind NASDF and its divorce support insurance product, plus how fostering and adoption reshaped his understanding of unconditional love.We discuss practical parenting challenges, the emotional realities of adult children making their own choices, and why love still has to include boundaries, accountability, and apology. The conversation also touches on LGBTQ acceptance, foster care, family court reform, and the role of community in helping children and parents navigate hard transitions.

Key topics

• James introduces Ron Platt, co-founder of the National Association for Single and Divorced Families, and Ron explains that NASDF serves people who are divorcing, divorced, or in single-family households.
• Ron shares the origin of the organization and the Support Insured product, which is designed to cover child support and alimony for up to a year if the payer dies, becomes disabled, is involuntarily unemployed, or has to declare business bankruptcy.
• Ron tells the long backstory of how the idea came from a conversation with his father decades earlier, how investors initially passed, and how he eventually funded the launch through a mortgage and credit card debt.
• The conversation shifts to the challenges of launching a niche product with no direct competition and the need to educate both the family law community and the public.
• Ron explains his current push to build a credit card product specifically for legal fees, mediation, and court costs for people with limited credit and limited access to cash during divorce.
• James opens up about his own divorce, visitation struggles, and the impact of family conflict on parenting and access to his son.
• Ron shares the story of adopting his son, Michael, from foster care, including the realities of a child coming from abuse, instability, and the foster system with belongings in a plastic bag.
• Ron describes setting boundaries with his foster son, including school expectations, work, drugs, and a major moment when he threw him out for breaking house rules, then welcomed him back after a painful but necessary lesson.
• The discussion turns to LGBTQ identity, acceptance, religion, and family responses, including James discussing his son Jeremy and Ron sharing his own coming out story and his grandmother’s response.
• Ron and James talk about the difference between loving a child and agreeing with every choice they make, and why parents still need to show up for adult children even when they don’t understand them.
• The episode closes with Ron reflecting on a key lesson from therapy: apologizing to children when parents get it wrong, and why that kind of honesty builds respect.

Timestamps

(00:00) Welcome to the show and introduction of guest Ron Platt
 (00:28) What NASDF is and who it serves
 (00:56) Support Insured and how divorce support coverage works
 (01:13) James shares his own divorce and visitation experience
 (03:17) How Ron came from insurance product development into this mission
 (04:37) Why the market ignored the need for divorce support insurance
 (05:50) Mortgaging the house to launch the business
 (06:47) The first underwriter says yes to Support Insured
 (07:17) Why a brand-new category has to be built from scratch
 (08:16) The original idea began 30 years earlier
 (09:12) The Miami real estate story and the $5 million funding pitch
 (10:36) A new credit card idea for legal fees, mediation, and court costs
 (12:31) Ron’s toxic relationship and why fostering became personal
 (13:24) Seeing the foster system through a child’s history binder
 (15:20) Meeting Michael and giving him stability for the first time
 (16:41) The hard history behind his foster placement
 (17:09) Why Ron refused to let the child keep breaking the rules
 (20:32) The arrest that became a turning point in their relationship
 (22:01) James reflects on support for LGBTQ children and family acceptance
 (23:17) James shares his son Jeremy’s coming out and their strained relationship
 (29:11) James recounts Jeremy’s final illness and his death
 (31:20) Ron shares coming out to his grandmother and her response
 (32:45) Ron explains how his family and in-laws evolved over time
 (34:08) Why adults need to stop expecting children to fit a box
 (37:26) Helping LGBTQ youth find a safe, normal support network
 (39:32) James reflects on the stigma around being gay across generations
 (42:27) A church conversation about gay relationships and acceptance
 (44:26) Ron describes joining a more accepting Jewish community
 (46:21) Why discomfort keeps people from growing
 (47:13) Parenting does not stop when a child becomes an adult
 (49:30) Why parents should not enable adult children
 (51:31) Money lessons, budgeting, and the reality of financial independence
 (53:38) A cautionary car purchase and letting adults learn the hard way
 (54:44) Maintaining influence without control in adult children’s lives
 (56:17) James on accepting self-expression in teenagers
 (58:13) Why brain development matters when judging teen behavior
 (59:29) James reflects on his own strict upbringing
 (61:14) Why parents’ expectations can clash with who children actually are
 (64:25) Ron shares how his husband left policing and became a fashion designer
 (67:12) Another family story about a son thriving in the arts
 (68:48) A major parenting lesson from adopting Michael
 (70:05) Why parents should apologize when they get it wrong
 (71:55) Closing thoughts and ways to contact NASDF

Notable quotes

Copy

“You don't ever stop being a parent.”

Copy

“The good news is I have no competition. The bad news is I have no competition.”

Copy

“Your kids will have a great deal more respect for you when they realize that you're not perfect.”

Action items

• If you are navigating divorce, single parenting, or family court challenges, explore NASDF’s support and educational offerings.
• If you work in credit, lending, or legal finance, Ron is actively looking for partners to help build a card for legal fees, mediation, and court costs.
• Parents of adult children should focus on boundaries, not control, and be willing to apologize when needed.
• Families supporting LGBTQ children should prioritize safety, belonging, and consistency over rigid expectations.

Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

 In this episode, Jody Hill, mom of four, speaker, and best-selling author of The Parent's Secret Superpower: Raising Confident and Capable Kids, shares one of her Superpower Strategies from the POWer Parent Method, the framework at the heart of her course, that helps parents raise confident, capable kids. Drawing on her own experience, Jody walks through how she's lived out this strategy with her own kids, past and present, and shows you how you can start doing the same in your own home. Enjoy the episode as you pick up new ways to help raise confident, capable kids of your own. Learn more about Jody's course, The Confident Kid Audio Course: Unlocking Your Parenting Superpower, here:  Jodi Hill Course offering

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

Parenting Adult Children with Grace, Humility, and Connection

Pastor and author Scott LaPierre joins James Moffitt to talk about the shift parents must make when their children become adults. The conversation focuses on moving from control to guidance, keeping your child’s heart, and staying connected without slipping into criticism or frustration. Scott also shares how marriage, fatherhood, and biblical teaching have shaped the way he thinks about parenting older children.

Key topics

• In this episode, Scott LaPierre introduces himself as a teaching pastor at Woodland Christian Church, a husband, and a father of 11 children.
• Scott explains how he and his wife, Katie, approached marriage with a desire to honor God in family size, homeschooling, and pastoral ministry.
• He shares that his passion for teaching began long before pastoring, through military service, elementary teaching, and then preaching the Bible.
• Scott connects strong marriages to strong families, strong churches, and ultimately a stronger society.
• He describes how parenting adult children requires a real shift from direct control to relational influence and wise guidance.
• Scott emphasizes that parents need to keep their children’s hearts, not just enforce rules.
• He explains the importance of humility in family leadership, including saying “I don’t know” and learning alongside your children.
• Scott and James discuss the pressure many men feel when asked to lead family Bible reading or prayer, and why wives should encourage rather than compare them to pastors.
• Scott talks about the reality that some adult children rebel despite good parenting, and he points to free will and the prodigal son as a biblical picture of that tension.
• The conversation closes with practical advice for repairing strained relationships through confession, asking forgiveness, and learning to listen well.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introducing Scott LaPierre and the focus on parenting adult children
00:48 - Scott’s background as a pastor, author, husband, and father of 11
01:52 - Meeting Katie, marriage, and surrendering family size to God
04:35 - From teaching and military service to pastoral ministry
05:31 - Why strong marriages strengthen families, churches, and society
07:20 - How fatherhood shapes prayer for children’s future spouses
08:53 - Why many husbands are spiritually passive and what that means
10:21 - Modeling spiritual leadership at home more than just talking about it
11:18 - Why many husbands feel nervous leading Bible reading and prayer
12:15 - Projection, insecurity, and the fear of leading family devotion
13:41 - Encouraging husbands instead of expecting pastor-level performance
15:37 - Wives, husbands, and the importance of realistic expectations
17:15 - Using study Bibles, commentaries, and humility when answering questions
18:45 - The biggest shift when children become adults: releasing control
24:48 - Balance, encouragement, and the warning that rules without relationship can lead to rebellion
26:54 - What it means to have your child’s heart
27:50 - Different children may connect better with different parents
30:15 - Helicopter parenting and the challenge of moving into a mentor role
34:36 - Why even good parents can still have rebellious adult children
36:49 - Responding to regret, confession, and asking adult children for forgiveness
41:37 - One practical step this week: take responsibility and listen well
42:59 - Scott’s books, speaking, and free ministry resource

Notable quotes

Copy

“Rules without relationship equals rebellion.”

Copy

“There’s a

Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.

Click on Fan Mail link and give me feedback. Thanks

Discover practical insights and compassionate strategies to navigate the generational patterns, emotional reactions, and relationship dynamics that shape your parenting journey. In this episode, trauma-informed coach Lattie Ghanem shares how moms can identify triggers, release guilt, and foster a healthy, connected family environment—no matter where you are in your parenting path.

Main topics:

• The neurobiological basis of parental reactions and how to rewire them

• Breaking cycles of guilt, overcompensation, and burnout

• The role of dads in building emotional safety and modeling healthy behavior

• Navigating family dynamics such as children’s identity explorations and cultural differences

• Practical tools for self-awareness, boundary-setting, and intentional parenting

In this episode:

• 0:01 - Introduction to trauma-informed conscious parenting and Lattie’s approach

• 0:35 - Understanding the patterns behind the chaos in parenting

• 1:23 - How childhood roles influence parenting reactions

• 2:40 - The impact of family upbringing on current parent-child dynamics

• 4:44 - Recognizing the moment when parents feel overwhelmed and how to respond

• 6:31 - What subconscious beliefs are mothers really carrying beneath the surface

• 9:07 - The cycle of guilt, overachievement, and emotional exhaustion in moms

• 11:19 - First steps to break free from burnout and perfectionism

• 13:24 - Early warning signs and how fathers can support mothers proactively

• 15:15 - The importance of intentional, balanced relationships with children

• 17:27 - How dads influence daughters’ and sons’ understanding of love and success

• 22:36 - The neurobiological fight or flight response and managing emotional overload

• 25:27 - The differences between therapy and coaching for emotional growth

• 28:40 - Navigating the gap between how we were raised and how we want to parent

• 39:23 - The importance of vulnerability and authenticity in family relationships

• 43:23 - Preparing children for adult life and the significance of modeling resilience

• 46:19 - Embracing blended families and diverse life choices without shame

• 52:31 - Accepting children’s authentic identities and maintaining strong connections

Resources & Links:

• Living Progress – Connect with Lattie for coaching support

• Parenting Adult Children – Official website for ongoing resources

Connect with Lattie Ghanem:

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 

Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 

Support the show

Social Media Links 

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

https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildren125/

 https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefpropellerhead

ABC's of Parenting Adult Children Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581576308055

 r/parentingadultchildren

Feel free to subscribe to these channels and share the links with your social media portals.