Parenting doesn’t stop when our children turn 18. In many ways, it becomes more complicated, more intentional, and sometimes even more emotional.

In this episode of Honest Parenting, Gretchen and Jennifer talk honestly about what it looks like to parent adult children and how the relationship shifts as they begin building lives, routines, beliefs, and traditions of their own.

We discuss the transition from being the primary voice in your child’s life to becoming one of many voices influencing them. From navigating changing holiday rhythms and significant others to figuring out family expectations and even future grandparent roles, this stage of parenting comes with a different kind of letting go.

We also talk about the importance of praying for our adult children, that they would find wise mentors, healthy community, and people who genuinely see them and walk through life with them. And for parents in this season, we discuss the value of continuing to invest in younger adults ourselves through simple connection, meaningful conversations, and showing up consistently.

Most of all, this episode is a reminder that parenting adult children also means continuing to grow as individuals. No matter where you are in the parenting journey, there’s food for thought and a tender reminder that it’s never too late to reach out and connect.

We hope you’ll find a moment and listen.

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What do puberty, screen time, friendship difficulties, and curfews have in common? If you're parenting kids between 11 and 18, you've likely been navigating these universal challenges.

In this continuation of our Honest Parenting series, Gretchen and Jennifer share both ideals and real-life experiences as we raise children who are impacted by how puberty changes both bodies and emotions, layered onto a growing awareness of the world around them. As parents, we’re called to prioritize building trust with our sons and daughters. This trust becomes the foundation that gives us access to their hearts and minds during a season that can quickly overwhelm both them and us.

As our children begin to understand how and why their bodies change, we have the opportunity to come alongside them with nonjudgmental support, empathy, and practical information. They will have questions, and we can respond with gentleness and care.

The screen time conversation has exhausted many of us as we try to set healthy boundaries around digital media. With devices now serving as hubs for socializing, learning, shopping, finances, and entertainment, it’s increasingly difficult to define what’s healthy. In this episode, we discuss common challenges and share practical resources to help families create boundaries that are both realistic and sustainable.

What happens when our children begin to question (or even walk away from) the faith traditions of our family? Or when friendship disappointments lead to loneliness and isolation? This episode offers a vulnerable conversation filled with honest lessons, thoughtful guardrails, and encouragement for walking alongside our children during this critical stage without defaulting to fear, guilt, or constant conflict.

If you’re looking for voices shaped by experience, wisdom, and a touch of humor, you’re in the right place. We hope you’ll take a moment to listen.

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In the first ten years of parenting, we encounter an endless list of habits to train and attitudes to shape. The list rarely slows. Just as one milestone comes into focus, another appears on the horizon. Sleep schedules, potty training, picky eating, sibling conflict... the list of high priorities is unending.

In the fourth episode of our Honest Parenting series, Jennifer lightens the conversation with a few humorous anecdotes and a sprinkle of honest regrets. Gretchen shares both personal and professional wisdom with her voice as a seasoned mother and pediatrician.

As parents, we want to love and serve our children well, guiding them through their most formative years with intention. But real life rarely unfolds in tidy categories. We carry ideals of the kind of parent we hope to be, while navigating full days, divided attention, and the human limits of our time and energy.

In this episode, we step into the tension between what we envision and what everyday life actually looks like. From welcoming a new sibling and being mindful of how attention shifts, to creating small, consistent rhythms that help a child feel seen and secure, we talk through practical ways to build connection in the middle of change.

Whether it’s maintaining a simple routine with an older child, marking transitions with something meaningful, or just noticing where your presence matters most, this conversation focuses on the small decisions that shape a child’s experience over time. We hope you'll find a moment to listen.

Be sure to check out our show notes page for links to all of the resources mentioned. www.medicinemotherhood.com/blog/honestparenting

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