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 beco ...
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Welcome to The Dynamics of Everyday Life, where we're setting off on an incredible journey into the realm of psychodynamic theory with me, Julia Rogers. I'm here to take the seemingly complex concepts of psychology and break them down into digestible, relatable bits that can apply to our daily lives. Together, we'll uncover the mysteries of our inner selves, navigate the intricacies of human relationships, and discover the keys to personal happiness.
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We explore what it means to be a woman. Discussing real life challenges from being a daughter, a wife, a mother, a single mom and beyond. Two friends with a few things in common, but living in worlds so very different. One is married with all girls, the other is divorced with all boys. We are perfect book ends to speak from opposite perspectives on all the things. Our common mission is to search out the heart of a woman and pour into you wherever you are with real life wisdom, actionable ste ...
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In this week's episode I explore the psychological dynamics underlying the classic song “There’s a Hole in My Bucket,” using it as a metaphor for certain patterns in narcissism and codependent relationships. I delve into how these patterns manifest in everyday life, how they can be exhausting for those involved, and why being aware of these dynamic…
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Pivoting Well Requires Short Memories, Giving Grace & Believing the Best
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35:34Doing life with your adult children can bring up issues from the past that now affect your relationship as a pivoting parent to partner. Left unaware of how to take the necessary steps toward healthy relationships will make life with your adult kids more difficult. On today's Parent Pivot Podcast, Julia and Steve openly share their own struggles th…
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Welcome back to another episode of The Dynamics of Everyday Life. In this episode, I dive into the question: Why do we keep going out for lunch (or coffee, or dinners) with people we don’t actually want to spend time with? I share a personal story inspired by my parents’ obligatory lunches with “Pam and Derek”—people who aren’t truly friends but wh…
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According to AI: "'Therefore'" is an adverb that means 'for that reason' or 'consequently.' It indicates a logical conclusion based on a preceding statement or situation. In essence, it signals a cause-and-effect relationship." Parents of adult children: There is a "cause-and-effect relationship you have with your adult kids. On today's Parent Pivo…
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In this episode, I reflect on my recent experience attending a marketing conference that left me feeling out of step with the crowd. From travel hassles and parental guilt to high expectations for expert wisdom and less-than-inspiring content, I share my candid thoughts on group dynamics, FOMO, and the pressure to fit in. Are you doing things just …
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Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast - "Pivoting with Your In-Law Kids: Interview with Ashleigh Cummings
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32:29Your son or daughter has just gotten married, or is about to. What does it look like to pivot from parent to partner with your new in-law kids? On this episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia sit down with their daughter-in-law, Ashleigh Cummings, for a transparent and insightful interview from her perspective on marrying into a differ…
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In this episode, I share a humorous and deeply personal story about my eye surgery and a surprising case of mistaken identity at my local hospital’s "Alan Cumming Day Unit." Expect reflections on anxiety, the power of imagination, and how we often use humour as a defense mechanism in stressful situations. I unpack the psychodynamic elements at play…
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What a Week with Our Kids and Grandkids Taught Us
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20:45Summer is here and family vacations are in full swing! On this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia reflect on their week hosting their oldest son and his family of 3 kids and what they learned about themselves during those 7 days. Resources mentioned on this podcast: 1. Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer. 2. The One Minute Pau…
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Ever catch yourself blaming external factors when things don’t go as planned? In this episode, I share a real-life story of getting my floor redone—and how it turned into a lesson about responsibility, defense mechanisms, and the classic saying, “a bad workman blames his tools.” We dive into how projecting blame can affect not just us, but our rela…
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Best of The Parent Pivot Podcast: "Having Hard Conversations with Your Adult Child"
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33:18The pivot from Parent to Partner goes more smoothly when we "keep our mouths shut and the welcome mat out" - the main theme of Jim Burns' book and The Parent Pivot Podcast. Okay - but what is the balance between keeping our mouths shut - and dealing with our own emotions and resentment that pops up with our adult kids? On this "Best of" podcast, St…
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Welcome back to The Dynamics of Everyday Life, where we dive deep into the big and small moments that shape our everyday lives. In this episode, "Dance with me tonight," I take you on a journey from the excitement of live concerts to the quieter anxieties that sometimes hold us back—even when we’re eager to join in the fun. I share my recent advent…
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Helping our adult kids out when they are struggling financially "can" bring up additional issues, especially with their siblings. What is fair when maybe not all of your adult kids have the same struggles? What can you do if your generosity is being taken advantaged of? On today's Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia reflect on this and what they …
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Today I’m delighted to welcome another guest to the show, Vicky Quinn Fraser. Vicky is the MicroBook Magician. She knows the ideas hiding in your head deserve their own space between their own covers on their very own bookshelf — and she understands how to drag, coax, and tweezer those ideas out and into the story only you could tell. She’s the cre…
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We all love family get-togethers where there is laughter and everyone is having a good time remembering stories from the past, right? Nothing wrong with that . . . or is there? On today's Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia use their EQ to let us in on something we may be missing that can be a downer with our adult kids. It's an "awareness check"…
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We often find inspiration when we are away from our desks and this week’s episode is no exception. I’ve taken up a new hobby to help with my confidence and, in the words of Julie Andrews, “start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start”. And it was during a practice session that my teacher said something that stopped me in my tracks. …
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How Birthday Celebrations "Can" Impact Your Pivot to Partner
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30:10As we grew up as kids ourselves, we may or may not have good memories of how we were celebrated on our birthday. Then we get married and our spouse's experience plays into how we choose to celebrate our own kids birthday. Now they are adults. Whether you realize it or not, there "could be" some underlying issues your adult child is facing that aren…
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“Lovely weather we are having”. We love to point out to other people what we are all experiencing. It isn’t just the weather that we state the obvious about. Anything is up for grabs in our bid to communicate. Why do we state the obvious? Are we even aware that we are doing this? In this episode I explore what might be happening for us when we comm…
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Best of the Parent Pivot Podcast: Navigating This New Season of Empty Nesting
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26:34Ecclesiastes 3:1 says "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Often the season of the empty nest can leave us dealing with a number of issues. How can you make sense of it all? On this re-air episode of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia share some raw and vulnerable feelings about their relativel…
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Procrastination. It’s something we all find ourselves up against. But what if it’s more than being lazy or wanting to avoid something? In this episode I explore what might be going on for us when we drag our feet. Don’t be put off by the title. I do talk about my tax return, but to help us understand why we might be tripping ourselves up, not in a …
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One Symptom of How a Parent Gets Stuck Making the Pivot to Partner
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25:33There are instances where parents can get stuck making the pivot from raising a child as a parent - to releasing them into the world as an adult and becoming a partner. Today on The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia - after getting distracted again by the wildlife in their backyard - deliver a major symptom that prevents parents from pivoting w…
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Do we always know what makes us happy? Sometimes we do, and sometimes we don’t. And sometimes our defence mechanisms can cause us to cut our noses off to spite our faces. If you’ve ever dug your heels in when a friend or relative has given you an opinion that you know is probably true, but you don’t want to think about, then this episode is for you…
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"Mammas, Don't Let Your Sons Grow Up . . . NOT!"
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35:01Pivoting 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 edition 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…
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How many times have you been annoyed by other passengers getting in your way? Possibly more than you would like to admit? It happens to all of us and can have an impact on how we move forward, both literally and metaphorically. In this episode I explore what’s going on for us in these situations and how we can get some control back. You’ll be pleas…
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"Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home": Interview with Lori Wildenberg
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53:44Ever feel like you're walking a difficult road with a wayward adult child? On this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia sit down with author and licensed parent-family educator, Lori Wildenberg, as she offers practical grace- and truth-filled ways of navigating your relationship with a detoured child—whether they are rejecting faith…
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What is it like to be a parent of a child with autism? Whilst there is a lot more information out there than there used to be, it still can be quite a lonely place for parents. In this episode I’m talking to fellow SEN parent, Del Parsons, about what we have learnt along the way and why we are best placed to advocate for our children. Del is ‘The N…
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I’m delighted to be welcoming another guest to the show today, fellow coach Kate Adey. We discuss what it means to be in control, how much control we do have and what role anxiety plays for us. Join us as we explore the narratives we construct for ourselves and how we can reframe our stories. Kate works with leaders in professional services navigat…
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My Adult Child's Marriage is in Trouble: Now What?
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30:10Probably THE hardest thing a partner of an adult child faces is when their child goes through some sort of suffering. It never changes because we never stop being Mom and Dad. We all feel deeply it and our knee-jerk reaction is to: Step in and fix it Make the pain go away And in the process - we make it worse. SO - what are we supposed to do? What …
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I’m delighted to be bringing another guest to the show today, Penny Hopkinson. Penny is an Operations Manual specialist and author of Manual Magic. Join us as we delve into the world of learning and discover why it’s changed so much over the generations. Here’s how you can get in touch with Penny: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhopkinso…
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Eggshells and Confidence: When the Ground is Shaky with Your Adult Child
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22:45Does it seem like your adult child ignores you, talks down to you, or treats you in a negative way somehow? Maybe it even feels like you're walking on eggshells? On this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia provide some insightful wisdom on how we can navigate that path with confidence toward a healthier relationship with our adult …
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Today I’m welcoming another guest to the show, Simon Bennett. Simon is a friend of mine, a fellow coach and is keen to bring the concept of kindness to our attention. Simon’s coaching practice builds on his experience of leading teams in high pressure organisations. He is passionate about working with leaders to best navigate the challenges and opp…
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One Adult Child and Some Unique Dynamics to Navigate
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24:38"One" is a song by American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson that was made famous by Three Dog Night back in the 60's. You may be parents who have one adult child and may not realize there are some unique dynamics that play into what your pivot looks like. On today's Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve and Julia look at those dynamics after hearing from som…
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This week’s episode marks a special occasion—both my birthday and the podcast’s one-year anniversary! We’re exploring the dynamics of birthdays: what they mean to us, the expectations we place on them, and how they reveal our deeper unconscious patterns. Freud wasn’t a fan of birthdays (except for the gifts!), and that got me thinking; how do we tr…
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"One Choice Away from Change" - Interview with Justin and Trish Davis
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1:04:52We long for relationships to be joyful and life-giving, right? So why do they often leave us wounded, broken and exhausted? If you're looking to break the cycles that hurt your relationships with your adult kids and hold you back - you won't want to miss this edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast. Steve and Julia sit down with Justin and Trisha Davis…
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Why does silence make us uncomfortable? We’ve all been in those moments where the quiet stretches just a little too long, and we feel the need to fill it. But what if silence isn’t empty at all? What if it’s one of the most powerful tools we have? In this episode, we explore the impact of silence, when it serves us, when it doesn’t, and how to use …
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You pour your heart and soul into raising your family. You kids grow up and become responsible adults and often times find their mate and get married. That's what we want, right partners of adult kids? Something that can suddenly impact and throw off your "Disney fairy-tale ending" often begins at the wedding. TWO families coming together and dynam…
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In this episode, I’m sharing a personal story about how my confidence took a hit, how I unknowingly held myself back, and what ultimately helped me rebuild my sense of self. Spoiler alert: it involves pole dancing, platform boots, and a whole lot of fun! We’ll have a look at how our defence mechanisms get in our way and how they can subtly keep us …
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Pivoting to healthy relationships with our adult children requires: 1. Diving 2. Reflection 3. Processing Picture an iceberg. That's ALL we see in a person is what's above the surface. Unbeknownst to us is the other 90% brewing beneath the surface that stirs up our emotions and thoughts as we try to make sense of ANY situation or conversation. On t…
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How often have you found yourself mid-story, only to realise you’ve completely lost track of the point you were trying to make? You’re not alone. Sometimes, our words take on a life of their own, and there’s usually something deeper going on beneath the surface. In this episode, I take a look at why I (and maybe you, too) sometimes talk in circles,…
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For Dads Only: How We Can Become the Hero with Our Adult Kids
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22:20Dads: What if you were told that "doing" LESS as a father when your kids turn 20, would actually raise your stock (i.e. respect) i their eyes? Would you listen? It certainly goes against the grain of what we have been taught, shown and modeled in our culture - even the traditional church. On this special edition of The Parent Pivot Podcast, Steve t…
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Today I’m delighted to welcome Gwenne Dickson, spiritual empowerment coach, to the show. Gwenne and I are tackling a subject that all of us will experience and yet so many of us find difficult; and that’s grief. Join us as we talk about what we find surprising about the grieving process and how we can support each other during these times. You can …
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"We're Talking About Our Adult Kids . . . Again!": Interview with Author Gill Tillmann
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1:08:54Let's face it . . . not only is there NOT instructions handed to new parents by the doctor explaining "what to do" when you leave the hospital and take your baby home. The same can also be said when your adult kids leave home. Where's the "partner manual"? Where do you go to find out how to make the pivot from parent to partner? We got you on this …
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Why do we wear shoes that hurt our feet? We’ve all been in the situation where we’ve known that our choice of footwear isn’t ideal, but we love how our shoes make us look and feel, so put up with the pain. Is this the only area of our lives that we do this, or can we see this elsewhere? In this episode we explore what might be going on for us when …
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When TikTok Goes Viral: Steve & Julia Address Issues Related to Cutoff Relationships
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52:24We recently posted some TikTok short videos on a variety of subjects to see what would stick to the wall. One particular issue touched home with over 11,000 hits! (Huge for us!) Adult children and parents all chimed in with their hurt and pain seeking healthy answers to this question: "What do you do when relationship between parent and adult child…
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It’s been famously said by Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, that Netflix is not a family. And work is not a family - unless of course you are the Carringtons in Dynasty or the Ewings in Dallas. However, are there some elements of family dynamics that get played out in our work environments? In this episode we explore the phenomena of being drawn into…
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Your son or daughter is heading off to college - or currently in college - and you're finding it extremely hard to let go. It can be painful to not be needed as much as you used to. How do you make sense of this new season of life? Steve and Julia have a few small steps you can begin to take down this new road and start to make "the pivot" from par…
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Life isn’t a fairy tale, yet we might have some fairy tale moments throughout our lives. What happens when we reach the conclusion of the fairy tale? Are we skipping off into the sunset or are we left with a mixed bag of conflicting and complex feelings not knowing what might be going on for us? In this episode we explore some of the less talked ab…
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Sacred Partnering: Pivoting Includes Your Own Sanctification
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23:40It's easy to keep the focus on "how" our adult children are doing and who they are becoming, right? This podcast is designed to come alongside you as make the pivot to partner and validate, encourage, bring awareness and equip with tools to have healthy Partner/Adult Child relationship. But there is more to pivoting to partner than this. The sancti…
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Most of us will have had the post break up haircut, or equivalent. That response to an event that has made us decide that something needs to change as we are no longer that person anymore. But why do we do this? Are we avoiding thinking about something that could actually help us move forward? In this episode we explore what might be going on for u…
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It's happening more and more these days to pivoting parents and we are hearing about it more and more. When WE left the nest - breaking off relationship with parents really wasn't a thing. Today? Our adult kids have been swamped by an ideology that life is all about them. What's a pivoting partner to do? How can we re-establish relationship? On thi…
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It’s tempting to think that we should always be moving forward, that we must forever be making progress, no matter how slowly. And there is a lot of truth in that. Our defence mechanisms can tempt us to avoid looking at our behaviour with the promise that by continuing to move forward we will get to the promised land – whatever that might look like…
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