What if the path to your child's future success starts with taking out the trash?

In Episode 277 of The Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra explore why chores play a critical role in helping children succeed professionally later in life. Far from being busywork, age-appropriate responsibilities build character traits employers value most, initiative, resilience, teamwork, and accountability.

You'll learn:

• How chores shape work ethic, responsibility, and perseverance.
• Why children who contribute at home develop stronger leadership skills.
• The connection between early responsibility and future professional success.
• Common parenting mistakes that undermine character development.
• Biblical principles that affirm the value of work and stewardship.
• Practical ways to assign chores by age without constant conflict.

If you want to raise capable, confident kids who are prepared for real life, not entitled to it, this episode will help you reframe chores as a gift, not a punishment.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our Building a Fun, Faith-Filled Family Conversation Guide.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

What if most of what you worry about in your marriage never actually happens?

A study cited by Cornell University found that 85% of the things people worry about never happen. And of the remaining 15% that do, nearly 80% of people say the situation was easier to handle than expected or led to valuable growth.

In Episode 276 of The Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra apply this research directly to marriage, where worry often shows up as fear, control, assumptions, and emotional distance.

You'll learn:

• How worry quietly erodes trust and connection in marriage.
• Why fear-based thinking leads to control, withdrawal, or conflict.
• The difference between healthy concern and harmful anxiety.
• Biblical truth that helps couples move from fear to faith.
• Practical ways to replace worry with communication, trust, and peace.

If you're constantly bracing for the worst, imagining future conflicts, failures, or rejection, this episode will help you breathe again, reset your perspective, and build a marriage rooted in trust rather than fear.

Listen now and discover why most of what you're worried about won't happen, and how to handle what does, together.

Subscribe for weekly content to help your marriage, your parenting, and your walk with Christ.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our From Worry To Trust Marriage Reflection Guide.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

Family life is beautiful, complicated, loud, messy, and absolutely worth it.

In Episode 275 of The Family Meeting Podcast, the Osterkamp girls take over the mic to share their honest perspective on what makes family fun, difficult, and important. From laughter and inside jokes to conflict, expectations, and growing pains, this episode offers a real, unfiltered look at family from the kids' point of view.

You'll hear:

• What kids actually enjoy about family life.
• What makes family hard (and how parents can help).
• Why family still matters, even when it's imperfect.
• What kids wish parents understood more clearly.
• How everyday moments shape long-term connection.

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or someone who grew up in a complicated home, this episode will remind you that strong families aren't perfect, they're present.

Subscribe for weekly content to help your marriage, your parenting, and your walk with Christ.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our Building a Fun, Faith-Filled Family Conversation Guide.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

The moments your family remembers most aren't always the gifts, they're the experiences you share together.

In Episode 274 of The Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra talk about how to make Christmas super special using games. From simple icebreakers to meaningful traditions, games have a unique way of bringing laughter, connection, and joy into the holiday season, without adding stress or cost.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why games are one of the best ways to create family memories at Christmas.
• Easy, low-cost Christmas games for all ages.
• How to use games to spark meaningful conversations and laughter.
• Ways to keep Christ at the center while having fun together.
• How intentional play strengthens family bonds during the holidays.

Whether you're hosting extended family or keeping things simple at home, this episode will help you create a Christmas your family will remember long after the decorations come down.

Subscribe for weekly content to help your marriage, your parenting, and your walk with Christ.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our 12 Christmas Games To Bring Your Family Together.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

Sex is one of the most sensitive, and misunderstood, areas of marriage. When intimacy struggles go unspoken, couples often feel alone, ashamed, or disconnected.

In Episode 273 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we talk honestly about the real sex struggles married couples face and how to move toward healing, connection, and God-honoring intimacy.

This episode addresses issues many couples deal with quietly, including:

• One spouse wanting sex without emotional connection.
• A spouse with little or no desire for sex.
• How poor personal hygiene impacts attraction.
• Lust, pornography, and masturbation.
• Unmet sexual expectations and comparison to past relationships.
• Lingering memories of an ex.
• Premature ejaculation and performance anxiety.
• Difficulty climaxing due to overthinking or stress.
• Low self-esteem and its effect on intimacy.

Rather than offering shame or quick fixes, this conversation focuses on understanding the roots, rebuilding emotional safety, and rediscovering intimacy as a gift meant to unite, not divide, married couples.

If sex has become a source of tension, avoidance, pressure, or quiet pain in your marriage, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and biblical wisdom to help you take a healthier next step.

Subscribe for weekly content to help your marriage, your parenting, and your walk with Christ.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our Rebuilding Sexual Connection in Marriage.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

If the only way your kids listen is when you yell… something's not working. The good news? It can change.

In Episode 272 of The Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra break down how to get your kids to listen without raising your voice. From toddlers to teens, every child responds better to calm authority than angry intensity, and this episode shows you how to make that shift.

You'll learn:

• Why kids stop listening (and how to fix the real issue).
• How calm, consistent boundaries actually increase obedience.
• Phrases that work better than yelling or repeating yourself The importance of follow-through, consequences, and connection.
• Biblical principles that shape respectful, peaceful communication at home.
• How to regulate your emotions so you can model healthy responses.

If you're tired of yelling, repeating yourself, or feeling disrespected, this episode gives you the practical tools and biblical wisdom to build a more peaceful, cooperative home.

Listen now and start shifting the atmosphere in your family, one calm conversation at a time.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our 10 Phrases That Get Kids to Listen (Without Yelling).

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

Chronic illness doesn't just affect the person who lives with it, it affects the marriage, the home, the daily rhythms, and the emotional world of both spouses.

In Episode 271 of The Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra open an honest, compassionate conversation about what it's really like to be married to a chronically ill spouse. From emotional exhaustion to disrupted plans to living with uncertainty, this episode offers hope, understanding, and practical tools for couples walking this difficult road.

You'll discover:

• The hidden emotional weight carried by both the ill spouse and the caregiver.
• How chronic illness impacts intimacy, communication, and expectations.
• Biblical encouragement for couples facing long-term suffering.
• Ways to stay connected when pain, fatigue, or limitations get in the way.
• Practical strategies to support your spouse without losing yourself.
• How to protect your marriage from resentment, burnout, and isolation.

Whether you're living this reality or want to love others who are, this episode brings comfort, clarity, and Christ-centered encouragement for marriages facing chronic illness.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our Chronic Illness Marriage Support Guide.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

Chronic illness doesn't just affect the person who lives with it, it affects the marriage, the home, the daily rhythms, and the emotional world of both spouses.

In Episode 270 of The Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra open an honest, compassionate conversation about what it's really like to be married to a chronically ill spouse. From emotional exhaustion to disrupted plans to living with uncertainty, this episode offers hope, understanding, and practical tools for couples walking this difficult road.

You'll discover:

• The hidden emotional weight carried by both the ill spouse and the caregiver.
• How chronic illness impacts intimacy, communication, and expectations.
• Biblical encouragement for couples facing long-term suffering.
• Ways to stay connected when pain, fatigue, or limitations get in the way.
• Practical strategies to support your spouse without losing yourself.
• How to protect your marriage from resentment, burnout, and isolation.

Whether you're living this reality or want to love others who are, this episode brings comfort, clarity, and Christ-centered encouragement for marriages facing chronic illness.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our Chronic Illness Marriage Support Guide.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

Sunshine, snorkeling, and saving money, this episode has it all!

In Episode 269 of The Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra share their family's recent vacation to the Florida Keys, from the planning process to the priceless moments along the way. Whether you're dreaming of your next getaway or looking for tips to make travel smoother and more affordable, this episode offers a mix of fun stories and practical advice for families on the go.

You'll discover:

• How we planned our family trip to the Florida Keys step-by-step.
• What to look for when choosing the right Airbnb for your family.
• How we decided what to do each day without over-scheduling.
• Our approach to meal planning on vacation (and saving money while eating well).
• Budget-friendly travel tips that make big memories without breaking the bank.

If you're planning a family vacation, or just want ideas for stress-free, memory-making travel, this episode will help you do it with purpose, joy, and togetherness.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our Family Travel Planner & Budget Worksheet.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

Scrolling in bed for hours. Avoiding responsibility. Calling it "self-care."

Welcome to the culture of bed rot, where rest has turned into withdrawal, and comfort has replaced purpose.

In Episode 268 of The Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra unpack what this trend means for families and how parents can respond with both truth and grace. Instead of shaming laziness or enabling disengagement, they explore how to guide kids toward real rest, the kind that restores body, mind, and spirit.

You'll discover:

• What "bed rotting" really is and why it's rising among teens and young adults.
• How screens, stress, and anxiety fuel this cultural trend.
• The difference between healthy rest and harmful avoidance.
• Biblical principles for balance, purpose, and meaningful rest.
• Practical steps to help your kids re-engage with life, faith, and family.

If you've noticed your child spending more time retreating than participating, this episode will help you approach the issue with understanding, boundaries, and biblical wisdom.

Bonus Resource: Send an email to [email protected] for our Healthy Rest vs. Avoidance Family Conversation Guide.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting