Finding LIFE Podcast — Parent 2 Parent Episode: “Parenting Doesn’t End at 18”

In this heartfelt and eye-opening Parent 2 Parent episode, we walk directly into the emotional reality so many parents face but rarely talk about: what it feels like when your child becomes a legal adult—but still very much needs you. Culture tells us that at 18, parenting somehow “ends.” But any parent who has lived through this transition knows the truth—your child turning 18 marks a new chapter, not the final one.

This episode explores the emotional, developmental, and relational shifts that happen as our children cross the threshold into adulthood. It’s a season filled with pride, fear, grief, excitement, uncertainty, and hope—all at the same time. Many parents silently struggle with the internal tension of letting go while still wanting to protect, guide, and support. And many young adults struggle with the pressure to “have it all together” before they’re ready.

We break down:

• Why turning 18 doesn’t magically create emotional maturity

• How brain development continues well into the mid-20s

• The grief parents experience as roles change and identities shift

• Why support and guidance are still critical in early adulthood

• How to parent with your young adult instead of parenting over them

• What healthy boundaries and expectations look like in this new season

• How to repair past ruptures so the relationship can grow forward

• The difference between control, care, and connection

• Why young adults often test or distance themselves—and what they actually need during that time
  

We also talk honestly about the silent shame many parents feel during this stage:

The “Did I do enough?”

The “Did I mess something up?”

The “Why does this hurt so much?”

The “Am I allowed to still be their parent?”

This episode affirms that these questions are normal—and that love doesn’t expire at 18. Parenting simply transforms.

Through reflection, compassion, and real-life examples, we guide parents into embracing this new role:

Less manager, more mentor.

Less correction, more connection.

Less control, more collaboration.

Your child still needs your wisdom, your grounding presence, your voice, your guidance—and your grace. Just in a different way.

Parenting doesn’t end at 18. It evolves. It deepens.

It becomes the relationship they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.