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MFP 358: Thriving, not just surviving with lots of littles

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Release Date: 11/17/2025

MFP 390: What Happens After the Romance Fades? show art MFP 390: What Happens After the Romance Fades?

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Summary Have you ever felt distant from your spouse, like you're simply coexisting in the same house or experiencing dryness in your marriage? Every marriage goes through natural cycles of romance and disillusionment, but without intentional actions, indifference can creep in. How do you break out of that indifference and reconnect? In this re-release of Episode 089, we give simple and practical advice for couples to escape indifference and rebuild a happy, healthy marriage. Key Takeaways Love is a decision, not a feeling. When we recommit ourselves to our relationship things can start to...

info_outline MFP 389: 33 Days to Consecration to the Holy Family show art MFP 389: 33 Days to Consecration to the Holy Family

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Consecration is about living your daily family life in union with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, right in the middle of the mess. Summary What if your family life, in all its chaos and imperfection, could actually become holy?  This week on the Messy Family Podcast, we talk with Scott Smith about his book 33 Days to Consecration to the Holy Family. He shares how consecration isn’t just a devotion, but a way of living “under one roof” with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  We dig into how this simple practice can protect your family, bring the spirit of Nazareth into your daily routine, and...

info_outline MFP 388: Your Husband is Not a Home Improvement Project show art MFP 388: Your Husband is Not a Home Improvement Project

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“A complaint focuses on a specific behavior, but criticism attacks a person’s very character.” - John Gottman Summary This episode focuses on how criticism in marriage, especially towards husbands, can quietly damage connection and respect if it targets a person's character instead of addressing specific behaviors. Many wives fall into patterns of correcting or pointing out faults, often with good intentions, but this can lead to defensiveness, withdrawal, and a negative cycle in the relationship. In this episode, Mike and Alicia emphasize the importance of expressing concerns calmly and...

info_outline MFP 387: The Truth about Toddlers show art MFP 387: The Truth about Toddlers

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

The strength of even the smallest children is more than we imagine, but it must have a free play in order to reveal itself" - Maria Montessori Summary This episode focuses on understanding toddlers not as problems to manage, but as persons in a critical state of development who are striving for independence and learning how to function in the world. Through a Montessori-informed and Catholic lens, Maggie Radzik explains that much of what parents label as "misbehavior" is actually a child's natural growth process combined with limited emotional regulation. Her conversation with Mike and Alicia...

info_outline MFP 386: How to Have a Whole and Happy Marriage show art MFP 386: How to Have a Whole and Happy Marriage

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

When you feel you can't give any more, ask yourself, "Can I say YES to one act of connection?" - Pat and Kenna Millea Summary If you’ve ever wondered why communication in marriage can feel so easy at first and then surprisingly hard, this conversation is for you. In this episode of the Messy Family Project, Pat and Kenna Millea share honest, hopeful wisdom about what’s really going on beneath conflict and disconnection. They remind us that our desire to be known and united is good, and that even struggles can point us toward deeper love. With practical insight like the “Four Cs” of...

info_outline MFP 385: Fighting the Slow Drift in Marriage show art MFP 385: Fighting the Slow Drift in Marriage

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Relationships are built with the material of time. Summary Strong marriages don't happen by accident—they require intentional time, attention, and sacrifice. This episode encourages couples to prioritize their relationship above the busyness of family life, stay connected through meaningful communication, and regularly invest in their friendship through date nights and shared experiences. Mike and Alicia highlight the importance of recognizing and responding to each other's needs, guarding against the slow drift apart that can happen over time, and keeping Christ at the center of the...

info_outline MFP 384: Paul McCusker and the Power of Story show art MFP 384: Paul McCusker and the Power of Story

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“Kids are always processing what happens around them. Stories give them a way to do that.” - Paul McCusker   Summary Today on the podcast we welcome Paul McCusker, an award-winning writer whose stories have shaped the imaginations of families for decades. Many know Paul from Adventures in Odyssey, where he wrote and produced some of the series’ most loved episodes. We talk about his newest project, Welcome to Hope Springs, and how great stories combine truth, beauty, and engagement. Paul shares why we should never talk down to kids, especially ages ten to twelve, when their...

info_outline MFP 383: How Play Time Shapes Prayer Time show art MFP 383: How Play Time Shapes Prayer Time

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

For more information about the Play + Pray Challenge visit our website: https://messyfamilyproject.org/challenge/ If you want to pray with your kids, you need to play with them Summary If you want your kids to pray with you, it starts long before bedtime prayers. It starts with how you play. In this episode, we explore the surprising connection between play and prayer, and why the time that can feel the most “unproductive” is actually doing the deepest work. We talk about how play builds trust, teaches emotional strength, and shapes how your children will relate to God. You’ll also hear...

info_outline MFP 382: The Shape of a Growing Family show art MFP 382: The Shape of a Growing Family

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“Some call it chaos, we call it family." Summary In this listener-driven episode we will tackle the real-life tension of raising a big family through changing seasons. What happens when your college kids come home expecting independence, but your house still runs on structure? How do you manage media, respect, and responsibility without turning every conversation into a power struggle? We also dig into the quieter challenges: surviving pregnancy while caring for little ones, creating meaningful one-on-one time in a full house, and keeping family dinners from unraveling into chaos. Along the...

info_outline MFP 381: The Secret to Raising Kids Who Love the Sacraments show art MFP 381: The Secret to Raising Kids Who Love the Sacraments

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“First Communion is about far more than a single day—it’s about nurturing a lifelong relationship with Jesus.” - Katie McGrady   Summary Preparing your child for First Communion or Reconciliation can feel overwhelming—but what if it’s actually an invitation for your own faith to grow? In this episode, we sit down with authors and speakers Tommy and Katie McGrady to talk about why parents are the most important influence in their children’s spiritual lives. They share why sacramental preparation isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about helping children encounter Jesus...

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Summary

Are you exhausted, overwhelmed, or wondering whether you’re doing anything right as a parent of little ones? You’re not alone — and you’re not crazy. In this refreshed and expanded episode, Mike and Alicia revisit their classic “Survival Zone” conversation with new insights from another decade of parenting and now grandparenting. They unpack why the early years are so intense, what’s normal (hint: your exhaustion), how marriage is stretched during this season, and how moms and dads can support each other through the chaos. You’ll hear practical advice on setting realistic ideals, finding community, leaning on others for help, navigating time traps like social media, letting dads step up in their unique way, and prioritizing your marriage in the midst of diapers and dishes. Whether you’re in the trenches right now or reflecting back on that season, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and a reminder: this won’t last forever — and it will make you stronger.

Key Takeaways

  1. Reassess ideals 

  2. Consider getting outside help - isolation hurts this

  3. Dads have to step in  - great opportunity for men to gain confidence 

  4. Get out alone together

  5. Beware of "time traps"

  6. Get some good routines going that work for you

  7. This is training for your life.  If you can do this, you can do anything

 

Couple Discussion Questions

  1. How can we support each other during this time? 

  2. What are the greatest lessons that we are learning?

 

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