The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom
Welcome to The Midlife Momma Podcast, the go-to resource for empty nest moms ready to embrace the next chapter of life with confidence and purpose! Join me, Pamela Henkelman, a certified Empty Nest Coach and proud momma of five, as we navigate this transformative journey together. Each week, we dive into essential topics that matter most to midlife moms, including: Setting and maintaining boundaries Rediscovering your life’s purpose Mastering effective communication with adult children Strengthening your marriage in the empty nest season Leaning on faith to guide your journey Follow The Midlife Momma Podcast now to join a community of like-minded moms and start your journey toward confidence, connection, and fulfillment in this exciting new chapter of motherhood. The Midlife Momma podcast is part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. Find more information at www.ChristianParenting.org
Episodes
When the kids move out, it’s easy for the marriage to feel distant or even disconnected. But what if the empty nest could be a fresh start?
In this heartfelt episode, Pamela is joined by author and counselor Sally Livingston to talk about how couples can move from feeling like roommates to rekindling emotional and spiritual intimacy. Whether your marriage feels stuck or just needs a reset, this conversation offers...
In this uplifting episode, I’m joined by Chrys Howard and Shellie Tomlinson, hosts of the Rocking It Grand podcast and authors of the book by the same name. These two fun and faith-filled grandmas share wisdom on leaving a godly legacy and investing spiritually in your grandkids, even from a distance.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Chapter Rocking It Grand here
Rocking It Grand website here
Fre...
What do you do when grandparenting doesn’t look the way you hoped? In this tender episode, we’re talking about the grief that comes from distance, estrangement, or unmet expectations and how to find peace and purpose in the middle of it. Let’s walk through six ways to cope and invite Jesus into the ache.
HELPFUL LINKS:
A Cloud of Witnesses Prayer Journal here Code: CLOUD
How sweet it is to watch your daughter become a mom. Our youngest daughter, Keziah, became a mom this year, and I wanted you to hear her heart on what young moms need most in this tender season of motherhood.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child here
Free Connection Call with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here
Take the free 2-minute Quiz here
Revie...
Becoming a grandma is a gift, but it’s not without challenges. In this episode, I share five faith-filled ways to support your adult children’s parenting with grace, not control. Learn how to show up with prayer, humility, and love as you build a joyful legacy with your grandkids.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child here
A Great Cloud of Witnesses Prayer Journal
Author Dawn Ward shares her journey of parenting an addicted adult child and how she moved from guilt and shame to grace and freedom in Christ. If your adult child is struggling, this episode offers honest encouragement and real hope.
HELPFUL LINKS:
From Guilt to Grace by Dawn Ward here
Free Guide: Boundaries with Your Addicted Child here
Facebook Group: Christian Moms of Addicted Children here
If you’ve ever struggled to let go and trust God with your grown child, this episode is for you.
I’m joined by Marnie Hammar, host of the Hear Him Louder podcast, as we talk about how hearing God’s voice brings peace, calms fear, and helps us surrender control in this new season of motherhood.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Guide: Four Steps for Creating Quiet by Marnie Hammar here
Free Gu...
What really happens when we don’t let go of our adult kids?
In this episode, I share six surprising consequences of holding on too tightly and how it affects your peace, your faith, and your relationship with your grown children. You’ll leave encouraged, equipped, and ready to trust God more in this season.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child here
Free Connection ...
Your connection with God is what helps you move from control to surrender.
Let’s move beyond “quiet time” and find grace in the moment. Join me for an impactful discussion with Rose Jordan as we explore learning to connect with God in your everyday life, allowing you to let go of control and surrender every anxious moment to Him.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Penny Jar Prayers here
Beneath the Fig Tree podcast
We hate to admit it, but many moms struggle with control.
If you've found yourself lying awake at night, replaying their choices, wondering if you should have said more, done more, or prayed harder, this conversation is for you. We’re talking about how to release control and trust God with your adult children.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Marriage Simplified Guide here
Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child here
Free Connection Ca...
Feeling unsure, afraid, or stuck in the empty nest?
Author Laura Smith shares how biblical bravery can help you face midlife with faith, purpose, and courage. You’ll be encouraged to trust God and take your next brave step—right where you are.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Chapter Brave Woman, Mighty God here
Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child here
Free Connection Call with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here
Take the f...
169. From Pressure to Peace: 6 Ways Prayer Helps Christian Moms Stop People-Pleasing
Tired of walking on eggshells with your adult kids? In this episode, discover six ways prayer helps Christian moms break free from people-pleasing and find lasting peace. Learn how to set boundaries, surrender control, and please God above all.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Marriage Simplified Guide here
Hey Momma, are you always trying to keep the peace, say “yes” to everything, and avoid rocking the boat with your adult kids?
You’re not alone. We’re talking about people-pleasing: why we do it, how it drains us, and how it impacts our relationships with our grown kids. It’s time to release the pressure to please and start showing up as your whole, authentic self. You have God’s full approval—and that changes everything.
HELPFUL LIN...
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to keep everyone happy, you’re not alone.
Therapist Heather Bjur joins us as we tackle the challenging topic of people-pleasing. Let’s learn why we fall into it, how it affects our relationships, and how to break free. Heather shares practical advice on being emotionally honest with your kids and finding your voice.
HELPFUL LINKS:
When the relationship with your son or daughter-in-law is strained, it can feel like everything is fractured: your connection with your child, your role as a mom, even access to your grandkids.
Counselor Kathy Cunningham joins me for a powerful conversation about healing those deep relational wounds. She shares practical wisdom, biblical insight, and the very first step a mom should take when peace feels impossible.
HELPFUL LINK...
Do you have a vision for the kind of mother-in-law you want to be?
By avoiding playing the victim and taking things personally, not overstepping boundaries, and not competing for your child’s loyalty, you can have a supportive, healthy relationship with your child’s spouse. Listen in for eight things NOT to do as a mother-in-law,
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child
You set the tone in your relationship with your child’s spouse. Be the first to extend love and grace.
Honoring and supporting their family unit without meddling will strengthen your relationship with your child’s mate.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child(And 5 Ways to Stop Yourself from Saying Them here
Gift Guide for Moms, Dads, and Grads
It’s not just you; there are real barriers to communication with your grown child.
Listen in to identify ten common communication barriers and learn a solution for each. When you understand what you’re up against, you can build a strategy to reconnect with your grown child.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child(And 5 Ways to Stop Yourself from Saying Them) here
F...
This generation of young adults is called the Anxious Generation, and we need to know how to talk to them.
No mom wants to add to her grown child’s anxiety. Linda Hanstra provides tips for moms with anxious children. Learn to support your anxious child by listening more and reminding them what they know to be true.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Happy Together Checklist- for your Boomerang Kids here
Linda's Book, Empty Nest Joyride here
Free Guide...
Avoid these 10 phrases and learn to speak life instead.
Communication doesn’t have to be hard as long as we remember some guiding principles to speak life over our children. Let’s talk about awareness, humility, and the power of empathy.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child (and 5 Ways to Stop Yourself from Saying Them) here
Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here
Take the ...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.