My daughter is an attorney so argues for a living. :) I shared this with my daughter when I felt she was “case building” with me … aka “attacking” … It’s a post I saw that deeply resonated with me … "What My Silence Really Means" When I go quiet, it’s not because I’m fine. And it’s not because I’ve stopped caring either. It usually means I’ve reached a point where there’s nothing left to say that hasn’t already been said. I’ve tried talking. I’ve tried explaining. But when words don’t lead anywhere, silence feels easier. It’s not about giving up, it’s about realizing you can’t make someone understand what they don’t want to. My silence means I’m tired. Not the kind of tired that sleep fixes, the kind that comes from always defending myself or trying to be heard. After a while, you just stop trying. It also means I’m accepting things for what they are. Some people won’t change. Some situations won’t get better. And some endings are just meant to happen, even if you weren’t ready for them. These days, I don’t want to explain myself over and over. I don’t want to argue about things that should be simple. I just want peace, even if it means being misunderstood. So if you notice I’ve gone quiet, don’t take it as coldness. It’s not anger. It’s not attitude. It’s just me trying to protect my peace, to stop fighting things that only drain me. My silence doesn’t mean I’ve stopped feeling, it means I’m finally letting go of what hurts.

This came up on a local community page this morning and I thought it worthy of sharing with all of you.

I gathered with some of my closest friends yesterday. We were celebrating a birthday. As I reflected on our gathering and how enjoyable it was, something occurred to me. I believe that my small friend group is a microcosm of how peace could work on a more global foundation. There’s three of us. One of us leans more left politically, one of us leans more right politically, and one of us hates politics because of the divisiveness and polarization it produces. We all have the emotional maturity to be able to respect each other’s perspectives, even though we don’t necessarily agree with them. We listen to each other, we acknowledge each other’s thought process and pain, if hurt was experienced, and we agree to disagree. We don’t make it our mission to force each other to believe as we believe. We simply support and love each other. I believe this is true alignment. Our bond is strong. We “have each other’s backs”. I would love do this to be the dynamic in my family. It’s a beautiful thing.

Hello Parent, I am so excited you are here! We are going on a journey together that will help you create the relationship with your adult child you have always wanted. Parenting in this season is not for the faint of heart and I know from personal and professional experience what it takes to be a successful parent to adult kids. You are already ahead of the curve. You are here, hungry to learn, and wanting to grow! Your children are fortunate to have a parent like you who is teachable and willing to invest in your relationship with them. There is no ceiling on a parent who is committed to being the best version of themselves and you will learn on this journey how to be who your child needs you to be: Accepting, emotionally safe, and worthy of trust. Parenting is about you and how you show up in the relationship, not how your children turn out. This is your journey so take whatever time you need to walk through this framework. I have helped parents for over 40 years and I have implemented what you will see and hear with my own adult children, who are in their 40's. I will take you through this process step by step so you know exactly how to incorporate these skills and insights into your life. I want you to be kind to yourself as you start this process. There are millions of parents who have the same questions so take comfort in knowing you are not alone. The good news is that now you are a part of a community who will learn together how to parent adults with confidence and grace. Thanks again for being a part of the P.A.R.E.N.T. Method community. Let's get started! Warmly, Catherine