Claim OwnershipThe Parent Pivot Podcast
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We are Steve and Julia Cummings and we are empty nesters who desire to maintain healthy relationship with our adult children. We have found that something needs to change in us, the parent, when our child becomes an adult. We need to ”pivot” from parenting, to partnering. What does that look like? When do I say something and when do I not? Why won’t they listen to me? We address these questions and host more in a real, raw an vulnerable way in real time. Tune in each week as we help you become a partner to your adult children. New podcast weblog
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If you've ever wanted to be a "fly on the wall" of a real-life, real-time, intimate conversation with pivoting partners and their adult child - this is the podcast you will be glad you heard.
The tables get turned on Steve and Julia on this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast when their daughter Jamilyn interviews them about a variety of issues she is facing as their adult child living under their roof. Real life conversations with adult children in real time!
Don't miss it - and then share it with your adult child.
Mentioned on the podcast:
18 year-old Jamilyn does Dance Dares in the Airport.
https://www.instagram.com/heyitsjamilynjoy/
https://www.youtube.com/@heyitsjamilynjoy
Quote from Jim Carrey on depression: “I believe depression is legitimate. But I also believe that if you don’t exercise, eat nutritious food, get sunlight, consume positive material, surround yourself with support, then you aren’t giving yourself a fighting chance.”
A new year has begun—and so has a new season of The Parent Pivot Podcast.
After a season of loss, reflection, and hard conversations, we are back with a powerful reminder for parents of adult children.
Today we talk about grief, legacy, forgiveness, and what really matters when the noise fades.
How do you stop majoring on the minors?
How do you keep short accounts with your adult kids?
And what kind of parent do you want them to remember when you’re gone?
This conversation will challenge you to pivot—from control to connection, from parenting to partnering. If you want healthier relationships with your adult children in 2026, this episode is for you.
Pivoting from "Mamma parent" to "Mamma partner" can be one of the toughest things you'll ever have to do - especially if you have an adult son.
On this Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia discuss the unique dynamics of the Mother/Son relationship and what you want that to look like as they start their own life without you as the #1 woman in their life. It's not a sad story and doesn't have to be. Find out how to see the joy in this next season.
Resources mentioned on this podcast:
1. "A Tale of Two Brains - Men's Brain Women's Brain" - Mark Gungor.
2. "The Parent Pivot" - by Steve and Julia Cummings.
Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org
It happens to all of us at some time. Our kids become adults. Leave home. Get married. And all their stuff from childhood remains in our basements and garages.
What does that have to do with pivoting from parent to partner?
On this Best of The Parent Pivot podcast, we get an insightful look at how Julia faced this recently and what this "emotional torture" taught her in her pivot to partner.
Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org
One dynamic that comes into play as we pivot from being a parent to a partner is: What is the balance between financially helping our adult child(ren) - and enabling them?
Whether it's paying for college, a car, a down payment on a new home, or childcare for the grand babies, how much is too much? Especially when you aren't seeing any grateful hearts and expectations begin to take over because, "Mom and Dad will cover it."
Can you relate?
On this "Best of" editon of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia sort that tension out for us and provide wisdom to help you have the right conversation with your spouse about how generosity plays out for you with your adult child(ren). Don't miss it!
For a free copy of "The Treasure Principle" by Randy Alcorn, text Steve at 714-742-9625 or email parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com
Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org
In the Cummings' kitchen is a wooden plaque that says, "Simplify." We often get overwhelmed in life trying to balance, juggle, and learn new things. Don't you wish you could just simplify life more?
On today's Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia help us simplify how we can focus on a few things on the road to becoming a champion partner to our adult children.
Resources mentioned on this "Best of" podcast:
1. "How We Love" by Milan and Kay Yerkovich
2. Take the Enneagram Test here
3. "The Road Back to You" for understanding and insight.
Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
These verses from the Old Testament are known as "The Blessing" and are the focal point of this "Best of" edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast. Steve and Julia share how it's not to late to change generational "stuff" and see what God does in the lives of your adult children, and their children's children. Don't miss it!
Listen to "The Blessing" by Kari Jobe
Email Steve & Julia your story at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com
Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
For speaking engagements on marriage, parenting, men's and women's identity issues, contact Julia at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com and Steve at: www.bringingkingdom.org
This Thanksgiving, families gather, memories surface, and… so do the opinions.
On this week’s episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we’re leaning into the heart of the holiday—gratitude, connection, and the power of choosing peace.
Join us as we share fun family memories, talk about how to stay unoffended around the dinner table, and give you practical ways to steer conversations away from hostility and toward harmony.
Whether your family is calm, chaotic, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you navigate Thanksgiving with grace, humor, and a whole lot of love.
So before you pass the mashed potatoes, hit play on this special Thanksgiving edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast—and make this holiday one your family will actually be thankful for. 🦃✨
Email Steve & Julia your story at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com
Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
Pivoting from parent to partner isn't easy. It's a road of what seems like constant change. But! . . . the intentional effort you put in, will reap a stronger, deeper and more healthy relationship with your adult children.
On this "Best of" episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia show us how we can have a lasting legacy that will strengthen your relationships with your adult children for a lifetime.
Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship?
Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or email her at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we're talking about the legacy you’ll one day leave—and how to be intentional about it now. As parents, we don’t just pass on our DNA; we pass on values, wisdom, traditions, and faith. Today, we walk through how to create a simple "Legacy List"—a thoughtful inventory of the lessons, stories, and blessings we want to pass down to our kids and grandkids.
Join us as we explore practical and meaningful ways to invest in the next generation so your influence endures long after today. Your legacy isn’t about what you own—it’s about who you are and what you share. Let’s build that on purpose.
Resources mentioned on today's podcast:
1. "Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times" by John Eldridge.
2. One-Minute Pause App.
Whether it’s hours of Fox News, CNN, or scrolling through heated headlines, constant news consumption can shape our attitudes, heighten emotions, and unintentionally create relational distance with our adult kids.
On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia tackle a challenge many pivoting partners may be facing today—navigating the tension that can arise when our over indulgence of media habits can alienate our adult children.
Resources mentioned on this podcast:
1. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships With Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings. Available on Amazon.
2. Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or email her at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
It’s easy to brag about one of your adult kids — especially when you’re proud of who they’ve become. But what happens when your other kids feel overlooked or compared?
On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia unpack why bragging (even the innocent kind) can damage family relationships and how humility, gratitude, and biblical wisdom can keep everyone feeling valued.
Learn how to celebrate each child’s story without creating competition — and how to keep your family connected for the long haul.
Resources mentioned on this podcast:
Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Or email her at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com or visit: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
The holidays are here and can be a LOT of stress as we try to negotiate the plans to be made when our adult kids are married. What do you do when you have traditions that have been going on for decades and now you have a new member of the family?
How do we navigate this season when there are so many emotions pulling us in different directions?
On this "Best of" episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia share some of their own experiences and help us use the holidays as a turning point in developing richer, more meaningful relationships with our adult children. If you've ever struggled with what to do with the holidays and your traditions, be sure to listen.
Tell us your story! Contact Steve and Julia at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com
Need someone who "gets it" to talk to? Text Julia at 714.392.2060 for a free consultation - OR visit her website to schedule a virtual session at: www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
Are you sighing instead of speaking? Dropping “harmless” hints instead of having the hard conversations?
This week on The Parent Pivot Podcast we're unpacking the oh-so-common (but rarely productive) dance of passive-aggressive behavior with our adult children. Why do we do it? What’s it costing us? And how can we pivot to healthier, more honest communication?
Tune in if you’ve ever said “I’m fine” when you definitely weren’t — and wished your adult child could just read your mind.
Real talk. No judgment. Just tools, insight, and maybe a little humor to help you show up as the parent you want to be — not the one who texts with a guilt trip.
Resources mentioned on this podcast:
Culture Apothecary Podcast: "Why Family Estrangement Happens & How To Fix It | Dr. Joshua Coleman, PhD" with Alex Clark
Need someone to talk to about your adult child relationship? Call or text Julia at 714-392-2060 for a FREE consultation. Email her at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com or visit www.meadowbrookcounselingga.com
Raising kids was one adventure — but parenting adult children brings a whole new set of challenges… and blessings. In this week’s episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia Cummings dive into “Finding Joy in Your Adult Kids.”
Discover how to celebrate who your grown children are becoming, find contentment even when life doesn’t go as planned, and rekindle joy in your relationship with them. Whether your adult kids are thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between, this conversation will encourage your heart and remind you that God’s not done writing their story—or yours.
Learn how to experience genuine joy in the journey of parenting grown-up kids.
Resources mentioned on this podcast:
1. Need someone to talk to about your adult child? Visit Julia's website to schedule a session at: www.MeadowbrookCounselingGA.com
2. Sign-up for "Grand Monday Nights" and watch Steve and Julia as they help grandparents have healthy relationships with the next generation.
#ParentPivotPodcast #ChristianParenting #FindingJoy #FaithFamily #LegacyCoalition
We impact our kids in so many ways as we raise them, and often without without knowing it, we can end up favoring one child over another. Quite frankly, it can be a an unaddressed blindspot.
On this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia help us sort through what how we can navigate this tricky path we may have inadvertently created to healthier relationships with all our adult kids.
Resources mentioned on today's podcast:
1. "Grand Monday Nights"
2. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Child" by Steve and Julia Cummings.
If your adult child has cut you out of his or her life—whether for a long or short time—it is a gut-wrenching experience. It often provokes deep feelings of shame, guilt, bewilderment, and hurt, all of which can easily turn to anger.
On top of that, it can also arouse people’s worst suspicions ("Surely, the Smiths must be terrible parents for their daughter to cut them off like that!") and leave you feeling judged, even by friends and family.
On this "Best of" The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia help you navigate how to reconnect with your adult child and begin the healing process.
With the national news event of the past week that occurred in Utah, how can we as "pivoting partners" to our adult kids navigate this issue and still maintain a healthy relationship?
That is today's subject on The Parent Pivot Podcast with Steve and Julia Cummings. Like - Share - and Subscribe and help other parents pivot to choosing relationship over being right.
Your adult child has done or said something that you feel needs to be addressed. But . . . how do you go about having that conversation?
On this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia help us navigate how to prepare ourselves as pivoting partners to have difficult conversations with our adult children.
Resources mentioned on this podcast:
1. Wild at Heart podcast "Having Difficult Conversations - Part 1"
2. Wild at Heart podcast "Having Difficult Conversations - Part 2"
Life transitions are never easy whether you move to a new city, lose a loved one or are going through a divorce.
Essentially . . . life happens.
The same can be said when our adult kids head off to college, move away from us to start a career in another city, or becomes engaged.
If pivoting parents aren't careful - these transitions can cause tension in the parent/adult child relationship that when control and expectations get in the way and pivoting to partner is halted.
That's today's topic of conversation on The Parent Pivot Podcast with Steve and Julia Cummings
Resources mentioned on today's podcast:
1. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings
2. Check out the 10th Anniversary of the Grandparenting Summit here!
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