S3 E53 - When Our Kids Aren’t KIDDING Anymore: Real Talk on Parenting Adult Children

Think parenting is hard when they’re little? Just wait until they start adulting.
In this episode of Lead Like a Girl, Jamie, Jessica, and Coralyn get real about what it looks like to parent when your kids aren’t kids anymore. From unexpected texts that stop you in your tracks to the emotional shift from being in charge to simply being there—they’re unpacking all the messy, beautiful parts of staying connected as kids grow up.

This conversation dives into the heart of parenting adult children—the joy, the awkwardness, the frustration, and the letting go. The trio opens up about how parenting styles evolve, how hard it is to watch your kids make choices you wouldn’t, and what it means to go from “mom the manager” to “mom the mentor.”

Inside this episode:
– The surprise texts from their kids that hit different
– Why parenting adult children is a whole new learning curve
– The moment you realize your kid is running their own life
– Letting go of control without letting go of connection
– How to cheer for your kid, even when you disagree
– That tricky shift from giving advice to just listening
– Why comparison is a confidence killer for parents
– What to do when it feels like your grown kid is pulling away
– Why it’s never too late to reconnect or repair a strained relationship
– And the reminder that both parents and kids are still figuring it out

This is an honest, heartfelt, and often hilarious episode that reminds listeners they’re not alone. Because parenting doesn’t stop when they grow up—it just gets real.