My Adult Child Said I was Toxic. What Do I Do With That?

What's in this episode

Send us a message Episode 226: My Adult Child Said I was Toxic. What Do I Do With That? Hearing your adult child describe you, your parenting, or your family as “toxic” can feel like a complete rejection of who you are. You may immediately want to defend yourself, explain your intentions, or prove that their version of the past is wrong. But the way you respond in that moment can either deepen the distance or create an opening for greater understanding. In this episode, Tina explains what your adult child may actually be trying to communicate when they use therapy words like “toxic.” She explores how parents can take their child’s pain seriously without accepting an unfair label or collapsing into guilt and shame. You will learn how to stay grounded during painful conversations, listen for the experience underneath the accusation, and begin rebuilding trust through curiosity, empathy, and consistent behavior. In this episode, you will learn: Why being called a toxic parent feels like an attack on your entire identity What your adult child may mean when they say their childhood or family environment was toxic How defensiveness can unintentionally reinforce the concerns your child is