Welcome to Teach Back Tuesday, where we play the most popular episodes from previous seasons.

This week's episode, when an adult child is struggling, is for those of you who have had that

discussion where a child has come to you and said, Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you.

Or maybe you've had a child do something and you found out about it later after the

fact when things all blew up. Or maybe you've been watching as things in your child's life just don't

look right, don't seem right. Understand that adult children are still our children. but we're in a different phase with them.

We aren't in the stage of because I told you so anymore. This is a different stage of life.

Parenting adult children is different anyway, but we really have to be extra sensitive

when we're handling sensitive matters. Let's listen to this episode again.

I don't think it's an accident that on the evening when I'm recording a podcast episode about

when an adult child is struggling, there's a storm going on outside. The wind is whipping around

out there and I can hear it throwing patio

furniture around, which is not a good thing. So if you hear anything in the background that sounds unusual,

that's what's going on. But this episode is stormy, so it seems almost fitting. Have you ever heard

the words, Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you?

This is a generic version of the statement parents may hear before an adult child shares news

that feels like a bomb dropped. Sometimes you see warning signs, but other times you're broadsided

and wondering what just happened.

The grief and heartache that often follows is a normal response to loss. There has been a loss.

Now, it's normal to have those responses, but those responses are not meant to be permanent.

It's never a good idea to stay stuck in a negative thought loop

about our children. God can show us how to walk this out.

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