The Moving On Method® Podcast

Parenting Without A Roadmap: Raising Emotionally Healthy Kids After Divorce


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What really causes estrangement between parents and children, and how can you prevent it, especially after divorce?


In this episode of The Moving On Method, host Michelle Dempsey-Multack sits down with psychotherapist and author Whitney Goodman (aka @sitwithwit) to unpack the nuanced emotional dynamics that lead to parent-child estrangement.


From parentification to narcissistic family systems, Michelle and Whitney explore what it takes to be the safe, emotionally attuned parent your child needs, particularly when co-parenting in a high-conflict situation.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Why estrangement is becoming more openly discussed, and what’s actually driving it

  • How parentification harms children (even when well-intentioned)

  • The critical difference between protecting vs. over-sharing with your child

  • How to build emotional safety and connection during divorce or co-parenting

  • What “parenting without a roadmap” really means, and how to do it with confidence

    Episode Highlights:

    • 03:44 – Is estrangement really on the rise, or are we just talking about it more?
    • 08:29 – The difference between abandonment and emotional cutoffs
    • 13:52 – Why parents repeat unhealthy dynamics or swing too far in the other direction
    • 19:41 – How to avoid parentifying your child during divorce
    • 26:35 – “My child is my rock”: When closeness crosses emotional boundaries
    • 31:18 – What to say when your child repeats something the other parent said
    • 34:50 – Can you be a “safe parent” even if you can’t control the other home?
    • 37:11 – Parenting through estrangement fears: What conscious parents need to hear
    • Meet the Guest:

      Whitney Goodman, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist, speaker, and author of Toxic Positivity. Best known for her online presence as @sitwithwit, Whitney helps individuals navigate family estrangement, generational trauma, and emotionally mature parenting through her work at callinghome.co.

      Tools, Frameworks, and Concepts Mentioned:

      • Parenting Without a Roadmap – Whitney’s emotional navigation model for parents without healthy templates

      • Parentification – A breakdown of the emotional role-reversal between parent and child

      • Narcissistic Family Systems – Traits and long-term impacts

      • Emotional Maturity vs. Emotional Oversharing – Why kids need honesty with boundaries

      • Safe and Stable Parent Model – A guiding principle for high-conflict parenting

        Closing Insight:

        "Bad parents don’t worry about being bad parents. Conscious ones do."

        Being afraid your child will resent you one day is a sign you’re already trying to parent with awareness. But trying isn’t enough; you need tools, insight, and support.


        Want to learn more?

        This in-depth and informative course from Michelle was created to address this topic: How to Safeguard Your Relationship With Your Children When You Have a High-Conflict Ex Spouse: https://community.momsmovingon.com/checkout/how-to-safeguard-your-relationship-with-your-children-when-you-have-a-high-conflict-ex-spouse-course


        Get one-on-one coaching from Michelle: https://michelledempsey.com/coaching/

        Learn more about The Moving On Method® https://michelledempsey.com/shop-courses/

        Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichelleDempsey

        Website - https://michelledempsey.com/

        Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/michelle645

        TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@themichelledempsey1

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mldempsey/


        LINK TO TRANSCRIPT: https://transcripts/moving-on-method-ep257-parentification-estrangement

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        The Moving On Method® PodcastBy Michelle Dempsey-Multack

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