With You in the Weeds

• Parenting With Hope with Melissa Kruger

  Are you bogged down by the day-to-day struggles of parenting? Do you question if anything is getting through to your kids? Do you feel powerless to impact your child’s spiritual growth? Parenting can feel like navigating a storm—chaotic, unpredictable, and uncertain.  So the question is, how do you guide your child toward faith and wisdom in a world pulling them in every direction? If you’re looking for hope while parenting in the weeds of life, then this episode is for you. Austin Conner interviews Melissa Kruger, author of Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age. Melissa, a seasoned parent and former high school math teacher, shares insights from her journey, blending biblical wisdom with practical strategies for shepherding teens through this turbulent season of parenting. In this episode you will learn: The power of asking questions over dictating answers The effectiveness of an invitational approach to studying the Bible with your teen The wisdom of avoiding a fear-based controlling approach to parenting The only and ultimate place to derive hope when you’re feeling discouraged Whether you’re parenting a teen, or just looking for some encouragement in the trenches of parenting, this episode will remind you that your hope rests not in perfect parenting, but in Jesus, who never fails. To find more of Melissa Kruger's resources, check out her website: Melissabkruger.com Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

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• What Parents Need to Know About Teens and Suicide with Gary Maddux, Jr. MA, LPC-A

  “I don’t want to live anymore” might be the most overwhelming and scary thing to hear as a parent. What should you say? What should you do next? In this eye-opening episode, Austin Conner interviews counselor Gary Maddux, as he shares his journey from grief to advocacy, in memory of his beautiful daughter Kaylee who died by suicide six years ago. Gary seeks to challenge stigmas and debunk myths around suicide, urging parents to approach suicide with compassion, education and timely intervention. This conversation offers practical advice for parents, including encouragement to ask direct questions like, “Are you thinking about suicide?” and promotes training like QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) as well as ways to develop a support network around crisis moments with your teen.  Gary’s story is a reminder that Jesus’ presence is constant, even in the worst tragedy, offering hope that God embraces those who are impacted by suicide. You will feel more equipped to navigate this heavy topic after learning from Gary’s extensive professional training regarding suicide prevention and how you can offer care and compassion to your loved ones who are struggling.  Check out the resources below to educate yourself further on this topic: QPR Training: Question, Persuade, Refer ASK Suicide Prevention Training AFSR Support Groups National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 Call or Text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

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• Connecting With Your Child When They're Hurting

  Have you heard it said that “a parent is only as happy as their unhappiest child”? We know that when you have an unhappy or hurting child, life feels heavy and hard and you may not know how to respond. As part of the Parenting in the Weeds series, Lynn Roush and Austin Conner explore a much needed topic: how to connect with your child when they’re hurting.  Parents often want to avoid painful feelings in their kids, hoping that they will go away on their own. Or, they jump in to fix the hurt and bypass the opportunity to connect with their child. We want to equip you to lean into your child’s heart when you sense that they are in emotional pain. This conversation looks at what hurts kids both inside and outside of the home, how to recognize hurt in your child, how to respond to your child’s pain and the relevant topic of recognizing warning signs for suicide. Austin and Lynn offer practical ways to be present, build resilience, and model God’s love to your children through life’s pain.  You can download our free Managing Your Emotions guide at withyouintheweeds.com to help you and your child identify their feelings. Make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter where we include more questions to ask your kids to open up the door to meaningful dialogue.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

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• Setting Boundaries With Your Adult Child

  Are you learning the delicate dance of parenting adult children? So are we! As part of the Parenting in the Weeds series, John Tinnin and Lynn Roush explore how to set loving, effective boundaries that foster independence while maintaining a healthy relationship. They also discuss why setting boundaries with adult kids is easier said than done. The key principles they cover are: Boundaries are loving not controlling Be a mentor, not a manager Communicate clearly, consistently, and calmly Offer grace, not guilt trips Respect their autonomy As you watch your adult child make choices, and even mistakes, this episode will help you keep the big picture in mind and model open, honest communication with your kids no matter how old they are. Book recommendation: Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children by Allison Bottke  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

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• Reaching Your Child's Heart for Jesus

  In this episode of With You in the Weeds, hosts John Tinnin and Austin Conner focus on how to guide your children toward a relational connection with Jesus. They explore four developmental ingredients for spiritual growth, what content to teach, the role of lived experiences, and how to handle kids who resist faith talks—all while emphasizing God’s grace and the power of humble parenting. You will be encouraged to learn that “a humble parent is better than a perfect parent.” And you’ll see that your role as a parent is a unique opportunity to model God’s grace in a way that will make a deep impression on your child, even when you make mistakes. If you’re worried about whether your child will learn to love and follow Jesus, this episode will bring relief and perspective that God is not only working through you, he works apart from you, and will accomplish his purposes in your child’s heart. Resources for you: Setting Parents Free Come Back, Barbara - A Father’s Pursuit of a Prodigal Daughter Bibles Elementary: The Jesus Storybook Bible & The Biggest Story Bible Elementary/Middle School: NIV Kids’ Visual Study Bible High School: NIV Teen Study Bible Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

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