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When Our Adult Children Walk Away
My story. Reflecting my experiences, observations and perspective - in my words.
In the early spring of 2019, under the influence of her gatekeeper-partner, in the heart of the global pandemic. After several years of trying to sort through our differences, my (young) adult daughter made the heartbreaking choice to cut all communication with our family.
My name is Dr. Janet Steinkamp, and the reason for this podcast is simple. During the long, dark hours of my isolation and desperation, I decided to use my formal training and professional experience to help people struggling to understand how to strengthen their communication styles and interpersonal behavior to rebuild a fracturing relationship. I pivoted from decades of work in medical education and communication to work with families.
I now coach people, both parents and adult children, through the dark days, isolation, and pain of estrangement from their parent or adult child. We work to find hope and look toward the future, to grow despite and because of their estrangement, and find strategies that help them prepare to strengthen and rebuild their fractured relationship.
When you are ready to walk through the hot coals of self-reflection toward self-discovery - to prepare for repair - I'm here to walk alongside you.
I can't promise reconnection, I can and will help you find clarity, purpose and strength as you prepare for opportunities to establish respectful, trusting communication.
When Our Adult Children Walk Away
Latest Episodes
Unconditional Love Doesn’t Mean Unconditional Participation (Audio Only)
Unconditional love and a reciprocal relationship are not the same thing. Importantly, participation in a relationship is each individual's choice.In this conversation, Dr. Janet and Brianna sit with why that difference matters so much in...
The Power and Influence of Significant Others: Influence, Ultimatums, and Estranged Adult Children
A partner. A friend. A therapist. A faith community. Sometimes a voice online we will never meet. When our adult child begins to pull away, we often find ourselves searching for the person who changed them. In this episode, Dr. Janet Steinkamp ...
The Science and Art of Communication: Humility vs Humiliation
Episode summary Humility and humiliation sit so close together that we often feel them in the same breath. In this conversation, Dr. Janet Steinkamp and her daughter Brianna gently pull the two apart. One is a choice we make,...
We Raised Them For A World We Couldn't See
The world our adult children grew up in is not the world we grew up in. The economy shifted. The technology shifted. The pace, the pressure, the rules for building a stable life, all of it moved while we weren’t looking. In this episode, Dr. Ja...
The Message Behind the Message (Audio Only) | After Hours Series
When a message arrives from an estranged adult child, the first read is rarely the real one. The words on the page are filtered through pain, through other voices, through timing, and through emotions that have been building for a long time. In...
Fan Mail
I’m currently estranged from my son and I’m launching into the transformation stage. My question is should I send another text to ask what more he wants from me to have a one on one. Our estrangement started due to my drinking. I'm now 10 months sober and involved in a program. During our estrangement I have kept him up to date with my recovery. At first I would get congrats etc and then there was a text about connecting but not quite ready and then I reached out again and he lashed out because I asked him to respond and not leave me in text silence. So with my bday and the holidays coming up should I reach out to ask what more he needs from me or go the silent route. Appreciate your response. Marcia
Grand R API Ds, Michigan