Do you ever feel like you're reacting to your kids in a way you never intended? You're not alone. Our own history and childhood experiences often shape our parenting more than we realize.

In this powerful episode of It Takes a Family, hosts Andy and Kelly are joined by licensed professional counselor and dear friend, Molly Hughes. As a counselor at Eagle Ranch's Wing Center, Molly has seen firsthand how understanding your personal story is the first crucial step toward whole-family healing. She unpacks the core question: How does the family you grew up in impact the family you lead now?

You’ll learn why it’s so important to explore your past, what a genogram (or family tree on steroids) can reveal about your family's patterns, and how birth order might be a key piece of your parenting puzzle.

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• Subscribe to It Takes a Family and follow along each week as we dive in to bring hope and practical ways to heal.

Episode Highlights:

• [01:10] Introducing our guest, Molly Hughes, and her experience at Eagle Ranch.
• [02:29] Molly shares her personal family story, from her childhood to her current family of eight, including twins and adopted children.
• [05:58] How important is it to understand your own personal history and story?
• [08:52] What is a genogram, and why is it a powerful tool for self-discovery?
• [11:51] Does birth order really matter, and how does it impact your personality and parenting style?
• [16:50] How to find introspection and begin exploring your story without a therapist.
• [21:20] A common family dynamic and the challenge of seeing ourselves clearly.
• [23:00] The science behind why your early childhood experiences matter.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with us! We’d love to hear from you. Find us on Facebook and Instagram.
• Learn more about the work of Eagle Ranch at EagleRanch.org.
• If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review to help other families find our podcast!

Every parenting journey has its challenges, but sometimes it feels like we're experiencing more troubles than most. How do we navigate those struggles and find more health and healing for our families?

Welcome to It Takes a Family, a podcast that helps take parenting from desperation to hope. In our very first episode, hosts Andy and Kelly introduce themselves and share the inspiration behind this show, which was born from the understanding that it truly takes a family to raise a family.

We'll introduce our first season, which is dedicated to the whole-family approach of Eagle Ranch, a Christ-centered nonprofit that has helped thousands of families find connection and healing.

Learn More:

• Explore Eagle Ranch's mission at www.eagleranch.org
• Get new episodes weekly by subscribing to the podcast!

Feeling alone in your parenting struggles? It Takes a Family helps take your parenting journey from desperation to hope. Join hosts Andy and Kelly each week as they share practical lessons and insights from experts and other parents who have navigated difficult family circumstances. This season, they’ll break down Eagle Ranch’s proven approach to whole-family healing, from setting healthy boundaries to understanding your child's unique story. You aren’t alone—let's find hope together.