Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥You can be a hero who helps create ripple effects of family transformation that last for generations to come. Join The Table Community at a suggested donation of $35 and get free access to the Discipline That Connects online course, this month only! Click here to find out more.💥

What happens when your child explodes over a simple stack of dishes? For Lydia Rex, a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach and mom, it became a powerful opportunity to use the parenting framework. Lydia reflected, “Real life is messy. It’s not linear. And that’s okay. God is at work in all of that.”

In this mini-episode of the Connected Families podcast, Lydia shares an honest, messy, and ultimately beautiful story about applying the Connected Families Framework in real time. Her experience reminds us that effective parenting isn’t about following a perfect formula—it’s about walking in God’s grace and truth.

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Identifying their child’s God-given gift in misbehavior has transformed many parents’ approach to parenting during challenging behavior moments. Listen to Jim and Lynne teach about the Gift Gone Awry in: Identifying Child Strengths: Finding God’s Gifts in Your Kid | [Mini-Episode].

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!

Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥You can be a hero who helps create ripple effects of family transformation that last for generations to come. Join The Table Community at a suggested donation of $35 and get free access to the Discipline That Connects online course, this month only! Click here to find out more.💥

This episode is about identifying child strengths and recognizing the God-given gift hidden in their most frustrating misbehavior. In this teaching from our Discipline That Connects course, Jim and Lynne Jackson introduce the powerful concept of “Gifts Gone Awry,” showing parents how lying can reveal intelligence, arguing can signal courage to speak truth, and defiance often masks courage. When you learn to call out the gift instead of just correcting the behavior, you communicate to your child: “You are Called and Capable.”

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Leave us a rating, review, or comment, and let us know what you think.

Got a strong-willed child? Parent Coach, Tara Prevo, helps parents come alongside their child as a teammate, celebrate creative problem-solving, and guide with empathy in Strong-Willed Child and Unconditional Love? Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Parents | [Mini-Episode].

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

Bring a Connected Families Workshop to Your Community
Ready to equip and encourage parents in your church, school, or community? Let’s connect! The team of trained presenters offers Connected Families workshops across the U.S. and internationally. Find out more here.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!

Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥You can be a hero who helps create ripple effects of family transformation that last for generations to come. Join The Table Community at a suggested donation of $35 and get free access to the Discipline That Connects online course, this month only! Click here to find out more.💥

In this micro-episode, host Stacy Bellward and Certified Parent Coach, Tara Prevo, address two common parenting challenges: 1) When a child says “You don’t love me,” and 2) The strong-willed child who rejects offered choices. Tara encourages parents to use misbehavior as an opportunity to demonstrate unconditional love and commit to the long game of grace-filled responses over time. Tara helps parents come alongside their child as a teammate, celebrate creative problem-solving, and guide with empathy.

Bring a Connected Families Workshop to Your Community – Ready to equip and encourage parents in your church, school, or community? Let’s connect! The team of trained presenters offers Connected Families workshops across the U.S. and internationally. Find out more here.

Are these mini episodes hitting the spot?
Leave us a rating, review, or comment, and let us know what you think.

Connected Families founder Jim Jackson offers parents a powerful glimpse of graceful parenting in yesterday’s soul care message designed specifically for you, moms and dads: What Is Christian Discipline? A Peek At Graceful Parenting | [Mini-Episode].

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!

Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥Ready to be the hero who brings hope to overwhelmed parents in your community? Today, will you join the Table Community, along with six others, and multiply your impact? Click here to find out more.💥

In today’s mini-episode, Jim Jackson is filling in for Stacy and explores a powerful truth: you can only give grace to your kids if you’ve first received it yourself. He invites parents to imagine Jesus offering lavish mercy toward themselves instead of harsh condemnation. Jim reminds parents that the goal isn’t just behavior modification—it’s gentle restoration that transforms homes into places where grace flows freely, mistakes become opportunities for connection, and children experience God’s unconditional love through their parents.

Are these mini episodes hitting the spot?
Leave us a rating, review, or comment, and let us know what you think.

How to take the trek to the top of peaceful parenting mountain can seem like a mystery most days. Lynne Jackson shares practical, research-based strategies to help children calm down without triggering their fight-or-flight response in this episode: Brain-Based Strategies: How to Help Kids Calm Down | [Mini-Episode].

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!

Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥You can be a hero who helps create ripple effects of family transformation that last for generations to come. Join The Table Community at a suggested donation of $35 and get free access to the Discipline That Connects online course, this month only! Click here to find out more.💥

Join host Stacy Bellward in week two of our October series, featuring bite-sized content from the signature Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart online course. In this mini episode, Occupational Therapist Lynne Jackson shares practical, research-based strategies to help children calm down without triggering their fight-or-flight response. Lynne explains why telling kids to “calm down” often backfires and demonstrates how parents can model effective self-regulation while building trust and connection.

You’ll also hear from parents Viece & Johnny, who share their heart’s desire to be the place their children always want to come home to, even as adults. This episode equips you with tools you can use today while casting vision for the lifelong relationships these strategies can build.

Are these mini episodes hitting the spot?
Leave us a rating, review, or comment, and let us know what you think.

Unconditional love can be so powerful, hear some ways that it can transform your family in Christian Parenting Advice: Showing God’s Unconditional Love.

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!

Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥Ready to be the hero who brings hope to overwhelmed parents in your community? Today, will you join the Table Community, along with six others, and multiply your impact? Click here to find out more.💥

In today’s episode, Christian Parenting Advice: Showing God’s Unconditional Love, we address the question: Do your kids truly understand that they’re loved unconditionally? As parents, we often take this for granted, assuming our children just understand this fundamental truth. Today’s episode is a powerful story about sixth-grader Mitch and his Corporate Executive Dad. Stacy Bellward, podcast host, reads this resource-filled blog post.

Are these mini episodes hitting the spot? Leave us a rating, review, or comment and make our day – seriously, we read every single one!

Has your child ever had a meltdown over something small? Listen to this dad share his story in How to Handle Meltdowns: Grace-Based Approach.

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!

Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥You can be a hero who helps create ripple effects of family transformation that last for generations to come. Join The Table Community at a suggested donation of $35 and get free access to the Discipline That Connects online course, this month only! Click here to find out more.💥

If your child melts down over seemingly nothing, and you wonder how to handle meltdowns, this episode is for you! Josh shares how he transitioned from frustration to curiosity during a meltdown with his teenage son. After completing our Discipline That Connects course, Josh had new tools he needed when his son got upset over a simple bowl. Instead of reacting with anger, he responded with grace, creating a sense of safety, love, and connection. His story shows the practical, real-world application of the Connected Families Framework in those challenging parenting moments we all face.

We’re working to double the Table Community this month, which means we need six new superhero supporters every day to keep these life-changing resources available for overwhelmed parents everywhere. Josh’s transformation occurred because he had access to biblical, research-informed parenting tools through Discipline That Connects—and when you join The Table at connectedfamilies.org, you receive the same course, plus ongoing support through webinars, devotionals, and community. As Josh discovered, this framework can “so significantly impact your family for generations to come.” Will you join us in making that possible for more families?

Josh Keller is a certified Parent Coach through Connected Families and Spiritual Life Director at Community Christian School in Willmar, MN. After two decades in ministry, he’s passionate about helping families discover the transformative Connected Families framework that revolutionized his own parenting. Josh and his wife Rachel, have three kids and co-founded The Freedom Center MN.

Are these mini episodes hitting the spot? Leave us a rating, review, or comment, and let us know what you think!

What if we could share unconditional love even during those challenging moments of discipline? Yesterday, we took a sneak peek at how we can do this in Discipline with Love: Showing Love When Your Child Acts Out.

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!

Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥Ready to be the hero who brings hope to overwhelmed parents in your community? Today, will you join the Table Community, along with six others, and multiply your impact? Click here to find out more.💥

In this mini-episode, host Stacy Bellward shares a helpful 7-minute clip from Session 4 of Connected Families’ Discipline That Connects online course, where Jim and Lynne Jackson offer a perspective shift: misbehavior is actually an opportunity for unconditional love. Every parent knows the frustration of dealing with the same challenging behavior over and over—and how easy it is to unintentionally communicate “you’re a problem” when what we really want our kids to hear is “you are LOVED no matter what.” Drawing from Jesus’ example, Jim and Lynne share practical strategies for discipline with love, helping you show up in a way that keeps the connection going.

Are these mini episodes hitting the spot? Leave us a rating, review, or comment and make our day – seriously, we read every single one!

Whatever you need right now, Jesus is enough—He is your peace in chaos, your strength in weakness, and your wisdom in uncertainty. Last week, we dove right into becoming a safe parent, discovering how one grandparent practices meeting the needs of the moment just as Jesus meets us in ours, in Parent-Child Connection: From Shutdown to Safety.

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!

Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥You can be a hero who helps create ripple effects of family transformation that last for generations to come. Join The Table Community at $35 and get free access to the Discipline That Connects online course, this month only!💥

What do you do when your child resists eye contact when trying to engage in conversations about their behavior? In this mini-episode, Parent Coach Laurie Shaffer offers some suggestions for navigating parent child connection during these challenging encounters. She shares an honest moment she experienced with her 3-year-old granddaughter. In this episode, you’ll discover how she practiced connection and presence in the moment, ultimately empowering her granddaughter with helpful tools she could use next time.

Ready to equip and encourage parents in your church, school, or community? Let’s connect! The team of trained presenters offers Connected Families workshops across the U.S. and internationally. Find out more here.

With over 25 years in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, Laurie Shaffer has facilitated parenting classes and mentored moms through MOPS/MomCo groups. After raising three biological children, they began fostering and adopting. Connected Families became the answer to their prayers as they were now parenting children who had experienced trauma. Laurie is a Connected Families Workshop Speaker, based in Michigan.

Parenting with Grace is definitely a journey of discovery. Two moms share their journey of how transforming their own responses has impacted their homes in Parenting with Grace: Overcoming Shame and Anger [Mini-Episode].

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!

Not Perfect. Still Super. Every Family is a Hero… Would you join us at The Table?

💥You can be a hero who helps create ripple effects of family transformation that last for generations to come. Join The Table Community at $35 and get free access to the Discipline That Connects online course, this month only!💥

Hear from two moms navigating the challenging parts of parenting. Clare shares her journey of learning to give herself grace and model it for her children. Ami opens up about confronting unexpected anger toward her young child. Through vulnerable storytelling, both moms share how transforming their own responses has become the key to creating lasting change in their families. They have discovered that effective discipline begins with looking inward rather than focusing solely on their kids’ behavior. Through this work, they have gained practical tools to break destructive patterns. Let’s hear their superhero stories!

Ami Wickiser
Ami Atkins Wickiser is a writer and blogs at https://whenmercyfoundme.com/. She began writing about tragedy as a way to process her thoughts after her first husband, Jon, passed away in 2013. Ami is married to her second great love, David, and they have four children. The Wickisers serve at their church in Waterloo, Illinois.

Clare Koens
Clare Koens loves helping ministry parents strengthen their relationships with their children. Originally from the UK as a trained primary teacher, she has spent most of her adult life supporting missionaries and their families in the South Pacific. As a Connected Families Parent Coach, Clare’s cross-cultural family experience, conflict resolution skills, and trauma-informed care provide both personal and professional insights for effective parent coaching. For more information about her coaching, please visit https://ckparenting.weebly.com/.

As we continue our superhero month, don’t miss Katie Johnson’s real-life story of how a misplaced backpack turned into a moment of connection and growth. Listen here: Positive Discipline Examples: Handling A Lost Backpack | [Mini-Episode].

See all of our mini-episodes for this MARVEL-ous campaign on our October podcast page.

© 2025 Connected Families

Right now: Join The Table at a suggested donation of $35 or more per month and get FREE access to our transformative online course, Discipline That Connects for you and a friend!