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.