52 | Can You Let Your Adult Kids Be Disappointed in You? | Faith, Home & Business for the Kingdom-Called Christian Woman

Have you ever said yes to your adult children when you really needed to say no? Do you find yourself feeling guilty when your adult children are disappointed with you? Are you learning how to set healthy boundaries while still being a loving, supportive Christian mom? In this episode, I’m talking about one of the harder parts of raising adult children: learning to let them be disappointed in you. I’m sharing a real conversation with a friend, what years of NASCAR pit-pass requests taught me about expectations and boundaries, and how those lessons changed the way I parent my adult children. We’ll talk about why disappointment isn't always a bad thing, how unspoken expectations create conflict, and why saying “no” can actually help our adult children grow in emotional maturity. I’ll also share what this looks like in my own home, what Scripture teaches us about raising and releasing our children, and three practical steps you can take this week to start having clearer, healthier conversations with your adult children. If you're a Christian woman navigating motherhood, family relationships, faith, home, and the responsibilities that come with your Kingdom calling, this conversation is for you. RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED Kingdom Table Strategy Call One hour. One focus. Complete clarity around what's happening in your relationship and what you can do next. → https://www.christiratcliff.com/strategy-call Scriptures Mentioned: Proverbs 22:6 — Training and releasing our children to walk in the way they should go. 1 Corinthians 13:11 — Growing from childish ways into maturity. Hebrews 12:11 — Understanding that growth and discipline may be uncomfortable now but produce fruit later. Related Episode: Episode 48 — Are You Raising Chickens or Eagles? CONNECT WITH ME & NEXT STEPS Podcast: The Kingdom Table Podcast Instagram: @ChristiRatcliffCoaching Website: www.christiratcliff.com Kingdom Table Strategy Call: → https://www.christiratcliff.com/strategy-call NEXT STEPS Step 1: Listen to this episode and identify one place where you may be saying yes simply because you're afraid of disappointing your adult child. Step 2: Get clear about your capacity. Think about what you can realistically give in this season—and what you can't. Step 3: Practice having the hard conversation. You can be loving, kind, and clear without taking responsibility for someone else's disappointment. And remember: disappointing someone does not automatically mean you've failed them. Sometimes, saying no is part of helping the people we love grow.