The Whole Person Parenting Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're talking about the "dirty lens" we all carry into parenting—the thoughts and assumptions that color how we see our kids and ourselves. Stress has a funny way of smudging the glass. Suddenly your curious toddler looks "defiant," your emotional tween seems "dramatic," and you're convinced you're failing at this whole...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Val and Presley discuss the "summer cure"—that noticeable shift when children seem happier, more relaxed, and more like themselves once school is out and summer routines take over. From extra sunshine and outdoor play to less pressure and more freedom, we'll explore why summer can have such a positive impact on a child's mental and emotional we...

Send us Fan Mail As parents, we all want our children to see others the way God does, but how do we teach them to notice differences without fear, discomfort, or judgment? In this episode, we explore how diversity reflects God's creativity and design, and why helping our children recognize and appreciate differences is an important part of their spiritual and relational growth. From navigatin...

Send us Fan Mail In our newest and final episode in our series on development, we explore one of the most unexpected transitions in parenting: navigating life as parents of adult children. Together, we discuss the spiritual, relational, and psychological shifts that happen as our role changes from managing and guiding to supporting, trusting, and remaining connected in new ways. We talk honestly a...

Send us Fan Mail The teenage years can feel like a constant push and pull—one moment your child needs you deeply, the next they’re pushing for independence. In this episode, we explore what it looks like to stay close enough to truly know your teen—their struggles, pressures, and questions—without holding so tightly that you hinder their growth into autonomy. We talk about the delicate shift from...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever felt like your once-sweet child has suddenly become a strong-willed, independent, opinionated human who’s slowly taking over your house, you’re not wrong. The teen years can feel like a shift in power, a shift in connection, and honestly, sometimes a shift in sanity. But what if this “takeover” isn’t a problem to solve, but a process to understand? In this episode,...

Send us Fan Mail The tween years can feel like a quiet shift until suddenly, everything seems to be changing. In this episode, Presley and Val take a step back to look at what’s really going on beneath the surface of what is typically an awkward stage of development where your child is not the same little kid you've been raising, and not the teen you've been anticipating.  They're s...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, we step into the elementary years—a season full of growth, curiosity, and deepening relationships—with someone who knows it from every angle. Joined by our very first guest, a veteran educator, and our favorite elementary school principal!  Listen in we bring both professional wisdom and personal insight to the table. Together, we explore the elementary ye...

Send us Fan Mail Between toddlerhood and becoming a "big kid", something remarkable starts happening. Kids ages 4 to 6 are stretching in every direction. This stage of early childhood is full of imagination, big questions, and even bigger feelings. Children are learning how to navigate friendships, manage frustration, test their abilities, and understand the world God placed them in. In...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever noticed that toddlers seem wired to explore everything … and also completely unaware of danger at the exact same time? In this episode of Are We There Yet? , Presley and Val continue their look at the toddler years by stepping into the tension many parents feel: how do we honor our child’s God-given drive for exploration while also setting boundaries that keep them s...

Send us Fan Mail The toddler years are marked by curiosity, movement, and a relentless drive to explore—and Scripture gives us a surprisingly rich place to understand why. In this episode, Presley and Val discuss what it means to support exploration the way God supports us. By returning to the Garden of Eden, they consider how God created humans for curiosity, freedom, and discovery within relatio...

Send us Fan Mail The earliest years of a child’s life are not just about milestones—they’re about relationship . In this episode, Presley and Val explore how God designed infancy and early childhood as a season for deep relational formation between parents and children. From crying and comfort to play, presence, and protection, these early interactions shape a child’s sense of safety, trust, and b...

Send us Fan Mail Parenting often feels like a race toward the next milestone—or a desperate attempt to “fix” what isn’t working right now. In this introductory episode, we invite you to slow down and consider a different question: What if your child’s development is not a problem to solve, but a process God designed? In this episode, we lay the foundation for the entire "Are We There Yet?&quo...

Send us Fan Mail The holidays don’t just bring twinkly lights and cocoa—they also bring opinions . In Part 2 of our Christmas series, Presley and Val are talking about navigating the beautiful, complicated reality of extended family gatherings while staying rooted in the differentiated life God has uniquely called your family to live. From well-meaning comments about your parenting choices to subt...

Send us Fan Mail If “joy to the world” feels more like “stress to the parents” at your house, this episode is your Christmas lifeline. This is the first of our 2 holiday episodes looking at how to choose joy for yourself and your family.  In this episode, Presley and Val remember holiday traditions and consider how holidays are not always the joyous occasions we'd hoped for - oftentimes they&...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The Whole Person Parenting Podcast! In today's we’re jumping into everyone's favorite toxic duo, perfectionism and the fear of failure—otherwise known as “Tuesday” for many parents. So grab your coffee, take a pause from the grind of life, and maybe hold off on tossing that glitter-covered craft your toddler made that you’ve been pretending you like. Toda...

Send us Fan Mail Presley has been reflecting on her own journey with the smart phone and social media as she's been reading a new book for one of her classes, and she's anxious to discuss it.  Listen in as Presley and Val discuss both the mental, relational, and spiritual aspects of our cultural departure from a play-based childhood and the challenges that parents face in this shift.  Be...

Send us Fan Mail Presley and Val continue the conversation on the intergenerational transmission of trauma by discussing two well-known psychoanalytic concepts known as "Ghosts" and "Angels" in parenting, and how they can be considered in Christian parenting. Things are getting spooky as around here!  Episode 4 of The Whole Person Parenting Podcast awaits you! https://frcnca.or...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Presley and Val explore the generational aspects of parenting from what you bring to parenting, to how God works in generational ways. Join us as we journey into spaces where the past meets the present and begin to discover where your own experiences and those of your parents' converge. Episode 3 - here we go! CDC Milestone Tracker App: https://www.cdc.gov/ac...

Send us Fan Mail Presley and Val follow up on a social media comment on emotional regulation and relationships that made an unexpected impression.  As it turns out emotional regulation is not a solo sport, especially in childhood.  But since we all seem to need some help in this area (ourselves included), we're getting practical on how to support the development of emotional regulation in our...

Send us Fan Mail The Whole Person Parenting Podcast is finally a reality!  In today's episode, Presley and Val discuss why they're getting into the wonderful world of podcasting, why we chose the name, and what we're hoping for.  Presley also shares one of their favorite funny memories and they go deep into scripture. How do they do it all in 18 minutes?! Listen in, and find out!  C...