In this episode, we explore Chapter 2 of Growing Into Your Parenting Role, titled Have a Plan for Your Life. The chapter opens with a pivotal moment from the author’s youth, when a teenage Renée—his girlfriend at the time and future wife—delivered a life-changing ultimatum: college or no marriage. That moment became a powerful lesson in how clear intentions produce specific, life-shaping results.

This chapter emphasizes a critical truth: without a clear plan for our lives, we often end up living out the less ambitious plans of others. The podcast discusses how creating a concrete Life Plan—complete with visual reminders and achievable short-term goals—builds the confidence, direction, and sense of control parents need to become the true architects of their own destiny. In addition, it provides tips and tools for creating a life plan.

Join us as we unpack the authors’ strategy for shaping individual dreams into a shared parenting vision—so you’re not just surviving parenthood, but intentionally designing it.

This episode dives into Chapter 1 of Growing Into Your Parenting Role, titled Feel Good About Yourself. In this podcast, we challenge a common myth about parenting—that great parenting begins with changing children’s behavior. Instead, we reveal a deeper truth: the foundation of a “master parent” is built on self-worth and healthy self-esteem.

You’ll hear the inspiring story of the author’s father—a disabled veteran with a sixth-grade education who raised nine children by modeling an unshakable belief in his own value. His quiet confidence shaped not only his family, but also the author’s lifelong understanding of self-esteem, leadership, and parenting.

Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a guide, this episode explains why parents must first meet their own emotional and psychological needs before they can fully nurture a child’s growth and development.

Finally, we introduce the Self-Esteem-Building Checklist, a practical workbook tool designed to help couples and parenting team members strengthen one another. From money management to personal habits and behavioral traits, this tool helps families build a shared foundation for collaboration, confidence, and success on the parenting journey.

Welcome to Raising Kids, Growing Parents - a podcast rooted in real life, real parenting, and real growth.

This inaugural episode introduces Growing Into Your Parenting Role, the book by husband-and-wife team William G. Shackelford and Renée Nuckols Shackelford. Drawing from decades of lived experience, the Shackelfords share the practical tips, tools, and mindset shifts they used to raise strong, independent, and successful children.

Often compared to the idyllic Huxtable family, their journey wasn’t about perfection—it was about intention. Through coaching, mentoring, and learning to truly play on the same team as their children, they discovered powerful ways to connect, communicate, and guide their kids through life’s challenges.

In this podcast, you’ll hear stories and insights shaped by 50 years of parenting, 25 years of grandparenting, and decades of helping people build emotionally intelligent, lasting relationships. These are lessons learned in the trenches—and shared with honesty, candor, heart, hope, and tools.

If this episode resonates with you, you’ll love the Raising Kids, Growing Parents Podcast Training Series. This companion program takes a deeper dive into all 17 chapters of Growing Into Your Parenting Role, featuring engaging 12-minute audio lessons led by two AI presenters. Each lesson includes a thoughtfully designed workbook to help you move from insight to action - so you’re not just learning about parenting, you’re growing into it.

This short podcast introduces the Raising Kids, Growing Parents podcast series inspired by the book Growing Into Your Parenting Role: Tips and Tools for Every Stage of Your Parenting Journey — which your host, Bill Shackelford, was blessed to write with my beloved late wife, Renée.

Every episode dives into the real work of parenting — not the picture-perfect Instagram kind, but the kind that requires self-reflection, emotional maturity, patience, and grace.

This podcast series is designed to encourage you, equip you, and remind you that great parenting is a matter of choice, not circumstance. Along the way you will learn that parenting isn’t just about raising kids… it’s about growing into the best version of yourself while you do it.