I think we need to get it into our heads so that a big part of parenting is preparing kids adequately

to be able to go out and learn on their own. And that a big part of what we do saying like,

you've got enough of the groundwork and, and more importantly, we have a relationship where you know

that no matter what, there is a channel of communication between us so that whatever happens out there, you can come back and you know, I will help you, I will see you, I will hold you,ival. This is the show that helps you make meaningful and lasting connections with your kids through books. I'm your host, Sarah McKenzie. I'm the author of the Read Aloud

Family, Teaching from Rest, and a growing collection of picture books. And I'm also excited today

because I'm going to introduce you to Dr. Matthew Bruninger. Now, Dr. Bruninger is a father. He's a

clinical psychologist, and he's a speaker. He got his

master's degree in theology from Ave Maria University, and then a doctorate in clinical psychology

from Baylor. And now he works in his clinical practice, helping people to weave psychological

truth with their faith to present like a fuller way to live

Christ-centered in our lives. He's also the author of the book Finding Freedom in Christ,

Healing Life's Harts. Now, I invited him onto the show because I wanted to talk about how we

actually connect with our kids. We do it usually around books here.

We're talking about reading aloud and connecting around books. But also, what do we do when we

mess up? And there is a fracture in our relationship. Also, I wanted to talk about that tendency

so many of us have to want our children to behave or act a certain way because of the reflection

they are on us. I think this is a real struggle for a lot of listeners to this podcast, myself

included. And so we talk about it on today's show.

So Dr. Bruniger, welcome to the show.

So good to be here. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. Yeah. Well, you were one of my son's very favorite professors at Franciscan University of Steubenville. And I mean, listen, that's saying something, you know, to be able to inspire a 20-year-old young man. That means a lot to me. Well, done. It means a lot. Yeah. I take that as a great compliment. So, thank you. Well, since you're five, your father of five, correct? Six. Six. Sorry. Man, I'm a mother of six, so I should know better.

Whenever I hear you speak or read anything you've written, I wonder if what you do as a clinical psychologist also makes it difficult to be a father.

Like, are you perpetually worried about scarring your children?

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