Episode 163: Growth in the Chaos — How Our Parenting Has Inspired Our Personal Evolution

🎙 Torn Thought: “Parenting stretches us in ways we didn’t expect—growth isn’t optional, but what we do with it is.”

🌱 Theme

Parenting may feel chaotic, lonely, and overwhelming, but it’s also a catalyst for profound personal growth. In this episode, Athena and Mims explore how the chaos of raising kids has shaped their own identities, talents, and resilience.

✨ Episode Highlights

📊 Research Spotlight: 66% of parents surveyed said parenting left them feeling lonely and isolated—yet it became an unexpected path to personal growth.

🎭 Unlikely Passions: From teaching Shakespeare in homeschool co-ops to rediscovering theater, writing, and coaching sports, parenting opened surprising doors.

🏀 Modeling Growth: Showing kids how to try new things (and sometimes fail) sparked hidden strengths in both parents and children.

🕊 Faith & Reflection: How asking hard questions and digging deeper together can create stronger spiritual and emotional roots.

💡 Growth in Weakness: Parenting reveals blind spots—like patience, anger, or guilt—and gives us opportunities to heal and evolve.

🔑 Takeaway

Parenting isn’t just raising children—it’s raising ourselves. Chaos can be the classroom for our greatest growth, if we’re willing to lean in.

🫶 Stay Connected

We want to hear from YOU, Torn Tribe:

What has parenting taught you about yourself?

How has the chaos shaped your growth?

📚 Resources Mentioned

Creative Coaching: A Beginner’s Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball - Learn more about how parenting inspired Athena to write and coach—this guide is a perfect resource for any aspiring youth coach.

Why Parents Are Lonely and How They Can Connect

Read the insightful article from the Greater Good Science Center that inspired this episode.

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