The Midlife Momma Podcast - Empty nest mom, Parenting adult children, Midlife transition, Christian mom

Do you have a vision for the kind of mother-in-law you want to be? By avoiding playing the victim and taking things personally, not overstepping boundaries, and not competing for your child’s loyalty, you can have a supportive, healthy relationship with your child’s spouse. Listen in for eight things NOT to do as a mother-in-law, HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

You set the tone in your relationship with your child’s spouse. Be the first to extend love and grace. Honoring and supporting their family unit without meddling will strengthen your relationship with your child’s mate. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child(And 5 Ways to Stop Yourself from Saying Them here Gift Guide for Moms, Dads, and Grads here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

It’s not just you; there are real barriers to communication with your grown child. Listen in to identify ten common communication barriers and learn a solution for each. When you understand what you’re up against, you can build a strategy to reconnect with your grown child. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child(And 5 Ways to Stop Yourself from Saying Them) here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Christian Parenting's Moms, Dads & Grads Gift Guide here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

This generation of young adults is called the Anxious Generation, and we need to know how to talk to them. No mom wants to add to her grown child’s anxiety. Linda Hanstra provides tips for moms with anxious children. Learn to support your anxious child by listening more and reminding them what they know to be true. HELPFUL LINKS: Happy Together Checklist- for your Boomerang Kids here Linda's Book, Empty Nest Joyride here Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child(And 5 Ways to Stop Yourself from Saying Them) here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Avoid these 10 phrases and learn to speak life instead. Communication doesn’t have to be hard as long as we remember some guiding principles to speak life over our children. Let’s talk about awareness, humility, and the power of empathy. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child (and 5 Ways to Stop Yourself from Saying Them) here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

No mother intends to hurt her grown child with her words, and yet she does. Without realizing it, we can make our kids feel guilty, criticized, or like they never quite measure up. Tune in for 10 phrases not to say to your adult child. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

You’re not the only one struggling to communicate in your marriage. Join Bob and Pamela Henkelman for a candid conversation about how they’ve struggled to communicate effectively in their marriage. They’ll share lessons they’ve learned and offer practical tools to strengthen communication with your spouse. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Marriage Awareness Worksheet here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Have you ever tried “I feel” statements with your husband? They are a great way to help you be honest and communicate with understanding instead of blame. We also talk about focusing on fun and seeking professional help when you feel stuck in a negative communication pattern in your empty nest. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Marriage Awareness Worksheet here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate the podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Let’s learn some practical tools to reconnect and strengthen our communication. Incorporate intentional conversations(how-tos in the show notes), practice active listening, and embrace grace and forgiveness. Daily Check-In Script: Person A starts by saying: I feel __ _ _ _ about my work. myself us children spirituality After each feeling statement, the partner mirrors why they just heard without correcting, blaming, shaming, trying to fix, or arguing with their partner. Try to avoid feeling words like “good,” “bad,” “fine,” “ok,” etc, since they lack depth. When Person A is finished and Person B has mirrored each item back, it’s Person B’s turn. Example: Person A: "I felt pretty frustrated about work since two people called in sick, and I had to cover their jobs and couldn’t get my projects done.” Person B: “So it was pretty frustrating you had to do other people's jobs. Check-ins don’t have to take a lot of time; it can take less than 5 minutes. Have some ritual about how and who starts this. Otherwise, the person who always feels like they have to initiate or prompt the other one to “check-in” will feel discouraged. Check-ins take practice and repetition and may feel awkward initially, but ultimately, you’ll feel more connected. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Marriage Awareness Worksheet here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Communication can be one of our greatest struggles in an empty nest marriage. When you understand the communication barriers, you can learn to remedy them. Let’s discuss the obstacles of poor listening skills, neglecting spiritual connection, different visions for the future, and lack of quality time. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Marriage Awareness Worksheet? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Communication can feel complicated in an empty-nest marriage. Before fixing your communication, you'll need to understand the barriers. Let’s discuss three things that hinder communication: unmet expectations, emotional distance, and unresolved conflict. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Please find out how she fills her time by focusing on serving, learning, and having fun! Doesn’t that sound amazing? HELPFUL LINKS: Cathy Lawdanski on Instagram here Cathy Lawdanski on Facebook here Sign up for Cathy's Weekly Newsletter here Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Let's talk about two more questions that lead to you discovering your purpose in the empty nest. This time you’ll look around and up to see where God is leading you! HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

You’ll be required to look inside, up to God, and around you to find your purpose. Tune in for two amazing questions that will lead you to discovering your purpose once your kids are grown. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

You must move forward in spite of your fears and welcome the feeling of being uncomfortable for a little bit. On the other side of doubt and feeling uncomfortable is your fresh purpose. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Instead of feeling shame about doubt, bring into the light and talk to God about it. As you flex those faith muscles, doubt will be diminished. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the free, 2-minute Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

I had an insightful conversation with my youngest daughter’s Rebekah and Keziah. We covered the monumental transitions of college drop-off, wedding planning, young careers and early marriage. Enjoy the candor and wisdom from my daughters. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Let’s reflect and see how far we’ve come and talk about what is coming for the new year on the Midlife Momma podcast. I also have a special announcement impacting the podcast for 2025. You won’t believe what God has done! HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Navigating faith differences feels scary for moms, but if you lead with grace you can have some amazing conversations. Let’s talk about the grace to listen to your adult child’s perspective and the grace of loving your child unconditionally. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here

Pamela discusses important areas to extend grace when you and your child see God differently. Pamela talks about the grace to not pressure your child to conform to your views and the grace to manage your emotions well during the holidays. HELPFUL LINKS: Free Guide: Your Kids Are Grown...Now What? here Free Discovery Session with certified Empty Nest Coach, Pamela here Take the Quiz here Review + Rate podcast here Follow Pamela on Instagram here Follow Pamela on Facebook here Pamela's website with free resources here