Struggle with guilt when parenting? This Episode is for you...(and me!)
In this heartfelt episode, each daughter shared how “mom guilt” has uniquely shown up in their motherhood journey.
Macy opened up about her tendency to feel like she should be punished for both the things she does and doesn’t do as a mom. Mollie described mom guilt as a constant feeling of inadequacy, and McKenzie expressed her desire to be an excellent mom, friend, and follower of Jesus—yet often feeling she falls short in every area.
Suz reflected on her decades of motherhood and how guilt can stem from moments when our responses fall short—when kids get hurt, when we regret decisions, or when peace is replaced by self-doubt.
The conversation turned encouraging as the women shared what helps them shift out of guilt. Mollie talked about slowing down at bedtime and bringing more Scripture into family rhythms. Macy vulnerably shared how God met her in the guilt she felt during her first trimester sickness, redeeming those hard moments. Kenzie offered a beautiful mindset shift: instead of starting each day with “100%” and losing points, what if we start at “0” and see every moment with God as a win?
They ended by reflecting on 2 Corinthians 12:9—how God's power is made perfect in weakness—and encouraged listeners to see guilt not as a barrier, but as a doorway into deeper relationship with God.
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Give us a review!
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46:10
#298: What is the Playbook?
Guess what.... we've got something new for you!
Next month, our seventh child, Cade, graduates — and with that, we officially wrap up over three decades of parenting. As we step into this next season of becoming almost-empty nesters, we’ve been reflecting on the journey that brought us here… and why Crazy Cool Family exists in the first place.
In our early years, we (Don and Suzanne) felt like we had no idea how to "win" at parenting. Don reflected on how living with five women he had to learn how to lead with relationship, not just rules. Suz realized she often responded without grace — not because she didn’t want to do better, but because she didn’t know how.
We both desperately wanted someone to hand us a playbook — something that told us the "right move" for each season. So we went looking. What we found is that while information is everywhere, wisdom is harder to find.
That’s why Crazy Cool Family is different. We don't just give parenting tips — we give you the core concepts that make relationships strong and families thrive. We help you “learn how to play the game,” not just survive the day.
in 2023, a trusted friend suggested we start sharing those core concepts daily — just little drips of encouragement and truth. That’s how Practical Parenting was born: our daily email is designed to help parents absorb these life-giving ideas over time.
And now, we’re excited to introduce our next step: 🎉 The Playbook — launching May 4th! 🎉
Here’s what it is:
A daily email full of encouragement, truth, and practical ideas
A Weekly Huddle (every Sunday) where we go deeper on one parenting concept
Optional Deep Dive PDFs you can purchase if your family needs extra help
All aligned with our weekly podcast and daily practices
We believe God is using this to equip parents everywhere — not just with answers, but with the insight and tools to build the family they've always dreamed of.
Because you don’t need to parent alone. And you definitely don’t need to guess.
The Playbook is here. Let’s build Crazy Cool Families — together.
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Join the Daily Email (aka The Playbook starting May 4th!)
Give us a review!
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28:37
#297: Crazy Cool Family This: Let's Get Real!
"What is your favorite season of parenting?"
In today’s episode, we’re talking about what we’ve learned through the years raising littles, middles, and bigs — and how to parent each age with purpose and grace. We're calling this theme “Crazy Cool Family This,” where we unpack key parenting concepts and make them practical for your season of life. Through it all, one thing remains true: your kids are wired to love you, and you don’t have to get everything right. That truth gives so much freedom!
Don shares that his favorite stage is the middles — elementary and middle school years — because of their simple, honest view of the world and their fun personalities. Suz loves something unique about each stage. Littles bring endless snuggles and curiosity; middles ask questions that show they’re beginning to think for themselves; and Bigs — well, they give you the privilege of transitioning from parent to friend as they step into independence. For her, watching kids become who they’re meant to be is a deep joy.
Each stage also has its challenges. Littles have big emotions and limited communication, which means it takes a lot of energy and grace to parent them well. Middles are growing fast, discovering their identity, and stepping into a world of activities and relationships — it’s a crucial time for fathers to speak identity over their kids. And when it comes to Bigs, the hardest part is letting go — resisting the urge to overprotect and instead allowing them to fail, grow, and build confidence through mistakes.
The overall message? Enjoy every season. Parenting goes by fast, and each age brings its own beauty and struggle. If we approach it with intentionality and relationship at the center, we’ll build strong connections that last far beyond childhood.
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Join the Daily Email (aka The Playbook starting May 4th!)
Give us a review!
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46:33
#296: Crazy Cool Parent This: Steps to Improve Connection
Crazy Cool Family This - Connection!
We are excited to talk about this because we feel like we prioritized connections within our family and we believe it is the most important thing you can invest in - connections within family are THE MOST IMPORTANT!
"Relationships build security." - Suz
Here are the talking points:
What is more important - obedience or relationship?
What does Jesus say about connections?
Reasons to value connections within family
Making it PRACTICAL: Crazy Cool Connection
Each week we will aim to give you a CCC – A Crazy Cool.... C word – lol! It’s to sum all the info from this podcast up and package in a way you can activate.
Today’s CCC is a Crazy Cool CONNECTION. If you want to see transformation in your family- start with connection. Pick 1 practical we shared from the podcast and do it!
Based on the age of your kids, your CCC may be different for each kid OR it may be one big change you need to make within your entire family. Here are a few examples:
Have dinner together: Chik-Fil-A counts:)
Say no to something this weekend to prioritize family
Instead of a movie night do a game night
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Join the Daily Email (and your way to get the FREE Easter Resource)
Give us a review!
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35:20
#295: We've Never Talked about Easter....
Let's talk Easter, cause we never have!
Easter is one of the MOST important holidays within our faith and we have NEVER done a podcast on it. We’ve almost made 300 episodes and looking through them, this is the first time we’ve set aside space to talk about Easter – so let’s dive in.
The goal of today's podcast is to help your family have the BEST Easter EVER.
Here are a few points we discuss:
Biblical understanding of Easter and it's significance
Why Easter is overlooked/hard to celebrate without commercialized elements
HOW to celebrate as a family and make it all about Jesus
How do you Crazy Cool Parent that?
Making it PRACTICAL: Crazy Cool Change
Each week we will aim to give you a CCC – A Crazy Cool.... C word – lol! It’s to sum all the info from this podcast up and package in a way you can activate.
Today’s CCC is a Crazy Cool CHANGE. If you want to see transformation in your family- start with changing one thing you did last year around this time. Choose/Pick 1 practical we shared from the podcast and do it!
Based on the age of your kids, your CCC may be different for each kid OR it may be one big change you need to make within your entire family. Here are a few examples:
Read the story of Jesus death and resurrection as a family (or watch a movie that kids can handle)
Make the Easter morning intentional and about celebrating Jesus
Make a special breakfast
Ask your kids what they think Easter is and see what is in their hearts regarding this holiday!
Want the Free Easter Resource?
Join our Practical Parenting Daily Email and be the first to get the Easter Deep Dive on April 13th!
Podcast Resources:
Click here for everything Crazy Cool Family!
Join the Daily Email (and your way to get the FREE Easter Resource on April 13th!)
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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