Ground Control Parenting with Carol Sutton Lewis

Vanessa Bell Calloway, the talented star of stage and screen, joins Carol to chat about the joys and challenges of parenting adult kids. Vanessa opens up about raising her two daughters in Hollywood and how her role as a mom has evolved as her girls grew up and found their independence.
Carol and Vanessa dive into what it’s like to go from being an involved, hands-on mom to figuring out when and how to step back and give your grown kids the space they need. Vanessa talks about her own journey, sharing the hard and happy moments, the growth, and the friendship that has blossomed as her daughters have matured.
This compelling conversation is a reminder for parents about the importance of patience and learning to let go while staying a loving support in our adult kids’ lives. It’s full of relatable insights on how to adapt, support, and truly enjoy the new family dynamics that come as our kids grow up.
Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on groundcontrolparenting.com!

How do we help our children become good and confident readers? In this episode from the archives, Carol explores this important topic with literacy expert Maya Smart, author of Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan From Birth to Six. Maya shares invaluable tips and strategies for helping children become strong, confident readers. From nurturing early literacy at home to building strong partnerships with teachers, Maya's advice is both practical and empowering. This conversation is a must-listen for parents and caregivers committed to setting their children on the path to lifelong literacy success.
Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on groundcontrolparenting.com.
And don’t forget to subscribe to the Substack newsletter for behind-the-scenes info, bonus parenting tips, and more!.

This week Carol dives into parenting teens and young adults with Lisa Heffernan, co-founder of Grown & Flown. Lisa shares the story behind Grown & Flown—a website and 290k+ member online community that’s become the go-to resource for parents raising older kids. She and Carol discuss managing the stress of college admissions, and shifting parenting strategies to build stronger relationships with adult children. (Spoiler: it’s not easy, but it’s worth it!)
With thoughtful advice and practical tips, Lisa offers a roadmap for fostering independence in teens and young adults while keeping family connections strong. Whether you’re navigating the challenges of parenting teens or building relationships with your adult children, this episode is packed with insights for you.
Links:

• Grown & Flown website
• Grown & Flown Parents Facebook Group
• Grown & Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults

Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on groundcontrolparenting.com.
And don’t forget to subscribe to the Substack newsletter for behind-the-scenes info, bonus parenting tips, and more!

In 2013, while Burrell Ellis was serving his second term as the CEO of DeKalb County, Georgia, he was accused by the DeKalb County District Attorney of illegally soliciting campaign contributions from a county contractor. Insisting that these charges were false and politically motivated, Burrell refused to resign as CEO and was suspended from his position. After an initial mistrial, in 2015 Burrell was found guilty of perjury and attempted theft by extortion. He was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, and was taken off to prison immediately after the sentencing. In late 2016, The Georgia Supreme Court reversed his conviction, ruling that he did not receive a fair trial. He was reinstated to his CEO position with back pay, and was reimbursed for his defense costs. Burrell and his wife Philippa join Carol to talk about how this crisis impacted their family and how they parented their two children through the storm. They describe how they focused on maintaining their strong family unit, prioritizing honesty and openness with their children, relying on their faith and on therapy to help them make it through. They used this family crisis to teach their kids integrity, resilience, and how to advocate for themselves. In this moving and poignant episode, Burrell and Philippa reflect on how their family banded together to fight injustice and stand on the truth. Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And that’s a wrap! In this Season 5 rewind Carol shares some of the highlights of the season and reveals some parenting principles–practical, helpful, parenting concepts–that came out of these conversations. Tune in for a sampling of some of the great stories, advice and resources Carol and her guests shared this season. And stay tuned for more parenting conversations about the joy and the real work of parenting Black children in our next season, coming soon!
Follow us @GroundControlparenting or at groundcontrolparenting.com