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If you’re a parent of a young adult, are these questions keeping you up at night;
How can I become the best parent to my kids? How can I improve my communication with them? How can we connect better? How can I help them to become more confident, resilient and independent? What can I do to motivate them? Why don't they respect me? Why don't they want to hang out with me?
If you're searching for these answers, this podcast is for you. I'm Shari Jonas and this is LAUNCH. Where I offer honest, no BS parenting tips that will help you to raise your adult child with confidence (regardless of whether they're living with you or on their own) and become the best parent you can be.
I address the most relevant, challenging and deeply personal issues that parents are facing with their young adults. Each episode offers real-life stories, research-based strategies, and no BS advice that will help you to become the parent that your adult child ALWAYS turns to, someone they love to spend time and, someone who will guide them to becoming confident, resilient, independent and capable of thriving in the world.
Join me each week as I tell it like it is. No sugar coating. Real talk. Let's face it, parenting can be hard work, especially because we're figuring it out every day. We're learning as we go, and we can always be better. I hope to inspire you, give you the confidence you need to connect with them, and to educate you when you need a little guidance. Sometimes I have amazing guests, other times, it's just me; a Mom of 2 grown kids, who practically raised my children alone. As an educator, author and parenting consultant, I know what it takes to build incredible relationships, while guiding them through life's challenges, and I want to share it all with you.
If you're ready to help your young adult overcome obstacles, while becoming the best parent you can be, listen in to LAUNCH: Parenting Tips for Raising Adult Children & Becoming Better Parents
Remember to Subscribe, so you never miss an episode.
You can find me on social media if you want to see snippets of what I believe in and practice. Just look for @sharijonaslifefx on Instagram, TikTok and Youtube.
Of course you can email me for questions, consultations or just to say hi!
Shari@ParentingFX.com
68 Episodes
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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 w...
Today I’m joined by Sonia Sutha, the founder of Cloud9Go.com, whose work centers on helping young people gain real world experience, clarity, and confidence as they step into adulthood. Sonia has created innovative opportunities that connect education with practical life and career skills, such as public speaking, execution, emotional intelligence, leadership and community, giving young teens the chance to explore their interests in meaningful, hands on ways. This conversation will leav...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 li...
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 str...
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, ...
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....
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 w...
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 wi...
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'...
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 co...
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 resear...
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 ulti...
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...
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 build...
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...
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 peo...
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 t...
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