There comes a time when you have to take a step back from life for a bit and take a deep breath. Life gets crazy fast, doesn't it? It's all about balance.

Summer break is finally here—and for many pivoting parents, that brings a mix of excitement, opportunity, and maybe a little anxiety too.

In this "Best of" The Parent Pivot Podcast re-air, Steve and Julia talk about how to make the most of the summer months with your adult kids and grandkids, creating meaningful memories instead of simply surviving the schedule changes.

As we record this, we're excitedly awaiting the arrival of our 7th grandbaby, and it reminds us just how quickly these seasons pass. We hope this conversation encourages you to slow down, be present, and make the most of the gift of family this summer.

What if the young man you’re worried about is still becoming who he was created to be?

In this deeply personal episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia talk honestly about boys, brain development, unmet expectations, parenting fear, and why so many parents panic too soon. From the science behind the prefrontal cortex developing around age 26… to the emotional impact parents can unknowingly have on their sons… this conversation is filled with hope, wisdom, and practical encouragement.

Steve also shares part of his own story behind his new book, The Father Eclipse, and how fathers can unintentionally shape a son’s identity for decades and block his view of the Father.

If you’re parenting a teenage or young adult son, this episode will help you breathe, step back, and love him well through the journey.

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1. The Parent Pivot Podcast, "I'm Going to the Sidelines" - When It's Time to Take a Step Back: Interview with Jackson Cummings

2. "The Father Eclipse: How Your Earthy Father Shaped Your Identity and How to See God Clearly Again" by Steve Cummings. Available on Amazon.

3. I Know a Guy Podcast - 5-minutes each day. Real talk for men who don't do small talk.

4. "Stop Fixing Her: Why Your 'Help" is Killing Connection" Episode 126 of I Know a Guy Podcast with Steve Cummings

5. YouVersion Bible Plan - "The Heart of a Warrior: Before You Can Become the Warrior, You Must Become the Beloved Son." with Michael Thompson

6. "The Heart of a Warrior" book by Michael Thompson.

Pivoting is not easy. It never is. You have to be intentional to change your trajectory. When it comes to pivoting from being a parent to a partner, we need to start with us - Mom and Dad.

What's the key to pivoting and becoming the healthy partner to your adult child?

On this "Best of " The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia walk us through ways we can achieve a healthier balance in life which in turn will create deeper relationship with your adult child. Don't miss this one! (I know, we say that all the time. But this time we REALLY mean it!)

Contact Steve and Julia on Facebook at The Parent Pivot Podcast, or via email at: parentpivotpodcast@gmail.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

Mother’s Day can bring up a lot more than flowers and brunch reservations.

For many moms of adult children… it brings disappointment, loneliness, fear, and the painful question: “Am I still needed?”

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia talk honestly about the struggle of releasing your adult children without losing your identity in the process.

From unmet expectations around holidays… to learning how to let your kids fail, grow, and find their own way… this conversation is full of encouragement, honesty, laughter, and hope for parents navigating this difficult season.

If letting go feels harder than you expected… this episode is for you.

Resources:

1. Email us at parentpivotpodcast@gmail.com.

2. 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

3. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings.

What do you do when your relationship with your adult child isn’t what you hoped it would be?

In this powerful episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Kathy Koch to talk about the real struggles parents face—grief, distance, conflict, and conversations that don’t have easy answers.

You’ll hear how to love your adult children without controlling them… how to hold onto truth without compromising… and why “being sad before you’re mad” might change everything.

If you’ve ever felt confused, hurt, or unsure of your role as a parent of adult children—this conversation will meet you right where you are and give you hope for the road ahead.

Resources mentioned on today's podcast:

1. www.CelebrateKinds.com

2. "Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children: Strategies and Conversations that Work" by Dr. Kathy Koch.

3. "Raising Gender-Confident Kids: Helping Kids Embrace Their God-Given Design" by Dr. Kathy Koch

What do you do when you look back on your parenting and wish you had done something differently?

In this deeply honest episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia share a powerful conversation sparked by a true story film—and the emotions it brought to the surface. Together, they explore the weight of regret, the reality that “you didn’t know what you didn’t know,” and how shame can quietly follow parents into their children’s adult years.

You’ll hear real stories, raw reflections, and practical wisdom on how to release yourself from guilt, extend grace to your past, and take meaningful steps toward healing—whether that includes a conversation with your child or work in your own heart.

If you’ve ever replayed parenting moments in your mind and wondered “what if…”—this episode is for you.

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. 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

What if the way you’re trying to help is actually hurting your relationship with your adult child?

In this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia say something that’s hard to hear—but incredibly freeing: you might not be helping.

They talk about the tension every parent feels—wanting to step in, fix it, protect them and why that instinct, if left unchecked, can actually get in the way of their growth.

Because failure isn’t the enemy. It’s often the very thing that shapes who they’re becoming.

So how do you know when to speak and when to stay quiet?

When to step in - and when to trust and let go?

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just trying to help…” this conversation might change how you see everything.

Got something you'd like Steve and Julia to talk about? Email them 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

Get a copy of Steve and Julia's book, "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children."

What do you do when your adult child is already carrying something heavy… and everything in you wants to correct, fix, or pile on?

In this episode of the "Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast, we’re talking about a trap so many parents fall into—adding pressure when our kids are already overwhelmed.

There’s a better way.

A way to stay connected… to lead with wisdom instead of reaction… and to become the kind of parent your adult child actually wants to come to.

If you’ve ever felt that tension between speaking truth and protecting the relationship—this episode is for you.

Listen now and learn how to pivot when it matters most.

1. "The Parent Pivot: 13 Principles for Building Stronger Relationships with Your Adult Children" by Steve and Julia Cummings.

2. "Doing Life with Your Adult Children" by Jim Burns.

4. 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