If your adult child is struggling to make friends, feels socially anxious, avoids real-life interactions, or seems unsure how to build meaningful connections, this episode will give you clarity and direction.

Many parents assume social skills are something young adults simply pick up, but the truth is that these skills must be understood, taught, and practiced in real life. Social skills are so important. They shape confidence, emotional wellbeing, communication, relationships, and ultimately contribute to a young adult’s ability to live independently.

In this conversation, I speak with Mara McLoughlin, Founder and Program Director of IRL Social Skills, about why so many young adults find social situations difficult, why belonging matters more than “perfect” social performance, and what parents can do to help. Mara explains the hidden challenges young adults face, what masking looks like, and why social cues can feel overwhelming or confusing for those who have never received explicit teaching.

If you worry about your young adult’s friendships, communication, or ability to connect in the real world, and why it's so important to address these issues, this episode is for you.

About Mara McLoughlin and How to Connect With Her:

Mara McLoughlin, MS, CCC-SLP
Founder and Program Director

Website - https://www.irlsocialskills.com/
Contact - learn@irlsocialskills.com

Blog - https://www.irlsocialskills.com/irl-blog

Phone - (971) 373-4836

Mara is a highly respected speech language pathologist with more than 15 years of experience helping autistic teens and young adults communicate, connect, and express themselves. Mara and her team developed IRL Social Skills to help teach teens and young adults across the United States the social skills they need to build real-world connections, and they’ve been doing that important work since 2021.

Please reach out to discover how you can help your young adult and let her know you heard her on LAUNCH (she'll love that!).

Remember to hit the FOLLOW button and please share this episode with another parent who needs to hear this.

Thanks for listening!

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is now OPEN for REGISTRATION! “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/parentingcourse

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the FREE Failure to Launch Checklist here:

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Click here!

Email me if you have any questions at: Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram & TikTok Search @sharijonaslifefx

YouTube has all of the interviews available to watch! CLICK HERE...

If your adult child is unmotivated, uninterested, lacks direction, lives without purpose, ambition or desire to do anything with their life, this episode will speak directly to you. So many young adults today have lost their spark. They feel disconnected, bored, and uninterested in almost everything, except maybe gaming. They have no goals, no plans and no passion for anything. It is nothing short of heartbreaking for a parent to watch. And the worst part is, you can't understand why. This is not the child that you remember. The light inside of them has dimmed and they seem so terribly unhappy.

Julia Black, author of Lights On Learning, offers a powerful way to understand what is really going on inside your adult child. She explains why so many young adults enter a lights off state, how they can become shutdown and why it is often mistaken for laziness. Her work shows that when a young adult discovers what lights them up, everything changes. Motivation grows. Confidence rises. They become more connected, more capable and more willing to step into their own life. It's as if an entirely different person emerges.

Personally, I found this conversation to be one of the most enlightening episodes so far, providing hope, optimism and unlimited possibility - once you understand the switch that is missing in your adult child's life.

You have so much power to help light them up, you'll be shocked. I'm certain that you will learn something you haven't before, and this episode will truly be your guiding light. No pun intended.

How to Contact Julia Black

https://www.lightsonuniverse.com/contact-us

Take the Free Scorecard: https://www.lightsonuniverse.com/lights-on-offerings

Lights on Learning is HERE

The article by Dr. Kate Lund about Julia Black is HERE

"Raising Resilient Kids: Julia Black of 'Lights on Learning' On Strategies for Nurturing Emotional Strength in Children."

Please remember to hit the follow button so you never miss an episode, and I always hope you share these episodes with anyone who needs to them.

With gratitude,

Shari

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is now OPEN for REGISTRATION! “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/parentingcourse

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the FREE Failure to Launch Checklist here:

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Click here!

Email me if you have any questions at: Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram & TikTok Search @sharijonaslifefx

YouTube has all of the interviews available to watch! CLICK HERE...

In this episode, we’re talking about the power of community, and why helping your adult child reconnect with others may be one of the most transformative steps you can take because the research is clear: meaningful relationships are the strongest predictors of happiness, mental well-being and longevity.

You’ll learn what decades of studies reveal about why social connection matters so deeply, and more importantly, 5 ways that you can help your adult child step out of isolation and start building genuine friendships, purpose, and belonging.

I’ll also share ways for you to find your own circle of support because both of you deserve to feel seen, connected, and part of something bigger.

If your home feels quiet, heavy, or disconnected, this episode will remind you that healing begins with community - one relationship at a time.

Remember to hit the follow button and to share this episode with anyone who needs to hear it.

Thank you for listening!

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is OPEN! “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/parentingcourse

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the FREE Failure to Launch Checklist here:

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Click here!

Email me if you have any questions at: Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram & TikTok Search @sharijonaslifefx

YouTube has all of the interviews available to watch! CLICK HERE...

If you’re the parent of an adult child who has considered, possibly even attempted suicide, this episode is for you.

If your adult child is severely depressed and you worry about whether they've considered suicide, this episode is for you.

However, if this is not your adult child, I know that you will still find it incredibly interesting because my guest is not just an expert on the subject, but has lived through this experience and her story is deeply moving and inspiring.

Mental health advocate and speaker Tara Rolstad, is the author of What to Do Right Now When Your Child Is Suicidal, a step-by-step guide for parents facing one of the most frightening times of their lives.

She's also the founder of the Parenting & Mental Health conference and has partnered with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In this highly sensitive episode we talk about what parents can do to keep their child safe, calm, and supported through a suicidal crisis.

You’ll learn how to:

• Respond when your child expresses suicidal thoughts
• Create immediate safety and find professional help
• Recognize and trust the warning signs many parents dismiss
• Who to turn to when you’re scared and overwhelmed
• Why you should never lose hope while supporting their recovery

This is one of the most important conversations I’ve ever shared and if your family is in crisis, there is a path forward.

Remember to hit the follow button and PLEASE share this episode with any parent that might need to hear it.

Suicide Hotline: 988

How to Connect with Tara Rolstad:

Tara Rolstad -Mental Health Expert, Speaker, Author

Email: tara@tararolstad.com

Website: TaraRolstad.com

Click here to buy Tara's book: What to Do Right Now When Your Child is Suicidal

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is OPEN! “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/parentingcourse

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the FREE Failure to Launch Checklist here:

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Click here!

Email me if you have any questions at: Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram & TikTok Search @sharijonaslifefx

YouTube has all of the interviews available to watch! CLICK HERE...

Today marks one year that this podcast was born and I am celebrating it with a very special guest.

In this heartfelt episode, a 25-year-old young adult shares her honest insight into what it’s really like to grow up today, the challenges, the pressures, the mental energy, the importance of communication, self-care, friendships, therapy and most importantly what young adults need from their parents to feel seen, supported, and understood.

Often times, the deepest truths come from the people living it. This candid and most revealing conversation offers clarity, wisdom, and perspective that every parent of an adult child will appreciate.

If you struggle communicating or understanding what your adult child needs from you, this episode will enlighten you in more ways than you can imagine. With a surprise twist in the end, you will discover that being honest and vulnerable as a parent, will only bring you closer to your children.

We are not perfect, but working on becoming better parents by learning what our adult children need and want from us, is the most rewarding feeling - at least it is for me.

Remember to hit the follow button so you never miss an episode, and please share it with another parent - possibly even with your adult child.

About My Guest; Andie Toderovitz

www.andietoderovitz.com

Email: andietoderovitz@gmail.com

Psychology Today - Contact Andie

On social media -

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapywithandie/

YouTube: @therapywithAndie

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therapywithandie

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is OPEN! “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/parentingcourse

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the FREE Failure to Launch Checklist here:

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Click here!

Email me if you have any questions at: Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram & TikTok Search @sharijonaslifefx

YouTube has all of the interviews available to watch! CLICK HERE...

Parental estrangement is one of the most painful and complex experiences a parent can go through, especially when an adult child goes no contact. It’s a situation filled with unanswered questions, shame, guilt, and the aching silence of disconnection.

In this follow-up episode, we reconnect with a mother who previously shared her personal experience with estrangement from her adult children. This time, she returns with an update, but we’re not here to give away the ending.

Instead, we talk about what happens when a parent chooses to do the inner work; the self-reflection, the healing from childhood wounds and the growth.

If you’re struggling with estrangement from your adult child, wondering if things will ever change, or questioning whether all your effort makes a difference, this conversation is for you.

To Watch the Video version on YouTube, click HERE

To contact my guest Crystal Allon:

Intensive Healing Coach

Email: crystalclear-coaching@outlook.com

https://snipfeed.co/crystalclear-coaching

To order Crystal's 14 page e-book, Understanding Estrangement - A Workbook for Parents, click HERE

Remember to enter the coupon code: LAUNCH50 for 50% OFF

Please hit the follow button so you never miss an episode and share this with a parent who needs to hear it.

Thank you for listening!

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💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is OPEN! “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/parentingcourse

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the FREE Failure to Launch Checklist here:

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Click here!

Email me if you have any questions at: Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram & TikTok Search @sharijonaslifefx

YouTube has all of the interviews available to watch! CLICK HERE...

If you’ve tried everything and your adult child is still struggling to launch, you’re not alone. You’re part of a very large group of parents quietly suffering in silence, wondering what else they can possibly do.

Today, I revisit my very first “Failure to Launch” episode and go through the 15 signs that reveal just how serious things are at home for your adult child. I explain why, if nothing has worked so far, what you can do differently to finally see change.

The question is, how long will you keep waiting for them to rise up and become the confident, capable adult you know they can be?

Sign up for the WAITLIST here!

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is OPEN! “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/parentingcourse

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the FREE Failure to Launch Checklist here:

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Click here!

Email me if you have any questions at: Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram & TikTok Search @sharijonaslifefx

YouTube has all of the interviews available to watch! CLICK HERE...

Isolation has quietly become one of the most serious threats to young adults today. In this episode, I’m joined by author and speaker Elaine Uskoski to talk about how loneliness and social disconnection are impacting kids today.

The U.S. Surgeon General recently declared loneliness a public health crisis, warning that social isolation can raise the risk of depression, addiction, heart disease, dementia, and even premature death. But for many young adults, spending hours alone in their room - gaming, streaming, or scrolling - has replaced real-life connection and the impact runs deeper than you know.

Elaine’s recent blog post, “How Isolation Can Breed Gaming Addiction: The Rat Park Experiment,” brings this into sharp focus, and in Episode 22, I also talked about the powerful Rat Park study, which showed that social connection and environmental stimulation are essential to our well-being. Both speak to the same truth: when a young person lacks real connection, they’ll search for it elsewhere, and too often, that ‘elsewhere’ becomes a dark place of addiction and depression.

If you know a young adult who’s withdrawn, disengaged, struggling to connect, and spending too much time alone in their room, online gaming, scrolling social media or watching videos this episode will be a wake-up call.

How to reach Elaine:

Email: elaineuskoski@gmail.com

Website: https://eyespyhealth.ca/

Elaine's Blog Post:

https://eyespyhealth.ca/how-isolation-can-breed-gaming-addiction-the-rat-park-experiment-t/

Elaine's Book (mentioned in the episode):

Cyber Sober: A Caregiver’s Guide to Video Gaming Addiction - https://eyespyhealth.ca/cyber-sober/

Thank you for listening!

💻 The Waitlist for my Parenting Course is OPEN! “Journey to Independence: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Guiding and Launching Your Adult Child.”

For more information and where to sign up, visit: https://parentingfx.com/parentingcourse

🪺Early Bird Discounts will be Offered to Anyone on the Waitlist

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you want to know if your adult child is struggling with Failure to Launch? Grab the FREE Failure to Launch Checklist here:

🗣️One-on-One Consultations are available. Click here!

Email me if you have any questions at: Shari@ParentingFX.com

🎙️Remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you never miss an episode.

Shari can be found on Instagram & TikTok Search @sharijonaslifefx

YouTube has all of the interviews available to watch! CLICK HERE...