Rupture and Repair: Embracing the Messy Reality of Parent-Child Relationships

Rupture and Repair: Embracing the Messy Reality of Parent-Child Relationships

April 28, 2026 · 59 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges of parent-child relationships and the importance of preparing children for a fragile world with insights from guests Sissy Goff and David Thomas.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS HERE! The legendary Sissy Goff and David Thomas join us this week. Things get off to a wild start when host Dave realizes that a woman who changed his life decades ago is actually David’s sister. Once the shock wears off, the group discusses the duo’s new book about raising capable kids in a world that feels increasingly fragile. They explore why today’s kids are hesitant to do hard things, like getting a driver’s license, and how the pandemic created a cocoon of safety. You will hear about the importance of practicing flexibility—even if it means causing a dinner table crisis by moving one seat to the left—and why parents must manage their own anxiety while watching their children struggle. From aggressive New York bagel shops to eighth-grade boys sleeping in a gas leak pose, this episode is all about trading protection for preparation. Check out their new book: https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/capablebook Join us: ⁠http://dadville.substack.com⁠ Thanks to our Sponsors: Quince - Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://quince.com/dadville⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Cove - Check out Cove at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://covesmart.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dave Barnes, Jon McLaughlin

Guests: Sissy Goff, David Thomas

Sponsors

Quince, Cove

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: That Sounds Fun Network

Products: Cove, Quince

Books & works: Raising Boys and Girls

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