EMAIL 1
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Subject Line: Ready or Not, They’re Growing Up!
Dear Parents,
There are certain moments in family life when we come face to face with the fact that things are changing. We sometimes joke that we would like to “freeze time” and keep our kids at a certain age. Well, the reality is that we can’t actually freeze time, and we can’t stop our kids from growing and changing, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing—especially if we lean in and focus on what we can do. And what we can do is celebrate what God has done/is doing in their lives and try to set them up for whatever is next. It’s true that transitioning out of a new grade or school, or ministry can be scary for a child (and for you as a parent). It’s true that our kids (and even us as parents) often have no idea what to expect as they march toward the next stage of life. But it’s also true that we, as parents, can learn how to lead our kids to the next stage of life in a way that causes them to look toward the future with healthy anticipation. It all starts with us choosing to adjust our attitude and learn how to step into the next phase with a sense of joy and trust in the Lord ourselves. This month’s Online Parenting Class video will provide you with some much-needed encouragement and truth to help you lead your family to do just that.
To watch this month’s Online Parenting Class video, click the link below.
[ INSERT LINK TO ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]
Thank you for allowing us to team up with you as you lead your family. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Cheering you on,
[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]
EMAIL 2
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Subject Line: Trusting God Along the Journey
Dear Parents,
One of the hardest things to do as a parent is to learn how to trust. You have to learn how to trust your kids, how to trust others, how to trust yourself, and how to trust God. If we had to rank those, trusting God would need to land at the top. I know it sounds simple, doesn’t it? But we, as parents, often struggle to trust God (especially when it comes to our kids). There are lots of things going on in our culture and changing in the world that cause us to doubt, fear, and hold tight. But, as your kids grow up and move from season to season, you’ll find that no matter the culture or the changing world we all live in, we need to trust God more and more with our everything (especially our kids). This is a month of transitions where your kids might be finishing one grade, moving into an entirely new stage of life, or moving out of a ministry at church.
Check out this month’s blog article that will offer you some Scripture, encouragement, and some practical ideas on learning how to trust God even more through these life changes. And if you haven’t watched this month’s encouraging Online Parenting Class video, you still have time. To read the blog article or watch the video, click on the links below.
[ INSERT LINK TO M2P PARENTING BLOG ARTICLE ]
[ INSERT LINK TO M2P ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]
We are in this together! Let us know if there is ever anything we can do for you or your family.
Praying for you as you lead at home,
[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]
M2P May KIDS Parent Video
Leading the Way to the Next Phase
Obviously, one of the biggest jobs we have as parents is helping our kids learn how to navigate what is ahead of them. I don’t know about you, but as our kids have grown up, I feel like they are changing all the time. It all happens so fast, and they transition from one phase of life to the next in the blink of an eye. These transitions are normal and natural, and we have the opportunity to help our kids be ready for whatever is next.
Now here’s what I know is true. As our kids grow out of preschool and they move into elementary school and beyond, it can be kind of sad. Let’s face it; little kids can be lots of fun with their joy, laughter, and overall carefree mindset. OK, maybe it’s not all fun all the time, but you get my point. They are headed to the dreaded teenage years, which don’t have to be dreaded, but that’s another whole conversation.
As our kids grow up, we can put off the vibe that we are sad that they are progressing. We also go in and out of times of being fearful and anxious about the world they are stepping into. We have to be careful as parents to not project this anxiety onto our kids and help them believe that they are ready for the next phase of life. This next phase could be moving into a new grade, into a new school, or into a new ministry. All of this comes with new experiences, new friends, new coaches, and teachers, and it can all be a bit overwhelming for them.
But let me read to you a piece of scripture that has meant a lot to me for a long time. It’s Philippians 4, and it says this. “Do not be anxious about anything, but with prayer and petition, submit your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” So, as your little ones move into being a little bit bigger ones, don’t be anxious. I know, I easier said than done. There can be a lot to be anxious about. However, our posture comes down to how much we actually trust God to lead and guide our kids. We cannot put a stop to the natural process of growth. We cannot box them up and keep them from all the transitions that are ahead of them. But we can train them as best we can and give them the confidence that they are ready for whatever is next. Balance the fact that it is a big deal that they are stepping into a new phase with the fact that it is normal to step into the next phase.
Help them believe that the fears they have are normal, but they have what it takes to get through it all. A few years ago, I heard a phrase that I started using with my kids whenever I knew they were facing something that might seem a little bit daunting to them. I would say, “I know it’s hard, but you can do it.” If we can both empathize with our kids about their fears and instill in them a belief that, with God’s help, they can get through it, I promise you they will be better in the long run.
And the “with God’s help” part is really important. Back to Philippians 4, we need to present our request to God. We need to ask God to be with our kids as they move into this next phase of life. And the scripture tells us that if we do that, the peace of God, which is bigger than anything we could possibly imagine we’ll guard our hearts. Our kids need to believe that they can do it, and we need to believe that God can do it. There is a peace that we can parent with if we will put ourselves in our family before God.
One more thing about helping our kids move from one phase to the next. We have to recognize that our kids are changing fast, and the kid you are parenting now isn’t the kid you were parenting then. Often as parents, we get stuck in parenting the kid they used to be instead of the kid they are or the kid they are becoming. Again, we do this because we hate to see them grow up. We want to freeze them in time and enjoy them like they are. But they are moving and growing, and they will head to the next phase whether we like it or not. We need to be looking ahead and treating them like either the kid they are now or maybe the kid they are becoming instead of the kid they were. This takes a lot of thought and effort on our part, but I promise you it will help prepare them for the road ahead and increase the likelihood that they will be able to navigate life in a healthy way.
As a parent, train yourself to look forward when it comes to your kids instead of just looking back. Sure, looking back at all of those pictures and memories is a lot of fun, but her kids are headed forward, and the best thing we can do for them is to help them take whatever next step is in front of them and be prepared for the journey ahead.