MFP 353: Why are Kids so Anxious?

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Mike and Alicia Hernon : Catholic Marriage Parent and Family

Parenting, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Kids & Family

4.9 • 841 Ratings

🗓️ 13 October 2025

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Why are today's kids more anxious than ever before? Mike and Alicia dive into the growing epidemic of anxiety among children and teens – and how modern parenting, technology, and culture all play a role. Drawing insights from Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation, they explore what happens when we overprotect kids in the real world but underprotect them online.

From overscheduled lives and endless screen time to lack of sleep, nutrition, and authentic relationships, today's children are under tremendous pressure. But there's hope. The Hernons share concrete, faith-filled ways parents can lead with confidence, slow down family life, and raise children who are resilient, humble, and rooted in reality – not comparison.

If you've ever wondered how to calm the chaos and restore peace to your home, this episode offers clarity, conviction, and encouragement for every Catholic parent.

Key Takeaways

Slow down, do less, accept your child for who they are
Have a Consistent bedtime and eat together
Lead your family with confidence
Indoctrinate your children with your philosophy
Teach them humility. Humble kids become content adults
Put them in healthy social environments and enjoy true leisure

Couple Discussion Questions

Look at your schedule and ask yourself WHY - examine each activity and make sure you are intentional about it
Do we think our children are anxious? Why and what can we change?

Resources

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Family, all in this together.
0:08.2	Family, we're taking a chance.
0:10.8	Family, like birds of a feather.
0:13.3	Family, get off my shoes and dance.
0:15.4	Hey, we are Mike and Alicia Hernin.
0:17.4	We have 10 kids and grandkids too, and we are here for every parent. Because we are on a
0:22.2	mission to empower moms and dads to embrace their sacred calling. So join the conversation.
0:28.0	Welcome to the neighborhood. It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Won't you be my neighbor?
0:37.7	We are, there is something going on in our world that I think is troubling to me as a parent
0:46.9	and also somebody who cares about kids and about family life.
0:50.5	Yeah.
0:50.9	And for all of us, right, that there is, whether it's our kids or in the world that
0:56.7	our kids are swimming in, the peers, there is an epidemic, a mental health, uh, crises in our
1:05.1	world today. And especially I think for us being kids who grew up in the 80s, you know,
1:10.7	like I don't remember ever,
1:13.5	really ever, I don't think hearing of kids who dealt with anxiety. Yeah. Like, or kids,
1:20.1	even mental health issues with kids, like, you would be like, you'd hear that and you'd be like,
1:24.2	what are you talking about? It's almost the opposite of childhood. Like, it's just this free
1:27.4	idea of, of, of child. What's the opposite of childhood? Well, like, I think of,
1:31.3	like, the mental health crises or anxiety almost feels like that's, yeah, it would have been
1:38.0	something that would have been seen more for like a stressed out businessman or overworked mom or whatever the situation is.
1:46.6	But you almost like I think naturally, you naturally think of kids as free spirits and more carefree
	...

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