The Exact Words to Use When Things Start to Escalate

Done waiting? Join the Breakthrough Accelerator. Our next group starts Nov 2: https://www.sally-harris.com/BreakthroughAccelerator?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=accelerator&utm_content=stopped-waiting Are you still waiting for your estranged adult child to change before you can finally feel peace? Maybe you've spent months or even years checking your phone, replaying conversations, and hoping that one day your adult child will come back, apologize, or make different choices. But what happens when waiting for your adult child to change means putting your own life on hold? I spent 10 years navigating estrangement with my own daughter, including holidays with someone missing from our family table. I know how painful that waiting can be. But I also learned something that changed my life: My peace couldn't depend on my daughter changing. In this episode, I'm sharing why waiting isn't the same as hoping, what it really means to surrender your adult child to God, and how to stop carrying the guilt, shame, and responsibility for choices you cannot control. We'll talk about: * Why waiting for your estranged adult child can keep you emotionally stuck * The difference between holding on to hope and putting your life on hold * How surrendering your adult child to God changes your perspective * Letting go of guilt and responsibility that were never yours to carry * Finding peace and purpose even when your adult child hasn't changed * Preparing your heart for Thanksgiving and Christmas when your family is estranged Mom, you don't have to stop loving your child to start living your life again. READY FOR YOUR OWN BREAKTHROUGH? My next Breakthrough Accelerator begins November 2! This is a six-week, faith-based small group coaching experience for just six moms navigating estrangement or difficult relationships with their adult children. Together, we'll work on what YOU can change, even when your adult child isn't ready to change. Apply here: https://www.sally-harris.com/BreakthroughAccelerator?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=accelerator&utm_content=stopped-waiting You cannot control when your adult child changes, but you can decide who you're becoming while you wait. You've waited long enough. It's time to start growing. Follow the show for weekly encouragement, faith-based guidance, and practical support for moms of estranged adult children.

Your husband can't fix this pain, and you don't have to carry it alone. When your adult child is estranged, the pain can feel unbearable. But what happens when your husband doesn't seem to understand what you're going through? While you're grieving the silence, worrying about your child, and struggling to get through each day, he seems to be carrying on with life as usual. Does he even care? In this episode of The Sally Harris Show, we're talking about why husbands and wives may grieve adult child estrangement differently, why you might feel alone in your marriage, and what to do when your spouse doesn't understand your need for emotional support. If you've ever wondered why your husband seems fine while you're falling apart, you're not alone. I'm sharing my own experience navigating estrangement in my marriage, the expectations I had to release, and why learning to seek support beyond my closest family and friends became such an important part of my healing journey. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why your husband may respond differently to adult child estrangement - Why grieving differently doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't care - How unrealistic expectations can create additional strain in your marriage - Why seeking coaching or outside support isn't a sign of weakness - How to begin finding peace and moving forward, even when your spouse doesn't fully understand You don't have to wait for your husband to understand your pain or for your adult child to reconnect before you begin healing. Your emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being matter, too. 💙 READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP? If you're a mom navigating estrangement, difficult boundaries, or a strained relationship with your adult child, I invite you to join my Breakthrough Accelerator, a six-week small-group coaching experience designed to help you find clarity, build confidence, and move forward with faith and purpose. Our next group starts Monday, November 2nd, at 5:30 PM Eastern. Only a few spots are left. Apply here: https://www.sally-harris.com/BreakthroughAccelerator?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=accelerator&utm_content=husband-cant-fix 🙏 Remember, Mom: You never have to walk another day of this journey alone. Not ready for coaching yet? Take the free EmpowerMom Quiz to see where you are in your healing: https://www.sally-harris.com/EmpowerMom?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=quiz&utm_content=husband-cant-fix Or start with a free guide: https://www.sally-harris.com/free-guides More ways to heal with Sally From Struggle to Strength self-study course: https://www.sally-harris.com/self-study Mini courses: https://www.sally-harris.com/mini-courses About Sally Sally Harris is a Christian coach for moms of estranged, disrespectful, or distant adult children. After a 10-year journey with her own daughter, and the reconciliation God brought, Sally helps moms find peace, get their voice back, and hold on to hope rooted in faith. 🙏 Know a mom who needs this today? Share this episode with her. She may be listening alone tonight. Follow The Sally Harris Show for weekly faith-based encouragement for moms navigating estrangement and difficult adult-child relationships. Connect with Sally Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyharriscoach/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachsallyharris Website: https://www.sally-harris.com

The holidays are supposed to be filled with joy, family, and togetherness. But when your adult child isn't speaking to you, Thanksgiving and Christmas can feel like some of the loneliest days of the year. How do you get through the holidays when there's an empty chair at the table? When everyone else is celebrating, but you're just trying to survive? In this episode of The Sally Harris Show, Sally answers a heartfelt question from a mom struggling with exactly that. Having experienced 10 Christmases without her own daughter, Sally understands the grief, uncertainty, and heartbreak that can come with family estrangement during the holidays. She shares practical encouragement to help you prepare emotionally, navigate difficult family gatherings, decide whether to change traditions, and find the support you need when the holidays feel overwhelming. You'll hear why it's okay to do things differently this year, how to handle uncomfortable questions from family members, and why your peace doesn't have to depend on whether your adult child comes home for Christmas. You can miss your child, grieve what isn't, and still give yourself permission to experience moments of peace and joy. In this episode: - The last Christmas without Sally's daughter - How to survive the holidays without your child - Planning ahead for the hardest days - Finding your person: building holiday support - Handling uncomfortable family questions - Giving yourself permission to change traditions - When Christmas doesn't feel the same - You can be okay even if they're not - Finding hope through the holidays ❤️ Need extra support this holiday season? Sally's 6-week Breakthrough Accelerator begins November 2nd! This intimate small-group coaching experience is limited to just 6 moms and is designed to help you move forward with faith, healing, and renewed strength. You'll have support through Thanksgiving and into the Christmas season. 👉 Learn more and apply here: https://www.sally-harris.com/BreakthroughAccelerator?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=accelerator&utm_content=holidays-empty-chair Remember, December 25th may be hard, but December 26th is a new day. There is still hope. Not sure where you are in your healing journey? Take Sally's free EmpowerMom Quiz: https://www.sally-harris.com/EmpowerMom?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=quiz&utm_content=holidays-empty-chair Free guides: https://www.sally-harris.com/free-guides From Struggle to Strength self-study course: https://www.sally-harris.com/self-study Mini courses: https://www.sally-harris.com/mini-courses About Sally Sally Harris is a Christian coach for moms of estranged, disrespectful, or distant adult children. After a 10-year journey with her own daughter, and the reconciliation God brought, Sally helps moms find peace, get their voice back, and hold on to hope rooted in faith. 🙏 Know a mom who needs this today? Send her this episode. She may be listening alone tonight. If this episode encouraged you, please follow the show and leave a rating and review. It helps other moms find hope too. Connect with Sally Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyharriscoach/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachsallyharris Website: https://www.sally-harris.com

Ready to stop putting your life on hold? The Breakthrough Accelerator is a six-week, small-group coaching experience for just SIX moms. Apply here: https://www.sally-harris.com/BreakthroughAccelerator?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=accelerator&utm_content=didnt-tell-me Why did your adult child cut you off without telling you what was wrong? Maybe you've replayed every conversation, every holiday, every text, wondering what you missed. You would have listened. You would have tried to make things right. But what if your adult child believes they already told you? In this episode, I talk about why adult children sometimes choose silence instead of communication, the signs we may have missed, and what you can do when reconciliation feels impossible. After walking through a 10-year estrangement with my own daughter, I've learned this: your life cannot wait for that phone call. You can begin healing, strengthening your boundaries, and finding peace right now, and that work can prepare you for real connection in the future. Just like the father of the prodigal son, you can keep your heart open while continuing to live your life. God is still at work, even when you can't see it. My next Breakthrough Accelerator begins November 2, limited to six moms ready to make meaningful progress in their emotional well-being, marriage, health, boundaries, or patterns of enabling. Apply here: https://www.sally-harris.com/BreakthroughAccelerator?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=accelerator&utm_content=didnt-tell-me BE A CALLER ON THE SALLY HARRIS SHOW email: [email protected] EMPOWER MOM QUIZ: https://www.sally-harris.com/EmpowerMom?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=quiz&utm_content=didnt-tell-me CONNECT WITH SALLY HARRIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/sallyharriscoach/ FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/coachsallyharris

If you're feeling ready for support and want to learn more about working together, start with a short application for a Heart-to-Heart Consultation: https://www.sally-harris.com/H2Happ?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=consult&utm_content=criticizes-everything Does it feel like your adult child criticizes everything you do? Your tone. Your advice. The way you parented. Sometimes it can feel like even the way you exist is somehow wrong. But not every harsh word your adult child says is the truth about you. In this episode, I talk about what may be underneath all that criticism, and why sometimes we're so focused on the words that we miss the music underneath them. We'll look at the difference between healthy accountability and taking responsibility for someone else's emotions, why adult children may project their struggles onto Mom, and how to respond calmly without over-explaining, chasing their approval, or allowing disrespect. You do not need to audition for your adult child's respect. You can love your son or daughter without absorbing their emotional chaos, and you can protect your peace without giving up hope for your relationship. If you're ready for support, apply for a Heart-to-Heart Consultation, a private 30-minute call with me to talk through what's happening in your family and what your next step could be: https://www.sally-harris.com/H2Happ?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=consult&utm_content=criticizes-everything EMPOWER MOM QUIZ: https://www.sally-harris.com/EmpowerMom?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=quiz&utm_content=criticizes-everything BE A CALLER ON THE SALLY HARRIS SHOW email: [email protected]