Becoming Something with Jonathan Pokluda
Becoming Something with Jonathan Pokluda

Episode 391: Surviving the First Year of Parenthood

September 28, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Surviving the First Year of Parenthood

A listener named Noah, a 25-year-old new father from a small Texas town, called in with a raw confession: he and his wife had just welcomed their first baby girl, and they were terrified. Not just of the logistics, but of something deeper — a fear that Satan might be using their uncertainty to gain a foothold in their minds. They didn't want to live in fear, but they didn't know how to stop. The hosts, Jonathan Pokluda and his co-host, responded not with platitudes but with startling honesty about their own lowest moments as parents.

The Brutal Reality of Sleep Deprivation

The conversation quickly landed on the hardest part of early parenthood that no one talks about: sleep deprivation. Pokluda described being on all fours on the nursery floor, beating the ground with his fist, crying out to God, "Why do you do this?" He recalled thinking, "There's no possible way everyone goes through this." The co-host echoed the experience: "Sleep deprivation is literally a torture technique. It's what they use to torture people for information." She admitted that she had never questioned God's existence more than during those 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. hours alone with a baby who wouldn't sleep.

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

What you'll learn

  • 1 (07:02) **Noah's Question: The Fear of New Parenthood** - A 25-year-old new dad calls in, admitting he and his wife are overwhelmed and afraid something will happen to their baby.
  • 2 (12:37) **The Mistake of Assuming the New Normal** - The hosts warn against believing the exhausting newborn phase will last forever, sharing their own extreme experiences with sleep deprivation.
  • 3 (14:37) **Why It's So Hard: Dependence Over Google** - The hosts explain that the difficulty is designed to force parents to depend on God rather than on quick, tangible answers.
  • 4 (17:10) **Children Reveal Your Selfishness** - The hosts explain that while marriage is a mirror for selfishness, having children magnifies that mirror a hundred times.
  • 5 (18:36) **Practical Spiritual "Hacks" for New Parents** - The hosts offer specific tactics for maintaining a spiritual life when you have no quiet time.
  • 6 (20:59) **Letting Go of Control Over Your Children** - The hosts address the specific fear of something happening to your kid, emphasizing that you ultimately cannot control them.
  • 7 (23:18) **Don't Pull Away from the Church** - The hosts give a strong directive to new parents: press into community and do not withdraw from the church for months.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Jonathan Pokluda

Show Notes

You have been asking for it, here it is! In this episode JP, Kathy, and Nate answer a listener's question about navigating the chaos of new parenthood — and they have a lot to say! They talk about trusting God with your kids, consistent discipline, keeping your family in church even when it's hard, and why every interruption is actually an invitation. If you're a new parent, expecting, or just trying to figure out how to raise kids who love Jesus, this one's for you!

Becoming Something with Jonathan Pokluda

More from this podcast

Becoming Something with Jonathan Pokluda →