This episode revisits one of the most helpful and down-to-earth conversations on the Messy Family Podcast: Family Board Meeting 2.0. It starts with a simple but challenging idea. We put a lot of thought into our jobs, but when it comes to family life, many of us are just trying to keep up. Between work, kids' schedules, and everyday stress, it's easy to drift into survival mode. A Family Board Meeting is a chance to pause, breathe, and get back on the same page. It's not about being perfect or fixing everything. It's about choosing to lead your family with intention. The episode walks through why these meetings matter, how to keep them practical, and how to avoid turning them into a blame-filled marathon. You'll hear encouragement to dream a little, pick a few priorities, write them down, and actually enjoy the process. Think unity, clarity, and maybe even dinner and a glass of wine along the way.

Intentional families don't happen by accident. A Family Board Meeting is about choosing the important over the merely urgent.

The goal is unity, not perfection. Unity is essential for your children and for your own personal growth.

Dream big, plan simple, act now. You can't do everything. That's okay. Choose the top two or three areas that really matter right now.

Failure is part of the process—and that's normal. Fail fast, refine, and keep moving forward.

Make it human—and even fun. You're building a life together, not just a to-do list.

When can we have these intentional conversations? Should we do a FBM course?

Get the course here: https://messyfamilyproject.org/course/family-board-meeting/

Get your free guide here: https://messyfamilyproject.org/guide/family-board-meeting-guide/

What's it really like growing up in a big family?

In this special Hernon kids takeover podcast, Mike and Alicia's children gather around the mic to tell the honest, funny, and heartfelt story of their upbringing. From loud dinner tables and sibling fights to deep bonds, meaningful traditions, and moments of feeling unseen, the Hernon siblings share what shaped them—for better and for worse.

They talk openly about the challenges of a large family, how sibling relationships filled the gaps when parents were stretched thin, and why intentional traditions mattered more than perfection. Along the way, they relive unforgettable childhood stories (including melted crayons, camping disasters, and a legendary vomiting incident), reflect on personality differences, and offer wisdom for parents raising kids today.

This episode is a gift to parents wondering if they're "doing enough"—and a reminder that love multiplies, even when life is messy.

Most of the siblings admitted they didn't always love growing up in a large family—especially as teenagers. But looking back, they see how it built character, resilience, and lifelong relationships.

Several siblings shared moments when they felt overlooked or unseen. Yet the overwhelming takeaway was this: they knew they were loved, even when time and energy were limited.

In a big family, siblings often become secondary parents, confidants, and companions. Those relationships became one of the greatest gifts of their upbringing.

From Christmas breakfasts and dinner games to family retreats and service visits, traditions created a shared story and sense of belonging that lasted into adulthood.

Fighting, disagreements, and personality clashes were part of the family culture. Learning forgiveness, conflict resolution, and reconciliation turned those struggles into growth.

What stood out most wasn't flawless parenting—but parents who cared, listened, showed interest, and tried to be present whenever possible.

• How do sibling relationships function in your family right now? How might you help strengthen them?

• How do you currently handle conflict in your home—and what might forgiveness look like more intentionally?

• What kind of family culture do you hope your children will talk about someday?

Your decisions may not always be perfect, but you can choose to make them together.

In this week's podcast, we dive into one of the most important truths for married couples: you will never make a perfect decision—but you can choose unity. Today's culture urges us to optimize everything with hacks, experts, and AI, yet the real power in family life comes from spouses acting together. We share our own stories of big decisions—moves, career changes, even grad school—and how waiting for unity brought peace and strength to our home.

Join us as we unpack how to stay united: understanding each other's processing style, praying together, deferring in love, and avoiding the trap of needing to win. Your decisions may never be perfect—but they can always be made together. Tune in and strengthen the unity that makes your family thrive!