Your children know. They may not have the word for it. They may not understand what alcoholism is or what addiction means. But they know something is wrong. They have known for a long time. They know because they have watched you tense up when a certain person calls. They know because they have heard conversations you thought were too quiet. They know because they have seen the before and after version of someone they love. They know because they have felt the instability even if nobody ever named it. Children are extraordinarily perceptive. And when we refuse to name what they are already sensing we do not protect them. We just leave them to interpret it alone. And what they interpret without our guidance is almost always worse than the truth. They might decide the person with the addiction is just bad. Or that it is somehow connected to them. Or that this is what all adults are like. Or that they are destined for the same thing. The silence does not shield them. It just shapes them without your input. Naming what is happening age appropriately and honestly gives your child: Language for what they are experiencing. Clarity that it is not their fault. A framework that addiction is a struggle not an identity. And the understanding that God's love covers even this. 💬 Has addiction touched your family in some way? You don't have to share details. Just drop a 🤍 if this one is close to home so we can stand with you in prayer. 🌙 Tonight at 6:30 PM — The actual conversation. How to talk to your child about addiction in an honest, age-appropriate way without destroying their image of the person they love.

A lot of us keep saying, “My child doesn’t listen.” But have we actually trained them how to listen? Listening is not just hearing your voice. Listening means they stop, focus, understand, and respond with action. And that has to be taught. Sometimes our children are not ignoring us because they’re “bad.” Sometimes they are overstimulated, distracted, confused, used to repeated warnings, or they’ve learned that we don’t really mean it until we yell. So today, we’re not just correcting “you don’t listen.” We’re training what listening looks like. Try this: Get close before giving the instruction.Say their name.Make eye contact if they can handle that.Give one clear instruction.Ask them to repeat it back.Then follow through. Example: “Jordan, put your shoes by the door.” Then ask: “What did I ask you to do?” If they repeat it, now you know they heard you. If they don’t do it, the issue is not hearing anymore now it’s follow-through. And parents, this matters because some of us are giving instructions from across the house, while the TV is on, while they’re playing, while we’re already irritated, then we get mad when they don’t move. Slow down and train the skill. Listening is a skill. Following instructions is a skill. Responding without attitude is a skill. And skills need practice. Today’s training step: Pick one instruction and train your child through it calmly. Not a lecture.Not yelling from another room.Not repeating it 12 times. Just clear, close, calm, and consistent. Say this today: “In our home, listening means you stop, hear, and follow through.” Question for today: Where does listening break down the most in your home? A. They don’t stop what they’re doing B. They say “okay” but don’t move C. They argue first D. They act like they didn’t hear you E. You repeat yourself too many times F. You end up yelling before they listen Two more post today on listening coming soon

Because this is not just about behavior… This is about understanding your child AND supporting you as a parent. This week we’re going to talk about: • how to correct behavior without constant battles • what discipline actually looks like with ADHD • how to get your child to listen without repeating yourself 10 times • what to do when they won’t sit, won’t focus, or seem like they don’t care But we’re also going deeper… We’re going to pray over: • the parent who feels overwhelmed • the parent who feels judged or misunderstood • the parent who feels embarrassed in public • the parent who feels like they’re failing • the parent who is tired of being triggered every day Because this journey is not just hard on the child… It is heavy on the parent too. So this week is not just about correction… It’s about support, strategy, and covering your home in prayer. If this is you, drop below: “This is me.”