Life Parenting Podcast

Join Rich and Julie Young as they invite you to pause and ask a powerful question: What is your preferred future?In this episode, they talk about vision, not just dreaming about what could be, but prayerfully discerning what God desires for your life and family. They explore the temptation to simply decorate the house when the foundation is cracked, and why lasting change requires the courage to inspect what’s underneath.Rather than living stuck in the past, they discuss how to use your past as a tool for evaluation, allowing it to inform the future God is calling you toward. Together, they walk through seven foundational pillars that shape a healthy, God-honoring life and home:Personal spiritual growthMarriageA life-giving home environmentOrder in the homeFinancesHealthFamily identitySmall, faithful adjustments in these areas can lead to eternal impact. This conversation will encourage you to evaluate honestly, realign intentionally, and move forward with hope and purpose.Rich & Julie Young, hostsResources Mentioned in the Episode:→ ⁠Episode 1: Is ten minutes all it takes? (Couch Time) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ ⁠⁠⁠Episode 6: Hit the right target. (Vision part 1) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 7: Wait for the second marshmallow. (Vision part 2) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 2: A matter of life and death. (Speaking Life) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 3: What’s in your atmosphere? (The Life Giving Home Environment): Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 20: Speaking Life into Broken Places: Hope After Trauma and Moral Injury // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 16: The Hidden Influence: How Structure & Routine Shape Your Child's Development // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 15: Is First Time Obedience Worth It? The Neuroscience Says Yes. // Spotify // Apple // YouTubeFinancial Resources:→ 2,000 verses in the Bible→ Financial Peace Class→ Parenting from the Tree of LifeVideo Segments Related to this episode:→ Building Family Identity: Interdependent versus Independent→ Building Healthy Identity into Children—--------------------------------------------------→ The Growing Families Website→ Register for a Class→ Our Courses→ The U.S. Bookstore→ The Australia & NZ Bookstore→ The Asia Pacific Bookstore→ The Brazil Bookstore→ Contact Mom Ministry→ Instagram→ Facebook→ YouTube Email questions or topic suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode, Rich and Julie Young welcome guests, Darrell and Janelle Downs. They dive head first into the beautiful—and sometimes bumpy—reality of spending the holidays with extended family. From navigating differing viewpoints to traveling with kids, they explore how to stay grounded, prayerful, and united when the season gets complicated.They talk about how to show up prayed up, relying on the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to speak life, love well, and handle challenging interactions with grace. You’ll hear practical, heartfelt wisdom on preparing kids for awkward family dynamics, protecting them from what they’re not ready for, and preserving meaningful traditions even while staying in someone else’s home.They also share strategies for keeping kids on track during travel—why you “train at home, not on the road,” the importance of consistent sleep schedules, and how to reset rhythms once you return. Plus, they unpack how unity as a couple shapes the whole family experience (and how GFI principles support that), and what to do when unsolicited advice comes your way.The holidays are a prime opportunity to teach our children how to love well, extend grace, serve joyfully, and engage thoughtfully. Wherever you go, your family identity goes with you—and this episode helps you carry it with confidence, peace, and purpose.Rich & Julie Young, hostsDarrell & Janelle Downs, Growing Families leadersResources Mentioned in the Episode:→ Episode 2: A matter of life and death. (Speaking Life) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ Episode 3: What’s in your atmosphere? (The Life Giving Home Environment) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ Episode 1: Is ten minutes all it takes? (Couch Time) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ Episode 6: Hit the right target. (Vision part 1) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ Episode 7: Wait for the second marshmallow. (Vision part 2) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube—--------------------------------------------------→ The Growing Families Website→ Register for a Class→ Our Courses→ The U.S. Bookstore→ The Australia & NZ Bookstore→ The Asia Pacific Bookstore→ The Brazil Bookstore→ Contact Mom Ministry→ Instagram→ Facebook→ YouTube Email questions or topic suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode, Rich and Julie Young sit down with Jeff and Cathy Gratzmiller to unpack what it really takes to create an intentional, peaceful, and connected holiday season—no matter your family’s stage or structure.Together, they dive into the real-life challenges that surface when routines get disrupted and expectations run high. You’ll hear practical principles that work whether your kids attend school or you homeschool, insights on how age and family context change the way you approach the holidays, and encouragement for managing expectations and the inevitable disruptions that come with them.If you’re looking to simplify your holiday rhythm, strengthen communication, and build traditions that actually bring joy—not overwhelm—this conversation will give you the clarity and confidence you need.Press play and step into your most intentional holiday yet. 🎄✨Rich & Julie Young, hostsJeff & Cathy Gratzmiller, Growing Families leadersResources Mentioned in the Episode:→ ⁠Episode 2: A matter of life and death. (Speaking Life) // Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ ⁠⁠⁠Episode 3: What’s in your atmosphere? (The Life Giving Home Environment) Spotify // Apple // YouTube→ Parenting from the Tree of Life—--------------------------------------------------→ The Growing Families Website→ Register for a Class→ Our Courses→ The U.S. Bookstore→ The Australia & NZ Bookstore→ The Asia Pacific Bookstore→ The Brazil Bookstore→ Contact Mom Ministry→ Instagram→ Facebook→ YouTube Email questions or topic suggestions to [email protected]

December is such a special time of year as we celebrate the birth of Jesus—but let’s be honest, it can also get a little crazy! Between shopping, decorating, and keeping up with everyone’s expectations, that sense of peace we long for can slip right through our fingers. In this episode, Rich and Julie Young talk about how, as a family, to stay focused on what really matters this Christmas. They share simple, practical ways to slow down, take the pressure off gift-giving, and help our kids grow hearts of generosity instead of entitlement.Rich & Julie Young, hostsResources Mentioned in the Episode:→ The Love Languages & touchpoints of love→ An overview of the Love Languages video→ The Love Languages test (for adults)→ The Love Languages test (for children)→ ⁠Episode 17: The Entitlement Epidemic: A Parent's Guide to Recognition and Remedy // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // YouTubeAdvent Books & Devotionals for the family:→ The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado→ Jacob’s Gift by Max Lucado→ Christmas Cross by Max Lucado→ Jotham’s Journey (the first in a series) by Arnold Ytreeide // (View the whole series here: https://amzn.to/4ouhB1z)→ The CandyMaker’s Gift by David & Helen Haidle→ The Power of Christmas Prayer by Stormie OMartian→ One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham→ The Donkey Who Carried a King by R.C. Sproul→ Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Anne Voskamp→ The Advent Book by Jack & Kathy Stockman→ The Jesus Storybook Bible: A Christmas Collection→ The Jesus Storybook Bible: Advent Activity Book—--------------------------------------------------→ The Growing Families Website→ Register for a Class→ Our Courses→ The U.S. Bookstore→ The Australia & NZ Bookstore→ The Asia Pacific Bookstore→ The Brazil Bookstore→ Contact Mom Ministry→ Instagram→ Facebook→ YouTubeEmail questions or topic suggestions to [email protected]

In the final episode of our series on Discipline and Discipleship, Rich and Julie Young are joined by Don and Julie Keating for a heartfelt conversation about what it really looks like to disciple our children at every stage of parenting. God has entrusted us with the sacred calling to teach the next generation about Him — and what a privilege that is! But if you’ve ever wondered where to even start, you’re not alone.We’ll talk about how discipleship begins with the posture of our own hearts, how our children learn more from what we model than what we say, and how to walk this out even when we feel overwhelmed or imperfect. With practical steps and real-life encouragement, this episode reminds us that God loves our children even more than we do — and He is faithfully present to guide us every step of the journey.Rich & Julie Young, hostsDon & Julie Keating, Growing Families leaders→ Episode 21: Discipline vs. Discipleship: Defining the Difference, Discovering the Benefits // Apple // Spotify // YouTube→ Episode 22: Heart-Focused Discipline: Teaching our Children, Not Just Punishing // Apple // Spotify // YouTubeResources Mentioned in the Episode:→ Praying the Scriptures books by Jodie Berndt—--------------------------------------------------→ The Growing Families Website→ Register for a Class→ Our Courses→ ⁠Contact Mom Ministry⁠→ The U.S. Bookstore→ The Australia & NZ Bookstore→ The Asia Pacific Bookstore→ The Brazil Bookstore→ Instagram→ Facebook→ YouTube Email questions or topic suggestions to [email protected]