Just Ask Your Mom

Today, teens report spending an average of over 8 hours/day with screens. Girls, in particular, are experiencing record-high rates of mental anguish, due in part to this shift. How can parents compete with that much input and influence? Our final episode in this 3-part series examines what we can do to "get in their way."

We hear it more and more: how we feel mentally scattered and easily lose our focus, our memory seems fuzzy and we can't concentrate for long. The rates of diagnosed ADHD in the US have catapulted over the past decade. What's going on with our focus?

The dreaded "screen time" issue. How much is too much? What effect does it really have? Join us for this important 3-part series on video games, phones, & screens in the lives of ourselves & our kids. We dive into 3 well-researched books & see what the latest science has to say.

It's one of the universal trials of parenthood--getting your kid to go potty. We take a look at what works & what doesn't, how you know it's time to start, and the cost & need for diapers. Take heart: hardly anyone leaves the nest still hiding behind the living room chair to poop!

One of the first sounds a baby makes is a cry. And there's a lot more where that came from! Childhood comes with a lot of tears, which can be distressing for a parent. What do we do with our kids' feelings of sadness? How can we comfort them without dismissing or hurrying them through their tears?

How is parenting a teenager like watching a trapeze act? We talk with veteran youth minister, David Skidmore, to find out the top things parents need to know about raising a young adult. A dad of three young adult daughters, he weighs in on how parents can foster trust with their kids. An encouraging conversation with so many gold nuggets of wisdom!

One thing is for sure: life brings the unexpected. If you're left flying solo, would you know what to do first or would you flounder in panic? Turns out, there are practical (and not that hard!) things EVERY family needs to do TODAY that can make the unexpected, tragic things in life a little easier.

In our increasingly isolated, individualistic society, how can we better connect with others? The friendships, support, and connection we all crave can be found in the practice of hospitality. What is it and how does it work? How have WE practiced it or been welcomed? And should we care if the floor is swept or there's a pile of laundry on the bed?

While we may have a handle on sports, school, and encouraging our kids' talents, lots of moms and dads figure the spiritual/moral development of their kids will happen naturally. This may be because of our own upbringing or feeling unequipped to take charge in this arena. Our guest is a children's minister with 15+ years' experience in guiding children preschool through grade 6. She runs through her top to-do's for families wanting to make God an active part of their lives.

Monsters under the bed, a dark room, separation: all common childhood fears that are developmentally appropriate for certain ages. We break down fears by age, how to combat them, how to address childhood fears, and what we can do as parents to help our kids through an emotion that can seem overwhelming.