Dates, Mates and Babies with the Vallottons

Jason and Lauren Vallotton sit down with their friend McKenzie Gibson, a labor and delivery nurse, to talk about something that doesn’t get discussed nearly enough: how to prepare not just for marriage, but for a full and meaningful life. In a culture that often treats singleness like a waiting room, McKenzie shares how she’s built a life marked by deep friendship, intentionality, hospitality, and purpose through her 20s and 30s. The conversation dives into the realities of burnout, nervous system overload, and the emotional toll of high-intensity work. McKenzie opens up about recognizing her limits, stepping into a sabbatical season, and why rest can sometimes be one of the wisest choices we make rather than a sign of failure. Together, they explore the importance of building rhythms that sustain your mental, emotional, and spiritual health long before marriage or parenting enters the picture. Jason, Lauren, and McKenzie also unpack the challenges many single adults feel inside marriage-centered communities and how to resist shrinking yourself while waiting for the next season. They talk about friendship as a calling, learning through proximity to healthy families, the power of intergenerational relationships, and why true hospitality is more about making room for people than creating a perfect environment. In this episode: • why preparing for a meaningful life matters as much as preparing for marriage • recognizing burnout, nervous system overload, and emotional exhaustion • how sabbaticals and rest can be acts of wisdom rather than quitting • friendship as purpose, not just convenience • learning about marriage and parenting through close community • what real hospitality looks like beyond hosting dinners • navigating singleness in a marriage-focused culture • building relationships across different ages and stages of life • practical ways to create deeper community and connection • why availability, feedback, and intentional presence matter so much Whether you’re single, dating, married, parenting, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers practical wisdom for building a life filled with healthy relationships, purpose, and connection. Share this episode with a friend, leave a review if it encouraged you, and let us know: what part of building a life you love feels hardest right now? Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Jason and Lauren Vallotton tackle one of the most misunderstood (and avoided) dynamics in relationships: confrontation. They challenge the idea that healthy relationships are conflict-free and instead cast a compelling vision for becoming people who confront quickly and lovingly. Because avoiding conflict doesn’t create peace—it creates fear and chaos. Through honest conversation and practical tools, Jason and Lauren unpack what confrontation actually is, why it feels so intimidating, and how learning to tell the truth with care can strengthen trust in marriage, parenting, friendships, and leadership. This episode is both a mindset shift and a how-to guide for navigating conflict in a way that leads to connection instead of division. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Key Takeaway: Confrontation, when done well, isn’t something to fear—it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to build trust, intimacy, and emotional safety in every area of life. Join the Conversation: Have thoughts about this episode? We’d love to hear from you—share it and let us know what resonated. If you have topics you’d like Jason and Lauren to cover, or questions for an upcoming Q&A episode, you can email them at datesmatesbabies@gmail.com ! Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

In this episode, Jason and Lauren explore how real maturity isn’t about getting more of what you want, but learning to loosen your grip. From parenting and marriage to grief and becoming grandparents, they unpack how surrender shapes relational health, heals fear, and builds a legacy that lasts. Because at some point, growth looks less like striving… and more like letting go. In this episode, the Vallotton's talk about: At the end of the day, surrender isn’t about losing your life—it’s about becoming someone who can love well, live freely, and leave something meaningful behind. Closing question: What do you need to surrender? Resources: Lauren’s upcoming memoir Past the Picket Fence Join the list + read the prologue and first chapter: pastthepicketfence.com Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

In the last episode of Dates, Mates & Babies, Jason and Lauren talked about honoring the one who dared to dream. But dreaming is only the beginning. In this episode, they explore the next phase of the journey: becoming. The dream isn’t usually the problem—and the delay isn’t punishment. Often, the space between dreaming and fulfillment is where the real work happens. As Lauren says, “God cares less about giving you the dream quickly than forming you to carry it well.” Jason and Lauren discuss the gap between desire and capacity—how desire reveals what we want, but capacity determines what we can actually sustain. From marriage to motherhood to calling, many of the things we long for require emotional, relational, and spiritual maturity that takes time to develop. They unpack what becoming actually looks like in real life: conflict that exposes ego, responsibility that reveals control issues, feedback that surfaces insecurity, and hidden seasons where faithfulness grows without applause. As Jason shares, true maturity isn’t just about achievement—it’s about emotional regulation, humility, and consistency. The conversation also addresses common lies we believe during seasons of growth: that we’re behind, that detours mean we missed it, or that if something were meant to be it would come easily. Instead, Jason and Lauren invite listeners to see these seasons as intentional formation, not failure. They close with practical ways to build capacity—growing emotional resilience, staying faithful in hidden seasons, taking ownership of personal triggers, and learning to do small things consistently over time. Because becoming isn’t about striving to be impressive. It’s about growing sturdy enough to carry the life you once dreamed about. Resources: Lauren’s upcoming memoir Past the Picket Fence Join the list + read the prologue and first chapter: pastthepicketfence.com Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

Last week, Jason and Lauren named the disorientation so many women feel in their 30s — when life doesn’t look the way they imagined. This week, they gently trace the story back to where it began. Before there was disappointment… there was dreaming. Lauren reminds listeners that those early dreams weren’t foolish — they were sincere. They mattered. Instead of shaming the younger version of ourselves, maybe we honor her and ask what she was really longing for. In this episode, Jason and Lauren explore: You’ll walk away with practical tools to hold vision without clinging: This episode is tender, grounding, and hopeful — a reminder that the dreaming phase wasn’t wasted. It was forming you. Maybe your dream didn’t die. Maybe it grew up. Resources: Lauren’s upcoming memoir Past the Picket Fence Join the list + read the prologue and first chapter: pastthepicketfence.com Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

In this deeply honest episode, Jason and Lauren Vallotton talk about the quiet disorientation that can surface in your 30s — especially when life doesn’t look the way you thought it would. They open with a vulnerable admission: you can have the life you once prayed for… and still feel unsettled inside it. Lauren shares how her 30s revealed something unexpected — it wasn’t that she needed a better plan. She needed a different version of herself. Together, they explore how what feels like breakdown is often actually recalibration. This episode is for the woman who has checked the boxes, carried responsibility well, made thoughtful decisions… and still feels like something doesn’t quite fit. You are not failing. You are becoming. IN THIS EPISODE, THEY DISCUSS: The Disorientation No One Prepared You For | “This isn’t a breakdown. It’s a recalibration.” Jason and Lauren unpack the “picket fence” script many of us subconsciously follow — the belief that if we do X, life will look like Y. What happens when you do the right things… and it still doesn’t feel the way you expected? They talk about why this tension often surfaces in your 30s — when decisions carry weight, comparison gets louder, and responsibility leaves less room for fantasy. The Three Griefs Nobody Names | “Sometimes the pain isn’t your life… it’s the funeral of the life you expected.” Lauren gives language to three quiet griefs many women carry: Together, they gently ask the question many women haven’t stopped long enough to consider: What are you grieving that you’ve been calling “just stress”? This conversation is tender, grounding, and full of hope. Because sometimes what feels like disorientation isn’t failure — it’s reorientation. And letting go of the dream life might be the very thing that makes room for a truer one. If this episode resonates, share it with a friend who’s navigating her own season of becoming. Resources: Lauren’s upcoming memoir Past the Picket Fence Join the list + read the prologue and first chapter: pastthepicketfence.com Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

This episode is a live recording of Jason Vallotton’s message at Bethel Church on November 30, 2025—a raw, clarifying teaching on God’s Plan for Forming Men, shared in the context of the upcoming BraveCo Rite of Passage Event in Jacksonville February 28, 2026. God has a blueprint for forming men who carry strength, humility, and responsibility into their homes, marriages, and work. That blueprint is both simple and demanding—formed, filled, and finished—and it unfolds through the stages of calling, testing, equipping, and commissioning. In this message, Jason unpacks why being made from dust matters, why being filled with the Spirit is non-negotiable, and why testing isn’t punishment but refinement. Marriage becomes a mirror. Work becomes a training ground. Feedback becomes the tool that confronts ego head-on. Equipping looks like delayed gratification—showing up when you don’t feel like it, choosing peace over pride, and learning to carry responsibility without collapsing under it. Commissioning comes when failure is no longer hidden, but redeemed into testimony that helps other men walk free. The turning point is mentorship. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me and figure it out.” He said, “Follow me, and I will make you.” Jason brings this home through the powerful rite-of-passage story of Caleb, a young man born with club feet who completed a brutal course because a tribe refused to let him walk alone. This is the heart behind BraveCo: men formed in community, forged through challenge, and released with clarity and purpose. This episode is a call to movement—not theory. You’ll hear a practical vision for how men can get connected, equipped, challenged, and sent, and why identity is forged best in brotherhood. Great men aren’t born. They’re built—together. Next Steps And we’d love to hear from you: Where are you in the journey—calling, testing, equipping, or commissioning? Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

In this episode, Jason and Lauren Vallotton invite listeners into a practical and intentional conversation about preparing for the year ahead. As 2026 approaches, they challenge couples and families to move beyond vague hopes and instead position themselves to win through clarity, reflection, and aligned action. This episode is about slowing down long enough to ask the right questions—and taking ownership of what truly matters. In This Episode: • Why having a clear plan is essential for long-term success • How to assess whether you—and your family—are actually set up for success • The importance of defining a target before trying to hit it • Why reflection on the past year is a necessary step before planning the next one • How intentional, dedicated time with a spouse creates alignment and shared vision • Why time is the greatest investment families make—and the importance of knowing where it’s going • The value of shared calendars and shared expectations • How identifying the one thing to do this week can create meaningful momentum Key Questions Jason and Lauren Encourage Listeners to Ask: • Are we living reactively, or are we intentionally aiming at something? • Where is most of our time going—and does that reflect our priorities? • What kind of family culture are we building right now? • What is the one practical step that can be taken this week to move forward? Episode Takeaway: Jason and Lauren believe that success doesn’t happen accidentally—it’s the result of clarity, alignment, and intentional investment. This episode helps listeners reflect on where they’ve been, assess where they are, and take a meaningful step toward building a healthier, more connected 2026. Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

As 2025 comes to a close, Jay and Lauren sit down to reflect on a full and meaningful year—both personally and professionally. From holiday time with family, to celebrating their daughter’s engagement, to the launch of Lauren’s book, and the powerful impact of the BraveCo Rite of Passage event in Florida, this episode is an honest year-end update. They also share what listeners can expect from the podcast in the new year—how their focus is evolving, what they’re excited to explore, and the kinds of conversations they feel most called to lead in the season ahead. Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

This week’s episode is taken from the BraveCo podcast as the Vallotton’s believe the message is SO important for the Dates, Mates, & Babies audience too! From Jason on the BraveCo Podcast: THE BRAVECO RITE OF PASSAGE: https://www.braveco.org/riteofpassage As a pastor, counselor, and dad, I have watched so many young men stumble their way into manhood without a clear pathway. In this episode of the Brave Co Podcast, I break down the stages our sons move through and what it looks like to call them out of boyhood and into manhood with intention. From the “cop” phase with little kids, to mentoring teens, to coaching young men who are 18, 19, and 20 and still living at home, I share real stories from my own life and conversations I have with fathers all the time. I talk about how to shift from controlling your son’s every move to training him to make wise decisions, carry real responsibility, and discover his God-given purpose. You will hear how my dad prepared me for puberty, identity, and independence, why I had to start fighting my own battles, and how those milestones shaped me. Then I walk you through what to do when your son wants to stay at home as an adult, how to set clear expectations, and how to stop enabling him so he can grow into a man who produces more than he consumes. If you are a dad of a teenage or young adult son, this conversation will give you language, courage, and a practical roadmap. I also share why we created the BraveCo Rite of Passage, a 30-hour weekend where fathers and sons encounter God together, push their limits, and mark the moment a boy is called into manhood. Join us February 28 – March 1, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. Get all the details and grab your spot at braveco.org, and do not forget to subscribe, share this episode with another dad, and drop a comment with your biggest takeaway. Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

In this Q&A episode, Lauren and Jason tackle four raw and relatable listener questions that hit at the heart of modern relationships — from rebuilding trust to navigating intimacy, distance, and co-parenting. In this episode, they discuss: 💔 When words cut deep: A wife is struggling to heal after learning her husband once fantasized about other women. Though he’s showing empathy and doing the work, she can’t shake the fear of abandonment. Lauren and Jay unpack how to rebuild safety after emotional betrayal and what healing looks like when your partner’s change feels real — but your heart still hurts. 🌍 Long-distance love: What does it take to make a relationship thrive when you’re miles apart? The Vallottons share their best tips for staying connected across distance — from setting rhythms of communication to keeping emotional intimacy alive (even when FaceTime freezes mid-sentence). 🔥 When sex becomes a struggle: He thinks more sex will fix the problem; she feels pressured and disconnected. Lauren and Jason explore how couples can move from obligation to connection, and why true intimacy starts with emotional safety, not frequency. 👩‍👦 Co-parenting with disrespect: A single mom is raising her son alongside a dad who doesn’t treat her with respect. She’s worried about what her son is learning from their dynamic. The Vallottons discuss how to model dignity, set boundaries, and protect your child’s sense of honor — even when the other parent won’t play fair. Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

In this episode, Lauren and Jason sit down to talk about what it really looks like to lead your family well while carrying leadership responsibilities in ministry, business, and life. Whether you’re parenting toddlers or launching teens, this conversation will help you build a home that’s healthy, connected, and grounded in vision. They share what they learned from blending their family and why the long game of parenting matters so much. Together, the Vallottons unpack the Three C’s that have shaped their own family: 1️⃣ Culture — Build belonging through identity. Every family has a culture. Are you building yours on purpose? Learn how to establish a shared language that gives your kids identity and belonging. 2️⃣ Consistency — Play the long game. Family is formed through repetition, not reaction. Discover how small, faithful rhythms create stability and character over time — even when you can’t see the fruit yet. 3️⃣ Capacity — Lead from health, not hustle. Your home doesn’t need your title; it needs your presence. Jason and Lauren share how they’ve learned to create space for rest, connection, and emotional honesty so their home stays full of life — not burnout. Enjoy! Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

Blending a family isn’t just about making schedules work or learning each other’s habits. It’s about entering into an already-formed culture — one that existed before you. For the stepparent, that often means grieving what you imagined family life would look like, while choosing to restrain yourself from immediately reshaping the environment into “yours.” In this episode, Jason and Lauren Vallotton talk candidly about: If you’re in the thick of a blended family dynamic, you are not crazy and you are not alone. Healing, belonging, and love can grow in the middle of the mess — but it takes time, patience, and a lot of grace. Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

Jason and Lauren have big news to share—their first grandbaby has arrived! 🎉 In this special family update episode, they reflect on the joy of this new season, the surprises of grandparenting while still raising their own 5- and 3-year-old, and what it means to live out relational health across generations. Together, they unpack: The Vallottons remind listeners that family is never static—it’s always growing and reshaping. Whether you’re raising littles, sending teens into the world, or welcoming grandkids, relational health comes down to connection, presence, and legacy. Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

What do you do when staying in your marriage feels unsafe, but separation feels like it might be the end of everything you hoped for? Separation is one of the most raw and tender topics couples face—and for many, it carries fear, shame, and deep confusion. In this episode, pastors and coaches Jason and Lauren Vallotton respond to two courageous listener questions about separation in marriage. With compassion and faith-filled honesty, they explore how to discern when separation is a protective step, what questions to ask in the midst of uncertainty, and how to hold covenant and safety together without feeling trapped by either. They discuss: Jason and Lauren remind listeners that separation is not the end of the story. If you’re walking through a season of uncertainty or pain in your marriage, this episode will bring perspective, permission, and pastoral care. Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

What do you do when your husband’s porn struggle becomes a story you tell about yourself—about not being pretty enough, skinny enough, or desirable enough? For so many women, his brokenness becomes her self-hatred. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this powerful episode, pastors and coaches Jason and Lauren Vallotton share hope and healing for women who are carrying shame that was never theirs to hold. With compassion and clarity, they unpack why porn is not about a wife’s worth, how self-hatred lies to keep women isolated, and what tools actually help rebuild connection and restore identity. Together, they walk through: If you’ve ever felt the sting of comparison or the weight of carrying your spouse’s struggle, this episode is a reminder: you’re not broken, you’re not too much, and your story doesn’t end in shame. Healing is possible—for your marriage, yes, but even more importantly, for you. Resources: Shasta Blue Sky Addiction & Trauma Recovery Services 75. What to do in Marriage Emergencies Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

Every new season brings change—and with it, a sense of disorientation. As human beings, we’re wired for stability and rhythm, so even good change can feel uncomfortable at first. The question isn’t whether change will shake us, but how we walk through it without losing our footing. In this episode, Jason and Lauren Vallotton share practical wisdom for navigating transitions with grace, humor, and hope. From their own stories of job changes and parenting milestones, they remind us that adjustment takes time (sometimes at least two weeks!), and that flexibility is key when fear tempts us to tighten up. They explore: If you’ve ever felt unsettled in the face of change, this conversation will remind you: disorientation is temporary, and you don’t have to walk through it alone. Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

Counseling is incredibly valuable. Jason and Lauren are huge proponents of marriage counseling, coaching and investing in marriage in a way that invites outside input from experts who can give great feedback to help couples grow in their connection. But it’s so common for couples to spend years in sessions and workshops and retreats without ever experiencing lasting breakthrough. Why? Because no matter how good the tools are, they don’t work if certain foundations aren’t in place. In this episode, pastors and coaches Jason and Lauren Vallotton unpack some of the hidden reasons couples stay stuck—even with professional help—and how to create the kind of environment where real change is possible. They explore: This conversation offers fresh perspective and practical guidance for anyone longing for deeper transformation in their marriage. Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

In this episode of Dates, Mates, and Babies with the Vallottons, Jason and Lauren share wisdom from their unique experience raising both adult children and toddlers. Drawing from years of hands-on parenting, they dive into the intentional strategies that shape children into healthy, resilient adults—especially in a world that's vastly different from the one they grew up in. Topics covered include: adultschildrenWhether you're in the toddler trenches or navigating teenage independence, this conversation offers practical tools and timeless vision for parenting with the end in mind. 👉 If this episode encouraged you, share it with a fellow parent and leave a review to help others find our show! Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org

This episode is a vulnerable look into a recent real-life disconnection in the Vallotton's marriage! Every relationship experiences disconnection, but what matters is how we navigate back to each other. Hosts Jason and Lauren Vallotton share a recent experience where two weeks of limited quality time left them functioning as roommates rather than romantic partners. • Jason feeling a lack of nurturing and tenderness in our interactions • Lauren's problem-solving tendency sometimes coming across as harsh or critical • The difference between "disgust" and constructive feedback in communication • How personality differences (Enneagram Two vs Six) affect our relationship needs • The crucial distinction between being good at "partnership" versus "lovership" • Understanding that some relationship patterns can't be fixed in a single conversation • The importance of both acknowledging issues and taking concrete steps toward change The way you start difficult conversations will determine with 80% accuracy how they end. Remember that connection should always be the goal! Patreon If you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you! For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com ! Connect with Lauren: Instagram Facebook Connect with Jason: Jay’s Instagram Jay’s Facebook BraveCo Instagram www.braveco.org