Parents Making Time with Anthony & Jennifer Craiker | Intentional Parenting for Busy Parents

Have you ever felt completely shut out by your teenager — like no matter what you say, they just don’t want to hear it?

As kids grow into teens, the connection we used to rely on can suddenly feel strained or even non-existent. It’s easy to take it personally or feel like we’ve lost our chance to stay close.

Coming up next, we’re sharing a personal story — including the time my teenage son told me I wasn’t allowed to speak to him unless he gave me permission — and what we learned about staying connected, even when your teen is pushing you away.

Here’s what you’ll hear this episode: 

• A real life example from our house, that may have happened in your house.
• What is your responsibility in connecting with your teen, and what isn’t.
• Some no regret parenting tips - teen addition.
• A happy ending for our family, and hopefully yours, too.

So if your teen is shutting you out, or your child’s not quite there yet but you want to be ready, listen in.

00:00 Introduction: A Shocking Teen Moment
00:27 Understanding Teen Behavior
01:06 Managing Parental Stress
02:44 Effective Communication Strategies
04:26 Creating Connection Rituals
05:37 Adapting to Changing Phases
07:40 Final Thoughts and Resources

Follow the show on Instagram and  Facebook to keep the conversation going. It’s the best way to get quick tips, encouragement, and resources to help you make time for what matters most—your family.

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

Why is it that no matter how early you wake up or how much you get done, you still can’t seem to find time for yourself?

So many parents feel like they’re constantly running on empty — we assume it’s because of our jobs, or our never-ending to-do list. The real reason? It’s often something much simpler, and sneakier.

 In today’s episode, we’re unpacking the surprising root cause behind your lack of personal time — and trust us, it’s not what you think. Stick around to hear what it is and what you can do to finally carve out space for yourself and prevent parent burnout.

What you’ll hear in this episode: 

• Why more isn’t always better. Sometimes it's just more.
• How to work together with your kids to create more time for your family, and yourself.
• The idea that it's okay to say no, especially if it is best for your family as a whole.

If you’ve ever wondered why you never seem to have time for yourself, hit play to uncover the surprising reason and learn how to reclaim guilt-free personal time as a parent.

00:00 Introduction: The Real Reason Parents Have No Time
00:27 The Overloaded Schedule Dilemma
00:53 The Cost of Too Many Activities
04:12 Finding Balance: Tailoring Activities to Your Family
05:52 The Importance of Saying No
06:19 Personal Stories and Practical Tips
09:16 Conclusion: Making Time for What Matters

Follow the show on Instagram and  Facebook to keep the conversation going. It’s the best way to get quick tips, encouragement, and resources to help you make time for what matters most—your family.

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

What would you do with 10 extra hours a week—just for meaningful time with your family?

Most of us assume we’re too busy . . . that there just isn’t enough time in the week to slow down and connect. But often, it’s not about needing more hours—it’s about how we’re using the ones we already have.

In today’s episode, we’re sharing the one simple shift that can help you reclaim up to as many as 10 hours a week—without overhauling your schedule—so you can spend more intentional, connected time and build more memories with your family.

Topics we dive into this episode:

• Anthony’s fascination with TIME.
• A surprising statistic about the time the average adult spends on social media.
• Breaking down the math to show you how you can EASILY gain 10 hours in your week to dedicate to your kids.
• Tips to keep yourself accountable to stop wasting time.

So if you’re looking for 10 extra hours of meaningful family time each week, this episode is for you—press play.

00:00 Introduction: Finding Extra Hours for Family
00:27 The Phenomenon of Time Perception
01:36 The Social Media Time Sink
04:11 Consequences of Social Media Addiction
06:27 Strategies to Reduce Social Media Usage
07:34 Tools to Control Screen Time
10:01 Conclusion and Free Resource
11:02 Teaser for Next Episode

Follow the show on Instagram and  Facebook to keep the conversation going. It’s the best way to get quick tips, encouragement, and resources to help you make time for what matters most—your family.

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

Ever find yourself thinking about work while making dinner… or checking your email while your kid is telling you about their day?

For so many parents, the workday doesn’t end when we leave the office. Whether it’s the pressure to stay connected, the mental load we carry, or just the pace of modern life — it’s hard to truly clock out and connect with our kids after work.

In this episode, we’re breaking down the three big reasons it’s so tough to disconnect — and more importantly, we’ll share what you can actually do to shift out of work mode and back into family mode, without guilt or overwhelm.

Things you’ll hear in this podcast:

• Ways to take control of your work life so it doesn’t interfere with your home life.
• Practical things to do in your home to help you leave work, even if you work from home.
• How to approach a demanding boss when they are making it difficult to clock out.

If you’re ready to disconnect from the office and truly reconnect with your family, this podcast is for you—let’s get started.

00:00 Introduction: The Struggle of Clocking Out
00:29 Understanding the Universal Struggle
02:05 Reason 1: Devices Controlling You
04:13 Reason 2: Lack of Boundaries
09:13 Reason 3: Not Scheduling Time
12:33 Recap and Final Thoughts
13:33 Free Guide and Next Episode Teaser

Follow the show on Instagram and  Facebook to keep the conversation going. It’s the best way to get quick tips, encouragement, and resources to help you make time for what matters most—your family.

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

Do you ever get to the end of the day and wonder, “Did I actually connect with my family today—or did I just get through the checklist?” 

It’s so easy to fall into a routine where we’re physically present but emotionally checked out—rushing from one task to the next without really being with our kids in the moments that matter most.

In this episode, we share the guiding principle that’s helped us keep our family at the center and helped us know how to be present parents—even in the busiest seasons of life raising three kids. You’ll learn how to use this simple mindset shift to become more present and create meaningful connections with your family every single day.

Things we’ll talk about in this podcast:

• Anthony’s background story.
• The mental mistake parents make that keep you from putting your family first.
• The “funeral experiment” that can help you put life into perspective.
• What success and failure looks like in family life.

If you're craving more presence and connection at home, this podcast is for you—let’s dive in.

00:00 Introduction: Prioritizing Family
00:32 Anthony's Background and Family Challenges
01:57 The Guiding Principle: No Success Can Compensate for Failure at Home
03:20 Applying the Principle in Daily Life
07:28 Defining Success in Parenting
11:13 Real-Life Examples and Final Thoughts
13:07 Conclusion and Free Resource

Follow the show on Instagram and  Facebook to keep the conversation going. It’s the best way to get quick tips, encouragement, and resources to help you make time for what matters most—your family.

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

Trailer for Parents Making Time with Anthony & Jennifer Craiker. In 15 minutes or less, our weekly podcast helps busy parents prioritize their relationships, be present and intentional with family time, and build a lasting legacy of love—without neglecting their own well-being or reaching the end of their lives wishing they’d spent more time with the people who matter most.

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

How do we teach our kids to tell the difference between fact and opinion in a world overflowing with information? In this episode, Anthony Craiker sits down with Barbara Mojica—educator, historian, and author of the Little Miss History series—to explore how parents can help children become curious learners and confident critical thinkers. Together they talk about the importance of family history, the role grandparents can play in shaping children’s understanding of the past, and practical ways families can use everyday moments—at the dinner table, at the store, even in the car—to spark meaningful conversations. Whether you’re raising young kids or guiding teens, this episode will inspire parents to model respect, honesty, and curiosity while helping their children develop the skills they need to thrive in today’s complex world.

Barbara's Website: https://www.littlemisshistory.com/ 

Social Media Links: 

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bamauthor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/bamauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Littlemisshistorycom/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bamauthor

X: https://twitter.com/bamauthor

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/bamauthor

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

What happens when a life-altering diagnosis forces you to rethink everything you thought you knew about health, success, and purpose? In this powerful episode, Anthony Craiker sits down with Dr. Matt Kutz—author, speaker, professor, and cancer survivor—to talk about resilience, hope, and the lessons he’s discovered through his journey with advanced prostate cancer.

Dr. Kutz opens up about hearing the words “you have metastatic prostate cancer” and how that moment reshaped his perspective on family, faith, and legacy. He shares candid insights into the physical and emotional challenges of treatment, the surprising impact illness has on relationships, and the deeper meaning he has found in building community, inspiring others, and spreading awareness through his foundation and upcoming book Becoming Epic.

Whether you’re a parent, leader, or simply someone navigating life’s challenges, this conversation will encourage you to live with greater purpose, lean into hope, and never take meaningful connections for granted.

Learn more about Matt: https://drmattkutz.com/

Matt's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmattkutz/

Matt's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmattkutz/

Matt's Substack: https://drmatthewkutz.substack.com/

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

What if thriving begins when you stop living like an owner and start living like a steward? In this conversation, Anthony Craiker talks with Larry O’Nan, author of Intentional Living and Giving, about a life philosophy that goes far beyond money. Larry unpacks lifestyle stewardship—caring for what’s entrusted to you across time, talent, relationships, and resources. You’ll learn how intentionality and clear boundaries pull you out of the “bumper cars” of culture, why generosity is more than writing a check, and how giving often unlocks abundance. Larry also offers practical guidance on saying no wisely, legacy planning with tools like donor-advised funds, and redeeming time even if you feel behind. If you want a framework to live purposefully, give courageously, and leave a legacy that outlives your wallet, this episode is for you. 

Larry's Website: https://larryonan.com/

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify

Rushing through life but still feeling empty? In this conversation, Anthony Craiker sits down with Tobi Ojekunle, host of the Mirror Talk podcast, to explore how self-reflection, gratitude, and faith can realign your work and life with purpose. Tobi shares the origin of Mirror Talk—learning from other people’s stories so you don’t repeat their mistakes—and explains the two meanings of “mirror talk”: speaking life-giving truth to yourself and seeing your own journey reflected in others. You’ll hear simple, practical tools for getting unstuck: pause–reflect routines, gratitude as a daily practice, time blocking and habit stacking, and the power of being fully present where you are. They also dig into mid-career pivots, why “work–life balance” is often a myth, and how faith anchors a meaningful life. If you’ve felt alone, behind, or off-purpose, this episode will help you slow down, listen closely, and move forward with clarity.

Check out Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations at https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/ 

Tobi's social media:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MirrorTalkPodcast

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mirrortalk.podcast/

X https://www.twitter.com/mirrortalkTO

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oluwatobi-ojekunle-29bb0a76/

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.ph/valtoybob/_created/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFj3nBFVYJhsEGciiu52eEw

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@mirrortalkpodcast

Easily improve your intentional parenting efforts at mealtime with our FREE resource, Dinner Conversation Starters.

Download our FREE resource, 30-Second Micro Moments of Intention with Your Kids, created for busy parents like you who need easy, actionable ways to have daily meaningful connections with their kids in less than a minute!

Parenting Questions? Email us at [email protected] (Please note, your question may be featured on the show).

For parenting inspiration, time management ideas, and encouragement for families, follow the hosts' individual accounts:

Anthony Craiker: Instagram | LinkedIn

Jennifer Craiker: Instagram

Interested in joining our free online parenting community? Send us a DM to receive an invite!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.parentsmakingtime.com/

Enjoy the show? Leave a rating & review: Apple | Spotify