Join Gino and Julia Barbaro as they welcome USA Today bestselling author Tricia Goyer (90+ books!) and Teach Them Diligently co-founder Leslie Nunnery to the podcast. Discover their powerful new book, “Faith That Sticks,” which offers invaluable guidance on discipling preteens—a crucial yet often overlooked age group. We dive deep into the unique challenges and opportunities of parenting tweens in today’s distraction-filled world, the importance of fostering strong relationships, and timeless principles for building lasting faith.
Key Takeaways:
✅ The Preteen Void: There’s a significant lack of resources for parenting and discipling preteens, an age group facing unique challenges and rapid development that demands intentional guidance.
✅ Relationship is Key: Strengthening and maintaining an open, strong relationship with your children, even when they push back, is crucial for navigating the preteen and teen years and fostering lasting spiritual and personal growth.
✅ Intentionality Over Distraction: Prioritizing family time, traditions, and consistent spiritual input (even when met with resistance) is essential to cut through modern distractions and plant seeds that will yield profound results as children grow into adulthood.
Chapters:
0:00 – Welcome & Guest Introductions: Tricia Goyer & Leslie Nunnery
1:08 – The Inspiration Behind “Faith That Sticks”
2:17 – Why Focus on Discipling Preteens?
3:07 – Parenting Preteens: Common Questions & Misconceptions
4:13 – Raising Kids in Different Eras: Social Media’s Impact
5:50 – The “Emo” Phase & Parental Overreaction
6:57 – The Power of Relationship in Parenting
8:09 – Modern Resources vs. Past Generations
9:01 – Guilt & Imperfection in Parenting
10:37 – Why Preteen Years Are So Crucial
11:47 – Planting Seeds: Tricia’s Foster Kids’ Journey
14:53 – Parents’ Opportunity: Discipling Your Kids
16:06 – The Importance of Structure & Consistency
17:19 – Responding to Kids’ Need for Attention
19:27 – Carving Out Quality Time & Setting Boundaries
22:42 – Maintaining Traditions as Kids Grow
23:42 – The “Work” of Intentional Parenting
What aspect of discipling preteens do you find most challenging in today’s world, and how are you addressing it?
