Parenting on Purpose: Not by Default
Episode description
In this episode of the Weaponized Marriage Podcast, Dr. Ryan and Kendra Hewitt dive into what it means to parent with intention—and how that journey forces you to confront your own childhood, unhealed emotional wounds, and reactivity patterns. This one’s for you whether you’re knee-deep in diapers or raising teenagers… or even if you don’t have kids, but you're realizing you still need to reparent yourself.
Dr. Ryan opens up about the unexpected emotional chaos triggered by fatherhood, while Kendra shares a moving story of emotional regulation with their daughter Lily that reveals how generational patterns show up in real time. Together, they discuss:
Why parenting is one of the most powerful mirrors for healing your inner child
How reactivity differs from healthy response—and what to do when your kid triggers your past
The power of family meetings and “parenting on purpose” conversations
Tools for emotional regulation, including routines, breathwork, and core grounding practices
How to unify as a couple and parent from a place of alignment, not default
This episode is filled with real-life examples of what it looks like to grow yourself while raising someone else. Whether you're reparenting yourself, learning to co-parent better with your spouse, or simply trying to show up differently for your kids, this one hits deep.
“Children aren’t behavior problems—they’re mirrors revealing where we need healing.”
Learn more about Kendra Hewitt by visiting the following links:
Learn more about Dr. Ryan Hewitt by visiting the following links: