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:

#288: Crazy Cool Parent This - Building Confident Kids Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

As parents, we are called to deposit confidence in our kids - but how do you create a confident kid?

The world wants to tear your child down and create insecurity inside of them. Family is the place where we wash off the world and send our kids out - confident, loved, and brave.

Parents, we get to go first in building our kids up - here's how!

Today's talking points:

What does a confident, self-directed child look like? How do they live/act?
How do parents build confidence in their kids?
What does God say about raising kids to be independent?
How are independence and confidence linked in our kids?
How does identity play into our kid’s confidence?

Our heart behind these episodes is to inspire and equip you in specific parenting topics and apply your learnings to your specific kids. In today's episode, a huge practical we share is how to be approachable and a safe place for your kids to come to you. Your love and response is crucial in building confidence in your kid. Listen to this episode to learn HOW to love your kids and build confidence into them, in every season.

CRAZY COOL CHANGE: Let your kids make mistakes

Listen to the episode to learn more about the CCC and how you can apply it in your family today!

Podcast Resources:

#287: Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters TELL ALL! Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

What do you think is said when Suz gets ALL her daughters (and daughter-in-law) in a room and hits the record button?

You'll have to listen to find out....

On Episode #287, we celebrate Suz's birthday! She is 23 years young😜 and living her best life! We unpack do's and don'ts from her parenting experience. Now that she has 4 grown daughters who are married and multiplying - AND the world's BEST daughter in law, she asked them to sit down and share some of their experiences.

This episodes is packed full of silly moments that will make you laugh AND words of encouragement, challenge, and possibly wisdom;)

Listen and share this episode today if you are looking for something to spice up your week and help you invest in your family!

Podcast Resources:

#286: Love is in the Air, or is it? Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Love is in the air and we are talking REAL LOVE and real struggles that come with marriage! With Valentine’s coming up – we wanted to take an episode to encourage and challenge you in your marriage.

Don and Suz are talking about the good, bad, and ugly from their 33 years of marriage! They would say their marriage is "the best it's ever been" and "it's the hardest relationship for them to invest in."

They both share how powerful of an influence marriage is because people grow, change, and evolve. Marriage is not easy and it takes effort. We want every Crazy Cool Marriage to be full of hope and endurance.

Main Points from the podcast:

What does God say about marriage and how do we value it through the seasons?
What is the role of a husband and wife?
Seeing and appreciating the differences in your spouse
What is the #1 best thing you can do for your marriage? (We tell you!)

Podcast Resources:

#285: Are Men in America "Slow Quitting"? (Feat. Chris Harper) Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

How do we take what God is doing in the world and apply it to family?

Chris Harper joins Don as they unpack the 2024 election and what we are called to do.

"God has given fathers a mantle to be the chief priest of his home. His home is a reflection of the greater Kingdom." - Chris Harper

Here are the main topics they discuss:

People's response to the election through the lens of love
Are American fathers "slow quitting"? How do we stop it?
How men stop deconstruction and start living as God calls them
Don's heart for fathers in 2025
Passing faith onto the next generation comes through family and fathers
Quick practical ways fathers can pass down their faith (this may surprise you!)
Milestones and moments - building culture in both
Pray for 15 minutes a day and see how your home changes

Chris shares how fathers are called higher by God for the sake of their families. He calls every father to reclaim the mantle God has given him to lead. The world wants to steal, kill, and destroy what God has said is true. Don and Chris share how we can tear down the current perspective and fight to build back better. If you are a father who is invested in family - this podcast is for you!

Chris Harper and The Better Man organization empower fathers and families. If you want to connect with him - click the link below.

Podcast Resources:

Chris Harper's Resources

Buy the CCF Book
Join the Daily Email
Handing Down the Faith - Book Chris Harper mentioned

#284: Do you want to have a great relationship with your son or daughter? Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

Do you want to have a great relationship with your son or daughter?

We know the majority of parents want great relationships with their kids BUT do they actually have one?

Don and Suz are focusing on the Parent to Kid and Kid to Kid relational lines this season. They have raised 7 kids and have learned a lot along the way. They are passionate about teaching parents to have great relationships with their kids.

"There is always hope for a relationship." - Don

Here are the 4 main things they discuss in today's podcast:

How to accept your child like God accepted Jesus. Is this even possible? What does acceptance really look like and how do you make your child believe you accept them?
One powerful tool is connection. Don and Suz give practical ways to connect with every kid at every age. Is it possible to be a fun parent AND disciple them at the same time?
Discipleship is the best way to walk alongside our kids - but how do we actually do this?
Inspiration calls our kids up, not out. Don and Suz explain this in depth and give real-life examples of how they inspired their kids in every season.

Podcast Resources:

Check out Basecamp!
Buy the CCF Book
Join the Daily Email
Join the 5 Day Family Challenge (a great place to start if you are new or need a refresh!)

#283: Season 7 Starts TODAY! Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Season 7 of Crazy Cool Family kicks off today, and we’re excited to dive into another year of parenting insights! As we enter 2025, we’re focusing on the word CREATE. God, the Creator, has given us the privilege and authority to shape the culture of our homes. It’s not about grinding—it’s about daily choices of love, investment, and energy.

This year, we want to help you create the family culture you desire. We’ll be coaching you in specific areas of family life, and we invite you to walk with us by:

Engaging with our daily emails
Listening to our podcasts
Accessing new resources (more to come!)

Parenting is a cycle of learning and application, and our goal is to make it easier for you. Here’s what to expect from our podcasts this year:

Parent-to-kid and kid-to-kid relational dynamics
Q&A with Don and Suz (send in your questions!)
Topical episodes on key parenting topics
Special guests and surprises

**What changes do you want to see in your family this year? Let’s work together to create and grow in 2025!**

Podcast Resources:

Buy the CCF Book
Join the Daily Email
Join the 5 Day Family Challenge (a great place to start if you are new or need a refresh!)

#282: Season Finale! Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

It's the end of a good thing...

Season 6 is ending and as we are taking time today to reflect on all the episodes the season holds.

Season 6 is all about relationships. If you've been around CCF for awhile, you know about the Family Dashboard and the 5 Types of Relationships. In our 2024 season, we took the 5 Types of Relationships and did podcasts on each relational line.

Here is the breakdown:

Parent to God - 7 Episodes
Marriage - 6 Episodes
Parent to Kid - 11 Episodes
Kid to Kid - 2 Episodes
Kid to God - 2 Episodes
Outliers - 10 Episodes
Summer Series - 6 Episodes

This episode reflects on the entire year and how to build each relational line within your family. If you are looking for a way to strengthen your family relationships - this is the season for you. We highly recommend looking through the full list on our website and picking 1 podcast from each relational line. It's worth the investment and your family will see the breakthrough!

As another year ends, we wanted to encourage you to consider supporting Crazy Cool Family with your End of Year Giving. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit ministry. We are run off one-time and monthly donations from amazing listeners just like you! Your contribution could help a family see relational breakthrough! If you feel a nudge to give to CCF, click the link below or email info@crazycoolfamily.com to get started.

Podcast Resources:

#281: Tips for the Holiday Craziness! Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

Are you up to your eyeballs in holiday things?

It's our second to last episode of the season, can you believe it? We want to inspire you and give you tips on how to make this holiday season AMAZING!

Things we don’t want your holiday season to be filled with....

Worry....

Stress....

Outbursts (from your or your kids)...

We often look back and wonder how we survived the holidays with so many kids, expectations, and events. As we look back on our 30+ years of holidays together, here are a few things we have learned:

Recognize the unrealistic expectations and how to manage them
What to do about “treats” during holidays
Ways to “relax” and rest during the holiday craziness!
Having a conversation about what is coming (prepare your kids for the crazy!)
Parenting the dreams and disappointments regarding presents
Making extended families houses feel like home
Build your holiday culture by saying “no” to all the events

This season is all about relationships. God sent his Son to earth for us, to make a way for us. This season is about building relationships and slowing down to recognize God’s goodness. As parents, we get to come alongside our kids and see them, love them, and help them have their best season yet. The reason for the season is the ultimate relationships, Jesus. When we point our kids to Jesus, the whole season takes on a different tone and we enjoy it in our souls. He brings us delight and that is what the season is all about.

“Choose to delight in your kids and show them the delight of this season.” - Suz

#280: God is Moving in Marriages! (Feat. Carl Caton) Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

Have you checked in on your marriage lately?

Carl Caton is our guest and is deeply passionate about marriages. He is a husband, businessman, and founder of the San Antionio Marriage Initiative. Their vision is centered on restoration of family, by strategically investing in marriage, for the strengthening of communities and the glorification of God.

Carl and his team bring together authors, researchers, counselors, pastors, podcasters, marriage leaders and more. In addition, they maintain a faithful presence in our community to elevate available resources for couples that highlight the value, importance, and hope that is available for all marriages. They seek to be a local presence connecting and uniting people across our community with the shared vision to serve marriages.

He speaks to the struggles of marriage and the ways God is moving across our nation to remedy ALL marriages. There is hope for every marriage. If you are struggling to love your spouse in this season, this podcast is for you.

Highlights from the podcast:

Great marriages learn to: check in daily, date weekly, and get away regularly
Carl unpacks the 3 C’s of marriage: companionship, connection, commitment
The power of marriage intensives and counseling – don't wait!
Practical ways you can invest in your marriage today!
COVID outcomes and how this is a GOOD thing for marriage!
Marriage resource center for your next step

Podcast Resources:

#279: Sibling Dynamics during Holidays Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Today's topic will CHANGE your holidays!

Are your ready?

Parents, we want to teach you how to invest in the sibling dynamics during the holidays.

This podcast is so practical because we give you strategies to help with rivalry, teaching empathy, and family unity during November and December.

"The reality is.... kids are selfish. We believe sibling relationships are the best place to teach our kids to live for something other than themself." - Suz

What we discuss:

Are you aware of your family’s season? Have you taken the time to do a Family Dashboard as you head into the Holidays – this 5–10-minute exercise could SAVE your holiday.
How do you know if your kids are struggling relationally? What are signs and symptoms of rivalry, lack of empathy, or family unity?

How do you speak into those relationships without controlling or nagging? What practical things can you do as a parent to strengthen the relationship?

What are 1-3 practical things parents can start doing today to help them have better sibling relationships for the holidays?

"Sibling relationships are a training ground for real life. There is a purpose in sibling relationships and learning to love every person in your family." -- Don

Podcast Resources: