Joy in Dissonance: Parenting Adult Children (with Lisa Valentine Clark) — Episode 71
In this episode, episode hots Allison Dayton and Jenie Hunter welcome back Lisa Valentine Clark- comedian, actress, host of The Lisa Show, and one of the original "OG" Lift+Love moms.
Lisa shares how she stays anchored amid dissonance: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, love for her family, and a commitment to truth — even when truth means sitting with uncertainty. She talks about what it looks like to practice her religion largely on her own after losing her husband, finding unexpected joy in the temple and in serving as a Primary chorister.
On parenting her 5 adult children, Lisa reflects with openness and grace: she wishes she had held less tightly to a prescribed "covenant path," and describes what showing up for her adult children actually looks like — reciprocal respect, genuine relationship without agenda, prayer, naming their spiritual gifts, and loving boldly even when it feels awkward or invites judgment from others.
This episode is for every parent who wants to love their LGBTQ child well and still hold onto their personal faith — and may relate to Lisa’s experience with letting go of the script.
In this episode:
- Why Lisa roots herself in fundamentals when faith feels complicated
- Learning to make "uncomfortable" part of discipleship
- Joy vs. happiness — and why the distinction matters
- Solo worship after loss, and where she finds reassurance
- What she wishes she'd done differently as a younger parent
- How to see and name the spiritual gifts in your LGBTQ children
- Loving boldly in the face of ward judgment
- What "support" actually looks like in practice
About Lisa Valentine Clark: Lisa Valentine Clark is a comedian, actor, and host of The Lisa Show, a nationally-syndicated, award-winning family and lifestyle podcast (a BYU Radio production) available on all streaming platforms. She has been a host for BYU-TV's Random Acts, co-creator of the award-winning web series Pretty Darn Funny, and appeared in the films Once I Was a Beehive (2015) and Once I Was Engaged (2021). Lisa is the mother of five children, three of whom are LGBTQ. She spoke at the inaugural Gather Conference in 2023 and served as a mainstage host at Gather Conference 2024.
Learn more about Lisa and The Lisa Show at https://www.byuradio.org/the-lisa-show
Find the audio version of this episode here and the video version of this episode on our Lift+Love YouTube channel here
Find resources, support meetings, events, and community — including 13 different types of free online support meetings for LGBTQ+ individuals and those who love them — on the Lift+Love website here
