helping children find faith
The unique role of a parent
Ed Drew
Date posted: 29 Dec 2024
I recently stayed with a Christian family. One child is still living at home, their other two are living independently. Their family’s story includes sibling anger, late diagnosis neurodiversity, multiple school moves, and a particularly painful season with one of their teenagers.
It also includes amazing family memories, others in need who have been brought into their home, their enduring trust in Christ, and supportive churches. These are experienced and godly parents!
helping children find faith
Frank conversations around puberty
Ed Drew
Date posted: 1 Jul 2024
I remember hearing my parents talking about me in the next room: ‘He must be going through puberty.’ I felt anger. I felt judged. I felt misunderstood. I must have been going through puberty! Am I the only one who still feels a little awkward saying the word out loud?
It wasn’t until my thirties when I had my penny-drop moment about puberty. A paediatric doctor was on our podcast for parents helping us to think about how we talk to children about their bodies as they grow up. Without any fanfare she said: ‘Puberty is God’s way of preparing our bodies for adulthood.’ I apologise if I am the only one who missed this obvious perspective.
helping children find faith
Handling screen time
Ed Drew
Date posted: 1 May 2024
I led a table at a seminar for parents on tackling screen time, organised by my local secondary school.
For the first discussion, each of the ten parents at my table told a story to illustrate why we were there. We heard about ruined holidays, sexting, repeated arguments ripping apart families, and young people who wander around their home fixed to their hand-held games console. There was a shared sense of despair. Perhaps my group wasn’t representative, but there were eight other tables. I do not see much difference in stories from church families. It is always one of the top questions we are asked in parenting seminars. I suspect in church we might just be less honest about the size of the problem.
helping children find faith
A dagger to the heart: ‘I have no friends’
Ed Drew
Date posted: 1 Mar 2024
For one of my children, there was a three-year period straddling primary and secondary school when bedtime often meant tears.
There were long conversations in which they begged not to go to school. While much of the time was spent clarifying the law on attendance, the problem was not legal, but all about friendship. The words that kept on putting a dagger through my heart were: ‘I have no friends.’ I learnt that naming children in the class like a desperate form of bingo did not help. Nor did organising playdates. Nor did conversations with the teacher, or other parents, or even those other children themselves.
helping children find faith
Parents’ dependent faith
Ed Drew
Date posted: 1 Jan 2024
I have a friend who grew up in Nigeria. As a child, his family would pray before going on a journey across their city.
They never felt sure that they would arrive safely or in good time. Dependence on the Lord was the air he breathed. His parents led him every day in looking to the Lord to provide.
