I love creating episodes of Raising Today’s Kids. It is a project that comes straight from my heart. I have learned and grown so much as I have interviewed guests, analyzed research, and shared my stories. Over the last couple of years I have also been working diligently on another project I am passionate about, called Project STAND. The mission of Project STAND is to prevent exploitation by empowering youth, parents, and school communities to STAND and thrive by using media in healthy ways. In this episode I will tell you more about it and why (with a mix of emotions) I am taking a break from Raising Today’s Kids during 2023 to focus on Project STAND. You can learn more at projectSTAND.org.

If you are a regular listener, you know that I value science and spirituality in my episodes. And they both play a significant role in my parenting. I love learning about and sharing scientific research that can help us guide our children toward the best outcomes, and I love nurturing my children toward that spiritual wholeness that cannot be quantified, and joining you as you do the same for yours. Unfortunately, we live in a secular time when faith and religion are often forced to take a back seat to science, leaving a gaping hole that cannot be filled in any other way. That's why I invited Jared Halverson (religious scholar and creator/host of the podcast, Unshaken Saints), to talk about the important role of spirituality and religious practice in raising today's kids and what we can do to nurture both.

Jen’s painful, beautiful story will teach you about grief and how to help your kids process grief. She will teach you about finding joy during hard times, and something about the purpose of the hard times we go through. As you listen, you will sense the faith that radiates from her. It drives everything she does and gives her a reason to go on.

In this episode, Chris McKenna from Protect Young Eyes, explains why kids are so drawn to screens, why filters don't work on their own, and how to approach tough conversations with our kids. You do not want to miss all of his incredible insights. You will go away with a lot to ponder, but with a very practical approach to taking action in your own family. My favorite takeaway is his idea of leveraging the tech skills my kids have in a way that will benefit our entire family. Thank you, Chris!

You guys, I am so glad you are listening today. You know I don’t typically do episodes this long, but this one is unlike any other and I just couldn’t cut anything out. If you are anything like me, you will laugh, you will cry, you will feel compassion and courage, and so many other emotions. My guest, Tamra, is here to tell a raw and vulnerable story about how, as an adolescent, she chose to place her baby for adoption. And then how, in the midst of his trauma, she was reunited with him 16 years later. It’s not for the faint of heart. It is full of beauty and joy, but also intense pain and heartbreak. It has moved me to tears again and again. Above all, her experience gives incredible evidence of God’s role in our lives and how He has a plan for our children, who are truly His. Whether or not you approach parenting from a Christian perspective or whether you have any personal connection with adoption, Tamra’s story will resonate with you. There are messages for every parent in today’s episode.