Sometimes what you say and what other people hear can be two very different things.

Maybe you can relate to a young mother from Ohio who wanted her family to be a beacon of hope during the COVID lockdown. She handed chalk to her two boys – ages six and eight – and asked them to write messages on the driveway. She wanted delivery drivers and passersby to be greeted with encouragement and good cheer. Later, when she checked on her kids’ progress, she discovered boys had covered the driveway and sidewalks with messages like, “Stay away!”  “Do not enter!” and “Get lost!”

Misunderstandings like that happen a lot in marriage, too.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting March 27, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Many moms and dads parent out of fear because the challenges their children face seem much greater than previous generations. They feel unsure about guiding their teen through the pressures of social media, depression, anxiety and addiction. They feel even less confident about helping their teen develop a sincere faith.

Jodie Berndt is a Bible teacher and speaker whose latest book is called Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens. She’s with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Praying for Your Teens Heart and Future” to share how to strengthen your teenager’s character for the inevitable crises to come by creating habits of prayer.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting March 19, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Helping children navigate the ever-changing world of technology and social media can be overwhelming. Nevertheless, it’s an important part of today’s parenting agenda. Entertainment consumption shapes who we are, how we think and what we believe. That’s especially true of impressionable children.

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Becoming a Screen Savvy Family,” we’re looking at what God’s word says about teaching children discernment in entertainment choices.

In studio with me are two members of our Plugged In staff.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting March 15, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

I’ve always believed that a child’s first teachers are mom and dad. Most parents understand their role during their child’s preschool years. But once their child begins elementary school, many parents defer a lot of educational responsibilities to teachers and administrators. In short, they step back and let the professionals take over.

Tragically, that’s a dangerous thing to do these days. There is growing dissonance between parents and once-trusted public school systems. Traditional teaching curriculum have been replaced by alarming agendas of liberal politics, social justice, gender confusion and even sexual exploitation.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting March 11, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When my son, Trent, was a teenager, I asked him to rake pine needles out of a rock bed in the front yard. He did a good job, but a couple of times I had to urge him to give a little more effort.  Trent often declared a task “good enough” a bit too soon.

My younger son, Troy, faced a different problem. He was so meticulous, he might have kept on raking pine needles until he’d picked up every last one in the neighborhood.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting March 1, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura