Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Mike and Alicia Hernon : Catholic Marriage Parent and Family
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  • Parenting
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Parenting is not a clean-cut, simple process for those who like to follow the rules. Family life is messy and unpredictable, but it is the greatest adventure you will ever have. We are Mike and Alicia Hernon, parents of 10 children with a growing number of grandchildren, and we would like to invite you into some of the conversations we have had with each other about marriage, parenting, and Catholic family life. Our hope is that our conversation sparks a dialogue between you and your spouse that leads to greater unity and intentional Christian parenting in your home. Listen in to our podcast and start the conversation as we seek to lead our families to heaven. Visit us at https:///www/MessyFamilyProject.org for resources, guides, links and show notes.

  1. 21h ago

    MFP 398: Discovering Your Child's Unique Gifts

    "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." — Proverbs 22:6 Summary With so many sports, clubs, arts programs, school choices, and community activities available, how can parents help their children discover their gifts without letting a packed schedule take over family life? Rather than trying to produce a generically successful child, parents are invited to become students of the unique children God has entrusted to them. In this podcast, we encourage parents to give their kids room to try new things, change direction, fail, and discover what fits—because eliminating an option can be just as valuable as finding a passion.  We'll also discuss how to name and affirm gifts, cultivate strengths while managing weaknesses, and choose activities and education that suit both the child and the family's season and capacity. You'll hear why faith, marriage, and family relationships must remain more important than performance, and how coaches, teachers, mentors, and relatives can help children see themselves more clearly. Listen in for encouragement to see, know, bless, and guide the child right in front of you. Key Takeaways Observe before directing. Parents become students of their children: watching what draws them, where they lose track of time, what others notice, and what patterns persist.  Give kids lots of experiences.  Activities, arts, sports, clubs, work, and educational settings function as laboratories in which children discover what fits and what does not. Its ok to try something and not like it!  Children often experience their own gifts as "normal." Parents help form identity by calling out the gold they see and, ultimately, blessing the child with words that communicate: I see you. Keep giftedness inside the right hierarchy. Faith, marriage, and family relationships come before performance. Activities and educational opportunities must serve family culture rather than become the family's organizing principle.  Widen the circle of adults who can see the child. Coaches, teachers, relatives, mentors, and family friends can confirm gifts parents see - or reveal gifts parents miss. This becomes especially important in adolescence.  Transfer ownership as the child matures. Young children receive observation and affirmation from parents; adolescents increasingly reflect on their own strengths, make choices, and learn where they fit in the wider world.  Couple Discussion Questions Are the activities our children participate in developing their natural gifts?   Can we observe our children, compare notes, and decide how to help them know themselves better?  Resources Webpage to LLD Webinar when its up Group Sales of Women Wonderfully Made https://messyfamilyproject.org/courses/women-wonderfully-made-group/

  2. Sep 7

    MFP 397: The No-Resentment Rosary

    "The Holy Rosary, by age-old tradition, has shown itself particularly effective as a prayer which brings the family together." —St. John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, no. 41   Summary Have you ever gathered the family to pray the Rosary—and wondered if all the fidgeting, correcting, and frustration were helping your children love prayer or simply teaching them to endure it? In this episode, we take an honest look at praying the Rosary with kids. Perseverance matters, but so do creativity, patience, and sensitivity to the needs of your particular family. The goal is not merely to finish five decades or imitate another Catholic household. It is to form children who know that prayer is a place of peace, connection, and love—and who will reach for the Rosary throughout their lives. We explore why this ancient prayer is so powerful: it is scriptural, meditative, intercessory, communal, and contemplative. It is also a "graduated" prayer that can be entered into by a small child, a busy parent, or a contemplative saint. We share practical ideas for making it part of real family life, from praying one decade or taking a walking Rosary to using pictures, Scripture, candles, audio recordings, car rides, and bedtime routines. Your family Rosary does not have to look perfect to bear fruit. Begin small, make room for children to be children, and create an atmosphere they will remember with affection. Give them more than a completed Rosary—give them a lifelong prayer of their own. Key Takeaways 1. Love is the goal. The deeper purpose is not completing the Rosary but helping children develop a lifelong love of prayer. 2. Discern what serves your family. Your Rosary does not need to look like anyone else's. Consider your children's ages, personalities, and needs. 3. Begin small and get creative. Try one decade, a walking Rosary, sacred images, Scripture, car rides, or bedtime prayer. 4. Create an atmosphere of peace. Children may forget what you said, but they will remember how family prayer felt. 5. Lead through witness. Praying as a couple and allowing your children to see that you treasure the Rosary can be powerful formation. Couple discussion questions   1. Is the way we currently pray helping our children love prayer—or merely teaching them to endure it? 2. What practical change could make our family Rosary more peaceful, engaging, and appropriate for our children's current ages? 3. How can we strengthen our own prayer life as a couple so our children encounter the Rosary as something we genuinely love?   Resources Link to lead like a dad waitlist Messy Family Rosary App Apple Android

  3. Aug 31

    MFP 396: The Great Family Reboot

    "Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." - James Clear Summary Is your family running on good routines—or on lost shoes, late-night permission slips, and someone yelling, "Where is your backpack?" If summer loosened every habit in your house, this episode is your invitation to hit the family reset button. We're talking honestly about the routines that shape family culture, whether we choose them or simply fall into them. Bedtimes, chores, prayer, screens, school mornings, and family meals don't just organize the day; over time, they help determine who we become. We'll show you how to assess three essential areas of family life: the spiritual life of your home, your marriage, and the formation of your children. Then we'll get practical about turning vague hopes like "we should pray more" or "the kids need to help" into habits your real family can actually follow. Using four principles from *Atomic Habits*, we'll explore how to make good routines obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. Expect chore charts, backpack stations, bedtime prayer, brownies after the Rosary, and our hard-earned rule for getting a large family out the door without losing everyone's sanctification. This isn't about creating an Instagram-perfect household. It's about reducing chaos, restoring connection, and building a home where everyone knows they belong. Key Takeaways A fall family reset has four parts: Assess: Honestly examine your family culture. Focus: Choose the pain point that needs the most attention. Create a habit: Build a practical system around the change. Find accountability: Invite your spouse to support you. You do not need to overhaul your entire family this fall. Choose one meaningful change that will help you move from reacting moment by moment to living on purpose.   Couple Discussion Questions What are our biggest pain points right now that we need to change?  What is our best habit that we can build on?  Resources Speaking Request page Events page www.catholiccouplesgetaway.com

  4. Aug 24

    MFP 395: Who Comes First? Navigating the Hard Choices of Family Life

    Family life is full of competing needs, responsibilities, and relationships. And sometimes there isn't one obvious "right" answer. Summary In this listener questions episode, Mike, Alicia, and Katie tackle some of the complicated situations real families are facing: What should a mom do when her teenage son starts turning to Dad instead of her? How do you discern where your family should live? Should you move if your spouse is unhappy but your children are thriving? How do you honor your parents while putting your spouse first? They also discuss life with a large family in a small house, sibling bickering, extracurriculars, protecting family dinners, and caring for aging parents from far away. Through all of these questions runs one important truth: you can't eliminate every tension or make everyone happy. The goal is to discern what God is asking of you, protect the unity of your marriage, and confidently lead the family He has entrusted to you. **In this episode:** Connecting with teenage sons as their relationship with Dad changes * Discerning where God is calling your family to live * Balancing the needs of your spouse and children * "Leaving and cleaving" while still honoring your parents * Making small spaces work for large families * Handling sibling bickering and extracurricular overload * Protecting family time in the middle of sports and activities * Loving and caring for aging parents from a distance For more information on this and other topics visit: https://www.messyfamilyproject.org/

  5. Aug 17

    MFP 394: NFP- Love, Life, and Learning Self-Control

    Catholic couples don't discern if they should have a child, they discern if they should postpone pregnancy. These are two different conversations.    Summary This re-release of a 2015 episode presents Natural Family Planning as more than a technique: it's a way of living that contrasts sharply with a culture focused on control and convenience. We explore how modern society tends to "engineer" outcomes, even in areas like fertility, while NFP invites couples to cooperate with the natural design of the body, integrating both faith and science. This approach requires intentional communication, shared decision-making, and a willingness to embrace sacrifice, particularly through periodic abstinence. Rather than seeing these challenges as burdens, we can view them as opportunities for growth in virtue, deeper unity, and trust in God. Key Takeaways Catholic teaching on marriage holds love and life together. Marriage is both unitive and procreative, meaning sex is meant to express love between spouses while remaining open to the possibility of new life. Humanae Vitae was not just a rule, but a prophetic warning. The Church warned that widespread acceptance of contraception would lead to moral decline, marital infidelity, loss of respect for women, abuse of power, and a distorted sense of control over the human body. Responsible parenthood requires prayerful discernment, not pressure or guilt. Couples are called to use reason, wisdom, Church teaching, and honest prayer to discern whether they are ready for another child, taking into account physical, emotional, psychological, economic, and family circumstances. Natural Family Planning can be hard, but it can also form couples in love and self-gift. NFP requires discipline, communication, patience, and sacrifice. It can bring struggles, especially around affection, desire, and misunderstanding, but it also invites spouses to love each other beyond physical intimacy alone. Children are a blessing, not a burden or a lifestyle accessory. While raising children is demanding, they are one of the greatest fruits of marriage. They change, challenge, and sanctify parents, and families should not measure children only by cost, convenience, or cultural expectations.   Couple Discussion Questions Do you feel like we communicate openly about family size, timing, and fertility decisions? How do you experience the "sacrifice" aspect of NFP? What kind of family culture do we want to build around life, children, and generosity? How can we better support each other during more difficult seasons?   Resources MFP 158: Oh Baby! How Many Babies Should We Have? Humanae Vitae USCCB on Natural Family Planning Dr. Janet Smith Couple to Couple League NaProTechnology (Creighton Model of NFP) Theology of the Body Institute

  6. Aug 10

    MFP 393: Helping Kids Grow Through Hard Things

    High expectations along with high support produces resilient kids. Summary In this episode, Mike and Alicia focus on the challenge of raising resilient kids in a culture that often prioritizes comfort and protection. They emphasize that while parents naturally shield their children from pain and failure, doing so too often can actually prevent them from developing the strength and perseverance they need in life. Instead, resilience is built when kids are allowed to express appropriate struggles, learn from mistakes, and grow through adversity with the steady support of their parents. This re-release of a 2017 episode encourages couples to find a balance between being caring and supportive without over-rescuing, and to intentionally foster a family culture where challenges are seen as opportunities for growth rather than problems to avoid.   Key Takeaways Kids will experience all kind of small hardships in childhood and these are life's way of making them stronger.  For example, not being chosen, relationship difficulties, failure in athletics or school. Some kids are more or less naturally resilient Parents need to be aware of the pitfalls of taking on their children's pain or seeing their failure as our failure.  Practice intentional parenting.  Begin with speaking to them the truth, then teach them to take responsibility for their actions, and see how they can learn from the experience.   High expectations along with high support produce resilient kids.     Couple Discussion Questions How do we usually react when our child fails, gets hurt emotionally, or feels left out? How can we better balance being supportive without removing struggle?   Resources MFP 353: Why are Kids so Anxious? MFP 335: Safety-ism

  7. Aug 3

    MFP 392: Faith at Home: No Degree Required

    Parents need to awaken in children their sacramental imagination within the home. This takes time. - Steven Serafin Summary In this episode, we talk with Steven Serafin of Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries about how parents can reclaim their role as the primary teachers of the faith. Drawing from the catechumenal model, he explains that faith is passed on through relationship and daily life, not just programs. In a culture that no longer supports belief, families must intentionally live the faith at home through habits of prayer, discipline, and meaningful conversation. Steven shares simple ways to start, like blessing your children and creating small rituals that build a child's sacramental imagination. He also highlights the importance of rest, living with heaven as the goal, and finding a supportive community. Strong parishes, he says, grow when families accompany and evangelize one another.  Listen in and learn how you are already passing on the faith to your children within your daily life!  Key Takeaways Parents are the primary teachers of the faith, and it's passed on through daily life, not just programs or classes. The catechumenal model shows that faith grows through accompaniment, walking with others in relationship. Simple habits at home like prayer, blessing your children, and meaningful conversations build a lasting faith. Families need to slow down, embrace rest, and keep their focus on heaven rather than constant busyness or success. You're not meant to do this alone. Small communities of families supporting each other are essential for raising children in the faith.   Couple Discussion Questions What's one simple habit your family could start this week to live the faith more intentionally at home? Where do you feel most stretched or distracted as a parent, and how might slowing down or embracing "rest" change that? Who are the people or families you could walk with in faith so you're not trying to do this alone?   Resources https://www.fflcm.org/ Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries

  8. Jul 27

    MFP 391: Jesus Take the Wheel! Being Overwhelmed

    Summary This re-release of a 2016 episode focuses on the experience of feeling overwhelmed as a parent and reframes it as a sign that your current responsibilities have exceeded your capacity, not a personal failure. It encourages parents to step back, prioritize their primary vocation of loving their spouse and children, and let go of unrealistic expectations that create unnecessary pressure. By simplifying schedules, reducing commitments, and taking small, manageable steps, families can regain a sense of peace and control. In this conversation, Mike and Alicia also show the importance of surrendering stress to God through prayer, trusting that faith and intentional living can bring clarity and calm even in the midst of chaos.   Key Takeaways Realize that this too will pass.  Most of the time our children are going through phases and end.   Prioritize what's really important and the rest will fall into place.  We need to learn to focus. Look at the standards you're setting for yourself and recognize they may not be realistic.  Give yourself grace.   Rest in the fact that God will always provide a way out for you. He will never give you more than you can handle with His grace.    Couple Discussion Questions Do you feel supported by me in stressful moments? Where might we need to adJUST the bar or give each other more grace? What do we believe our top priorities are as a family right now?   Resources Family board meeting guide  https://messyfamilyproject.org/guide/family-board-meeting-guide/

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Parenting is not a clean-cut, simple process for those who like to follow the rules. Family life is messy and unpredictable, but it is the greatest adventure you will ever have. We are Mike and Alicia Hernon, parents of 10 children with a growing number of grandchildren, and we would like to invite you into some of the conversations we have had with each other about marriage, parenting, and Catholic family life. Our hope is that our conversation sparks a dialogue between you and your spouse that leads to greater unity and intentional Christian parenting in your home. Listen in to our podcast and start the conversation as we seek to lead our families to heaven. Visit us at https:///www/MessyFamilyProject.org for resources, guides, links and show notes.

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