Parents Making Time with Anthony & Jennifer Craiker | Intentional Parenting for Busy Parents

Anthony & Jennifer Craiker | Parents Making Time

Parents! Feel like you’re missing out on your kids’ lives while also never having enough time for yourself? Want to embrace intentional parenting but don't quite know how? Career pressures, shuttling kids around, volunteer commitments, and the endless tasks of caring for your home all place enormous demands on your time and energy, leading to mom guilt, dad guilt, stress, and ultimately regret. And while you’re trying to tend to your own self-care while also being a present parent who prioritizes family connection, your kids are growing up way too fast.  Sound familiar? If so—help is here! Unlike other parenting podcasts that just give you techniques for raising children or tips on childhood development, Parents Making Time focuses on helping YOU, the parent, prioritize YOUR life so that your parenting aligns with your values. Motherhood, fatherhood, marriage, and family are what we are all about. In 15-minutes or less, this weekly podcast helps busy parents like you learn to prioritize their relationships, be more present and intentional with family time, and build a lasting legacy of love—without neglecting their own well-being or feeling regret later in life. It's not just about learning to prioritize tasks or mastering time management, it's about becoming the parent you want to be so that you can stop feeling overwhelmed, learn how to have more time, and create lasting family memories. Leveraging their 20+ years of parenting experience raising three thriving kids and leading and mentoring hundreds of children, youth, and families in volunteer church positions, hosts Anthony and Jennifer Craiker teach parents on a tight schedule how to balance work and family, create unbreakable family bonds, prevent parent burnout, and find JOY in parenting. In other words, we help you stop being busy and start actually applying the concept of intentional living. If you’re ready to prioritize family time each day without feeling overwhelmed, you can count on this show to teach you how to be fully present with your kids, build lasting memories, prioritize your spouse, make dinner time count, connect with your kids after work, stop missing precious moments, savor family time, discover intentional parenting ideas, and so much more—all while learning how to implement quick self-care tips, create an intentional family legacy, and parent with no regret. So, hit PLAY, and let’s get started! Popular Topics Include: Intentional parenting Present parenting Self-care for parents How to have meaningful connections with your kids Work life balance Mom guilt and Dad guilt Building family bonds Parenting anxiety Time management Motherhood Fatherhood Family life and routines Tips for busy parents Parenting in a digital world Leaving a legacy

  1. 1D AGO

    5 Steps for Solving Any Parenting Problem

    Have you ever been so desperate to solve a problem with your child that the harder you tried, the worse everything seemed to get? As busy parents, we feel a deep responsibility to protect, guide, and help our children. Whether it’s anxiety, school, or preparing for adulthood, we instinctively jump into problem-solving mode when they are struggling. We research, we analyze, and we worry. But often, the more intensely we focus on the problem, the more frustrated, overwhelmed, and emotionally drained we become. Here’s the truth: constantly forcing solutions doesn’t always help you find answers faster. In fact, it can cloud your thinking, increase your stress, and lead to missteps that make the situation harder for both you and your child. Intentional parenting isn’t just about taking action, it’s about knowing when to pause. In this episode of Parents Making Time, Anthony and Jennifer share personal experiences, from helping their daughter through severe anxiety to preparing their son for adulthood, and reveal how stepping away from a problem can actually help you find clearer, faster, and more effective solutions. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: Why stepping away from parenting problems can help your brain find solutions more effectivelyThe five-step problem-solving process that helps busy parents move from stress and frustration to clarity and confidenceHow intentional pauses can reduce anxiety, prevent burnout, and help you show up as the calm, present parent your child needsSometimes the most powerful thing you can do as a parent isn’t to push harder. Instead, it's to pause, trust the process, and allow clarity to emerge. Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters. Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute! Parenting Questions? Email us at parentsmakingtime@gmail.com (Please note, your question may be featured on the show). For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts: Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn Jennifer Craiker: Instagram Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite! Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

    14 min
  2. FEB 13

    3 Parenting Shifts to Make as Your Kids Grow Up

    What happens when your child no longer needs you—but still needs you? For years, you’ve guided, protected, corrected, and directed. You’ve worked hard to practice to intentionally parent your infant, toddler, teenager. But when your child becomes an adult, everything changes. And here’s the mistake many busy parents make:  We don’t adjust. We keep controlling instead of influencing.  We keep fixing instead of coaching.  We hold on to being needed instead of embracing being chosen. If we don’t make this shift, we risk damaging the very relationship we worked so hard to build. In this episode of Parents Making Time, Anthony and Jennifer share a real-life story about their daughter navigating a major financial decision, and the difficult but necessary step they made of letting go. They unpack what intentional parenting looks like when your child is 18, 19, or beyond. Because parenting adult children isn’t about letting go of love.  It’s about changing how love looks. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: The 3 essential parenting shifts that help busy parents stay connected to adult childrenHow to move from control to influence without losing your voiceWhy being chosen by your adult child is more powerful than being neededIf you want to build lasting family relationships without creating resentment, this episode will help you become the kind of parent your adult children still want to call, just because. Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters. Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute! Parenting Questions? Email us at parentsmakingtime@gmail.com (Please note, your question may be featured on the show). For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts: Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn Jennifer Craiker: Instagram Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite! Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

    14 min
  3. FEB 6

    A Simple Way to Create a Lasting Legacy

    What will your kids still have from you when you’re no longer there to guide them? So many of us spend years chasing accomplishments, careers, and milestones.  We think we know what success looks like. But when you slow down and really think about it those aren’t the things your children will treasure most. Here’s the hard truth:  If you don’t intentionally capture your stories they will disappear. Busy parents often assume journaling takes too much time, requires great writing skills, or just isn’t important enough to prioritize. So we put it off. But the cost of “someday” is huge for you and for your kids. Today, we’re sharing simple, realistic solutions that makes journaling doable in minutes a day, even for the busiest families, and how this small practice can become one of the greatest gifts you ever leave behind. ✅ BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: How 5–10 minutes of journaling can improve your mental health, clarity, and stress levels right nowEasy, practical journaling methods that work for busy parents (voice memos, planners, apps, or pen & paper)How capturing your stories creates a lasting legacy that strengthens your children’s identity, resilience, and connection for generationsEasily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters. Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute! Parenting Questions? Email us at parentsmakingtime@gmail.com (Please note, your question may be featured on the show). For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts: Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn Jennifer Craiker: Instagram Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite! Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

    12 min
  4. JAN 30

    The 3 Most Important Phrases You Can Say As a Parent

    Have you ever assumed your kids just know you love them even if you don’t always say it out loud? As busy parents, it’s easy to focus on schedules, discipline, homework, and getting through the day only to miss the small, intentional words that actually build trust and connection. Maybe you’ve lost your patience. Maybe pride made it hard to apologize.Maybe you thought, “They already know how I feel.” But the truth is that unspoken love, unspoken gratitude, and unspoken repair slowly create distance in our relationships. And over time, those little missed moments add up. In this episode of Parents Making Time, Anthony and Jennifer share three simple phrases that can completely transform your relationship with your kids — phrases backed by neuroscience, attachment research, and their own real-life parenting stories. Because intentional parenting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being willing to say, “I’m sorry.”, “Thank you.”, and “I love you.”  These small words create emotional safety, strengthen trust, and teach your kids how to build healthy relationships for the rest of their lives. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: How saying “I’m sorry” actually strengthens trust and respect with your kidsWhy gratitude and verbal affection rewire your child’s brain for safety and connectionA simple daily mindset to help busy parents make more emotional deposits than withdrawalsIf you’re a parent who wants to be more present, more connected, and more intentional without adding more to your already full plate, this episode will show you how three small phrases can make a lifelong impact. When you finish listening, we’d love for you to connect with us on social media! Follow us on Instagram and like our page on Facebook to keep the conversation going. It’s the best way to get quick tips, encouragement, and resources to help you make time for what matters most—your family. Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters. Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute! Parenting Questions? Email us at parentsmakingtime@gmail.com (Please note, your question may be featured on the show). For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts: Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn Jennifer Craiker: Instagram Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite! Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

    10 min
  5. JAN 23

    Should You Monitor Your Kid's Phone?

    When you hand your child their first phone, are you trusting them or protecting them? For many busy parents, giving kids a smartphone feels like a parenting milestone you’re never fully ready for. You want to build trust. You want to respect privacy. You don’t want to be “that parent.” But today’s phones aren’t just phones. They’re constant access to social media, messaging apps, strangers, addictive algorithms, and content our kids’ developing brains aren’t prepared to handle alone. And if you’re trying to practice intentional parenting while juggling work, family life, and everything else on your plate, it’s easy to fall into a hands-off approach and hope for the best. We did too. Until one night, everything changed. In this episode of Parents Making Time, we share our personal parenting story about kids and cell phones, the mistake we made by leaning too heavily on trust, and why we now strongly believe that parental monitoring is a necessary part of modern parenting and digital safety. Not to spy. Not to control. But to protect, teach, and guide. Because intentional parenting means being proactive, especially when it comes to technology. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN: Why trusting your kids isn’t enough when it comes to smartphones and online safetyHow phone monitoring and screen time boundaries can actually strengthen parent-child communicationPractical, realistic ways busy parents can protect their kids’ digital lives without constant conflict If you’ve ever wondered, “Should I be checking my child’s phone?,” we’re giving you our honest answer. And yes, we believe it’s a clear one. When you finish listening, we’d love for you to connect with us on social media! Follow us on Instagram and like our page on Facebook to keep the conversation going. It’s the best way to get quick tips, encouragement, and resources to help you make time for what matters most—your family. Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters. Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute! Parenting Questions? Email us at parentsmakingtime@gmail.com (Please note, your question may be featured on the show). For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts: Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn Jennifer Craiker: Instagram Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite! Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

    10 min
  6. JAN 16

    3 Easy Ways to Create Core Memories with Your Kids

    Are you a busy parent who feels pressure to create “perfect” family moments—but still worries you’re missing what really matters in parenting? In the middle of full schedules, work demands, and daily responsibilities, many busy parents believe meaningful memories require big trips, extra money, or elaborate planning. That mindset can quietly pull us away from intentional parenting and leave families feeling disconnected—even when everyone is technically together. The truth is, some of the most powerful parenting moments happen in the small, ordinary experiences we tend to overlook. When we stop chasing big moments and start practicing intentional parenting, connection becomes easier, more natural, and far more sustainable for busy parents. In this episode of Parents Making Time, we share three simple, realistic ways to create core memories through intentional parenting—without adding stress, time, or financial pressure to your already full life. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: Three practical ways busy parents can create lasting core memories through intentional parentingWhy simple, everyday parenting moments often matter more than big, expensive experiencesHow being present—especially outdoors—strengthens connection, reduces stress, and deepens family relationships If you’re a busy parent who wants to be more intentional in your parenting without burning out, this episode will help you start building meaningful family memories—one small moment at a time. When you finish listening, we’d love for you to connect with us on social media! Follow us on Instagram and like our page on Facebook to keep the conversation going. It’s the best way to get quick tips, encouragement, and resources to help you make time for what matters most—your family. Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters. Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute! Parenting Questions? Email us at parentsmakingtime@gmail.com (Please note, your question may be featured on the show). For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts: Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn Jennifer Craiker: Instagram Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite! Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

    13 min
  7. JAN 9

    1 Habit to Quickly Improve Your Marriage and Parenting

    What if the tension you’re feeling at home isn’t just about your kids, but about the connection you’ve lost with your spouse? As parents, we spend so much time pouring into our children that our marriage often gets whatever is left over—if anything at all. Date nights feel inconvenient, expensive, or impossible, especially when life is busy and you’re already exhausted. But here’s the truth: when your marriage relationship suffers, everything in your home feels harder. It affects your patience, your parenting, and even the emotional tone of your family. In this episode of Parents Making Time, Anthony and Jennifer share a real season when parenting challenges with their youngest strained not just their energy, but their connection as a couple. What changed everything wasn’t a big breakthrough or perfect circumstances. It was intentional time together, even when it felt inconvenient, and the ripple effects were immediate. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: Why prioritizing your marriage actually makes you a better parent (and creates a healthier home for your kids)The hidden consequences of neglecting intentional time with your spouse, including emotional disconnection and transactional parentingPractical, realistic ways to make date night happen in every season of life, whether you’re short on time, money, babysitters, or energy When you nurture your marriage, you’re not choosing your spouse over your kids—you’re choosing a stronger family culture for everyone. Sometimes the most powerful intentional parenting move you can make is a date night. Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters. Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute! Parenting Questions? Email us at parentsmakingtime@gmail.com (Please note, your question may be featured on the show). For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts: Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn Jennifer Craiker: Instagram Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite! Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

    12 min
  8. JAN 2

    Debunking the Myth of "Balance" in Parenting

    What if the reason parenting feels so overwhelming isn’t because you’re doing it wrong, but because you’re chasing a version of “balance” that was never realistic to begin with? So many busy parents feel like they’re failing because life doesn’t look perfectly balanced — work, kids, marriage, home, hobbies, all neatly managed at once. When reality doesn’t match that picture, guilt and stress creep in fast. In today’s episode of Parents Making Time, we challenge the myth of balance in parenting and offer a healthier, more sustainable approach--an approach rooted in intentional parenting, presence, and priorities that actually work in real family life. Instead of chasing perfection, we invite you to trade balance for rhythm and learn how to ride the waves of parenting without burning out. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: Why the idea of “balance” often creates more pressure, guilt, and anxiety for busy parentsHow to reframe parenting as seasons and rhythms — not a checklist or a constant juggling actPractical ways to stay present with your kids and family, even during the most demanding seasons of life Whether you’re navigating a demanding career, raising kids, managing a household, or simply trying to be more intentional with the time you have, this episode will help you release unrealistic expectations and find more joy, connection, and peace in your parenting journey. Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters. Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute! Parenting Questions? Email us at parentsmakingtime@gmail.com (Please note, your question may be featured on the show). For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts: Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn Jennifer Craiker: Instagram Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite! Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

    12 min
5
out of 5
45 Ratings

About

Parents! Feel like you’re missing out on your kids’ lives while also never having enough time for yourself? Want to embrace intentional parenting but don't quite know how? Career pressures, shuttling kids around, volunteer commitments, and the endless tasks of caring for your home all place enormous demands on your time and energy, leading to mom guilt, dad guilt, stress, and ultimately regret. And while you’re trying to tend to your own self-care while also being a present parent who prioritizes family connection, your kids are growing up way too fast.  Sound familiar? If so—help is here! Unlike other parenting podcasts that just give you techniques for raising children or tips on childhood development, Parents Making Time focuses on helping YOU, the parent, prioritize YOUR life so that your parenting aligns with your values. Motherhood, fatherhood, marriage, and family are what we are all about. In 15-minutes or less, this weekly podcast helps busy parents like you learn to prioritize their relationships, be more present and intentional with family time, and build a lasting legacy of love—without neglecting their own well-being or feeling regret later in life. It's not just about learning to prioritize tasks or mastering time management, it's about becoming the parent you want to be so that you can stop feeling overwhelmed, learn how to have more time, and create lasting family memories. Leveraging their 20+ years of parenting experience raising three thriving kids and leading and mentoring hundreds of children, youth, and families in volunteer church positions, hosts Anthony and Jennifer Craiker teach parents on a tight schedule how to balance work and family, create unbreakable family bonds, prevent parent burnout, and find JOY in parenting. In other words, we help you stop being busy and start actually applying the concept of intentional living. If you’re ready to prioritize family time each day without feeling overwhelmed, you can count on this show to teach you how to be fully present with your kids, build lasting memories, prioritize your spouse, make dinner time count, connect with your kids after work, stop missing precious moments, savor family time, discover intentional parenting ideas, and so much more—all while learning how to implement quick self-care tips, create an intentional family legacy, and parent with no regret. So, hit PLAY, and let’s get started! Popular Topics Include: Intentional parenting Present parenting Self-care for parents How to have meaningful connections with your kids Work life balance Mom guilt and Dad guilt Building family bonds Parenting anxiety Time management Motherhood Fatherhood Family life and routines Tips for busy parents Parenting in a digital world Leaving a legacy