Kids & Family
**Crazy Cool Family**

Want home to be your favorite place in the world? Want to see siblings get along like best friends? Want to send your kid off to college with hope instead of fear? At Crazy Cool Family, we can help you answer all of those questions with a resounding “YES!”

We have one simple mission: To show parents how to create amazing families by building their lives around Jesus and helping their kids to do the same. In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us that what is most important in life is our relationship with God and our relationships with one another. We believe that families are our most important relationships and their strength will determine the strength of your family. You will Rethink the Way You Do Family when you see God’s incredible relational design for your families.

God wants a Crazy Cool Family for you and we want to help you get there!

Latest Episodes:

#328: Stop Feeling Like Roommates: Practical Marriage Habits for Parents With Marriage 365 Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Don and Suzanne talk with Casey and Meygan Caston from Marriage365 about simple, practical marriage tools for busy parents. If your relationship feels stuck in logistics, resentment, or disconnection, this conversation gives you actionable habits you can start right away.

You’ll learn how small, daily investments — not grand gestures — build strong, lasting marriages.

In This Episode:

The weekly marriage check-in meeting that reduces conflict

How to share the mental load as a couple

Why thriving marriages use tools and systems

How to apologize in a way that actually repairs relationships

The power of forgiveness and humility in family life

Why initiation is leadership in marriage
How to work on your marriage — even if your spouse won’t engage yet
How healthy marriage habits impact your kids

Get Their BOOK! The Marriage Habit — practical habits and tools to build connection, repair conflict, and strengthen your marriage.

Something to Try This Week:

Schedule a 30-minute weekly marriage meeting

Practice one intentional apology

Initiate one connection moment daily

Ask your spouse how you can lighten their load

Podcast Resources:

#327: Purpose Is Not Passive: How to Set Direction for Your Family (Part 2) Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Still Feeling Stuck? Here's Part 2!

In Part 2 of this conversation, we shift from personal and marriage goals to setting vision and goals for your family.

Healthy family goals don’t start with changing your kids—they start with aligned parents. Building on the foundation of personal growth and marital unity, we talk about how to intentionally design your family culture instead of letting it drift.

In this episode, we cover:

Why family goals work best when parents are unified
How to create family vision without overwhelming your kids
The difference between family goals and family values
How to invite your children into the process in age-appropriate ways
Setting rhythms and priorities that shape your home over time

You don’t need a perfect plan—you need clarity, unity, and direction.

🎧 Listen to Episode 327 and start designing your family culture for 2026 with purpose.

Podcast Resources:

#326: Purpose Is Not Passive: How to Set Direction for Your Family Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Designing 2026: Goals That Matter

Feeling overwhelmed by goal-setting? In this episode, we share a simple, biblical framework for setting meaningful goals for 2026—starting with you and then your marriage.

Using Mark 12:30, we break goals into four areas: heart, soul, mind, and strength, and talk about how small, realistic steps can lead to real growth over time.

We also dive into:

How to set personal goals without burnout

Why the soul is often overlooked—and why it matters

Protecting your mind in a world full of noise

Designing your marriage instead of letting it drift

How to set marriage goals without creating conflict

Progress matters more than perfection.

🎧 Next episode: Setting goals as a family and building unity at home.

Podcast Resources:

#325: Wrapping Up 2025 With Crazy Cool Family Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

Season Finale: Wrapping Up 2025 with Crazy Cool Family

As 2025 comes to a close, Don and Suzanne are taking a moment to reflect, celebrate, and cast vision for what’s ahead. 🎉 In this final episode of the year, you’ll hear highlights from Season 7 of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast and learn how God has been using this ministry to impact families across the U.S., Europe, and even Africa. 🌍

This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a global movement to inspire and equip parents to build strong, Christ-centered families. From practical parenting strategies to sibling relationships, guest interviews, and the launch of new resources like The Playbook and Deep Dives, 2025 was packed with tools to help parents win at home.

In this episode, Don and Suzanne share:

🎙 Their favorite moments and guests from the podcast this year
📘 How The Playbook and Deep Dives are helping parents apply simple, powerful principles every day
🌍 Updates on Crazy Cool Family’s international impact, including teaching families in Africa
💡 Their one big piece of advice for parents heading into 2026

Whether you’ve been listening since episode one or just discovered Crazy Cool Family this year, this season finale will encourage and equip you to keep going. Parenting is learned one step at a time, and every family can win.

👉 Tune in now, get inspired, and step into 2026 ready to notice your kids, be present in the moment, and make family your greatest investment.

Podcast Resources:

#324: Turning 90 Days of Holidays into Lasting Family Memories Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Holiday Chaos or Holiday Memories?

Creating Traditions That Last

The holiday season is here—and with it comes the mix of joy, chaos, and never-ending to-do lists. 🎁 From decorating the house to wrapping gifts, baking cookies, and attending every school or church event, it’s easy for parents to feel more overwhelmed than joyful.

In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, Don and Suzanne Manning share candid reflections and look back on 30+ years of parenting seven kids through the holiday hustle. They’ve been through the late-night wrapping sessions, Christmas concerts, chaotic car rides to find the “perfect tree,” and even baking sessions where the cookies didn’t turn out quite right. Through it all, they’ve discovered that holidays aren’t about perfection—they’re about shaping memories.

You’ll hear practical ideas and “holiday hacks” for:

Including your kids in the preparations (even if it’s messier and slower).
Shifting the focus from getting to giving through serving neighbors, writing notes, or sibling gift exchanges.
Creating simple family traditions—from decorating bedrooms with mini trees to baking monkey bread—that knit kids’ hearts to yours.
Letting go of busyness and embracing peace, even when schedules get overwhelming.

Whether you’re a parent of toddlers, teens, or grown kids, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, laugh at the chaos, and focus on what truly matters. Because the greatest gift you can give your children this season isn’t perfect cookies or matching wrapping paper—it’s the gift of connection.

👉 Tune in today and start creating holiday traditions that will outlast the chaos and shape your family for generations.

Podcast Resources:

#323: Re-Run ALERT! Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week (Part 2) Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

Re-Run ALERT! Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week (Part 2)

Part 2 (Ep. 323, originally Ep. 144)

Welcome back, Crazy Cool Families! Today we’re continuing our series, ‘Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week.’ This is part two—originally Episode 144 and now Episode 323. Last week we shared the first ingredient, and today we’ll give you the second one that ties it all together to help your family have the best Thanksgiving yet. Let’s dive in!”

In this episode you’ll hear about:

The second “ingredient”: appreciation—recognizing people with gratitude and value.
Why appreciation changes relationships and creates an atmosphere of connection.
How to use the 5 Love Languages (words, service, gifts, touch, time) to show appreciation at Thanksgiving.
Practical examples for navigating stressful family dynamics with gratitude.
A simple but powerful challenge to share what you appreciate around the Thanksgiving table.

Podcast Resources:

#322: Re-Run ALERT! Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week (Part 1) Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

Two Ingredients for the BEST Thanksgiving Week (Part 1)

Part 1 (Ep. 322, originally Ep. 143)

Thanksgiving can be one of the most joyful times of the year—or one of the most stressful. In this episode, we’re bringing back one of our favorite holiday conversations to help your family lean into joy, peace, and purpose this Thanksgiving. We kick off our two-part series with the first ingredient for the best Thanksgiving week, and it may surprise you: awareness.

We’ll talk about how awareness changes the way you approach family gatherings, helps you notice others’ needs, and invites God’s presence into the holiday. If you want this year to be less about stress and more about connection, this episode is a great place to start!

👉 In this episode you’ll hear about:

Why Thanksgiving often feels stressful—and how to flip it into peace and joy.

The first “ingredient” for the best Thanksgiving: awareness.

How awareness helps you notice needs, love people better, and invite God into the moment.

Practical ways to lead your family toward joy, not chaos, during the holiday.

Podcast Resources:

#321: Is Family Worth It? (Don’s Perspective on 30+ years of parenting AND becoming an empty nester!) Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

From Chaos to Connection: 30+ Years of Parenting Lessons

After 33 years of parenting seven kids, Don and Suzanne Manning are stepping into a brand-new season: empty nesters! But before you picture peace and quiet, join us for this powerful episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast where we look back at decades of parenting, the lessons learned, and the incredible fruit that comes from choosing family—over and over again.

In this episode, Don reflects on:

The early years of parenting and what he would tell his younger self.
How focusing on connection over control transformed his family.
Why choosing family as your “main thing” is always worth it.
How chaos and failure became tools God used to shape him as a dad.

You’ll hear raw and relatable stories—from dragging toddlers down the carpet (oops!) to persevere through teenage disconnect. Don reminds us that parenting isn’t about being perfect—it’s about never quitting. Mistakes don’t disqualify you; disengaging does.

This conversation isn’t just for parents with littles. It’s for every stage: young parents learning the ropes, families juggling the chaos of multiple kids, and those entering the bittersweet transition of launching young adults. You’ll walk away encouraged, challenged, and reminded that family is worth it.

Whether you’re knee-deep in diapers or navigating curfews with teens, this episode will inspire you to choose connections, embrace grace, and build a family culture that lasts for generations.

👉 Tune in now and be reminded: parenting is hard, but it’s the greatest, most rewarding work you’ll ever do.

Podcast Resources:

#320: Is Family Worth It? (Suz’s Perspective on 30+ years of parenting AND becoming an empty nester!) Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

30+ Years, 7 Kids, One Big Lesson: Family Is Worth It

In this episode, Macy rapid-fires questions at Suz, drawing out three decades of parenting wisdom from raising seven kids to navigating the empty-nest season. Together, they unpack the heart of family as God’s idea—where parenting is discipleship, connection matters more than tasks, and playing the long game pays off.

From marriage teamwork and practical rhythms to the power of community, prayer, and the joy of adult children, this conversation offers encouragement and tools for every season of parenting. Whether you’re in the toddler trenches, managing teens, or stepping into grandparenthood, you’ll find faith-filled wisdom and relatable stories to inspire your family journey.

Family is God’s design—prioritize connection, invite Jesus daily, and play the long game.

You’ll learn how to:

Build connection that creates capacity and peace in your home.
Use small resets (like a 5-minute tidy or micro-dates) to beat chaos.
Lead as a unified marriage team and signal love to your kids.
Lean into community and prayer as a protective covering.
Encourage adult kids and celebrate fruit in the next generation.

This episode is for new parents, large families, empty nesters, and anyone who wants practical rhythms and spiritual encouragement for raising a Christ-centered home.

Podcast Resources:

#319: Saying Yes or No to Halloween Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

Do we Celebrate Halloween as a Family or no?

How do you celebrate Halloween as a family and is it bad to do?

RE-RUN ALERT!!
Halloween hasn't changed over the years and our conversation about it/beliefs on the topic remain the same. Do you need help deciding how your family celebrates Halloween? Then this podcast is for you!

First off, your family needs to personally seek God and obey what he is saying for your family. There is no right or wrong. Obeying God is top priority!

Secondly, if you do decide to dress up and go house to house here are some mindsets you can empower your kids with.

Focus on Light vs. Darkness: Emphasize themes of light, drawing from verses like John 1:5 ("The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it").
Use Halloween as a time to connect with neighbors and friends. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages fellowship and building each other up, which can be reflected in community activities. Share the gospel or pray for people as you go door to door.
Encourage creative expression through costumes and decorations. This encourages creativity and imagination in them - and honestly it is just so fun to dress up.
Teach children about discernment, focusing on Philippians 4:8, which encourages thinking about things that are true, noble, and right. Discuss the difference between fun and fear and avoid anything that glorifies evil.

These are simple mindsets to help place in our kids' minds as we approach this holiday!

Podcast Resources:

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Still Feeling Stuck? Here's Part 2!

In this episode, we cover:

Designing 2026: Goals That Matter

We also dive into: