MPF 302: A Parent’s Guide to Temperaments
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Release Date: 09/23/2024
MPF 314: Seasons of Prayer for Parents
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
“Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage” - St. Francis deSales Summary What God asks of us as parents is beyond our ability. We are all in need of God’s grace and that comes through prayer! Now, before you think, “I do not have time for prayer….” take a pause and listen to this episode. First, remember, we have been there! We had 3 kids under 3, 7 kids under 10 and then 10 under 16! We know that the crazy pace of life can make us feel like we can never...
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MPF 313: Surviving the Holidays with Grace
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Kids will not always remember what you say, they will remember how they felt. Summary We have talked about the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s being the “Momolympics”, a time when there are tons of things to buy, make, prepare, plan, and basically the happiness of your children all depends on you (at least we feel that way!) How can parents embrace the holidays with children with grace and excitement? How can we keep in mind what is truly important for our family? In this episode we give some principles, but also LOTS of practical advice as we look...
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MPF 312: The Well Ordered Family
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Graces can flow into your home when nature is in its proper place. - Connor Gallagher, The Well-Ordered Family Summary Do you yearn for more order and clarity within your family? Is the chaos and busyness of modern life unsettling the harmony of your household? In this podcast, we interview Conor Gallagher, CEO of multiple businesses and father of sixteen, to talk to him about a transformative system that will restore peace and joy in your household. We love using business principles to improve family life, and in the Well-Ordered Family, Conor does just that! Join us...
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MFP 311: Family Roots - Mike's Irish Experience
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
In this episode, we dive into the beauty and power of family history. Mike shares the incredible story of his journey to Ireland—a dream rooted in a deep love for his heritage and a promise to pass it on to his children. From the ruins of his grandfather’s cottage to the windswept cliffs of the Aran Islands, the trip becomes a testament to the importance of staying connected to the past while building a legacy for the future. As we reflect on the stories of those who came before us, we’re reminded of the sacrifices and struggles that shaped who we are today. Alicia and Mike discuss how...
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MPF 310: Marriage, Teamwork, and Business - an interview with Dan and Brenda Vansteenburg
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
“Guided and strengthened by God’s grace, husband and wife advance their own perfection… and contribute jointly to the glory of God” ~ Gaudium et Spes Summary You should never marry someone with the idea that you can change them, but we do need to help our spouses become the best version of themselves. We all should have a vision, a belief that our spouse can be amazing and then work with them for their good. In this podcast, we hear the inspiring story of Dan and Brenda - a couple from two different families, faith backgrounds, and life philosophies. Though they were...
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MPF 309: How Busy is Too Busy?
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
Show me your checkbook and your datebook and I will show you what you value Summary So much of what we talk about on this podcast really hits home when it comes to how we spend our time. Family dinner, date nights, prayer time, even mass comes down to making time to do it. Four things determine how we run our lives and our family - talent, money, energy and time. Every one has different amounts of energy and talent and money, but we all have the same amount of time! How we use it is what matters. In this podcast we discuss how to evaluate the activities in our...
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MPF 308: The Power of Asking for Forgiveness
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
“Genuine humility never disturbs the soul. Rather it is accompanied by peace, joy and calm” St. Theresa of Avila Summary What is the biggest problem in Catholic marriages? Although we appreciate good communication tools, marriage insights, and mentors - at the end of the day the biggest problem is simply a lack of holiness. One essential tool in our quest for holiness is learning how to ask for forgiveness. When we have conflict in our home, we all need to ask ourselves the question - what could I have done differently? When we take ownership in this...
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MFP 307: Navigating Family Life Challenges: Q&A with Real-Life Struggles and Faith-Filled Solutions
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
In this special Q&A episode, we dive into some of the most heartfelt questions from our listeners. From the complex question of whether to expand the family to grappling with grief, boundaries in marriage, and integrating elderly parents into a household, these issues strike at the core of family life. We also tackle how to balance the call to evangelize in a world that often conflicts with our values—especially when raising children in today’s cultural climate. Join us as we explore these tough topics with compassion, real-life insights, and guidance for finding peace, strength, and...
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MFP 306: What Teens/Tweens Really Need with Mark Hart
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
“It’s important that we remember to talk ‘to’ our kids, not ‘at’ them” - Mark Hart Summary Parents are rightly concerned today about the influence of the culture on their teens. As much as we would like to put our kids in a teflon bubble to shield them from the false fake culture of the world, it is just not possible! What do our kids need from us to prepare them for life? Join us in this podcast for a conversation with Mark Hart of Lifeteen - a speaker, author, and parent himself of teens and adult children. Mark gives us some great insights (and...
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MPF 305: Should You Correct Your Spouse?
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than in a mansion with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 25:24 Summary All of us do things that annoy our spouse. Occasionally, we do things that hurt our spouse and vice versa. How do we communicate about these situations? Is it effective to tell them what they have done wrong? Is that what the scriptures tell us to do? In this episode, we discuss what it means to take “extreme ownership” of our own actions and emotions before trying to “fix” your spouse. We believe that the key to a strong...
info_outline“You and your spouse are a team that GOD wants together!” - Art and LaraineBennett
Summary
The first step in creating a dynamic family is to know the people who are in it! That starts with knowing yourself, then your spouse, and then your children. One of the tools that we love using for this knowledge is the classic four temperaments - choleric, sanguine, melancholic, and phlegmatic. The leading Catholic authors on the temperaments are Art and Laraine Bennett, authors of the book The Temperament God Gave You and many other great resources! In this conversation we pepper them with questions about what the temperaments are, why knowing the temperaments are important, and how they can change your parenting. This podcast is FULL of great tips and resources of parents of any age. Listen in!
Key Takeaways
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Temperaments are only ONE aspect of our personality. Many things make each one of us unique.
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Temperaments are part of the wisdom of the ancients, but they also have been extensively studied in modern psychology
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Your temperament is the way you REACT. Knowing our temperament helps us to learn how to RESPOND to others in love.
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As a parent, knowing our children’s temperaments helps because we can teach them how to mature by focusing on their strengths and helping them process their weaknesses.
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When we react we will fly, fight, or freeze. Learning the “art of the pause” will help us respond in love and get out of “reaction mode”.
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You and your spouse can help each other by knowing your gifts and giving each other alternatives to handling difficult situations.
Couple Discussion Questions
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Take the quiz at https://temperamentquiz.com and link your account with your spouse.
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Observe your children this week. During a date night, talk about the temperament of each child and how you can encourage their strengths.
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What are our gifts as a couple? How can we better use them for the good of our children?