Questioning Expert Opinions with Wisdom and Faith
If you've found yourself thinking, "I just want to do what's right for my kids, but who do I even trust anymore?"—you’re not alone. It feels like expert opinions are flying at us faster than snack wrappers in the minivan. Especially when the topic is something as tender and complex as gender identity.
But here’s the good news: 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.
Take a recent government report, for instance. It recommended hitting pause on treating a child’s gender dysphoria with medical treatments like puberty blockers. Then, Dr. Susan Cressley, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, waved a big caution flag. Her take? That report didn’t represent the full consensus of pediatricians and relied on limited data. Yikes.
Dr. Kathy encourages us to pause, breathe, and look under the hood a bit. Who's funding the study? What's their background? What worldview is shaping their advice? This doesn’t mean tossing out all expert opinions—just making sure we’re not outsourcing our God-given discernment. Because what’s being praised today may be pulled back tomorrow. And we don’t want our parenting to be built on sand.
Gender as God's Intentional Design
Let’s zoom out for a second. Before hashtags and hot takes, there was Genesis 1:27. "Male and female He created them." That’s not just poetic—it’s profoundly grounding. God designed gender with purpose and love, and that design reflects His image.
We’re not talking about putting kids in pink or blue boxes. We’re talking about the kind of celebration that sees each child as intentionally crafted—body, soul, and spirit. From the first sonogram to the stuffed animal aisle, we’re bearing witness to something beautiful: a child’s gender isn’t an accident. It’s a reflection of God’s creativity.
And when culture gets loud and confusing? Scripture gives us a clear, quiet anchor.
Feelings Are Real—But Not the Whole Story
Feelings are real. Full stop. If your toddler has ever melted down because their banana broke in half, you know feelings can feel like the biggest thing in the world.
But as Dr. Kathy wisely points out, feelings aren’t the whole truth. Our emotions come and go—sometimes they lift us, sometimes they confuse us. But our bodies? They’re steady, created with care, and rooted in reality.
When our kids feel unsure about who they are, we don’t have to panic—or preach. Instead, we can talk, listen, and reflect together. Ask, “Have you ever felt one way but later realized something different?” These moments build self-awareness and resilience. They also show our kids that feelings are a part of their story—not the whole headline.
Pair these talks with truth from Proverbs or stories from Jesus' life, and suddenly you're shaping your child’s understanding with wisdom that's stood the test of centuries.
You don’t need a theology degree to affirm your child’s identity with truth. Start with this: Jesus took on a body. He cried, laughed, touched people, walked dusty roads, and after the resurrection, showed His hands and side to prove He was real. (Check out John 1:14 and Luke 24:39.)
Early Christians had to push back against ideas that Jesus’ body wasn’t important. Sound familiar? Today, we hear echoes of that same thinking when culture says the body doesn’t matter—that it’s just a costume we can change. But Scripture tells a different story.
By rooting our parenting in biblical truth, we offer our kids something way better than affirmation—we give them foundation.
3 Practical Steps to Engage Your Kids on This Topic
Open the Dialogue – Don’t overthink it. Chat in the car, over lunch, or before bedtime. Ask questions like, “What makes you feel most like you?” or “Have you ever felt mixed up inside?”
Explore Scripture Together – Read verses that speak to identity, like Psalm 139 or Genesis 1. Ask, “What do you think this says about who you are?”
Teach Critical Thinking – Show your kids how to ask questions about what they hear. Who’s saying this? What might they believe? Does it match up with what God says?
Connecting Using the 8 Great Smarts
Word Smart: Write a letter from God’s perspective telling your child how uniquely He made them.
Logic Smart: Talk about how our bodies give us clues about who we are—just like other parts of creation do.
Picture Smart: Draw or paint self-portraits that show your child’s gifts and God-given design.
Music Smart: Find or create a song about being fearfully and wonderfully made.
Body Smart: Play games or do activities that celebrate their strength, movement, and design.
Nature Smart: Point out how animals, trees, and stars reflect intentional design—and so do we.
People Smart: Role-play conversations where they kindly share truth with others.
Self Smart: Give them a journal and prompts like, “Today I felt ___, but I know God says ___.”
Remember: You're not just raising a child—you're shaping a soul. So give yourself grace, follow God’s lead, and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. Truth isn’t fragile—and your child is more deeply known, loved, and designed than any culture can define.