SHOW / EPISODE

Ep.82: Raising a Messy Family: Michael and Alicia Hernan on Parenting, Faith, and Modern Challenges

Episode 82
1h 28m | May 12, 2026

Meet the dynamic duo behind the Messy Family Project as they discuss the realities of raising a large Catholic family in the modern world. In this episode, Michael and Alicia Hernan share hard-won wisdom, authentic stories, and practical advice on parenthood and faith.


The Hernans’ journey of having 10 kids and 10 grandchildren, and how family shapes faith

The challenges and growth from parenting young children to adults

Parenting in the digital age: screens, technology, and protecting real relationships

The importance of community, learning from others, and avoiding online parenting pitfalls

How to build virtue and positive behaviours in children through realistic expectations and modeling




00:00 Growing up in large families

06:25 Value of sibling relationships

14:22 Balancing faith and family life

21:16 Thoughts on the traditional wife

23:38 Trad wife expectations and frustrations

31:03 Balancing technology and family life

33:59 Concerns about kids and technology

42:06 Teaching kids to take turns

44:12 Parenting through teen transitions




Messy Family Project, parenting, Catholic family, Michael Hernan, Alicia Hernan, large families, raising children, virtue, faith, technology, social media, community, gentle parenting, family life, marriage, New Zealand, Catholic conference, generational wisdom, kids and screens, modern parenting, family vocation

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