Growing Home Together Podcast

We are sharing some of our favorite episodes from the podcast this month as we wind down the summer. The first is this conversation with Jim Burns on building relationships with our children as they transition into adulthood.

When our children were younger, our job description as parents was clear. We provide clean clothes, tend to their basic needs, and make sure there are always snacks in the fridge. However, when they transition from high school into adulthood, we have to tear up that old job description and learn a brand new way of relating and supporting them. 
Today’s guest knows all about this and often says that “the transition is complicated, often messy, and can sometimes feel like you are walking on eggshells.”
Jim Burns is the president of HomeWord and the author of several popular books, including Doing Life With Your Adult Children. He and his wife, Cathy, reside in Southern California and have three grown daughters and four grandchildren.

In this episode, Jim shares:
Strategies for redefining your relationship with adult children
The danger of offering unsolicited advice
Tips for the child who resists launching
And much more!
We hope this episode is a helpful resource as you navigate this season of parenting!
Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/jim-burns-134

As parents of five, we are all too familiar with how our kids can push our buttons and drive us to the end of our patience. Sometimes, when tensions get high, we may feel an impulse to respond to our children’s unwise choices and immature behavior with anger—even when we know that loving self-control is the best way to react.
Every parent we know shares the same desire to be more patient and calm with their children. But some days, it can feel like an impossible task to squelch our frustrations and respond with grace.
If you are carrying a weight of guilt on your shoulders from losing your temper and yelling at your kids, then you won’t want to miss this conversation with a mom who is right there with us.
Our guest, Janel Breitenstein, is a mom, ministry leader, and a popular author and speaker who knows what it is like to battle anger as a parent. She is here to help us discover a path of peace when navigating frustration with our kids.
In this episode, Janel shares:
Why anger is an easy response to reach for
Strategies for keeping your cool
The importance of being a safe place for your children to turn to
And more!
We hope you enjoy this conversation!
Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/janel-breitenstein-133/

Do you avoid talking about money with your spouse? Does the mention of a budget make you cringe? Do financial emergencies cause tension to grow in your household?
We know how it feels to be stressed about money. When we were first married, we lived on a tight budget with a rotating menu of mac n’ cheese and chili and beans. When it came to conversations about money, they always revolved around how we could earn a little bit more and how we could spend a little bit less every month.
As the years have passed, our income has changed, and so have our expenses. Like many couples, our financial life became more complex over time, and we learned that good money conversations don’t always happen naturally. Looking back, we wish we’d had someone like Matt Bell to guide us in those early years of marriage.
Matt is a biblical money management writer and speaker, as well as the author of an important new book for couples called Starting Strong: Discovering the Good That Money Can Do in Your Marriage.
In this episode, Matt shares:
The factors that determine how we manage money
Whether it’s wise for a couple to buy a house right away
How to lay a strong financial foundation from the beginning of your marriage
And more!
We hope you enjoy this conversation!
Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/matt-bell-132/

Can you still hear the beat of “Pomp and Circumstance” from the day your child crossed the graduation stage? For so many parents, this milestone signifies a big life transition—not only for their child, but for themselves, too. For the child, they’re flying the nest and entering the real world for the first time. For the parent, they will be entering (or approaching) the empty nest season of life.
If you are going through this today, I know you are very excited for what this next chapter holds for your child. But you may also be wondering how to keep your life and heart full when your nest is empty.
If you are feeling overwhelmed with the changes in your family life right now, or you are struggling inside with the realities of your child leaving home, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Our guest is here to help prepare our hearts to thrive in our empty nest season of life. Pamela Henkelman is a speaker, writer, podcast host, and a Certified Empty Nest Coach. She helps Christian moms let go with grace, strengthen their marriages, and rediscover their God-given purpose in the empty nest chapter of life.
In this episode, Pamela shares:
What happens in this role shift from directing to supporting
How to navigate grief during this transition
How you can recapture your sense of personal identity
And more!
We hope you enjoy this conversation!
Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/pamela-henkelman-131/

As parents, we hurt when our children hurt. From those first cries during sleepless nights to the more complex struggles of adolescence and beyond, our hearts tend to ache right alongside theirs.
Whether you’re watching your child struggle with bullying at school, battling an eating disorder, or walking through a mental health crisis, their pain can leave you feeling overwhelmed, afraid, or unsure of how to help. When someone you love so deeply is hurting, it’s natural to wish you could take the pain away yourself.
In this episode, I’m having a mom-to-mom conversation about this tender topic: the heartbreak we parents carry for our kids.
My guest knows exactly what it’s like to experience those intense emotions on behalf of our children. Lori Schumaker is a Certified Life and Mental Health Coach, speaker, and author with over 20 years of ministry experience. She is also a mother whose journey of adopting and parenting a daughter with special needs has brought her to a place of trust and surrender to God. I hope her story will encourage you!
In this episode, Lori shares:
The vital practice of releasing control to God
Why we should prioritize our personal healing
How to stay connected with your spouse through the challenges
And more!
We hope you enjoy this conversation!
Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/lori-schumaker-130/