Parenting Questions Keeping You Up?
I’m Sue, a reformed yeller, mom of four including triplets, Montessori-trained parenting strategist, and someone who's spent 25+ years helping parents through the messy stuff.
Tantrums, backtalk, screen battles, sibling fights, defiance, big emotions, co-parenting...we talk about all of it.
Each episode gives you practical, actionable tools, real language, and simple ways to set boundaries, get more cooperation, and raise capable kids.
Start with the episode that sounds most like your home.
Hit play tonight and use it tomorrow.
Why Adult Kids Cut Their Parents Off and How to Prevent It
Why do adult children cut off contact with their parents, and how can parents rebuild communication before or after estrangement happens?
In this episode, I deep dive into why adult children cut off parents and explain how what looks like a sudden decision is often a long process of emotional distance. I walk through the difference between authority and influence, how defensiveness damages connection, and why setting boundaries is not the same as breaking off a relationship. You will learn actionable steps to take right now to build a safe, open relationship with your kids, whether they are three or thirty-three.
With tips such as swapping defensive reactions for open curiosity, respecting boundaries without taking them as personal insults, and asking your kids brave questions about how you can do better, I am breaking down why adult children cut off parents and leaving you with this challenge: ask your child a question about what makes it hard to be around you, and listen to their answer without defending yourself or explaining your actions.
If you’ve ever asked yourself:
Why did my grown child stop calling or start pulling back from our family?
Is my adult child setting a boundary with me, or are they cutting me off completely?
How can I stop getting defensive when my child shares how I hurt them?
What should I do if my adult child says they need space from me?
…this one’s for you.
What You’ll Learn:
Understand why estrangement rarely happens overnight and learn how to recognize subtle warning signs like shortened phone calls or surface-level conversations.
Shift your mindset from rigid control to relationship-building, recognizing that parental authority expires as children grow into adulthood.
Learn how to treat an adult child’s boundary as a guide for keeping them in your life rather than a personal insult.
Replace defensive statements with compassionate, curious responses that acknowledge your child's feelings without starting a debate.
Discover why recruiting relatives, posting on social media, or showing up uninvited drives adult children further away, and learn what to do instead
If you are experiencing complex family distress or mental health challenges, consider seeking guidance from a qualified family counselor or mental health professional.
Resources:
Join the Yell-Free Parenting Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/yellfreeparentingforexhaustedmoms
Read Sue's book Secrets to Parenting Without Giving a F^ck at https://a.co/d/0gHO73tc
Connect with Sue on Instagram at @AskMomParenting (https://www.instagram.com/askmomparenting/)
Watch the show on YouTube at (https://www.youtube.com/@askmomparenting571)https://www.youtube.com/@AskMomTheParentingPodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@AskMomTheParentingPodcast)
7 Oct 2026
Suicide Risk: What New Research Says Parents Should Watch For
What surprising emotional sign indicates an immediate suicide risk in teenagers?
In this episode, we're diving into the new and groundbreaking Harvard-led research that changes how parents should watch for adolescent suicide risk signs. I explain why sudden agitation, restless energy, and intense outbursts (rather than just quiet sadness) can be a critical short-term warning signal during a mental health crisis. I'm breaking down how to spot these out-of-character behavioral spikes so you can step in safely and effectively.
If you’ve ever asked yourself:
Why is my usually calm teenager suddenly exploding over tiny, minor inconveniences?
Is my child's extreme irritability just normal teenage moodiness, or a sign of a deeper mental health crisis?
How do I directly ask my child if they are thinking about suicide without putting the idea in their head?
What should I do immediately if I suspect my child is in distress and seeking relief from unbearable pain?
…this one’s for you.
What You’ll Learn:
How a Harvard-led study of over 600 high-risk individuals revealed that agitation (feeling wound up, restless, and intensely distressed) is a primary short-term predictor of a suicide crisis.
How to spot operational signs of agitation in your home, including disproportionate anger, pacing, physical restlessness, and sudden zero-to-100 emotional escalations.
Why 90% of attempted survivors report seeking immediate relief from unbearable pain rather than wanting to die, making the crisis moment survivable and interruptible.
Concrete steps parents can take when noticing a sudden spike, including asking direct questions, reducing access to lethal means, staying present, and contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Advice To Take With You:
Do not wait to see if a sudden, out-of-character spike in agitation passes; treat intense restlessness and escalating outbursts as signals to ask direct questions and offer immediate, nonjudgmental support.
If you suspect your child is in immediate danger or a mental health crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline right away.
Share this episode with one other parent. You never know if they might need it.
Resources:
Fight Free Parenting Course (https://www.askmomparenting.com/get-help-old/fight-free-parenting/)
Join the Yell-free Parenting (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yellfreeparentingforexhaustedmoms/) Facebook Group
Read Sue's book, Secrets to Parenting Without Giving a F^ck (https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Parenting-Without-Giving-Non-Conformist-ebook/dp/B08VDZD9SM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HYQJB70D0RYS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gkI7kn-UYQ_n-H3AVVHcLw.NVtPR-cSIiMJabmwIXmU2lwJCnlD8Xb9AGIBSwBSPXY&dib_tag=se&keywords=secrets+to+parenting+without+g&ascsubtag=srctok-cf0922c15134d638&btn_ref=srctok-cf0922c15134d638)
Connect with Sue on Instagram at @AskMomParenting (https://www.instagram.com/askmomparenting/)
Watch the show on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@AskMomTheParentingPodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@AskMomTheParentingPodcast)
23 Sept 2026
Simple Ways to Reconnect with Your Teen & Build Trust
How do I get my teenager to talk to me without pushing them away?
In this episode, I unravel the real reasons behind teen distance, from biological brain shifts to the way we react as parents.
I share practical ways to reconnect, including ditching the dramatic sit-downs, choosing more casual settings, and prioritizing truth over immediate correction. We’ll look at how small shifts in communication can help rebuild genuine trust with your adolescent.
And I’ll leave you with one challenge: create just one moment this week with your teen where you bring zero agenda.
If you’ve ever asked yourself:
Why does my teenager shut down or pull away every time I try to talk to them?
How can I address bad behavior or mistakes without destroying my child’s trust?
What can I control when teenage biology and independence take over?
…this one’s for you.
What You’ll Learn:
What is actually going on in your teen's brain, and what portion of their behavior you can actually influence.
Understanding why space is normal, but broken trust doesn't have to be.
How to trade heavy "talks" for low-pressure settings, and why asking "Help me understand what happened" yields truth before correction.
Parenting a teen isn't about controlling their independence, but rather managing your own reactions to keep communication lines open. By replacing interrogation with curiosity, you protect your bond and guide them through their mistakes safely.
Resources:
Fight Free Parenting Course (https://www.askmomparenting.com/get-help-old/fight-free-parenting/)
Join the Yell-free Parenting (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yellfreeparentingforexhaustedmoms/) Facebook Group
Read Sue's book, Secrets (https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Parenting-Without-Giving-Non-Conformist-ebook/dp/B08VDZD9SM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HYQJB70D0RYS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gkI7kn-UYQ_n-H3AVVHcLw.NVtPR-cSIiMJabmwIXmU2lwJCnlD8Xb9AGIBSwBSPXY&dib_tag=se&keywords=secrets+to+parenting+without+g&ascsubtag=srctok-cf0922c15134d638&btn_ref=srctok-cf0922c15134d638)to Parenting Without Giving a F^ck
Connect with Sue on Instagram at @AskMomParenting (https://www.instagram.com/askmomparenting/)
Watch the show on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@AskMomTheParentingPodcast)!
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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