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

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

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

Episodes

July 17, 2025 40 mins

If your home stresses you out, your life feels out of control, your adult children are miserable - hiding inside their messy bedrooms - and you’re not sure how much longer you can survive the chaos, this heartfelt conversation will inspire you.

In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with a courageous mom who made the greatest change in her life, and in doing so, helped her daughter turn her's around.

This is a true s...

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So, your adult child lives at home but does nothing all day. Seriously, nothing. They have no job, no interests, no plans, no life. You're tired of asking them, tired of nagging, losing patience and deep down, you wonder; will I ever get to retire

You're past the point where it's just a phase. All you hear are excuses. While some might be valid, you can't help but wonder - how can they be okay living their life...

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If your adult child feels lost, unmotivated, and unsure about their future, you might love this episode  - especially if your young adult is struggling to find out what they want to do and which career would "light them up". 

I’m speaking with Kristin Clark, a Career Exploration Coach who uses the CliftonStrengths assessment (which I mentioned in Episode #25), along with her own unique formula, to help young adults better ...

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You’ve heard it said, “You’re only as happy as your saddest child,” and perhaps this is your mantra. But what if that belief is holding you back from being the parent that your adult child needs? Can you lead them through their struggles and help them overcome their fears when you feel as bad as they do? 

Today, we’re talking about emotional enmeshment; what it is, how to recognize it, and how to start untangling yourself from your ...

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Walking on eggshells, afraid to set boundaries, worried about pushing your young adult too hard and constantly second-guessing yourself is EXHAUSTING. There’s got to be a better way. 

It might sound cliché, but there are so many parents who are in the same boat as you, trying to do the right thing for their young adult, but nothing is working. Maybe it’s not what you’re doing, but how you’re doing it. You’ve lost your power. Your se...

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"I hate you! You're the worst Mom in the world!" 

Did you ever say that to your parent when you were a kid? Or maybe you were on the receiving end; watching your 5-year-old, arms crossed, storming off in protest because you wouldn’t let them bring their stuffed animal to school. They’ll get over it, you thought. And they did.

Fast forward 20 years, no more plush toys, no more explosive dramatics. Just silence. You have...

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What does it really mean to "meet your kids where they are"—and what happens when you do? Every single child is unique. Correction. Every human being is unique. The difference is, a child has a better chance of holding onto their uniqueness, discovering their individual strengths, and walking their own path, if they have a parent who is willing to nurture that. 

Many adults are too far gone. (Sorry for my brutal honesty). ...

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Do you find yourself wondering why your adult child hasn’t reached the milestones others seem to have hit already—college, career, independence? Maybe you’re hearing other parents talk about their thriving young adults while you’re silently thinking, “Why is mine still stuck?”

Here’s the hard truth: comparing your child to their peers, siblings or even your own expectations isn’t helping them. And while it might come from a place of...

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When my kid first started playing video games, it was a great way for them to unwind. It also gave me peace of mind, knowing they were staying out of trouble. At the time, it didn’t seem like a problem, they still had other activities in their life, and they only played a few hours a day. But now it’s all my adult child wants to do, it’s all they talk about, and the only friends they spend time with are the ones on the other end of...

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You spend so much time taking care of everyone else—I’ve got to ask: Who’s taking care of YOU? If you’re feeling physically drained , emotionally spent, and beaten down from the weight of it all, this mini episode is for you.

In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m sharing No BS, research-based tidbits that will surprisingly help you reset—mentally, emotionally, and physically (and they’re my personal favourites.)

Remember - ...

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What if the reason your adult child is always in their room… is because they’re hiding something? You have your suspicions—but they’re so disconnected and so secretive, that you’re no longer sure what’s real. You’ve got a hunch (love that parenting instinct) but they’ve gotten so good at making you feel bad for even questioning them, you’re riddled with self-doubt. Yet the facts are clear; they spend hours behind that door, you’re ...

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Want a better relationship with your adult child? Start by changing the way you communicate.

In this episode of LAUNCH, I talk with Toby Slough and his daughter Bailey Garner about the crucial transition every parent needs to make; going from Coach to Advisor. Chock full of eye-opening insights, practical tips, and real talk, I'm sure you'll find this conversation both helpful and heartfelt. (You might want to grab a tissu...

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Are you ready to build a friendship with your children that will last a lifetime? Do you want to be the person your kids turn to in confidence, for advice, support and friendship? In this episode, we delve into the art of building strong parent-child relationships. Discover positive parenting strategies and effective communication techniques to connect with your children on a deeper level. We explore how to create that relationship...

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What do you do when your young adult calls and confesses that alcohol is destroying their life - and they're 1,000 miles away?

In this deeply heartfelt and insightful episode, we explore one mother’s real-life experience parenting her young adult son through alcohol addiction—and the personal growth, mindset shifts, and lessons she learned that can help other parents facing similar struggles.

This is not just a story of addictio...

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You did the parenting. They’re “grown up” now. Yet it still feels like you’re raising a child. Why does this stage of having an adult feel so hard? Will it ever get easier? What can I do?

In this episode of LAUNCH, I’m exposing 2 surprising reasons your grown-up kid might be  acting like they’re still 15—and spoiler alert: it’s not laziness or lack of motivation. These hidden causes are often overlooked (and NEVER talked about) but ...

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Have you ever stopped to ask yourself how your own childhood is showing up in your parenting ?

In this episode, we're having an honest conversation about something many parents never pause to consider: the lingering effects of your own unhealed childhood trauma—and how it can quietly impact your relationship with your child, no matter how old they are.

You’ll learn what trauma really looks like (and it shows up in different ways...

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For anyone who prefers watching interviews,  you'll find it on Shari's youtube channel: Click here: https://youtu.be/TG35c5LsKtA?si=wYiBzElWmTdAicXw

Few things are more painful than Parental Estrangement—when your adult child intentionally limits or cuts off contact, leaving you heartbroken, confused, and searching for answers.  The silence is deafening, the questions feel endless, and the pain can be unbearable. Why does ...

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"Why is my adult child so angry? Why does it seem as if they hate me?  And, why do they blame me for everything?" 

If you’re asking these questions it's because you care, but more importantly you know that something has to be done. Even though it can be so painful when your adult child resents you, blames you, even shuts you out, you have to know that beneath their anger is often something deeper—and if you want thing...

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Are you feeling frustrated because your adult child thinks that your their maid? They take advantage of your generosity, they contribute nothing and they ignore every request you make. It's because rules don't work, but boundaries do. 

In this episode of LAUNCH, we’re talking about one of the BIGGEST struggles parents face—setting healthy boundaries with their adult children. Boundaries aren’t about just about setting &quo...

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For Parents who are wondering why their Teens and Young Adults are struggling with time management, organization, motivation, emotional regulation, planning, procrastinating, managing their responsibilities, and so much more - this interview with a licenced Psychologist reveals what you never knew about ADHD.

If you're like me, I used to think ADHD only happened in children, mostly hyperactive little boys. But you'll be sh...

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