We’ve all been there: a simple request turns into a power struggle, and before you know it, the "train is off the tracks." In the series finale, Megan Hunt shares how to navigate these moments using the Levels of Engagement framework. Learn why "winning" an argument is never as important as repairing the relationship, and how to turn every conflict into a coaching opportunity that prepares your child for the real world.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Levels of Engagement: A "step-stool" approach to correction.
  • Level 1: Playful Engagement: De-escalating 80% of behaviors with a light touch.
  • Level 2: Structured Engagement: Giving specific choices and "two-second" directions.
  • Level 3: Calming Engagement: Recognizing when the "lid is flipped" and shifting focus from obedience to emotional regulation.
• The "Re-Do" in Action: Why practicing the right behavior is more effective than lecturing about the wrong one.
• The Anatomy of a Repair: Megan shares a vulnerable story about a pajama-time power struggle with her two-year-old and why saying "I’m sorry" is essential, even when you're the parent.
• Reflecting vs. Retaliating: How to move from "re-litigating" the past to "narrating" your child’s feelings to help them feel seen and known.
• Character Coaching: Using correction cycles to identify where a child needs extra support—whether it's self-control, boldness, or gentleness.

Key Takeaways

• Match the Intensity: Use only the level of engagement necessary to solve the problem. Once the behavior changes, "step down" the stool back to playfulness.
• Connect Before You Correct: You cannot successfully correct a child if you aren't in connection with them.
• Repair is the Finish Line: A correction cycle isn't complete until the relationship is fully restored.
• Launch-Ready Skills: Every conflict at home is a "practice round" for the conflicts your children will face as adults.

Meet Our Guest: Megan Hunt

Megan Hunt is a TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) practitioner, elementary school teacher, foster/adoptive mom, and Head Parenting Coach at The Well. She is dedicated to giving parents practical, hope-filled tools to raise kids with grace.

Podcast Catchphrases for Ep 8

"Your goal is that the behavior changes AND the relationship remains intact.""When the lid is flipped, reasoning is gone. Switch to calming engagement.""Repair isn't just a return to where you were; it's often an improvement.""A 'Re-Do' is muscle memory for the heart."

The Levels of Engagement Step-Stool

Level | Strategy | GoalPlayful | Use a silly voice, a challenge, or a joke. | De-escalate and redirect.
Structured | Give two "Yes" choices (e.g., "Pants or shirt first?"). | Return to cooperation.
Calming | Stop the task. Focus on breathing, water, or a quiet space. | Regulate the brain's "fight or flight" response.

Meet Our Guest: Megan Hunt

Megan 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. 

get more free resources at www.gracebased.com 

It is one of the most common misconceptions in parenting: that "punishment" and "discipline" are the same thing. In this episode, Megan Hunt breaks down the profound difference between the two. While punishment often focuses on making a child pay for a mistake, true discipline focuses on teaching them how to do better next time.

Correcting Without Shame: How to address the behavior without attacking the child’s identity.

Holding the Line with Grace: The art of maintaining firm boundaries while remaining your child's biggest ally.

The Power of the Proximity and Tone: How your body language, volume, and word choice can either de-escalate a situation or pour gasoline on the fire.

Meet Our Guest: Megan Hunt

Megan 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 about building healthy family culture and get free resources at www.gracebased.com

Episode 6: The Balancing Act—Nurture & Structure

Finding the sweet spot between "warm and fuzzy" and "rules and results" is one of the greatest challenges in parenting. In this episode, Megan Hunt breaks down why the most effective correction happens when Nurture and Structure are in perfect harmony. When we lean too far into one, we lose the connection; when we balance both, we create a safe harbor for our children to grow.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Golden Mean: Why high nurture plus high structure equals the "Ideal Parent" quadrant in TBRI.
• Handling Resistance with Grace: What to do when your child pushes back against the schedule without losing your cool.
• Flexibility vs. Rigidity: Practical ways to keep the "bones" of your day strong while remaining responsive to your child's needs.

Key Takeaways

• Structure Provides Safety: Kids thrive when they know what to expect. Predictability is a form of love.
• Nurture Provides Access: Without nurture, structure feels like a burden. Nurture is the "oil" that keeps the gears of discipline moving smoothly.
• The "Both/And" Approach: You don't have to choose between being the "fun parent" and the "firm parent."

Meet Our Guest: Megan Hunt

Megan 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 and get free resources at www.gracebased.com 
check out our award winning kids podcast Lightcatchers. wwww.bealightcatcher.com 

Episode 5: Giving Voice—Correction Through Empowerment

Discipline 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 Takeaways

• Connect 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 Hunt

Megan 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.com
check 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.com
www.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.com
www.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.com
www.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 Panic
It’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 Scary

In 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 Healing

Overview: 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.

Grace is essential for raising kids who thrive. But it can be hard to explain, especially to kids. On this episode of the Gracebased Podcast, Cody Kimmel speaks with Shealyn Visser about how to teach kids about God's grace in a way that makes sense to them. Shealyn is a teacher, children's ministry director, mom, and first time author of the book Loved No Matter What!

Cody and Shealyn dig into how to connect with kids, use language they can understand, and ultimately launch kids towards a life filled with grace. You can learn more about Shealyn, as well as purchase her book, at shealynvisser.com.

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 Kimmel

Understanding 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.com

Produced 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 Kimmel

Understanding 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.com

Produced by: The fantastic team at Gum Audio