Parenting Archives - Page 6 of 34 - Jonathan's Blog From The Source

Alone

Posted on: 04/24/17 8:09 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Yesterday I sat in a restaurant on my drive back from a speaking engagement and voices grew loud behind me.

“You don’t understand!”

“I understand perfectly. You’re failing.”

The voices were growing loud enough that people at other tables were pausing and awkwardly looking over at the commotion.

I snuck a glance. A teenage boy, probably 16 or 17-years-old, was typing on his phone, trying his best to ignore his mom while she sat across the table from him with her arms crossed Continue reading “Alone”

Posted in Church, Parenting, Youth Culture | Tags: parenting, rebellious teens, sticky faith, teenagers, teens need mentors | 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

Where kids actually adopt their values

Posted on: 03/28/17 10:38 AM | by Jonathan McKee

“My 16-year-old wants Instagram and I won’t let her have it. Is that bad?”

It was an honest question from a mom after one of my recent parent workshops.

“Why don’t you let her have Instagram?”I asked.

“Well… it’s social media, and that’s bad… right?” She replied indecisively.

“When she’s 18 and she goes off to college, do you think she’ll get it?” Continue reading “Where kids actually adopt their values”

Posted in Faith, Jonathan's Rant, Parenting, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Social Media | Tags: bonding, boundaries, helicopter parenting, parenting, parenting teenagers, rebellion, rules, smartphone rules, teaching values | Leave A Comment

Porn in plain sight

Posted on: 03/6/17 11:14 AM | by Jonathan McKee

We’ve all been in the grocery store line at one time or another where we glanced to our peripheral only to see provocative images and headlines paraded across the front of a magazine cover. Of course, now these same periodicals offer online versions as well, clickable from frequented locations like Snapchat (the overwhelming favorite communication choice of young people today, by a landslide).

Do you think your kids ever peek at these?

I asked a handful of kids last week. “When you’re browsing Snap stories and you see an interesting Cosmo or Daily Mail headline… do you click on it?”

Every kid I asked said yes.

Do you have any idea what your teens and tweens are reading? Continue reading “Porn in plain sight”

Posted in Parenting, Sexuality, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Social Media, Youth Culture | Tags: Cosmopolitan, More Than Just the Talk, parenting, Porn, porn filters, sex, sexual imagery, sexually explicit, Teen Vogue | Leave A Comment

Engaging kids in conversations about “Stranger Things”

Posted on: 02/23/17 3:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

I’m loving this new Netflix Discussion page!

Yeah! Using Stranger Things to discuss Luke Chapter 11. Whodathunkit?

A few months ago we announced a brand new resource on our TheSource4Parents.com page … our brand new Netflix Discussions page. The page gives parents ideas for dialoguing about what they watch with their kids on Netflix.

No, we don’t expect moms and dads to sit their kids down and Continue reading “Engaging kids in conversations about “Stranger Things””

Posted in Discussion Ideas, Entertainment Media, Internet, Parenting, TV, Youth Culture | Tags: Bible Study, biblical discussions, curriculum, engaging kids, Netflix, parenting, Stranger Things | Leave A Comment

Mom, is Chance the Rapper a Christian?

Posted on: 02/16/17 10:53 AM | by Jonathan McKee

It’s not something anyone expected to see at the Grammys—a rapper leading worship.

As millions of Americans gathered around their flatscreens this week for one of the most anticipated award shows of the year, they had no idea what was about to take place. One moment Gaga was singing with Metallica. The next moment one of the countless young ladies with a distractingly plunging neckline introduced Chance the Rapper… and a hush fell over the crowd as an angelic voice began singing the words, “How Great is Our God.”

“Pinch me Mildred, but did someone just switch the channels?”

If you missed the moment, then you not only missed Chance the Rapper making history Continue reading “Mom, is Chance the Rapper a Christian?”

Posted in Entertainment Media, Music, Parenting, TV, Youth Culture | Tags: Chance the Rapper, Chance the rapper Christian, hip hop, The Grammys | Leave A Comment

Your stars

Posted on: 02/16/17 4:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

As one of my loyal blog readers, you know I love giving you free stuff and rarely ask you for anything in return.

Today I ask for one simple thing… your stars.

Okay… I guess I’m actually asking you to read my newest book (hundreds of you have already bought it), because that’s the only way you can give it five stars. I’m talking about my brand new parenting book, If I Had a Parenting Do Over. Amazon has it in stock now and I’m asking my readers to simply pop onto Amazon and post a quick review after you read the book.

Here’s what others are already saying about it Continue reading “Your stars”

Posted in Books, Parenting | Tags: 5 stars, amazon, amazon reviews, books, If I had a parenting do over, Jonathan McKee | Leave A Comment

Teens and Sleep Infographic

Posted on: 02/13/17 3:00 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Did you know that kids using electronics during bedtime are 200% more likely to be excessively sleepy during the day?

Last month I just posted some eye-opening research about social media keeping teens awake, and now TeenSafe has created a nice little infographic on the subject. Take a peek Continue reading “Teens and Sleep Infographic”

Posted in Parenting, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Social Media, Youth Culture | Tags: bedtime, distracted teens, keeping kids awake, parenting, screentime, sleep, social media, teenagers | Leave A Comment

Letting kids feel the consequence

Posted on: 02/3/17 8:23 AM | by Jonathan McKee

I’m on the Focus on the Family radio broadcast today with Focus President Jim Daly. They just posted this fun little YouTube clip of a humorous moment talking about how tough it is parenting teens, and when it’s time to just… let it go!

That’s a story right out of my new book, If I Had a Parenting Do Over.

Posted in Humor, Parenting | | Leave A Comment

On FOCUS this Friday

Posted on: 02/2/17 4:30 AM | by Jonathan McKee

Just a quick note to let you know that I’ll be on the FOCUS ON THE FAMILY daily broadcast again this Friday with Focus President Jim Daly and co-host John Fuller.

This time our topic is balancing bonding and boundaries as a parent, offering parents practical advice and encouragement in a discussion based off my brand new book If I Had a Parenting Do Over: 7 Vital Changes I’d Make.

You can listen to the broadcast on your local Christian radio, or use the link HERE online starting Friday.

Enjoy!

Posted in Entertainment Media, Parenting, Smartphones/Cell Phones, Social Media, Speaking/Training | Tags: bonding, boundaries, Focus on the Family, If I had a parenting do over, Jim Daly, Jonathan McKee, parenting, raising healthy kids | Leave A Comment