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When Our Adult Children Walk Away

When Our Adult Children Walk Away

De : Dr. Janet Steinkamp EdD
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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 and 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.

As difficult as it is to admit. I've come to accept that my contributions to our fractured relationship played a substantial role in Bri's vulnerability to the charm of a narcissist. In her case, he was also her work supervisor. The inherent power differential, her desire to please her boss, and her need for income positioned her perfectly to be manipulated and controlled. Eventually, she succumbed to his advances, and the rest is history.

Today, I can humbly and gratefully share that my daughter, our family and I have reconnected. My daughter found her voice and the inner strength to leave a toxic and dangerous relationship, pack up her children, and begin to reestablish herself as an independent woman and mother. Brianna (she prefers Bri) often consults with me as I coach estranged parents and adult children who want to understand their circumstances and embrace their new emerging self-awareness.

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 their communication styles and interpersonal behavior might be strengthened to rebuild a fracturing relationship. I pivoted from decades of work in medical education 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. In each episode of the When Our Adult Children Walk Away podcast, we explore topics relevant to anyone hoping to reconnect with an estranged adult child or to those estranged from their parents. The material in each episode relates explicitly to the messy, exhausting, and hellish experience of estrangement.

When Our Adult Children Walk Away podcast, blog and 1:1 coaching are at your fingertips. Though 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.

© 2026 When Our Adult Children Walk Away
Développement personnel Parentalité Relations Réussite personnelle Sciences sociales
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    Épisodes
    • When Estrangement Shakes Our Faith: How loss, silence, and longing can impact spirituality.
      Jan 18 2026

      Hi Listeners. I'd love to hear from you. Send an email to Janet@jesteinkamp. It is not possible to respond to your Fan Mail posts directly.

      When someone is living with any degree of estrangement, it can feel as though everything they once believed to be true about the relationship has shifted, including their faith. In this episode, Dr. Janet Steinkamp explores how estrangement from an adult child can unsettle long-held beliefs and erode spiritual confidence.

      Practices that once offered comfort, such as prayer, meditation, or worship, may feel hollow or met with painful silence. A person may feel grounded one day and shaken the next, sometimes drawing strength from faith while simultaneously questioning it. Whether someone feels deeply faithful, uncertain, spiritual but not religious, or somewhere in between, this conversation makes room for the full range of experience.

      This episode is not about what someone should believe. Instead, Dr. Steinkamp examines how belief itself is shaped by loss, longing, grief, and unanswered questions. She discusses how strength can emerge even during seasons of doubt and invites listeners to consider faith not as a solution or a way to fix estrangement, but as a companion—something that can help them hold what remains, endure another day, and stay open to hope, even when the pain and absence are still very real.

      #FamilyEstrangement #EstrangedAdultChildren #EstrangementAndFaith #EstrangementGrief #ParentsOfEstrangedAdults #ReconnectingWithMyChild #FamilyEstrangementPodcast

      Support the show

      For more information, please visit

      https://www.WhenOurAdultChildrenWalkAway.com

      The stories, examples, reflections, and perspectives shared in this podcast are based on my professional work as an estrangement coach and my personal estrangement journey. Any examples, characters, or stories referenced are either drawn from my own lived experience or represent a composite of multiple real-life situations shared with me over time. The intention of this podcast is not to accuse, label, or defame any individual but to provide insight, validation, and support for those navigating the complexities of family estrangement. All opinions expressed are my own and are shared with you, the listener, from a place of healing and learning.

      Afficher plus Afficher moins
      12 min
    • The Unrest of Not Knowing: Letting Go of The Need for Certainty in Estrangement
      Dec 7 2025

      Hi Listeners. I'd love to hear from you. Send an email to Janet@jesteinkamp. It is not possible to respond to your Fan Mail posts directly.

      You’re not crazy for wanting answers—you’re human. It's human nature to want to know how and why things happen. In estrangement, too often the answers don't come, and we are challenged to find closure amid ambiguity.

      In this episode, I'll walk you through the unrest of not knowing in parent–adult-child estrangement.

      You’ll hear why many adult children don’t offer explanations (overwhelm, failed attempts to be heard, self-protection, different views of obligation, and shame/guilt).

      When we're submerged in uncertainty, there can be consequences for our minds, bodies and souls. So, can you move forward without answers?

      Listen in to hear 6 aspects of ambiguity and practical tools: mindset reframes, survival strategies and a simple step toward acceptance.

      If you've ever found yourself stuck in the 'why' or 'how could you' loop, this conversation will help you breathe again, slow the ruminating, and refocus on the present. Remember that reconnection starts with you.

      If today’s episode helps, share it with a friend who needs hope. Learn more or schedule coaching at whenouradultchildrenwalkaway.com, or email janet@jesteinkamp.com—and remember, you are not alone.

      Support the show

      For more information, please visit

      https://www.WhenOurAdultChildrenWalkAway.com

      The stories, examples, reflections, and perspectives shared in this podcast are based on my professional work as an estrangement coach and my personal estrangement journey. Any examples, characters, or stories referenced are either drawn from my own lived experience or represent a composite of multiple real-life situations shared with me over time. The intention of this podcast is not to accuse, label, or defame any individual but to provide insight, validation, and support for those navigating the complexities of family estrangement. All opinions expressed are my own and are shared with you, the listener, from a place of healing and learning.

      Afficher plus Afficher moins
      27 min
    • When Tradition Meets Transition: 6 ways to Maintain the Meaning of Holidays
      Nov 24 2025

      Hi Listeners. I'd love to hear from you. Send an email to Janet@jesteinkamp. It is not possible to respond to your Fan Mail posts directly.

      The winter holidays can turn a soft ache into a sharp pain when you’re estranged from your adult child. That can be true of any holiday.

      We're so glad you stopped by to listen and learn with me on the When Our Adult Children Walk Away podcast. In this episode, you’ll learn why the winter holiday season feels so intense in the face of estrangement. When Tradition Meets Transition: 6 ways to Maintain the Meaning of Holidays

      By the end of this episode, you'll know why holidays matter and how important it is to embrace the aspects of holidays that bring you joy.

      We’ll walk through practical, permission-based strategies to protect the happiness of the season, ways to keep the meaning of connection without replicating the past and how to prepare for small, cautious moments of reconnection when they arise.

      It is my intention that by the end of this episode, you'll feel some relief from the pressure and anxiety many face during this holiday season. With flexible planning, you can find a path to moments of joy and a sense of gratitude for all that is good in your life.

      Happiest of holidays to you and yours.

      Previous and Related Episodes

      • Navigating Awkward Questions About Your Estrangement: Kindly Setting Boundaries
      • How Do You vs Your Adult Child - Decide Whether to Attend Social Events on High Risk Days?
      • 5 Ways High Risk Days Feel Different for Parents and Adult Children

      Support the show

      For more information, please visit

      https://www.WhenOurAdultChildrenWalkAway.com

      The stories, examples, reflections, and perspectives shared in this podcast are based on my professional work as an estrangement coach and my personal estrangement journey. Any examples, characters, or stories referenced are either drawn from my own lived experience or represent a composite of multiple real-life situations shared with me over time. The intention of this podcast is not to accuse, label, or defame any individual but to provide insight, validation, and support for those navigating the complexities of family estrangement. All opinions expressed are my own and are shared with you, the listener, from a place of healing and learning.

      Afficher plus Afficher moins
      25 min
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