ABCs of Parenting Adult Children

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In this episode, host James Moffitt talks with Greg Junge, founder of Money Mindset Academy and author of Teen Money Mindset and Parent Money Mindset, about how parents can teach adult children financial responsibility without rescuing them. They explore how money habits are formed, why credit scores matter, and how to support an adult child while still allowing natural consequences.We discuss how family money beliefs shape adult behavior, why instant gratification makes financial discipline harder today, and how parents can turn everyday moments into teachable lessons. The conversation is practical, honest, and focused on helping families build confidence around money.
Key topics
Greg Junge shares why his work centers on helping parents have meaningful money conversations at home, not becoming financial experts
James Moffitt reflects on growing up in a household where bills were paid but money was not openly discussed, which shaped the episode’s central tension
The conversation compares past generations, where money was often private, with today’s environment, where financial choices are constantly visible
Greg explains why support should not become rescuing when adult children make financial mistakes
They discuss credit card debt, including how parents can help children understand consequences without automatically bailing them out
James describes how predatory credit card offers targeted students, and Greg shares his own college experience with credit cards and debt
The episode emphasizes credit score as a long-term adult report card and one of the most important financial concepts parents can teach
They talk about the role of mistake-making in financial education and why vulnerability from parents can turn errors into lessons
The discussion covers instant gratification, Amazon spending, and how modern convenience makes saving and patience harder
Greg explains how his books teach age-appropriate financial lessons, from simple choices in a checkout line to more advanced topics like electricity bills and budgeting
Timestamps
(1:12) Welcome and introduction to the topic of parenting adult children

(1:41) Greg Junge introduces Money Mindset Academy and his books

(2:46) Why parents need confidence, not expertise, to talk about money

(3:05) James reflects on how his parents modeled money behavior without teaching money skills

(4:26) The struggle of deciding when to help adult children financially

(5:23) Student debt, limited job prospects, and the cost of college

(6:04) Greg’s upbringing in a financially aware household

(8:17) Teaching financial literacy through everyday examples

(9:07) How family norms shape money behavior in children

(10:10) Saving for a first car and learning the value of money

(11:02) When to let an adult child learn a financial lesson the hard way

(12:33) Supporting without rescuing when a child has credit card debt

(13:23) Predatory credit card signups on college campuses

(14:57) Greg’s story of using a student credit card with parental guardrails

(16:42) Building and protecting a credit score early

(17:49) Why credit mistakes are expensive and slow to fix

(19:35) Credit score as a report card for adult financial responsibility

(20:02) Mistakes as learning opportunities instead of shame

(21:25) Money beliefs parents carry from their own upbringing

(23:25) Instant gratification and the pressure to buy now

(24:23) Modeling spending behavior as a parent

(25:35) Catalog shopping, delayed gratification, and how buying habits have changed

(26:33) Amazon spending as a wake-up call for families

(27:19) Changing a financial principle when an adult child grows up

(28:04) When a parent’s values shift around real estate and leverage

(29:16) Why good credit creates buying power

(30:19) Helping a child pursue a dream versus subsidizing an unrealistic one

(32:07) The value of “who, not how” for business and life decisions

(33:15) Counting the cost before funding a dream

(35:05) Guardrails for parents who can financially support a child’s business

(36:50) When making life easier starts weakening resilience

(38:27) The college trap and the pressure to choose a four-year degree

(40:20) Trades and technical education as strong alternatives

(41:21) Greg reflects on going to college because it was expected

(43:29) Social media, comparison, and money mindset pressure

(45:40) How an 84-year-old CPA stays tech-savvy through daily use

(46:39) Technology and money as tools that can be used well or badly

(47:29) Greg’s books and the practical lessons they teach

(49:45) Teaching older children about electricity bills and real-world costs

(50:34) Where to find the books and free family resources

(51:00) Closing takeaways on modeling, boundaries, and financial confidence
Notable quotes
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“Support doesn’t have to become rescuing.”

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“It’s literally a report card for being an adult and being financially responsible.”

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“We’re not trying to raise children who need us forever.”
Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 
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In today’s episode of ABC’s of Parenting Adult Children, James sits down with Mary Wilcox Smith for a powerful conversation about the real challenges parents face when communicating with teens and young adults. No canned questions. No surface-level advice. This episode goes straight into the heart of emotional distance, conflict, silence, and rebuilding trust.
We explore:
Why communication breaks down between parents and young adults
How to interpret silence, withdrawal, and emotional shutdown
The parent’s identity shift as kids grow up
The line between guidance and control
How to repair relationships after conflict
Speaking your young adult’s “emotional language”
Balancing faith, values, and autonomy
The one conversation parents avoid — but shouldn’t
If you’re navigating the complex season of parenting teens or adult children, this episode gives you practical tools, emotional insight, and hope for real connection.

👉 Subscribe to the podcast for weekly conversations that help you parent with confidence and grace.

👉 Visit our website: https://parentingadultchildren.org

👉 Follow our YouTube channel: @parentingadultchildren
Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 
Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 
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Parenting Adult Children Through Disability, Resilience, and Trust
James Moffitt speaks with Ken Kunken about fatherhood, identity, and raising three sons while living with quadriplegia. The conversation explores what strength looks like when a father cannot rely on physical ability, and how trust, patience, and presence shaped Ken’s relationship with his sons.Ken also shares his story as a student, attorney, author, and caregiver, including the barriers he faced before the Americans with Disabilities Act and how he turned adversity into a model of resilience for his children.
Key topics
Ken’s family today: His triplet sons are 21 years old, attending three different colleges, and thriving independently.
Fatherhood without physical mobility: Ken describes how his limitations helped him become a better listener and a more patient parent.
A memorable moment of care: He recalls a frightening episode in a crowded store when his son Joseph helped him through dizziness and a blood-pressure issue.
Redefining strength: Ken modeled resilience by returning to college after his injury, earning degrees, and building a career as an assistant district attorney and supervisor.
Facing fears as a father: He reflects on worrying that his sons might be embarrassed by his disability—and how their pride helped ease that concern.
Family teamwork: Daily caregiving helped the family build independence, cooperation, and mutual support.
Meeting his wife, Anna: Ken shares how an ad for a caregiver led to a relationship that grew from employer and employee to friendship and marriage.
Inclusion at home: He discusses how cultural, religious, and physical differences helped his sons develop a strong sense of equity and inclusion.
Accessibility and perseverance: Ken recalls returning to Cornell in 1970, when ramps and curb cuts were scarce, and becoming the first quadriplegic to graduate from Cornell, earn a graduate degree there, and work as an ADA on Long Island.
Why he wrote his memoir: Ken wanted to show that people with spinal cord injuries can build meaningful, successful lives with support and determination.
Advice for parents: Spend quality time with adult children, listen carefully, build trust, and stay emotionally available.
Timestamps
00:00 — Introduction to Ken Kunken’s story of fatherhood, disability, and resilience
 00:51 — Ken introduces himself and his triplet sons
 01:25 — Why it matters to Ken that his sons stay close
 02:15 — A son helps his father through a medical scare in public
 04:12 — How disability shaped Ken’s approach to fatherhood
 05:10 — Modeling strength through work, education, and leadership
 06:27 — Worrying whether his sons would be embarrassed by his disability
 07:43 — Discipline, respect, and the family’s approach to correction
 08:39 — Teaching triplets teamwork and independence
 09:38 — How Ken met Anna and how caregiving became marriage
 10:19 — Diversity, equity, and inclusion at home
 11:00 — His sons’ martial arts training and physical confidence
 11:49 — Teaching empathy through vocational rehabilitation work
 13:14 — Inclusion across religion, culture, and physical ability
 14:47 — Early career barriers in courtrooms
 16:01 — College accessibility before the ADA
 17:11 — Ken’s milestones at Cornell and in his legal career
 18:55 — Parenting through the COVID pandemic and the transition to adulthood
 19:51 — Letting adult sons provide care in certain moments
 20:55 — Growing up with extended family after losing his mother as an infant
 22:39 — His sons read his book and better understand his experience
 23:33 — Why he wrote his memoir
 25:26 — The story behind the book’s title
 26:32 — What Ken would do with one day of full physical ability
 27:07 — Advice to parents of adult children: listen, trust, and stay present
Notable quotes

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“There is an awful lot we all can do, if we work hard, try our best, work with others and hopefully help each other along the way.”

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“Spend time with your children, quality time, and listen to them.”

A few takeaways for parents
Spend uninterrupted, quality time with your adult children.
Listen without rushing to fix or judge.
Build trust by being emotionally safe and consistent.
Remember that a problem may feel bigger to your child than it does to you.
Keep showing love as your role shifts from director to support.
Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 
Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 
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Letting Go Without Losing Love: Communication, Boundaries, and Adult Children
James Moffitt talks with Rebecca Mullen, a relationship coach, writer, and author of Six Steps to Better Marriage Communication, about how parents can stay close to adult children without slipping into control, guilt, or mixed signals. The conversation centers on healthier communication, especially how to respect grown children as independent adults while still keeping the relationship warm and connected.Rebecca shares practical ways to navigate family dynamics, apologize well, and use praise, agency, and boundaries to build trust instead of conflict.
Key topics
Rebecca Mullen introduces her work as a relationship coach, podcaster, and author focused on clear communication in families and marriage
The discussion frames adult parenting as a shift from control to mentorship, support, and respect for a grown child’s agency
Rebecca explains how family intimacy is built through both repeated routines and exceptional shared experiences like vacations and camping trips
A camping-trip story shows how mixed signals can create conflict when a parent says they want less responsibility but still wants control
The episode explores how naming grief can help parents understand why letting go feels painful and why they may send inconsistent messages
Rebecca describes how praise changes family dynamics by highlighting what is working instead of focusing on what is wrong
The hosts discuss how children learn relationship patterns by watching how parents handle conflict, apology, and appreciation
Rebecca lays out a four-step apology process that rebuilds trust by saying sorry, naming the behavior, naming the other person’s feelings, and stating a plan to do better
The conversation distinguishes clean asks from attacks and explains why giving the other person agency increases intimacy
Boundaries are defined as what you will and will not tolerate, not as a way to control another person’s behavior
Timestamps
00:00 - Opening and introduction to the episode’s focus on adult children and communication
 01:52 - Rebecca shares her background as a coach, author, and podcast host
 03:21 - Rebecca’s family story, marriage, medical school years, and long-term resilience
 06:49 - Why vacations and shared experiences help create family intimacy
 09:37 - Respecting adult children as separate people with their own lives
 13:15 - Camping trip story: mixed signals and a parent’s struggle with letting go
 15:21 - Naming grief and understanding the emotional side of changing family roles
 17:56 - The hidden labor problem in marriage and what gets overlooked
 24:48 - Assuming positive intent instead of defaulting to blame
 26:30 - Why praise works better than nagging or criticism
 30:21 - Why children need a safe place to make mistakes and repair them
 31:20 - The four-step apology that rebuilds trust
 36:39 - Common communication blunders and why boundaries need clear requests first
 39:17 - The clean ask formula: overcome fear, get clear, ask cleanly
 42:33 - Why agency matters and how vulnerability strengthens connection
 43:57 - What boundaries really are, and why they are not punishments
 48:56 - Using affirmation to support boundaries without damaging intimacy
 51:31 - Rebecca’s closing encouragement and resources for listeners
Notable quotes
“We all want to feel seen.”
“An attack is not a clean ask.”
“Agency in a relationship is the thing we're most scared to give away, but it is the thing that most fully cultivates intimacy.”
Action items
Ask yourself what you are really afraid of before reacting to your adult child
Replace mixed signals with a clear, clean request
Use praise intentionally and look for what is going well
Apologize with specificity, not vagueness
Define boundaries as your own limits
Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 
Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 
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Healing, Boundaries, and Grace in Parenting Adult Children
In this episode of ABCs of Parenting Adult Children, host James Moffitt speaks with Dr. Beth Long, a licensed professional counselor, board certified behavior analyst, and therapist who works with children, families, and parents navigating adult children. They discuss how childhood patterns show up in parenting, how to recognize triggers, and how grace and emotional regulation can reshape strained relationships.We discuss why parenting adult children exposes fear, shame, and approval-seeking, how boundaries differ from control, and what repair looks like when trust has been damaged. Dr. Beth Long also shares personal stories from her own family, including her son on the autism spectrum, her daughter’s wedding invitations, and the challenges of letting go while staying connected.
Key topics
Dr. Beth Long introduces her background in counseling psychology, her work with children and families, and her experience parenting two adult children.
She
Richard Jones. I am an RN with over 34 years of Nursing Experience, much of that experience working with young adults in the corrections system. 
Parenting Adult Children Call To Action 
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