Introduction to Minimally Acceptable Parents

Introduction to Minimally Acceptable Parents

Author: Benjamin Long January 6, 2019 Duration: 27:44

A podcast documenting our journey through 12 parenting books over 12 months as we tackle being intentional parents. Join us as we explore excellence and attain imperfection!


Benjamin Long hosts Minimally Acceptable Parents, a podcast that trades the pressure of perfection for the reality of trying. Each month, Benjamin and his wife open a different parenting book, testing its advice against the messy, beautiful chaos of their own family life. The conversation spans the practical and the profound, rooted in a Christian perspective that values faith, grace, and connection over checklists. You’ll hear the genuine takeaways, the discarded theories, and the small victories found not in flawless execution, but in showing up. This isn’t about achieving a gold standard; it’s about the shared journey of becoming more intentional, often through missteps and laughter. Tune into this podcast for a candid, relatable look at parenting where spiritual growth and family life intersect, acknowledging that most days, good enough is actually great.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 25

Minimally Acceptable Parents
Podcast Episodes
Sh*tty Mom: Goals, Rants, and Consumerism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:22
We find excellence in career and marriage goals as well as spending time with friends. Then, we attain imperfection with pool lies, laundry baskets, and a rant on pediatric clinic frustrations. We finish discussing our f…
Sh*tty Mom: Only Child, Thank You Notes, & Low-Grade Fevers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:15
We find excellence in date night and extended-family time. Then, we attain imperfection with exploding cars and broken phones. "Sh*tty Mom: The Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us" by Laurie Kilmartin, Karen Moline, Alici…
All Joy And No Fun: Lava Monster, Viking Vampire, & Folk Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:33
We find excellence in father son bonding over imaginary video games & jumping in puddles. Then, we attain imperfection when Oliver and Rolo, our dog, decide to venture out on their own and improvise with some new locks.…
All Joy and No Fun: Summer, Sleep, and Simple Gifts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:25
We find excellence with morning notes and evening dinner, and attain imperfection with poorly timed pool trips and exhausted career crises. Then we introduce "All Joy and No Fun" by Jennifer Senior with a discussion on a…
Grace-Based Parenting: Enneagrams, Fur-Babies & Freedom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:34
We find excellence with our new home & discover our Enneagram types. Then, we attain imperfection with fur baby problems including housebreaking and chewing seatbelts. Then we finish our talk on "Grace-Based Parenting" b…
Grace-Based Parenting: Planes, Puzzles, & Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:15
We find excellence with some much needed "me" time and avocados with everything but bagel seasoning on top, and attain imperfection with some travel anxiety. Then we introduce "Grace-Based Parenting" by Dr. Tim Kimmel wi…
Wild Things: Virtual Fires, Bedtime Follies, & Being Named [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:11
We find excellence in Netflix and virtual fires! Then, we attain imperfection in busy schedules and losing ground with good habits. We wrap up our review of Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys, and discuss the being n…
Wild Things: Peeing Outside, Puberty, & Porn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
*Disclaimer* Although there is no explicit language, this episode contains some mature thematic content many parents may find inappropriate for little ears! We celebrate keeping our cool and Oliver's new school! Then, Ju…