One of the most painful things parents experience is to watch their adult children stray from the values they were raised with. Whether it is walking away from their faith, following after different and radical political ideologies, engaging in addictive substances and activities, living alternative lifestyles, making continual bad choices, or anything else, it is not only disappointing but devastating. Attempts to bridge the gap fail and add to resentment on both sides, until the gap is so wide that it breaks wide open.

Yet, parents’ love doesn’t easily die. They hold out for something or someone to change their children and restore the relationship. Jim Burns, a trusted expert on family life and parenting, wrote nine principles for “Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out.” This follow-up book is the result of the parents who wrote him with their anguishing stories. It offers principles that can be applied to challenging yet delicate circumstances. They bring healing to some of the parents’ brokenness but also give them encouragement and hope to hang on for the long haul.

Here are the chapters:

1. From Heartache to Hope
2. Be the Adult in the Room
3. You Are Not Defined by Your Adult Child’s Choices
4. Learn to Live Above Your Circumstances
5. Setting Boundaries and Fostering a Good Relationship with Your Adult Child
6. The Deconstruction of Your Adult Child’s Faith and What to Do About It
7. Estrangement from Your Adult Child and How to Heal
8. When Your Relationship Is Toxic and Complicated
9. Breaking Down Walls and Building Bridges

For the Zoom group on Jim Burn’s book, When Your Adult Child Strays, you will read the chapter and then share your answers to several questions during the discussion.
 

Zoom Discussion

 
Dates: Thursdays 4 – 6 pm PST March 25 – May 13, 2026

Facilitator: Maria Carter

Cost: $40.00 plus purchase of the book When Your Adult Child Strays by Jim Burns