Parenting adult children can be one of the most rewarding—and heartbreaking—seasons of life. What do you do when your adult child pulls away, communication breaks down, or family conflict creates distance? How can parents maintain influence without trying to control, and find peace when relationships don’t look the way they hoped?
In this episode of the Upside-Down Parenting Podcast, Matt Jones and Janel Greig sit down with Dr. Kathy Koch, founder of Celebrate Kids and author of Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children. Drawing from decades of experience helping families thrive, Dr. Kathy offers practical, biblical wisdom for navigating conflict, setting healthy boundaries, and staying connected to adult children through life’s biggest transitions.
Together, they discuss:
• How to shift from control to influence as your children become adults
• Why active listening and “radical acceptance” can strengthen relationships
• Practical ways to navigate marriage, independence, and changing family dynamics
• How to establish healthy boundaries without damaging connection
• What it means when children become idols—and how parents can recognize it
• How grandparents can navigate disagreements about parenting, faith, and values
• Strategies for improving communication with adult children right away
• The power of forgiveness, prayer, and hope in difficult family relationships
• Why Dr. Kathy encourages parents to “parent with a verb only when invited”
Whether you’re parenting young children, launching teenagers into adulthood, or navigating a strained relationship with an adult son or daughter, this conversation offers encouragement, wisdom, and practical next steps rooted in biblical truth.
Dr. Kathy Koch is the founder of Celebrate Kids, Inc., a popular speaker, educational psychologist, and the author of nine books focused on helping parents understand, connect with, and enjoy their children.
Be sure to send us your questions at podcast@summit.org!