MESSmerized - Funny and faith based encouragement in marriage , family , Christian parenting , and finding purpose

I'm just going to admit it upfront: I'm struggling with the whole screen-time situation at our house. I've raised two older kids through the technology years, and you would think I'd have this figured out by now. But here I am with my youngest, fighting the same battles and occasionally convincing myself that YouTube Kids is perfectly fine because, well, it has kids in the title. 😂
Today I'm welcoming back Arlene Pellicane (who is basically my MESSmerized co-host at this point!) for a conversation I desperately needed. We're talking about what technology is doing to our kids, how screens are stealing some of the best parts of childhood, and why it's worth fighting the good fight even when setting boundaries feels exhausting. Arlene shares some really practical ways to rethink technology in our homes, and I especially loved her reminder that it's never too late to make changes.
One of the things that struck me most is that my older kids, who grew up with phones and social media, are now the ones telling me to put stricter limits on their little brother. And maybe that's the reminder I needed: the boundaries our kids fight us on today might be the very ones they thank us for tomorrow. So if you're tired of battling screens, I'm right there with you. But this conversation reminded me why the battle is worth fighting.
I'm so glad you're here! Oh, and here's some great news: Arlene's newest book, The Great Tech Reset, is available FREE while supplies last at techresetbook.com. It's an actual paperback book they'll mail to you, so grab a copy while you can!

All things Cynthia
The Great Tech Reset by Arlene Pellicane
Free Tech Reset Book Copy by Arlene Pellicane

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I'm starting to think Sissy Goff needs to quit accepting my podcast invitations for the sake of her dogs. 😂 Last time we recorded, her beloved Lucy had just passed away. This time, her new puppy, Patches, had to have surgery on both back legs. I'm not saying there's a connection, but I'm also not saying there isn't.

Thankfully, Sissy keeps coming back because she's one of my favorite people and one of the wisest voices out there when it comes to raising our kids. Today we're talking about something none of us particularly want to think about, but all of us will face in some form: walking our kids through grief, loss, and the really hard parts of life.

Sissy's new book, Helping Kids Through Grief, was inspired in part by the heartbreaking Covenant School shooting in Nashville, where she and the Daystar team walked alongside grieving families. We talk about why kids can be devastated one minute and running to a friend’s house the next, why grief sometimes looks like anger, and how to know when it's time to bring in a counselor. And thankfully, Sissy reminds us we don't need a counseling degree or perfectly rehearsed speech to help our kids through hard things.

And because we can't stay serious forever, we end with some behind-the-scenes scoop from Sissy's appearances on the Today show. Apparently, even experts in childhood anxiety get nervous on national television. 😂

You're going to love this one!

Helping kids Through Grief by Sissy Goff
All things Cynthia

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Have you ever wanted to pray but couldn't find the words? Or wondered if reading someone else's prayer is somehow cheating? I mean, aren't we supposed to come up with our own prayers? I've definitely wrestled with that one. 😂
Today I'm talking with Doug McKelvey, author of the beautiful Every Moment Holy books, and this was a conversation I didn't realize how much I needed. We talk about finding God in the ordinary moments of life, why written prayers can be so meaningful, and his newest book, Every Moment Holy: Rites of Passage, which every parent of a teenager or young adult needs to know about.
But one of the most meaningful parts of our conversation was Doug sharing his experience during a season when he was doing exactly what he believed God had called him to do, yet so many things in his life seemed to be going wrong. It wasn't until someone asked him a simple question that he began to consider whether he was facing spiritual resistance. His perspective gave me a lot to think about in my own life, and I think it will for you too.
I'm so glad you're here for this conversation!

All things Cynthia 
Every Moment Holy
Every Moment Holy: Rites of Passage

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If you've ever convinced yourself your kindergartner's reading struggles mean he'll never get into college, hold a job, or leave your house, welcome. I've been there. 😂
After 23 years of parenting, I've learned that some of the things we worry about most aren't the things that matter most. And some of the struggles we desperately want God to take away from our kids might actually be the very things He's using to shape them.
Today we're talking about what it means to build our families on a firm foundation in a world that seems to value everything but the things that matter eternally. I'm also sharing four parenting lessons I learned at the playground (because apparently there's more to learn there than just how to avoid getting taken out by a swing).
We're talking about letting kids struggle, not comparing their paths, finding the right people, and figuring out what success should actually look like for our families.
Because at the end of the day, our goal isn't to raise impressive kids. It's to raise kids who know and follow Jesus.
Whether your kids are five or twenty-five, this one's for you. And trust me, I needed the reminder just as much as anyone.

For more playground rules parenting advice check out Life is Messy, God is Good
All things Cynthia
Survey

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After 25 years of marriage, I've learned one critical thing: my husband loves a good gift, and I'd prefer someone just unload the dishwasher. And that's just one of the many things we're talking about with this week's legendary guest, Dr. Gary Chapman, the man who literally wrote the book on love languages.
We're talking about why you can know your spouse's love language and still completely miss the mark. Turns out, there are different "dialects" within each love language, and what makes one person feel loved might drive another person absolutely crazy. We get into why good intentions aren't always enough, how to stop turning every disagreement into a courtroom argument, and why the attitude we bring into marriage might matter more than how we're feeling about our spouse on any given Tuesday.
Dr. Chapman also shares some great advice on loving our kids as they grow, why our love languages can look different depending on the season of life, and one simple question we should be asking our spouses every few weeks. Oh, and if you're wondering about the behind-the-scenes of my conversation with one of the world's leading relationship experts, I'll just say I accidentally missed our original interview. Thankfully, grace appears to be one of his love languages, too.
Don't miss this one, friends. It's funny, practical, and a really good reminder that loving someone well isn't just about what we're giving, but whether they're actually receiving it.

The Love Language That Matters Most by Dr. Gary Chapman
5 Love Languages Website
All things Cynthia

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