In this episode Mark and Erin give their dueling "Top 5 Rules for Dating."

But there’s a twist—neither host shared their list before recording, making for an entirely blind, hot-take-heavy conversation.

Before diving into the relationship playbook, the duo catches up on their July 4th weekend and some of the historical 'goings on' in their hometown.

In "This Just In" we give our take on how the FIFA's suspension of the suspension is a masterclass of what not to do for parental discipline—explaining why a severe punishment softened is never as effective as a lighter punishment strictly enforced.

Finally, the countdown in a "He Said/She Said" format. Notable rules include "He's not a Project" and "Don't be Weird."

Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and let us know in the comments: What is your #1 rule for navigating the modern dating world?

Links:

Pew Research Study on Family Faith Dynamics

Episode Summary: Coming Home & Postpartum Realities

In this episode of Terminal Vocation, hosts Deacon Mark and Erin conclude their two-part mini-series. Shifting focus from pre-partum topics, they dive into the joys, anxieties, and practical realities of navigating the postpartum period and bringing a new baby home.

Before diving into the main topic, Mark and Erin catch up on their week, which was dominated by the World Cup:

• Mark and Erin talk about the joy of sports, and ways to make these events more family focused.

• Tournament Predictions: The hosts compare notes on the soccer knockout rounds, discussing the US team's outlook, Paraguay's dramatic shootout upset against Germany, and their conflicting Final Four predictions.

The core discussion kicks off with a look at the immediate hours following delivery, inspired by suggestions from listeners Grace and Chris:

• A Change in Urgency: Mark and Erin note how the medical atmosphere shifts dramatically when moving from labor and delivery to the postpartum unit.

• Advocating for Your Child: The hosts emphasize the importance of speaking up, asking questions, and staying vigilant, recalling a stressful hospital incident where a nurse was wearing someone else's security badge.

• Utilizing Hospital Resources: Because insurance often pushes for a swift discharge, parents are encouraged to take full advantage of on-site resources, such as lactation consultants, to help navigate early feeding challenges.

Transitioning from the hospital to the front door brings a mix of magic and sudden panic:

• The "Now What?" Moment: After the initial beauty of settling into the house wears off, parents are often hit with the sudden realization that they are completely responsible for a newborn human.

• Dividing and Conquering: The hosts stress the value of establishing a clear nighttime game plan for sleep, feedings, and diaper changes so that both parents aren't unnecessarily exhausted by waking up for every single cry.

• Managing Parental Anxiety: Erin reflects on the middle-of-the-night worry common to new mothers and the necessity of balancing those anxieties with a partner's need to sleep before going to work.

• Navigating Paternity Leave: Mark discusses the logistical hurdles of early parenthood during an era when formal paternity leave was not widely available, forcing fathers to rely entirely on accumulated vacation days and visiting family members for support.

Pregnancy is a wild nine months and in this episode we break down some of the things to consider as you prepare for the arrival of a child.

• How to share the news and with whom?
• Picking a doctor
• Dealing with the physical and emotional changes taking place
• Nesting and getting ready
• Delivery

Some things mentioned in this episode:

Study by Binghamton Univ. on Wordle strategy

Article on the risks of hormonal contraceptives

Guide for finding an OB who supports NFP

As we conclude our series on the top 5 challenges that couples face we talk about the ways that religion and politics can become divisive within a relationship. Our most tightly held beliefs can often be something we seek to find in common with others, so how do we balance finding agreement on the big issues while still understanding that a 100% perfect match is not always possible.

We also talk about the World Cup and how different expectations can make one team fire a coach after a 5-1 loss, while another team celebrates their lone goal while losing 7-1.

Continuing our series on the top 5 challenges relationships face we talk about our families of origin and in-laws.

How do we handle overcoming some of our 'core memories' and default settings in order to communicate better with each other?

How do we distinguish between extended families who are involved vs. intruding?

What to do to grow in our love for these people?

We also talk about dealing with kids when they don't want to learn or do something new and how to deal with comments like "This is Stupid!"

Continuing our series on the top 5 challenges in marriage, we cover the topic of sex, and the three categories of how it can be corrupted: Use/Abuse, Infidelity, and Weaponization.

We also talk about waiting until marriage, NFP, and the Blue Origin Rocket explosion.

Part 2 of our series on the top 5 topics that cause challenges for couples -- this week we talk about kids.

Part 1 - We discuss the "Enhanced Games" and what this kind of mentality looks like in parenting. Being an overly permissive parent who just goes along with 'what they're gonna do anyway' is a recipe for problems.

Part 2 - We talk about the important things couples need to discuss about having kids while dating, while engaged, and during those early years of marriage.

Mark and Erin kick off a series on the top issues that couples need to align on and that can be a source of conflict.

This Just In: The recent rash of commencement speakers talking about AI, and subsequently getting booed, is a good reminder of the importance of preparing well for having conversations with our kids about difficult situations for them.

• NPR on AI Commencement Addresses

Topic: We discuss how important it is to be conscious of how we talk about money with our partners from dating, through engagement, and into marriage.

• Who pays for dates?
• How much should a ring cost?
• Joint vs. Separate accounts?
• Using debt
• Spending limits

Other Links:

Net Ministries⁠

Franciscan University