Preacher on the Run…

“Welcome to Middle School”. This was the subject line of an email I recently received. The school my oldest will attend next year sent it. The email might as well have screamed…”Kenny, you are getting old”. Once, I got past the reality of having a middle schooler in a few months, another reality slid to the front of my mind…we are about to embark on another stage of parenting. A time of transition. A time of releasing. A time of preparation.

Parenting has different phases. One author states 4 various stages of parenting: commander, coach, counselor, and consultant. As our children grow our role as parents change. I don’t know about you, but I struggle with change. Having a kid old enough to be in middle school will bring lots of changes – for us and even more so for him. There will be added pressure, decisions, and responsibilities he must make for himself. But there are still plenty we must make for him and make in conjunction with him.

One of those decisions every parent must make at some point as their children get older is not if, but when to get them a phone and what kind. Casey McCall addresses this decision in his article, “You Don’t Have to Give Your Child a Smartphone”. McCall begins by describing some of the most recent research regarding teens, smartphone use, and mental health. He then goes on to diagnose what the problem might be and how their family has chosen to respond.

I love to hear from my readers. What did you think of Casey’s description of the current landscape, the underlying problem, and how they handled it as a family? I’m not saying I agree with everything McCall writes, but the way the article recognizes a problem, seeks to understand underlying issues involved, and addresses it was well thought out. If you are a parent, how have you walked through this discussion? What decision have you made? Why? I’d love to learn from you. As always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day.

Until Next Time…