Family Archives - Jonathan's Blog From The Source

Challenge other families to Jonathan’s 15-minute home scavenger hunt

Posted on: 03/24/20 9:57 PM | by Jonathan McKee

Tired of being stuck at home watching Netflix? Tired of your lack of social connection with your friends?

Try this…

Text a group of your friends and challenge their families to “Jonathan’s 15-minute home scavenger hunt.”

It’s simple. Tell them at 7:00 sharp they will all receive a list. At 7PM send them Jonathan’s list (which probably has way more items than any one family can get) and give them these instructions:

In a group text, send ONE picture of as many of these items as you can by 7:15PM Continue reading “Challenge other families to Jonathan’s 15-minute home scavenger hunt”

Posted in Family | Tags: family activities, game night, home scavenger hunt | Leave A Comment

Talking with teens AND parents about social media

Posted on: 08/2/17 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

How can we get teens AND parents to engage in conversation about the devices that are dominating most of their waking hours? (yeah… even parents)

I’ve been teaching parent workshops for about 15 years now, and speaking to teens about 20. But I’ve never done a workshop with them in the same room… until now! This is a subject that needs to be addressed to families, together… in the same room.

This fall when my new book (The Teens Guide to Social Media and Mobile Devices) hits the shelves I’ll be launching my “WISE POSTING IN AN INSECURE WORLD” family workshop. In this two hour workshop I’ll address Mom’s, Dads and kids about something we all struggle with– wisely navigating the digital world. Much like the book, I’ll be asking Continue reading “Talking with teens AND parents about social media”

Posted in Entertainment Media, Family, Parenting, Social Media, Speaking/Training, Youth Culture | Tags: healthy conversation, Jonathan McKee, Parent workshop, social media, The Teens Guide to Social Media and Moblile Devices | Leave A Comment

When Teens Doubt

Posted on: 04/4/17 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

It’s sad, but I hear it more and more each year.

Every weekend at my parent workshops I get at least one question about it… and I constantly receive emails asking the same thing:

What do I do when my teenager tells me they don’t believe in God?

Here’s an email I just received:

Jonathan,

Thank you for all the wonderful ideas and advice! We are taking it all to heart in raising our teens. The question I have is, how do you apply these strategies in your book with a 16 year old who has decided she doesn’t believe in God the way you’ve taught her? She is not going to have the same moral compass you’re wanting her to make decisions from . . . Continue reading “When Teens Doubt”

Posted in Church, Faith, Family, Parenting, Youth Culture | Tags: answers to tough questions, apologetics, christian faith, doubt, faith, parenting, skeptics, teenage doubters | Leave A Comment

On Focus on Family This Wednesday

Posted on: 11/21/16 9:40 AM | by Jonathan McKee

This Wednesday I’ll be on Focus on the Family’s daily broadcast with Jim Daly talking about how to connect with your tech-absorbed kid, and my new book on the subject.

So pop on your local Christian radio station wherever you are Wednesday (in the car driving to Mom and Dad’s for Thanksgiving), and tune in. (You can listen online HERE once the broadcast airs.)
Continue reading “On Focus on Family This Wednesday”

Posted in Books, Family, Parenting | Tags: Focus on Family, help parenting, Jim Daly, parenting, raising teenagers, rules, smartphones | Leave A Comment

Aidan for Vice President

Posted on: 05/17/16 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Last week my brother Thom (pastor, dad, Star Wars nerd…) emailed me asking for ideas for his 10-year-old son Aidan’s Vice Presidential campaign at school. My brother is amazingly creative (many of you know him from his insightful Biblical discussions on the most recent seasons of The Gospel According to The Walking Dead blog… subscribe to those HERE), and sure enough, these presidential campaign ideas were hilarious!

I had to share them with you. Continue reading “Aidan for Vice President”

Posted in Family, Humor | | Leave A Comment

Top 10 Things I Learned After 1 Week in an RV

Posted on: 09/15/15 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Just got back on a really fun trip, just me, Lori and my parents for one week in an RV, traveling 1,000 miles across four states, from Boise, through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

We all had a great time. Here’s what I learned:

Farts are twice as loud in an RV.
Each stop at the gas station required a month’s salary! (Yes, this baby drank like a camel at the pumps!)
Always check the connection on your sewer hose before pulling the “black waste” valve. (Can you say fountain o’ feces?) Continue reading “Top 10 Things I Learned After 1 Week in an RV”

Posted in Family, Humor, Personal | | Leave A Comment

Somethin’ a lil’ different with my teenagers

Posted on: 06/4/15 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

We were bored and looking for something to do for the day, something… different.

20+ years as a youth worker, I go back to my youth worker connections when I want to do something fun with my girls and their friends, so that’s why I called my friend Craig over at Rock-N-Water here in NorCal. So Monday, seven of us went white-water rafting on some Class III rapids.

So fun!!! Continue reading “Somethin’ a lil’ different with my teenagers”

Posted in Family, Parenting, Personal, Travel, Youth Ministry Planning | | Leave A Comment

Death of the Dining Room

Posted on: 11/25/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

As families and friends gather together for the holidays, the big question I have is… where will they gather?

Their dining room?

The kitchen?

It’s funny how much you can tell about a society’s social norms solely from the changes in its home design. Think about it.

Do you have a dining room?
Is your kitchen sink near the social center of your house?
What year was your home built?

Today’s homes have two glaring changes compared to homes from a few decades past Continue reading “Death of the Dining Room”

Posted in Family, Food, Jonathan's Rant, Marriage, Parenting | | Leave A Comment

Ashley’s Unconventional Speech

Posted on: 10/28/14 5:45 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Last Friday night Lori and I got a chance to escort Ashley onto the football field at halftime for the Homecoming “Royal Court” while the commentator read her speech.

I guess I should have know what to expect, knowing Ashley. But here’s what was read while we escorted her in front of hundreds of parents:

“First and foremost, I would like to thank God. He is my everything and the only reason I’m good at anything. Special thanks to my parents. I am blessed by your support for me and the food we eat together is pretty fantastic. Shout out to my best friends Jenny and Makayla; my heart is with you both, always, the Foran Van, and Mimi’s cafe for making those delectable buttermilk spice muffins, for without which I wouldn’t be who I am today!”

It’s just so… Ashley!

Posted in Family, Humor, Parenting | | Leave A Comment