Next month, our seventh child, Cade, graduates — and with that, we officially wrap up over three decades of parenting. As we step into this next season of becoming almost-empty nesters, we’ve been reflecting on the journey that brought us here… and why Crazy Cool Family exists in the first place. 

In our early years, we (Don and Suzanne) felt like we had no idea how to "win" at parenting. Don reflected on how living with five women he had to learn how to lead with relationship, not just rules. Suz realized she often responded without grace — not because she didn’t want to do better, but because she didn’t know how. 

We both desperately wanted someone to hand us a playbook — something that told us the "right move" for each season. So we went looking. What we found is that while information is everywhere, wisdom is harder to find. 

That’s why Crazy Cool Family is different. We don't just give parenting tips — we give you the core concepts that make relationships strong and families thrive. We help you “learn how to play the game,” not just survive the day. 

in 2023, a trusted friend suggested we start sharing those core concepts daily — just little drips of encouragement and truth. That’s how Practical Parenting was born: our daily email is designed to help parents absorb these life-giving ideas over time. 

And now, we’re excited to introduce our next step: 
🎉 The Playbook — launching May 4th! 🎉 

Here’s what it is: 

We believe God is using this to equip parents everywhere — not just with answers, but with the insight and tools to build the family they've always dreamed of. 

Because you don’t need to parent alone. And you definitely don’t need to guess. 

The Playbook is here. Let’s build Crazy Cool Families — together. 

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