#282 Navigating the Empty Nest: Dr. Judith R. Smith on Challenging Adult Children and Reinventing Motherhood

 "You can't really change your kids, but you can change yourself in small ways," says psychotherapist and author Dr. Judith R. Smith. In this conversation she sheds light on the hidden struggles of mothers over 60 caring for adult children with severe mental health and substance use challenges. Drawing from her book Difficult Mothering, she explores the emotional toll, societal stigma, and isolation these women face. Listen as Dr. Smith discusses the complexities of caregiving, the guilt and shame that often arise, and the urgent need for self-care and support. With compassion and expertise, Dr. Smith offers practical strategies for setting boundaries and reclaiming a sense of self. A must-listen for anyone navigating the challenges of motherhood and reinvention.

 

About Judith R. Smith

Judith R. Smith, Ph.D., LCSW, is a New York City based psychotherapist, professor, and researcher on women’s issues as they age. She is a professor, Emerita, at Fordham University. She offers support groups online for mothers with difficult adult children. Her book, Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children through Conflict and Change, is based on a three-year research project and brings to life the stories of fifty women, each over sixty years old, whose lives were drastically altered by becoming the default safety net for their adult “kids.”

Links

Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Time Stamps:

03:23 - Dr. Smith talks about mothering, challenging adult children

06:21 - "The most likely perpetrator of elder abuse is an adult child living at home"

10:36 - What percent of adult children fall into this category

15:51 - An awful lot of our homeless situation is due to untreated mental illness

18:26 - Several feminist researchers say parenting is different for men and women

23:27 - How to deal with guilt as a mother

28:42 - Parents who have a child with substance use disorder are eligible for subsidized housing

 

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