#324: Turning 90 Days of Holidays into Lasting Family Memories
Holiday Chaos or Holiday Memories?
Creating Traditions That Last
The holiday season is here—and with it comes the mix of joy, chaos, and never-ending to-do lists. 🎁 From decorating the house to wrapping gifts, baking cookies, and attending every school or church event, it’s easy for parents to feel more overwhelmed than joyful.
In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, Don and Suzanne Manning share candid reflections and look back on 30+ years of parenting seven kids through the holiday hustle. They’ve been through the late-night wrapping sessions, Christmas concerts, chaotic car rides to find the “perfect tree,” and even baking sessions where the cookies didn’t turn out quite right. Through it all, they’ve discovered that holidays aren’t about perfection—they’re about shaping memories.
You’ll hear practical ideas and “holiday hacks” for:
Including your kids in the preparations (even if it’s messier and slower).
Shifting the focus from getting to giving through serving neighbors, writing notes, or sibling gift exchanges.
Creating simple family traditions—from decorating bedrooms with mini trees to baking monkey bread—that knit kids’ hearts to yours.
Letting go of busyness and embracing peace, even when schedules get overwhelming.
Whether you’re a parent of toddlers, teens, or grown kids, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, laugh at the chaos, and focus on what truly matters. Because the greatest gift you can give your children this season isn’t perfect cookies or matching wrapping paper—it’s the gift of connection.
👉 Tune in today and start creating holiday traditions that will outlast the chaos and shape your family for generations.
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Give us a review!
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#323: Re-Run ALERT! Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week (Part 2)
Re-Run ALERT! Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week (Part 2)
Part 2 (Ep. 323, originally Ep. 144)
Welcome back, Crazy Cool Families! Today we’re continuing our series, ‘Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week.’ This is part two—originally Episode 144 and now Episode 323. Last week we shared the first ingredient, and today we’ll give you the second one that ties it all together to help your family have the best Thanksgiving yet. Let’s dive in!”
In this episode you’ll hear about:
The second “ingredient”: appreciation—recognizing people with gratitude and value.
Why appreciation changes relationships and creates an atmosphere of connection.
How to use the 5 Love Languages (words, service, gifts, touch, time) to show appreciation at Thanksgiving.
Practical examples for navigating stressful family dynamics with gratitude.
A simple but powerful challenge to share what you appreciate around the Thanksgiving table.
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Give us a review!
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#322: Re-Run ALERT! Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week (Part 1)
Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week (Part 1)
Part 1 (Ep. 322, originally Ep. 143)
Thanksgiving can be one of the most joyful times of the year—or one of the most stressful. In this episode, we’re bringing back one of our favorite holiday conversations to help your family lean into joy, peace, and purpose this Thanksgiving. We kick off our two-part series with the first ingredient for the best Thanksgiving week, and it may surprise you: awareness.
We’ll talk about how awareness changes the way you approach family gatherings, helps you notice others’ needs, and invites God’s presence into the holiday. If you want this year to be less about stress and more about connection, this episode is a great place to start!
👉 In this episode you’ll hear about:
Why Thanksgiving often feels stressful—and how to flip it into peace and joy.
The first “ingredient” for the best Thanksgiving: awareness.
How awareness helps you notice needs, love people better, and invite God into the moment.
Practical ways to lead your family toward joy, not chaos, during the holiday.
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Give us a review!
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#321: Is Family Worth It? (Don’s Perspective on 30+ years of parenting AND becoming an empty nester!)
From Chaos to Connection: 30+ Years of Parenting Lessons
After 33 years of parenting seven kids, Don and Suzanne Manning are stepping into a brand-new season: empty nesters! But before you picture peace and quiet, join us for this powerful episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast where we look back at decades of parenting, the lessons learned, and the incredible fruit that comes from choosing family—over and over again.
In this episode, Don reflects on:
The early years of parenting and what he would tell his younger self.
How focusing on connection over control transformed his family.
Why choosing family as your “main thing” is always worth it.
How chaos and failure became tools God used to shape him as a dad.
You’ll hear raw and relatable stories—from dragging toddlers down the carpet (oops!) to persevere through teenage disconnect. Don reminds us that parenting isn’t about being perfect—it’s about never quitting. Mistakes don’t disqualify you; disengaging does.
This conversation isn’t just for parents with littles. It’s for every stage: young parents learning the ropes, families juggling the chaos of multiple kids, and those entering the bittersweet transition of launching young adults. You’ll walk away encouraged, challenged, and reminded that family is worth it.
Whether you’re knee-deep in diapers or navigating curfews with teens, this episode will inspire you to choose connections, embrace grace, and build a family culture that lasts for generations.
👉 Tune in now and be reminded: parenting is hard, but it’s the greatest, most rewarding work you’ll ever do.
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Give us a review!
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#320: Is Family Worth It? (Suz’s Perspective on 30+ years of parenting AND becoming an empty nester!)
30+ Years, 7 Kids, One Big Lesson: Family Is Worth It
In this episode, Macy rapid-fires questions at Suz, drawing out three decades of parenting wisdom from raising seven kids to navigating the empty-nest season. Together, they unpack the heart of family as God’s idea—where parenting is discipleship, connection matters more than tasks, and playing the long game pays off.
From marriage teamwork and practical rhythms to the power of community, prayer, and the joy of adult children, this conversation offers encouragement and tools for every season of parenting. Whether you’re in the toddler trenches, managing teens, or stepping into grandparenthood, you’ll find faith-filled wisdom and relatable stories to inspire your family journey.
Family is God’s design—prioritize connection, invite Jesus daily, and play the long game.
You’ll learn how to:
Build connection that creates capacity and peace in your home.
Use small resets (like a 5-minute tidy or micro-dates) to beat chaos.
Lead as a unified marriage team and signal love to your kids.
Lean into community and prayer as a protective covering.
Encourage adult kids and celebrate fruit in the next generation.
This episode is for new parents, large families, empty nesters, and anyone who wants practical rhythms and spiritual encouragement for raising a Christ-centered home.
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Give us a review!
Want home to be your favorite place in the world? Want to see siblings get along like best friends? Want to send your kid off to college with hope instead of fear? At Crazy Cool Family, we can help you answer all of those questions with a resounding “YES!”
We have one simple mission: To show parents how to create amazing families by building their lives around Jesus and helping their kids to do the same. In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us that what is most important in life is our relationship with God and our relationships with one another. We believe that families are our most important relationships and their strength will determine the strength of your family. You will Rethink the Way You Do Family when you see God’s incredible relational design for your families.
God wants a Crazy Cool Family for you and we want to help you get there!
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