The family is where children discover how to be human. - Archbishop Charles Chaput
Summary
In this episode, Mike and Alicia tackle some of the toughest family challenges with honesty, humor, and hope. These questions were submitted to us at the Midwest Family Conference, but we never got to them! We talk about things like how to respond to a loved one with a temper or a dysfunctional family that seems to fight constantly. What practical steps can parents take to guard their family culture when outside influences pull in the opposite direction? Mike emphasizes the irreplaceable role of fathers—especially in having honest conversations with teenage sons about life's toughest issues. Alicia offers encouragement for wives supporting their husbands as spiritual leaders, even in the messiness of daily life. Together, they share practical strategies for cultivating virtue—reminding parents that even when kids bring out our weaknesses, God uses family life to make us holy.
Key Takeaways
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We always need to start with ourselves when we come up against difficult relationships in the family.
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All of us are to work on helping other family members - spouse and children - to grow in holiness.
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Your family culture needs to be strong to inoculate your children against the culture of the world.
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Parents' love for each other and joy in their relationship is essential in bringing peace and positivity to the home.
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The father's role in the life of his teen son and in the spiritual leadership of the home is irreplaceable.
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It is not your job to make your kids into saints - its their job to make you into a saint!
Couple Discussion Questions
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What do we need to work on in our marriage to bring more love and joy into our home? How can we be a better example for our kids?
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Are there issues with our kids that we need to discuss? What do we need to improve in our family culture?
Resources
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Anger in Parenting https://messyfamilyproject.org/mfp-076-anger-in-parenting/
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Preparing for Adolescence: https://messyfamilyproject.org/mfp-005-preparing-your-tween-and-yourself-for-adolescence/
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