Raising Adults Not Children. Lessons on Faith, Resilience and Real-World Parenting

*Guest:* Mick Wienholt host of When You Look podcast

The Livin’Sky Podcast, Season 3 Episode 6

Parenting with Purpose. Faith, Boundaries and Real-World Skills with Mick Wienholt

What if parenting wasn’t about managing kids but about preparing them for life? What if childhood was meant to be training ground for emotional maturity, communication skills and responsibility?

This is the foundation of today’s episode with Mick Wienholt, a homeschool dad of four whose life has been shaped by profound loss, deep faith and a series of extraordinary events that changed everything about the way he parents.

Mick and his wife live by a powerful philosophy they call “raising adults.” Instead of raising kids who need constant direction, they focus on raising future adults who are capable, confident and connected. This approach influences everything from chores to communication to the rhythm of their home.

SPOTIFY | A PPLE

Why “Raising Adults” Matters

Mick explains that raising adults isn’t about making childhood rigid or overly serious. It’s about teaching small skills early and offering meaningful responsibility in age-appropriate ways. Kids learn to brush their teeth, look people in the eyes, speak clearly, apologize sincerely and contribute to the home.

It builds confidence, emotional maturity and resilience.

The Role of Faith in Parenting

After the stillbirth of his first son, Luke, Mick’s relationship with God went from distant to deeply personal. Grief became the doorway to transformation. His parenting now reflects a belief that children are intentionally created and placed with purpose.

That perspective colors every part of their home. It creates structure without pressure, boundaries without harshness and an environment where kids feel safe to grow.

Realistic, Connected Mealtimes

Mick and his wife keep mealtimes simple. One menu for the whole family. No short-order cooking. No chaos.

Protein first, veggies second, starch last.

Not with pressure but with predictable rhythms.

This supports blood sugar stability, gut health and calmer behavior. As a picky eating specialist, I loved this part of our conversation. Their consistency is what makes it work.

The Gut Health Connection

Their family watches gut health through behavior, digestion and energy. Mick shares how dairy affects constipation for their kids and how sugar impacts mood and immune response.

Everything is observed with curiosity, not fear.

Grief, Gratitude and Growing as a Father

Losing a child changes everything. For Mick, it deepened gratitude, softened his heart and shifted the way he shows up for all his children. He openly shares how this grief shaped his spiritual life and the way he speaks identity and purpose into his kids.

A Near-Fatal Avalanche

At nineteen, Mick survived a devastating avalanche that left him with multiple skull fractures, broken jaws and a life-saving rescue that should not have been possible. The miracle of what happened that day eventually became the foundation of his podcast, When You Look.

The Most Important Parenting Advice

Mick ends with one message.

Your relationship with your partner shapes the emotional landscape your children grow up in.

A peaceful home begins with connection, alignment and emotional safety between the adults.

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