When parents avoid hard topics, whether it’s violence, despair, or even death, we don’t actually protect our kids; we isolate them. Silence leaves them to make sense of darkness with only their peers, their screens, or their own immature thoughts as guides. That’s not just risky, it’s dehumanizing.

When kids grow up tethered to screens, AI, and social media, they learn to process people as ideas instead of image-bearers of God. They scroll, skim, swipe, and “like” without ever pausing to see the face, the heart, or the soul behind the content. And when people are reduced to pixels, it’s only a short slide into treating others as disposable opinions instead of sacred creations.

Charlie knew his good gifts. He didn’t just stumble into politics; he was built for it. His Creator had woven logic, word, and people smarts into the fabric of his being. And he stewarded them well. Whether speaking to thousands or sitting across from a skeptic, Charlie was persuasive not because he wanted to win, but because he wanted Truth to be known.

God doesn’t mass-produce kids. He crafts them—on purpose, with purpose.

You’re not raising a brand.
You’re raising a soul.

And that soul will flourish when it’s seen, named, and loved for who God created them to be.

It’s therefore important to highlight that social media is designed to capture attention and distract from what God is doing in the broader world. Scrolling feeds, ‘likes’, algorithmic dopamine loops, they’re addictive, even for adults. For developing children, this pattern disrupts deeper inner formation and linking our story to God’s greater story He’s writing in the world.

Transitions—even good ones—create tension. After a summer of freedom, returning to early alarms, new teachers, social pressures, and unknown expectations can feel like whiplash. Predictable routines give kids psychological handrails.

A child who asks AI about anxiety may not want information, they want comfort. A child who asks about dating might not want steps, they want belonging. On the surface, it’s a search box; underneath, it’s a cry for guidance.

Here’s hope: most “behavior problems” are messages. When we listen beneath the noise, we find what kids actually need: security, identity, belonging, and the One who can meet those needs. Jesus cares about the heart more than hacks, and He equips us to parent that way too.

In today’s performance-driven world, value often feels measured in grades, trophies, or test scores. That’s exhausting, for kids and for parents. Maybe you’ve caught yourself saying, “If he just worked harder…” or “If she could just make varsity…” Only later do you realize your child heard: “I’m not enough unless I achieve more.”

More and more parents are navigating tough, emotionally charged questions about gender identity, and many feel unsure how to respond without sounding either dismissive or confused themselves. That’s why this moment matters. We don’t need louder opinions. We need deeper clarity.

If your teen is beginning to question social media, don’t panic.
Don’t rush to fix it.
And definitely don’t dismiss it.

Here’s something wild: resilience grows in the same soil as mistakes. That’s right—errors, flubs, faceplants...they’re not just OK. They’re essential. So next time your kid brings home a not-so-great grade or messes up a friendship, don’t panic. That’s classroom stuff for life.

If your child gets used to taking advice from someone (or something) that doesn’t know them, they may start believing they’re not worth knowing.

One calm, confident conversation can outshout a thousand confusing voices challenging your child’s identity confidence.

In today’s culture, conversations about gender identity and dysphoria are happening earlier and more frequently than many parents ever anticipated. It can feel overwhelming, complicated, and even scary. But it doesn’t have to be. With compassion, clarity, and Christ-centered confidence, we can engage in these conversations well.