Some Assembly Required

This July, we are doing a summertime rewind to some of our favorite recent episodes that also feel timely when you're spending a lot of family time over the summer. First up, understanding your parenting superpower through the Enneagram. What's your motivation? How do you engage with others in your household, particularly your children? Listen in as our friend Melissa Thorson explains the...

Being a dad is a joy, calling, and responsibility, and it's a role that often requires keeping a long run perspective. In this special Father’s Day episode, we surprise Glenn Archer by inviting his children, Whitney Archer White ’17 and Andy Archer ’16, to reflect on what it was like to grow up in his home and unpack the wins, challenges, and intentional choices that shaped their family. Glenn...

Between practices, homework, and packed schedules, family meals can feel impossible to prioritize. In this episode, we explore why gathering matters more than gourmet and how 5 family meals a week helps children build lasting attachment skills. Ryan Rush, author and pastor at Kingsland Baptist Church, and Heidi Lloyd, high school counselor at Wesleyan, share research and personal experiences about...

Independence was always the goal but letting go isn’t easy. Graduation marks a major transition, and not just for seniors. It is a major milestone for parents, too. In this sweet conversation, our guest are two seasoned parents of adult children who bring a range of expertise to the table to share insight on what it means to prepare your heart for this next chapter. Together, we explore the tensio...

This Mother’s Day, we’re offering a gift to every mom who has ever wondered, “Am I doing this all wrong?” In this special episode, we sit down with author Abbey Wedgeworth to talk about her honest, hope-filled book, Help! I’m Ruining My Kids: A Gospel Guide for the Mom Who is Desperate for Change . Together, we name the heavy reality of mom shame and contrast it with the freedom found in a full, g...

Whether your child is starting at a brand new school or moving into a new building at their current school, making a school change is a big transition for both children and their parents. Today's conversation equips parents to navigate school transitions with empathy, confidence, and a little more grace for everyone in their family. John Creed, Wesleyan's 6th grade boys chair and incoming...

How do stories help children better understand their own emotions? In this episode, we’re joined by children's author Trudy Ludwig, and Dr. Nancy Jones, lower school dean of counseling and student services and director of counseling at Wesleyan School. Trudy and Nancy help us explore the powerful role books play in building emotional insight and resilience in kids. Through shared experiences,...

In this episode, Melissa Thorson, enneagram coach, mom of three, and Wesleyan's executive assistant to the head of school, shares how greater self-awareness can transform your parenting. Discover the unique strengths you bring to your family and simple ways to grow as a parent. Episode References and Show Notes: Suzanne Stabile 's "Road Back to You Peachtree Enneagram

In this episode, two seasoned college admissions officers share insider advice on how families can make the most of campus visits. They break down what to look for before, during, and after a tour, how to ask meaningful questions, and how to keep the experience low‑stress and productive. Whether you’re just starting the college search or deep into it, this conversation offers practical strategies...

As Christians, serving others isn’t just an act of kindness—it’s a reflection of Christ’s love and a response to His call to love our neighbors as ourselves. In this episode, we dive into the heart behind service: why we serve in the first place, how to keep our perspective and motivations in check, and practical ways to begin shaping a servant’s heart in your children from an early age. From simp...

Financial literacy starts earlier than parents might think. In this episode, Wesleyan’s former CFO Billy Coxhead and Smith and Howard CEO Sean Taylor join us to talk about teaching kids to manage money. They share big-picture ideas for naming your family’s financial values and practical ways to help children put those values into action.

We all know that life can bring unexpected and challenging circumstances to navigate as a family. For some families, those challenges may be life altering: the loss of a loved one, a diagnosis that isn't great for a loved one, mom and dad have decided to divorce. These can be important and very intimidating conversations for parents, and we want to get them right. In this episode, we explore pract...

Most parents hope- or even expect- that their children grow into thriving, independent, young adults. But independence doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built little by little while kids are still at home. In this episode, Auburn University’s Dr. Lady Cox and Wesleyan School’s Sarah Peebles join us to explore three real-life snapshots of independence in young adulthood and some simple, practical step...

If you're heading into the end of Christmas break relating to the classic Christmas song lyric, "...and mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again..." then this episode is for you. Things going a little haywire in your house? Feeling like insane things only happen in your family? In this episode, we share hilarious, heartwarming, and downright surprising things kids (and adults!) do tha...

For some adults, the holiday season brings full calendars, long shopping lists, and intense pressure to maintain every magical tradition. In this episode, we talk about why flexibility isn’t a failure of tradition, but often the key to a meaningful holiday. Three parents bring their unique perspectives of celebrating Christmas with multicultural influences, across multiple households, and with cha...

Whether your child dreams of being the next Michael Jordan or just loves the game-day snacks, parenting an athlete comes with its fair share of questions, challenges, and celebrations. One common dilemma: Should my child specialize in one sport? In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Paroli, assistant director of athletics: media at Wesleyan School, and Britt Lee, author and cofounder of Pure Athl...

In this episode, we explore how parents can deepen their family's spiritual life by praying the scriptures with their children—an approach inspired by Dr. Don Whitney’s book Praying the Bible . Discover how this simple yet powerful practice can help your children engage with God’s Word in a meaningful way, cultivate a habit of prayer, and grow in their understanding of scripture. Whether your...

If your child is starting to ask for a phone—and you’re not sure you’re ready—this episode is for you. Whether you’re standing on the edge of those conversations or already navigating screen-time battles, it’s never too late to pause and think about what’s working—and what’s not. We walk through four key questions every parent can use to guide thoughtful conversations about personal devices, from...

Mornings can feel like a high-stakes juggling act—packing lunches, finding shoes, signing permission slips, and somehow getting everyone out the door on time. In this episode, our guests are Karyn Vickery, director of academic support at Wesleyan School, and Ellen Hill, director of community engagement at the Schenck School . We’ll dive into the chaos of school-day mornings, what makes mornings so...

In this episode, we explore the long game of parenting—how raising children is less about sprinting through milestones and more about pacing ourselves for the journey ahead. Our guest is Chris Cleveland. Chris is the head of school at Wesleyan School and draws on both his 34-year career in education and his own experience being a dad. From maintaining healthy perspective to managing expectations t...