Are we ever truly independent, or do healthy lives depend on knowing how to rely on one another without losing ourselves? In Episode 4 of The Good Love with Steph & Jonah, Steph and Jonah use Independence Day as the starting point for a much more personal conversation about dependency, independence, interdependence, and codependency. As Jonah prepares to move across the country and begin a new chapter, they reflect on what it means for an adult child to leave home—and what it asks of the parent who has to let them go. Jonah shares the excitement of building a life of his own, while Steph speaks candidly about the grief, fear, and unresolved wounds that can surface when a child becomes independent. Together, they explore why healthy independence does not mean never needing anyone, how a parent’s unprocessed fear can shape a child’s willingness to enter the world, and why parents need support that their children may never see. Steph also opens up about the difficult emotional work she has done behind the scenes throughout Jonah’s life. She explains how therapy, grief, and confronting her own abandonment wounds allowed her to encourage Jonah’s independence—even when letting him go caused her tremendous pain. This is an honest conversation about raising children, separating with love, healing old wounds, and recognizing that becoming independent is rarely a clean or painless process. In this episode, you’ll discover: • Why complete independence may be more myth than reality • The differences between dependency, interdependence, and codependency • How children and parents experience separation differently • Why parents must remain curious about a child’s temperament • How unresolved fear can unintentionally restrict a child • Why children often see the results of a parent’s healing—but not the work behind it • How therapy and support can help parents let their children grow • Why grief can be part of healthy separation • What it means to love someone without preventing their independence • Why healing yourself can change what becomes possible for the next generation Listen to The Good Love with Steph & Jonah wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted by Steph Campbell and her son Jonah Swotes.