Avoid these 10 phrases and learn to speak life instead.

Communication doesn’t have to be hard as long as we remember some guiding principles to speak life over our children. Let’s talk about awareness, humility, and the power of empathy.

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child (and 5 Ways to Stop Yourself from Saying Them) here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here

No mother intends to hurt her grown child with her words, and yet she does.

Without realizing it, we can make our kids feel guilty, criticized, or like they never quite measure up. Tune in for 10 phrases not to say to your adult child.

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here

You’re not the only one struggling to communicate in your marriage.

Join Bob and Pamela Henkelman for a candid conversation about how they’ve struggled to communicate effectively in their marriage. They’ll share lessons they’ve learned and offer practical tools to strengthen communication with your spouse.

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Free Guide: Marriage Awareness Worksheet here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here

Have you ever tried “I feel” statements with your husband?

They are a great way to help you be honest and communicate with understanding instead of blame. We also talk about focusing on fun and seeking professional help when you feel stuck in a negative communication pattern in your empty nest.

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Free Guide: Marriage Awareness Worksheet here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate the podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here

Let’s learn some practical tools to reconnect and strengthen our communication.

Incorporate intentional conversations(how-tos in the show notes), practice active listening, and embrace grace and forgiveness.

Daily Check-In Script:

Person A starts by saying: 

I feel __ _ _ _ about my work.

                                       myself

                                        us

                                        children

                                        spirituality

After each feeling statement, the partner mirrors why they just heard without correcting, blaming, shaming, trying to fix, or arguing with their partner.  Try to avoid feeling words like “good,” “bad,” “fine,” “ok,” etc, since they lack depth. When Person A is finished and Person B has mirrored each item back, it’s Person B’s turn.

Example: Person A: "I felt pretty frustrated about work since two people called in sick, and I had to cover their jobs and couldn’t get my projects done.”

Person B: “So it was pretty frustrating you had to do other people's jobs.

Check-ins don’t have to take a lot of time; it can take less than 5 minutes. Have some ritual about how and who starts this. Otherwise, the person who always feels like they have to initiate or prompt the other one to “check-in” will feel discouraged. 

Check-ins take practice and repetition and may feel awkward initially, but ultimately, you’ll feel more connected.

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Free Guide: Marriage Awareness Worksheet here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here

Communication can be one of our greatest struggles in an empty nest marriage.

When you understand the communication barriers, you can learn to remedy them. Let’s discuss the obstacles of poor listening skills, neglecting spiritual connection, different visions for the future, and lack of quality time.

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Free Guide: Marriage Awareness Worksheet? here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here

Communication can feel complicated in an empty-nest marriage.

Before fixing your communication, you'll need to understand the barriers. Let’s discuss three things that hinder communication: unmet expectations, emotional distance, and unresolved conflict.

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here

Please find out how she fills her time by focusing on serving, learning, and having fun! Doesn’t that sound amazing?

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Cathy Lawdanski on Instagram here

Cathy Lawdanski on Facebook here

Sign up for Cathy's Weekly Newsletter here

Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here

Let's talk about two more questions that lead to you discovering your purpose in the empty nest. This time you’ll look around and up to see where God is leading you!

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here

You’ll be required to look inside, up to God, and around you to find your purpose. Tune in for two amazing questions that will lead you to discovering  your purpose once your kids are grown.

HELPFUL LINKS: 

Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here

Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here

Take the free 2-minute Quiz here

Review + Rate podcast here

Follow Pamela on Instagram here

Follow Pamela on Facebook here

Pamela's website with free resources here