Crazy Cool Family

#305: Summer Series: Part 3 - Who’s in Charge?

Who’s in Charge? How to Raise Leaders at Home This Summer
In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, we dive into one of our favorite summer themes: raising leaders under your roof. Whether your kids are toddlers or teens, summer offers the perfect opportunity to build leadership skills in a low-pressure, high-relationship environment.
We explore what leadership looks like in everyday moments—from assigning simple responsibilities around the house to encouraging kids to take initiative, manage conflict, and serve others well. You’ll learn:
Why summer is a leadership laboratory
How to teach kids responsibility without micromanaging
The power of failure in developing strong leaders
How to give each child—firstborn, middle, and youngest—a chance to lead
We also talk about speaking leadership identity over your kids and giving them a vision for who they can become.
Podcast Resources:
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#304: Summer Series: Part 2 - Teaching Your Kids to Fight (Wait... What?)

Teaching Kids to Fight (Well): How to Turn Sibling Conflict into Character Growth
Summer brings more time together—and more sibling conflict. But what if the fights between your kids were actually opportunities to shape their hearts?
In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, we unpack how to teach your kids to fight well, using biblical principles and practical tools. You’ll learn:
Why conflict isn’t the enemy
How to guide your kids toward healthy reconciliation
What to say when they’re at each other’s throats
How to set goals, create summer “labs,” and build sibling connection
This is a must-listen for every parent navigating sibling chaos. 🎧 Plus: Check out our new Deep Dive: Teaching Kids to Fight (Well) for even more help!
Podcast Resources:
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#303: Summer Series: Part 1 - Washing the School Year Off Our Kids

Welcome to our Summer Series! In this episode, Don and Suzanne talk about how to intentionally plan your family’s summer so it’s filled with peace, purpose, and connection—not just chaos.
They introduce the powerful idea of “washing the school year off” your kids—helping them reset emotionally, mentally, and spiritually from the demands and structure of school life.
Topics covered include:
Creating a loose plan for summer (structure without pressure)
Establishing daily rhythms your kids can rely on
The importance of rest, reflection, and safe space
Using planned fun and budget-friendly ideas to make memories
Teaching character, processing hard experiences, and building sibling connection
You only get one Summer 2025—let’s make it one to remember.
🎧 Listen in and learn how to create a family culture this summer that builds joy, purpose, and connection.
Podcast Resources:
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#302: A Summer to Remember (Feat. Sarah Paul)

Ready to build your family's best summer?
Madeline Jones (formerly Manning) is back—this time with special guest and fellow summer-lover Sarah Paul—to share how families can make the most of summer through simple rhythms, intentional connection, and memory-making moments. From mission trips to popsicle-fueled pool days, this episode is packed with encouragement, real-life stories, and practical ways to transform summer into a season of spiritual rest, family bonding, and God-centered fun. Whether you're a teacher with time off or a parent juggling work and kids, this episode will inspire you to slow down, show up, and savor the fleeting days of summer.
Podcast Resources:
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#301: Crazy Cool Family This: Raising a Servant Hearted Child

Raising a Servant-Hearted Child Starts Right Here ❤️
Do you ever wish your kids would just share the toy... without a battle?
In our latest podcast episode, we dive into one of the most powerful things we can teach our kids: how to be servant hearted.
Inspired by Jesus washing His disciples' feet, we’re breaking down what it means to raise children who choose to serve others. And don’t worry—this isn’t just about chores or obedience. It’s about helping your child become more like Jesus in their everyday choices.
As parents, we get to show our kids how to serve and build this God-given identity into them. In every season of parenting, we get to call this identity through our example and by giving them opportunities to serve the people within your family.
In this episode, you'll learn how to:
🔹 Create teachable moments from real-life sibling spats
🔹 Use praise to reinforce kind, servant-hearted behavior
🔹 Design simple family routines that encourage putting others first
🔹 Avoid raising a doormat by modeling servant leadership
This one is packed with real stories, practical tools, and encouragement to help you raise kids who love God and love others well.
Podcast Resources:
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#300: See Where We’ve Been and Where We Are Going

Happy 300th Episode to us!
In this heartfelt episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, Don and Suzanne reflect on over three decades of parenting, ministry, and the launch of their brand-new resource, the Parenting Playbook. Whether you're in the thick of raising toddlers or navigating relationships with adult children, this conversation reminds you of a simple truth: family is worth it.
Don and Suzanne get real about their early struggles in ministry, the tension of leading together as very different personalities, and the transformation God brought through years of learning, growing, and letting the Holy Spirit guide. They talk candidly about "parent guilt," the pressure to be perfect, and how connection—not control—is the key to lasting family impact.
This episode is more than a recap—it's an invitation. An invitation to trade guilt for grace, to grow daily as a parent, and to believe that family is not just a duty but a divine opportunity. The Mannings share how God continues to inspire them to reach more families and why the Crazy Cool Family mission is now focused on equipping you with resources that make spiritual growth and relational depth easier, more practical, and more accessible than ever.
New Resource Alert:
This episode also celebrates the launch of the Crazy Cool Family Parenting Playbook — a weekly and daily guide to help parents grow in grace and connection. It's full of encouragement, practical tools, and faith-filled wisdom for every stage of parenting. If you havent already, subscribe today by clicking the link below.
Podcast Resources:
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#299: Using Guilt as a Signal

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:
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#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:
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Join the Daily Email (aka The Playbook starting May 4th!)
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#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:
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Join the Daily Email (aka The Playbook starting May 4th!)
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#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)
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