Friendships take effort. They interrupt your perfectly planned Saturday. They call you at inconvenient times. They notice when you’re off and don’t just let it slide. And that can feel like a lot when you're juggling kids, work, and the eternal mystery of what’s for dinner.

You don’t have to nod along to every white-coat opinion out there. In a recent Celebrate Kids podcast, Dr. Kathy gently reminds us that it's okay—good, even—to ask questions. Not every expert is speaking from the same playbook, and not all studies are telling the full story.

The Church isn’t meant to be a museum for the spiritually certain. It’s supposed to be a hospital for the hurting—and that includes doubters.

When churches avoid “tough topics” like gender identity or injustice, kids notice. Silence doesn't feel safe. It feels like avoidance.

But when churches lean in, talk truth, and wrap those truths in grace and compassion, they become what they were always meant to be: a lighthouse in the fog.

It’s not just a nostalgic throwback to our own childhoods; it’s a lifeline for our kids. In a world where screens win too easily, and indoor life feels safe and easy, we’re watching something important slip: our kids' connection to fresh air, creativity, freedom, and the kind of growth that can’t happen with a controller in hand.

There’s something magical about curling up with a book and a kid who leans in close, eyes wide, questions ready, and heart open. In our fast-paced world, reading aloud to our kids might feel like a “nice if we have time” kind of thing. But what if it’s not just nice? What if it’s essential?

Perfectionism is sneaky, especially in the age of filtered posts and flawless highlight reels. But perfection doesn’t build resilience—grace does. When kids learn it’s okay to fail, they also learn they can get up again. That’s what we want them to carry into adulthood—not the fear of falling but the strength to rise.

There’s something quietly powerful about looking back; pausing to trace the steps you’ve taken, the bumps you’ve hit, and the little victories you almost forgot to celebrate. In a world that feels like it’s always charging ahead, reflection might just be one of the most underrated superpowers we can teach our kids, and keep practicing ourselves.

In a world trying to rewrite the story of our kids’ worth in captions and comments, you get to be the voice that says, “I see you. I know you. And God knows you even more.”

Kids don’t grow up all at once. They mature in milestones—and many of those moments are what we call rites of passage. These aren't just Instagram-worthy snapshots; they’re deeply formative experiences that help your child recognize they are growing, changing, and stepping into more of who God made them to be.

Dr. Kathy Koch recently explained that many of today’s students are struggling with motivation and perseverance, not because they’re lazy or “just different,” but because of how their environment has been shaping them. Think about it: if you could fast-forward every boring part of life, avoid anything that felt hard, and customize your entire experience to your likes and dislikes... would you ever choose the hard stuff?

Our kids learn best when they feel heard, known, and respected. And that often happens when we talk about dinosaurs, video games, dreams about the future, or why tacos are obviously better than spaghetti. Dr. Kathy reminds us that trust is the soil where faith grows—and that trust is cultivated when we show interest in their world.

Research keeps stacking up: kids who sleep well show sharper focus, sturdier moods, and springier immune systems, which is pretty much the cheat code every parent wishes for. Yet, healthy sleep can feel like a unicorn between late-night soccer, irresistible streaming cliffhangers, and the glow of devices.

Feedback today is bigger than the living room. It pings in group‑texts, hides in half‑swiped Snaps, and scrolls past in emoji form. Some of it’s gold; some of it’s glitter; plenty of it’s gravel. Our responsibility? Teach kids to pan for the good stuff without losing sight of who they are.

If you’ve been feeling that twinge in your heart, wondering if your kids are getting the grounding they need in a world bombarded by social media, never-ending reels, and flashy headlines, you’re not alone. The truth is, our kids really do need moral frameworks to thrive. But how do we serve up these life lessons in a way that sticks and actually resonates with them? Let’s dive in together, exploring practical ways to equip the next generation with the wisdom and courage they need.

In the episode of the Celebrate Kids podcast that’s above this text, Dr. Kathy Koch stepped into this moment with all the grace and truth you’d hope for. She responded to a trending conversation from a leaked video at North Point Community Church, where youth leaders were being trained to use affirming language for transgender-identifying students aged 11 to 14.

Dr. Kathy wasn’t angry. She wasn’t panicked. But she was clear: Kids deserve the truth. And they need it wrapped in compassion, not confusion.

In a recent podcast, Dr. Kathy Koch shared insights from a Drexel University study, and it gave us something to chew on. The study links too much screen time in toddlers with sensory challenges like low registration, when kids seem “checked out”. Sensory seeking, those "can’t sit still" moments, and behavioral hurdles that can affect how kids connect and learn all increase with more screen time.

The word chores just sounds...like dragging a bag of soggy trash to the curb in the rain. No wonder our kids sigh, stall, and suddenly “forget” how to walk when we mention it. But what if we flipped the script? What if we invited our kids into responsibilities, belonging, identity, and purpose instead of handing out chores?