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DA417 | From Control to Influence, Eradicating the Child-Centered Home, and the Love Jug (Ted Cunningham)

DadAwesome

Release Date: 01/15/2026

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More Episodes

🏠 Is your home revolving around your kids? Ted Cunningham joins us to explain why eradicating the child-centered home is one of the best things you can do for your family.

✅ The "Love Jug" illustration that will change how you think about your source of life

✅ Why parenting is a journey from control to influence

✅ How honor bombardments and honor lists create close-knit families

✅ The "princess to queen" conversation every dad of daughters needs to hear

 

DADAWESOME BOOK (join the advance team!)

https://www.dadawesome.org/book

 

SUMMARY

Parenting is a journey from control to influence—and the fastest way to squander influence is to be controlling. In this episode, Ted Cunningham shares his famous "Love Jug" illustration, explains why your marriage is actually your greatest parenting tool, and unpacks why eradicating the child-centered home is essential for raising kids who are ready to leave. Plus, you'll hear the powerful "princess to queen" conversation he had with his daughter and how honor bombardments can transform your family culture.

TAKEAWAYS

  • Parenting is a journey from control to influence—and the fastest way to squander influence is by being controlling.
  • Your marriage is part of your parenting plan. Kids have a front-row seat to how you treat your spouse.
  • Jesus is your source, not your spouse or your kids. Fire them from that role.
  • The child-centered home creates prolonged adolescence: too much privilege, not enough responsibility.
  • Honor bombardments and honor lists create close-knit families by calling out what's valuable in each person.

GUEST

Ted Cunningham is the founding pastor of Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, Missouri, and a sought-after speaker and author on marriage and family. He has written multiple books including Trophy Child and has partnered with the late Dr. Gary Smalley on numerous projects. Ted and his wife, Amy, are celebrating 30 years of marriage and have two adult children. He's known for his humor, practical wisdom, and passionate belief that strong marriages create strong families.

 

QUOTES

  1. "Parenting is a journey from control to influence. With every year, you're losing control and hopefully replacing it with influence."
  2. "The fastest way to squander influence is to be controlling."
  3. "Jesus is your source, Satan is your enemy, your spouse is your companion."
  4. "What's celebrated, what's spoken out loud gets multiplied."
  5. "Delete the narrative that says it's too late. Delete the narrative that says it's my fault."

LINKS