Gracebased Podcast

Episode 5: Giving Voice—Correction Through EmpowermentDiscipline doesn’t have to be a power struggle where someone has to lose. In this episode, Megan Hunt dives into the proactive side of Correction from Connection, focusing on a transformative tool: Giving Voice. By offering choices and sharing power, we don't just manage behavior—we build a bridge of trust that lasts.In This Episode, We Discuss:Defining "Giving Voice": Moving beyond compliance to help children feel heard and valued.The Power of Choice: Why offering two "yes" options can stop a meltdown before it starts.Sharing Power vs. Losing Control: How to empower your child without abdicated your role as a leader.Grace vs. Permissiveness: Finding the sweet spot between firm boundaries and empowering grace.Real-Life Transformation: Megan shares a powerful story of how giving a child a voice turned a high-tension moment into a deepening of their bond.Key TakeawaysConnect Before (and After) You Correct: True discipline is rooted in the relationship, not just the rules.Proactive over Reactive: Giving voice is a tool you use before things escalate, setting your child up for success.Win the Heart, Not Just the Argument: You don’t have to lose the relationship with your children to "win" at discipline.Meet Our Guest: Megan HuntMegan Hunt is a TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) expert, elementary school teacher, foster and adoptive mom, and the Head Parenting Coach at The Well. She specializes in helping parents develop a framework for discipline that prioritizes connection and long-term emotional health.learn more at www.gracebased.comcheck out our award winning kids podcast www.bealightcatcher.com

In this episode Cody and Megan dive deep into the secret super power of parenting: play. They cover questions like: How does play help us connect with our kids on a deeper level? Can play actually help redirect misbehavior or teach new skills? How can families build play into their daily routines without making it another chore?Get more free resources geared for families and kids, including our award winning kids podcast "Lightcatchers" check out www.gracebased.comwww.bealightcatcher.com

In this episode join Cody and Megan discuss, what does it really mean to model good behavior for our kids and why that is much more powerful than lecturing them on good behavior.They also cover questions like: - How can parents know if their expectations are age-appropriate and grace-filled?Raising kids is difficult, and discipline is a needed part of parenting. Cody and Megan give a TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) framework for working with kids and correcting their behaviors. Get more free resources geared for families and kids, including our award winning kids podcast "Lightcatchers" check out www.gracebased.comwww.bealightcatcher.com

In this episode join Cody and Megan discuss, what does it really mean to be emotionally present with our kids? What’s the difference between regulation and co-regulation—and why do both matter? How can parents learn to tune in to their child’s emotional or sensory needs?Raising kids is difficult, and discipline is a needed part of parenting. Cody and Megan give a TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) framework for working with kids and correcting their behaviors. Get more free resources geared for families and kids, including our award winning kids podcast "Lightcatchers" check out www.gracebased.comwww.bealightcatcher.com 

Discipline is a hard, but essential practice in the life of every parent. Join Megan Hunt and Cody Kimmel in this series as they examine attachment styles and how to raise healthy kids. Kids need guidance, correction, and firm boundaries to mature into the adults we all hope they will become. But discipline can also feel overwhelming. If we do it the wrong way, we risk destroying our relationship with our children. If we avoid it, we undermine our ability to help them reach the maturity they need to thrive in the world. With so much at stake, there has to be a better way to discipline our kids.Fortunately, there is. And it actually has nothing to do with the moment correction happens. In order to discipline our kids without destroying the relationship, we have to be correcting them from a place of deep, regular connection.Learn more and get more free resources at www.gracebased.com

Trusting God with the Outcome.This episode is a breath of fresh air for weary or anxious parents. You’ll be reminded that your child’s story is ultimately in God’s hands. Parenting isn’t about controlling results—it’s about being faithfully present and pointing them to hope in Christ. Even if your child struggles, you can walk with them in love, trust, and grace.Learn more and get more free resources at www.gracebased.com

Responding with Wisdom, Not PanicIt’s one thing to believe in grace—it’s another to parent with it. This episode with Aaron and Dana explores how to put grace into practice when kids fail, when they question, or when you don’t know what to say. You’ll get practical examples, language you can use, and tools to stay grounded in love when the conversation gets hard.get more free resources like this at www.gracebased.com

Reframing Sex as Sacred, Not ScaryIn this episode, Aaron and Dana discuss how redemption doesn’t just save our souls it reframes how we see everything, including sex. This episode helps parents show their kids that sex isn’t just something to avoid until marriage, but something to honor as a reflection of covenant love and trust in Jesus. We don’t just point to the past—we invite them into the redemptive future.  get more free resources like this at www.gracebased.com

Creating a Safe Space for Real Talk.Kids need a place where they can ask anything—and not be punished for being curious. This episode offers practical help for becoming that kind of parent. You’ll learn how to have calm, consistent, shame-free conversations, and how to model a faith that’s honest and approachable, not rigid or reactive.learn more and get more free resources at www.gracebased.com

 Helping Kids Understand Brokenness Without Shame.Sin distorts everything—including sex. But rather than teaching about sexuality from a place of fear or disgust, this episode shows how to walk kids through the reality of brokenness in a way that still points to God’s goodness. We don’t avoid the hard parts—we name them, grieve them, and return to the One who restores.Get more free resources like this at www.gracebased.com

Teaching Kids Dignity, Design, and Delight.We live in a world that either over-sexualizes or shames the body. But Scripture tells us something different—our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made. In this episode, parents are encouraged to affirm their child’s physicality with joy and truth, starting early and shaping a theology of the body that honors God’s design.Get more free resources like this at www.gracebased.com 

 Start with Creation, Not Crisis.Your kids are already hearing messages about sex, identity, and relationships every day. Rather than reacting in fear, this episode shows you how to root their understanding in the true story of God: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. You’ll learn how to reframe cultural messages and guide your kids toward trust in the Author of it all.get more resources at www.gracebased.com If you enjoyed this show, like, review and share it! It's the best way to help this grow. Thank you!  

God listens to us, welcomes our honest questions, and meets us right where we are. In the same way, we can create a relational, grace-filled environment for our kids to talk about sex and identity. This episode unpacks how to start the conversation early, stay calm, and lead from trust—not anxiety.Learn more and get free resources at www.gracebased.com

Theme: Parenting Starts with Your HealingOverview: Before we talk to our kids about sex, we need to talk about ourselves. This episode invites parents to reflect on their own story—how pain, pride, silence, or shame from the past may still be shaping how we parent today. Grace creates a safe place to heal, and healing allows us to parent with freedom and presence, not fear.Join Pastors Aaron & Dana Dailey on our latest series: Beyond the Sex Talk—helping parents have honest, shame-free conversations with their kids about sex.

In this season finale, Cody Kimmel and Greg Lunsford discuss developing a servant heart in children as a fundamental aspect of godly parenting. This episode wraps up the season with insights into how servanthood is intertwined with true Christian living and reflects the heart of Jesus.The Goal:Encourage parents to cultivate in their children a heart for service that goes beyond mere actions to become a foundational character trait.Key Takeaways from the Episode: The Big Idea: "Servant heartedness isn't just about giving up things; it's about gaining more through service. It’s love in action." – Cody KimmelUnderstanding a Servant's Heart:Servanthood is presented as the essence of Christian maturity, emphasizing that true service involves personal sacrifice but results in greater personal and communal fulfillment.Biblical Inspiration:The guys discuss the biblical basis for servanthood, including Jesus’ teachings that greatness in the Kingdom of God is marked by serving others. They reflect on Philippians 2:5-8, which describes Jesus’ humility and servanthood as central to His mission.What’s at Stake: Risks of Ignoring Servanthood:Children who focus solely on personal gain miss out on the deep joy and satisfaction found in serving others.A self-centered life contrasts sharply with the biblical call to love and serve, leading to a less fulfilling existence.Benefits of Embracing Servanthood:Cultivating a servant's heart in children leads to richer relationships and a stronger community.Teaches that serving others aligns with Jesus’ example, bringing us closer to living out our faith authentically.Practical Steps for Fostering a Servant's Heart:Involve children in service opportunities that allow them to experience the joy of giving.Use everyday situations to teach the value of putting others first and the joy that comes from selfless actions.Model servanthood through personal actions, showing children that serving is a valued family principle.Conclusion:Cody and Greg reflect on the series and the journey of exploring God's blueprint for families.They emphasize that fostering a servant's heart is about enriching our children's lives and aligning them with God’s purposes.Learn more at: www.GraceBasedFamilies.comProduced by: The dedicated team at Gum Audio

Welcome to this episode of Blueprints! In this episode, Cody and Greg explore how to instill a heart of generosity into kids. Listener Question from Sarah in South Dakota: (3:19) "I'm trying to help my kids develop a generous heart, particularly with sharing their toys, but my eight-year-old gets really upset when asked to share with her siblings. How can I encourage her to enjoy giving without feeling resentful?"The Goal: Encourage children to view generosity not just as sharing objects but as a deeper expression of love and self-giving that enhances the joy and well-being of others.The Big Idea: "Generosity is love lived out. It's about more than sharing—it's about giving of ourselves to improve the happiness and lives of others." – Cody KimmelUnderstanding Generosity: Generosity should be understood as an expansive, loving act that goes beyond material sharing to include time, attention, and care.Biblical Inspiration: The ultimate act of generosity shown by God through the gift of himself on the cross, and this should frame our understanding of giving and love.Behavior ≠ Identity: Teach children that generosity is not about losing what they have but about gaining joy through giving. Help them see that their actions can create positive changes in their environment and relationships.What’s at Stake: The Dangers of Withholding Generosity: A lack of generosity can lead to isolation and missed opportunities for joy and community, as illustrated by negative biblical examples and characters like Ananias and Sapphira.The Benefits of Generosity: Emphasize how living generously can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life, as generosity fosters community, gratitude, and deeper relationships.Practical Steps for Fostering Generosity in Kids: 1. Role Model: Show generosity through everyday actions and explain why you do them—let kids see you giving time, money, or effort and explain the joy it brings you.2. Create Opportunities: Encourage kids to participate in acts of generosity, like donating toys they no longer use or helping a sibling or friend with a task.3. Redo and Practice: Use 'redos' to teach generosity in real-time. If a child reacts selfishly, pause, discuss more generous approaches, and let them try again.4. Storytell: Use stories and scenarios to illustrate the impact of generosity and to help children imagine how their actions can make others feel..Learn more at: www.GraceBasedFamilies.comProduced by: The fantastic team at Gum Audio

Welcome to a special episode of BluePrints, where we invite back Elizabeth Orthmann, LMFT, to explore how parents can instill a heart of gratitude in their children, counteracting entitlement and fostering a positive outlook.THE BIG IDEA: gratitude is a critical and transformative attribute that parents should cultivate in their children to counteract entitlement and promote a positive and abundant outlook on life.Part 1. (00:00-23:15)Understanding Gratitude:Elizabeth discusses the common misconceptions about gratitude and entitlement in children. She emphasizes that gratitude is not merely about being polite but about recognizing and appreciating what others have contributed to one's life.Timestamp: (06:00) - Elizabeth addresses the clinical perspective on gratitude vs. entitlement.Challenges in Cultivating Gratitude:Discussion on the natural developmental stages of children where self-focus is necessary for survival, transitioning to recognizing the needs and contributions of others as they grow.Timestamp: (09:00) - Explanation of how entitlement can be a misinterpreted drive in children.Practical Steps for Fostering Gratitude:Suggestions include storytelling, regular reflections on daily blessings, and involving children in community services to broaden their perspectives and empathy towards others.Timestamp: (18:00) - Elizabeth and hosts discuss practical activities to practice gratitude.Part 2. (23:40-43:23)   4. Children Who Have Been Traumatized and How They Interpret Gratitude.         - How a child thinks about gratitude when they don't have a lot. (32:20)    5. Building Practices of Gratitude with Kids         - evening meal, bedtime, rose, bud, thorn. (37:50)Favorite Quotes from This Episode:"Gratitude transforms how we see ourselves and the world around us. It shifts focus from 'me' to 'we.'""Every little expression of thankfulness, no matter how small, contributes to a larger sense of happiness and fulfillment."Resources: www.gracebasedfamilies.comhttps://storytellerstherapy.com/ (Elizabeth's LMFT practice)

Welcome to this episode of Blueprints!  In this episode, Cody and Greg introduce the concept of humility, a trait often overlooked in a society that may reward the opposite and they hear from Dr Tim Kimmel on how to cultivate humility in the heart of a child. The Goal:Explore how cultivating humility can significantly affect personal growth and family relationships.Discuss practical steps for parents to instill this quality in their children, making it a foundational aspect of their character.Common Misconception:There's a prevalent misconception that humility involves self-deprecation or a lower self-esteem. However, true humility is about recognizing one's own place in the context of God’s creation and others, maintaining a realistic view of one’s strengths and weaknesses.Understanding True Humility:Humility as an honest assessment of one's abilities and limitations in the light of God’s greatness and the contributions of others.The importance of humility in developing other virtues, like wisdom, which is crucial for making sound decisions and fostering healthy relationships.Hear It, Don’t Defend It:The hosts emphasize the value of modeling humility through personal examples and daily interactions within the family.Discussion on how parents can demonstrate humility by admitting their own mistakes and being open to learning from their children.Encourage Regular Practice of Humility and Look for Growth Opportunities:Suggestions on incorporating humility into family life, such as serving others together and celebrating successes without boasting.How to teach children to appreciate their achievements and talents without diminishing others.Favorite Quotes from This Episode:"If we want our children to be wise, we need them to first be humble." – Greg LunsfordKey Points Takeaways:Humility as a gateway to wisdom and deeper relationships.The benefits of humility extend beyond personal growth to include enhanced family dynamics.How humility fosters a learning environment conducive to both parental and child development.Conclusion:Cody and Greg wrap up the discussion by reinforcing the necessity of humility in raising extraordinary kids.They encourage parents to seek wisdom through humility, creating a family culture that values each member's growth and contribution.Learn more at: www.GraceBasedFamilies.comProduced by: The fine folks at Gum Audio www.gumaudio.com

Welcome to this episode of Blueprints! Today's episodes focus is on developing courage in children, particularly in challenging social situations.Question from Carl in Cleveland: (5:00) "My daughter (12) is seeing a kid at her school get bullied. She wants to stand up for her but is worried that other kids will make fun of her. I think in her heart she knows the right thing to do, but it's overwhelming for her.  How can I help her give her courage to stand up for others, while also navigate the social dynamics of being a middle school kid? The Goal: Equip kids with the courage to make ethical decisions, emphasizing the importance of doing the right thing for the right reasons, rooted in biblical values.The Big Idea: "Courage isn't just about facing fears but about embracing the right actions for the right reasons." – Cody KimmelParenting is not just about teaching rule-following but fostering an environment where kids feel empowered to make morally right decisions, even when they are difficult.Biblical Inspiration: Courage as demonstrated by biblical figures, including Jesus and the prophets, who showed that true courage is as much about faithfulness to God’s commands as it is about bravery.Behavior ≠ Identity: True courage involves understanding and embracing the moral reasons behind actions, not just the actions themselves. This means standing up for what is right, even if it is unpopular or challenging.Examples from Scripture: Jesus in the wilderness, facing temptations but choosing to honor God over easy wins, shows the deep love for the long-term good that comes from doing the right thing.What’s at Stake: Overreacting to Fear: Can lead kids to avoid taking stands on important issues, resulting in missed opportunities to bring goodness into the world.Underreacting to Courage Opportunities: Fails to foster a culture of bravery and righteousness that the world desperately needs.The Goal of Parenting: To nurture kids who are not only brave but also understand the deep value and goodness of God’s guidance in making tough choices.4 Practical Steps for Helping Kids Navigate Courageous Decisions: 1. Respond, Don’t React: Encourage kids to take courageous steps by discussing potential scenarios and role-playing responses.2. Separate Identity from Behavior: Reinforce that a child’s worth is not tied to their social standing but to their character and integrity.3. Empathize and Understand: Listen to your child’s fears about standing up for others, affirming that their concerns are valid and understandable.4. Focus on Training Over Criticism: Teach kids why courage is valuable and how it reflects God’s character. Discuss biblical heroes who were courageous and the positive outcomes of their actions.5. Balance Grace and Accountability: Support kids in courageous actions by showing them that doing the right thing, even when hard, is part of living a fulfilling and God-honoring life.Learn more at: www.GraceBasedFamilies.comProduced by: The fine folks at Gum Audio

Welcome to a special episode of Blueprints! Today we're excited to welcome on the show our first ever guest interview. Elizabeth Orthmann is a licensed marriage and family therapist with expertise in trauma, attachment, and parenting.  She joins Greg and Cody to discuss how to build endurance and resilience into kids. Key Takeaways from the Episode:The Big Idea:Discussing the importance of 'enduring with'—how shared experiences of overcoming obstacles can foster resilience in children.Expert Insights:Elizabeth Orthman shares her professional perspective on how endurance can be cultivated in children through parental support and real-life application.What’s at Stake:The inability to endure hardships may lead to poor coping mechanisms in adulthood, making resilience a crucial skill for children to develop.Practical Steps for Cultivating Endurance:Encourage Problem-Solving:Teach children to face small, manageable challenges to build their problem-solving skills and confidence.Create a Supportive Family Environment:Foster a family culture where endurance is valued and practiced, with parents modeling resilient behaviors.Regular Family Discussions:Hold family meetings to discuss challenges and strategies for overcoming them, reinforcing the concept of endurance through collective family experiences.Favorite Quotes from This Episode:"Endurance isn't just about getting through on your own; it's about moving forward together and finding strength in that unity.""Building endurance helps children not just survive but thrive through life's inevitable challenges."Timestamps for Key Sections:Part 1.  0-20:50. - Definition of endurance "bearing suffering (10:38) - Endurance, doing hard things "with" someone: (17:30)Part 2. 21:03-56:30 - Practical ways to build endurance in kids. - What if a kid doesn't have a trusted adult to build endurance with them. (33:00)- How to know when it's become too much for your kid to handle (38:30)- How to choose what to focus on with your kid in building endurance(43:30)Resources: www.gracebasedfamilies.comhttps://storytellerstherapy.com/ (Elizabeth Orthmann's LMFT practice)