LAUNCH: Parenting Tips for Raising Adult Children & Building Better Relationships

If you've been doing everything for your adult child and their lifestyle hasn't changed, in fact nothing about their life has really improved, it's time you stop supporting them. 

No, you don't have to kick them out. Unless of course circumstances have become so unbearable at home, and they seem completely uninterested in being responsible and respectful, which means you're setting a move-out date.  

If that's the case, don't feel bad. Many parents are at that point. 

But if you're not there yet and you still feel hopeful that your son or daughter can...

This is a much needed episode and I'm excited to share it with you along with my guest Andie Toderovitz, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) who specializes in relationship issues, attachment styles, and emotional well-being. Andie helps individuals of all ages develop greater self-awareness and build deeper, more meaningful connections. 

Although most parents with struggling young adults tend to focus on fixing their adult child - the unemployment, the lack of motivation, the disconnection from life, there's a deeper truth that often explains why they have stalled. 

It's the parent and adult child dynamic and until th...

When an adult child is struggling, most parents focus on the most obvious problem: no motivation, lack of employment, low self confidence, complete dependence, zero responsibilities, poor communication… 

But what if you’re looking too narrowly?

In this episode, I introduce a different perspective for parenting your young adult, one that looks beyond a single issue and considers the whole person. 

Discover why emotional well-being, mental health, relationships, life skills, self-confidence, purpose, and family dynamics are all connected, and how seeing your adult child through a different lens can transform the way you suppor...

This episode could be a recurring one because it is the MOST important topic in raising children, and that say a lot. 

As powerful as it is, a majority of parents struggle with it because they were raised by a generation who didn’t understand how to apply these principles.  

But once you do, and you can, the floodgates will open. Your relationship with your adult children will change. They’ll feel heard, understood and safe to open up to you. 

It’s a short episode today. But I think it packs a punch. It...

In this eye-opening conversation, I sit down with Dr. Brie Turns-Coe, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Arizona Christian University, and Director of their Masters of MFT program. With a career spent helping hundreds of parents break generational patterns and repair their relationships with their children, Dr. Brie brings both clinical expertise and genuine compassion to one of the most important conversations a parent can have.

What Dr. Brie sees time and again in her practice might surprise you: parents who are unknowingly making parenting decisions not for their child...

Today's episode comes to you with a virtual hug. 

My advice today is coming from my heart. Even though I have so much to offer you, because of my education, research, consulting, interviewing, writing and creating, these next 11 minutes come from a place that one can only call pure inspiration. 

Warning: This is entirely my opinion. 

Take it for whatever it's worth. Share it with a friend. Or don't. Maybe send me an email if you feel it struck a chord. I assure you that I can handle whatever you say. And if you...

Welcome to LAUNCH! 

Today, my esteemed guest is Dr. Jerry Weichman, a clinical psychologist, adolescent specialist, and parenting expert who has spent the last 27 years helping  more than 6,500 families navigate some of the toughest challenges young people face today, from anxiety, depression, low self esteem, gaming addiction and more.  He's the founder of the Weichman Clinic, and the creator of the podcast Raising Families with Dr. Jerry.

In today's conversation, Dr. Jerry shares his bag of mental health tools with us. We cover so many topics: how to stop overthinking, the importance of building resilience, why...

These are "Show Notes" and all the links that I talk about in this episode are below.

The 7 Deadliest Sins of Parenting an Adult Child are the most common behaviors that loving parents fall into, often without even realizing it. But if you're still doing them, it's quietly costing your adult child their independence, motivation, and confidence, which is making it harder for them to launch into the life they're capable of living.

But you are far from alone. So many parents of adult children struggle with knowing where the line is between supportive and...

Today's episode is a little different than what you're used to. 

It's for those of you who have been hurt by a parent, and carry the quiet, painful ache of knowing that an apology is probably never coming and how you can move forward, without repeating the toxic cycle with your own children.

My guest Paula Yost calls this the Apology Ache. That deep, lingering hurt from a parent who has wounded you, and you have to accept that they are never going to acknowledge it. In fact often times, our only salvation is estrangement. W...

If your adult child is living at home and refuses to take on any responsibilities, acting more like a hotel guest than a member of the household and you feel like you've tried everything, this episode is for you.

After writing and creating an 18-page Living Together Guide and Agreement for parents of young adults who weren't participating or contributing to basic household responsibilities or anything in their life, I quickly discovered that most parents struggled to enforce it. The approach required finesse. The groundwork had to be laid first. The relationship needed work.

But...

For any parent whose ever wondered whether their adult child has a video gaming addiction, and if so how they can help, this episode is for you. 

What may have started off as just a harmless activity turns into an all-consuming, socially withdrawn activity, where showering and eating are secondary to gaming and day/night reversal have become a way of life. Their bedrooms are their fortress, and their parents are not welcome. 

In this candid episode, 30-year-old Jake Uskoski shares his deeply personal experience with his addiction, his relapses and the remarkable recovery from th...

Today’s episode is one of the most important conversations I’ve had on this podcast because it's touches every single parent, whether your adult child is struggling or not.  We all have to come to face to face with this hard truth.

That's why this is called the dirtiest word in parenting. There's a few contenders which my lovely guest and I discuss, but this one, this one is big. 

My guest today is Catherine Hickem, and before I tell you anything else about her credentials, she is the real deal and she's original - whic...

Many parents of adult children feel powerless and think they've tried everything.

Yet somehow, nothing has worked. The years have gone by and their adult child is still in the same place; at home, unmotivated, lacking confidence, and living without purpose, while everyone around them seems to be moving forward.

In today’s short episode, I want to share something more personal with you. I’m going to explain why I am dedicating my time to guiding parents of young adults who are struggling and what I have created to help change that.

In t...

This is my second guest who is not a parent, but a young adult, who (once again) shares their wisdom and insight into why young adults and teens struggle to connect with their parents, what they need most and offers effective approaches to turn that around. 

Sonia Suthar founder of Cloud9Go.com works with high-school students and parents teaching the real-world skills that schools rarely teach: public speaking, execution, emotional intelligence, and leadership.

In this surprising episode, Sonia shares her strategies for improving  communication through collaboration, and the importance of having family as your su...

If your adult child is stuck, unmotivated, anxious, avoiding responsibility, and still heavily dependent on you, this episode asks a question most parents are afraid to consider:

Can overprotective parenting impact a young adult’s ability to launch confidently into adulthood?

In this conversation, we unpack what helicopter parenting is and if there's any correlation between that style of parenting and a young adults inability to move forward. Or is there more to it?

This episode is not about blame.
 It’s about awareness.
 And it’s about change.

Because...

Today I’m joined by Laura Hope Whitaker, CEO of Extra Special People, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families. Laura is a speaker, advocate, and the author of her brand new book, The Joy Exchange, Finding Life's Greatest Lessons in Those You Least Expect. This book is so beautifully written and filled with stories that will touch your heart.  Truly a must-read. Not just for you, but for your adult child too.

Laura is known for her joyful approach to leadership and her...

 In 2015, I picked up a book, read the back cover and instantly it resonated with me. As a mom raising kids of my own, I knew how easy it was to slide into the role of the overprotective mama bear, wanting to shield my babies from any discomfort. But I also knew that doing that would come at a cost. Wanting to raise resilient, confident, independent adults who could function in the world on their own was always my intention but it wasn't going to be easy. I had to be strong. And in fact for many of the y...

If your adult child is uninterested in trying anything, won't apply for jobs, avoids challenges, and is perfectly content having you  do everything for them, this episode explains why and what you can do to help. And is it ever easy!

Discover the one psychological factor that determines whether young adults move forward or stay stuck, plus the specific things parents need to STOP doing and START doing to help their adults build confidence.

It’s short but impactful! 

Thank you for listening. 

Please remember to hit the subscribe. 

💻 Have you...

Today I’m joined by Susan Raphael, an addiction and mental health clinician in private practice for over 20 years. Susan works closely with individuals, parents, and families navigating substance abuse, mental health challenges, and recovery. 

In this conversation, Susan shares her own personal story of addiction and recovery, bringing a powerful and honest perspective to the work she does with families every day. 

This episode is for any parent living with an adult child who is struggling with addiction and mental health issues, and feeling afraid, overwhelmed, and unsure how to talk about moving forward. We d...

Parenting an adult child who is struggling is an emotional rollercoaster. 

In your wildest dreams you never thought raising a young adult would be this challenging. In your mind, you thought it would be so different. Yet here you are. And it's not just your adult child you want to help,  but your relationship, how you communicate, how you connect and how work together to grow.  

With over 20 years of experience in the field of psychology including a PhD in Clinical Psychology, my guest today is Dr. Anna Levy-Warren. Anna is the founder and CEO of...

In this episode of LAUNCH, I sit down with Neal Solomon, Registered Social Worker, for one of the most honest conversations that parents of young adults need to hear.

We talk openly about the real pain points parents are living in, the hard truths and why so many families feel stuck despite good intentions. We dig into what is actually going on with today’s youth, where responsibility and boundaries fit into the picture, and how fear, guilt, and over-accommodation quietly keep everyone stuck.

Most importantly, this conversation provides clarity, direction, and hope.

Th...

When adult children struggle to handle stress, responsibility, or uncertainty, parents want to know how to help them. But what if the most powerful influence isn’t what parents say or do for their adult children, but how they manage themselves?

In this episode of LAUNCH, I’m joined by Dr. Kate Lund, licensed clinical psychologist, resilience expert, TEDx speaker and best-selling author, for a conversation that shifts the focus where it belongs. We talk how adult children learn resilience by watching how their parents handle pressure, uncertainty, and discomfort, importance of being optimized and an excellent sugg...

Do you want to know why you can't set boundaries without coming across as controlling, bossy or even disappointed? It's because with every attempt, it sounds like you're trying to tell them what to do, which drives them nuts, so you've given up. The problem is that most parents confuse boundaries with rules or  threats and that's exactly why they don't work. But I have the solution. 

If you've tried setting boundaries with your adult children only to be ignored, dismissed, or met with pushback, this episode is exactly what you've been searching for. 

I'll exp...

If your adult child says, "I'm an adult, you can't tell me what to do" while living rent-free under your roof, doing absolutely nothing with their life, and expecting you to take care of everything – this episode might be exactly what you need.

This deeply flawed and delusional statement gets thrown in the faces of kind-hearted parents who feel powerless to respond without triggering days of silent treatments.

Let’s be honest. Adulthood is not something you declare because you're over 18. It's something you demonstrate through responsibility, contribution, self-management along with having life skills, life expe...

Have you've ever wondered if your relationship with your parents shaped how you show up as a parent today? If so, you'll find this episode very interesting. 

I sat down with Marc Cameron, author of Understanding Your Attachment Style: The Path to Overcoming Unhelpful Patterns and Building Healthy Secure Relationships to explore how parents attachment patterns shape their relationships with their children. 

Attachment theory explains how our earliest relationships shape the way we connect, communicate, and respond emotionally throughout life. 

In this episode, Marc shares with us that our individual attachment style plays a c...

If your adult child is easily overwhelmed, has poor communication skills, struggles with most adulting responsibilities, is unwilling to leave their room and go out into the world, emotional intelligence may be the missing piece. 

In this episode, we break down what emotional intelligence is, how to recognize the signs in your adult, and what you can do to manage it, for yourself and for them.

You will learn why their reactions often feel disproportionate or personal, and what the research shows you can do to help your adult child build the emotional skills they n...

If your adult child is struggling to make friends, feels socially anxious, avoids real-life interactions, or seems unsure how to build meaningful connections, this episode will give you clarity and direction. 

Many parents assume social skills are something young adults simply pick up, but the truth is that these skills must be understood, taught, and practiced in real life. Social skills are so important. They shape confidence, emotional wellbeing, communication, relationships, and ultimately contribute to a young adult’s ability to live independently.

In this conversation, I speak with Mara McLoughlin, Founder and Program Director of...

If your adult child is unmotivated, uninterested, lacks direction, lives without purpose, ambition or desire to do anything with their life, this episode will speak directly to you. So many young adults today have lost their spark. They feel disconnected, bored, and uninterested in almost everything, except maybe gaming. They have no goals, no plans and no passion for anything. It is nothing short of heartbreaking for a parent to watch. And the worst part is, you can't understand why. This is not the child that you remember. The light inside of them has dimmed and they seem so...

In this episode, we’re talking about the power of community, and why helping your adult child reconnect with others may be one of the most transformative steps you can take because the research is clear: meaningful relationships are the strongest predictors of happiness, mental well-being and longevity.

You’ll learn what decades of studies reveal about why social connection matters so deeply, and more importantly, 5 ways that you can help your adult child step out of isolation and start building genuine friendships, purpose, and belonging.

I’ll also share ways for you to find your o...

If you’re the parent of an adult child who has considered, possibly even attempted suicide, this episode is for you. 

If your adult child is severely depressed and you worry about whether they've considered suicide, this episode is for you. 

However, if this is not your adult child, I know that you will still find it incredibly interesting because my guest is not just an expert on the subject, but has lived through this experience and her story is deeply moving and inspiring.

Mental health advocate and speaker Tara Rolstad, is t...

Today marks one year that this podcast was born and I am celebrating it with a very special guest.

In this heartfelt episode, a 25-year-old young adult shares her honest insight into what it’s really like to grow up today, the challenges, the pressures, the mental energy, the importance of communication, self-care, friendships, therapy and most importantly what young adults need from their parents to feel seen, supported, and understood. 

Often times, the deepest truths come from the people living it. This candid and most revealing conversation offers clarity, wisdom, and perspective that every par...

Parental estrangement is one of the most painful and complex experiences a parent can go through, especially when an adult child goes no contact. It’s a situation filled with unanswered questions, shame, guilt, and the aching silence of disconnection.

In this follow-up episode, we reconnect with a mother who previously shared her personal experience with estrangement from her adult children. This time, she returns with an update, but we’re not here to give away the ending. 

Instead, we talk about what happens when a parent chooses to do the inner...

If you’ve tried everything and your adult child is still struggling to launch, you’re not alone. You’re part of a very large group of parents quietly suffering in silence, wondering what else they can possibly do.

Today, I revisit my very first “Failure to Launch” episode and go through the 15 signs that reveal just how serious things are at home for your adult child. I explain why, if nothing has worked so far, what you can do differently to finally see change. 

The question is, how long will you keep waiting for them to ris...

Isolation has quietly become one of the most serious threats to young adults today. In this episode, I’m joined by author and speaker Elaine Uskoski to talk about how loneliness and social disconnection are impacting kids today.

The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared loneliness a public health crisis, warning that social isolation can raise the risk of depression, addiction, heart disease, dementia, and even premature death. But for many young adults, spending hours alone in their room - gaming, streaming, or scrolling -  has replaced real-life connection and the impact runs deeper than you know.

Most parents I speak to share the same story; their young adult has so much potential but struggles with low self-confidence, fear of failure, lack of motivation, anxiety, and dependence that keeps them from moving forward in life.

In this episode, we’re talking about what confidence really is, how it shows up when it’s missing, and why it’s one of the most powerful traits your adult child can develop. More importantly, you’ll learn 8 confidence-boosting strategies for adult children that are simple, effective, and backed by years of research.

Each strategy...

In this episode, I sit down with transformational life coach Nicole Weston to talk about the mother wound and how the relationships we had with our mothers continue to influence our identity, our confidence, and how we show up as parents. 

Nicole shares the signs that we may be carrying an unhealed mother wound, and discussed how this can affect the way we raise our own children. 

Most importantly, Nicole offers insight and practical ways to begin the healing process, so we can break old patterns and step into parenthood with more clarity and confidence.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Janet Krebs, speaker, HR consultant, educational strategist, and 4X best-selling author who empowers parents and influencers to lead with confidence, self-reliance, and heart, blending practical leadership tools with real-world parenting strategies.

We talk about why parenting is leadership and how parents can raise strong, confident, and independent adults. Janet shares her insights on the essential life skills kids need to thrive, the 3 C’s every parent should know, how to instill responsibility, and why it’s so important for parents to remain leaders regardless of their child’s age.<...

If you grew up with a narcissistic parent or experienced childhood trauma, you may still feel the effects today most notably in how you parent your own children.

In this episode of LAUNCH, I sit down with Certified Inner Child Reparenting Coach Maria Riegger to talk about how healing past trauma can not only transform the way you raise your kids but build an "unshakeable" foundation. We cover what it really means to heal childhood trauma, how unresolved wounds from a narcissistic mom or dad can impact your parenting, and why reparenting yourself  (also explained) i...

Are you a mature parent wondering if you’re financially prepared for retirement? Maybe you still have a few working years ahead, but you know planning for your retirement should be a priority. Or perhaps retirement is already on your mind, but you’re worried it could be delayed because your adult kids are still living at home.

My guest today is Eric Mangold, founder of Argosy Wealth Management. I'll warn you, this might not be the sexiest interview - I mean, who loves talking about money? But, it is an important one and Eric does a grea...

One of the hardest parts about being a parent is watching your adult child move through life feeling hopeless, stuck in a negativity loop about how bad their life is. You can’t give them confidence or purpose but you can model a practice proven by neuroscience to change the brain’s chemistry. 

In this episode, I'll explain how something as simple as practicing gratitude impacts their brain, interrupts their ruminating thoughts, lifts their mood, reduces their worries, improves their sleep, and even restores hope. 

As always, I'll being sharing simple, practical ways that you can mo...