EMAIL 1
Subject Line: Getting the Help You Need as a Parent
Dear Parents,
Do you ever have one of those days when everything you do as a parent seems to push someone in your home over the edge or just plain make you crazy? It happens. Things begin to go down the wrong path, and you are not quite sure where to turn or what to do. You often need a moment to collect yourself and attempt to get it all together. You also need some direction, help, or ideas that will lead you to a different result.
This month’s Online Parenting Class will encourage you to make sure that you are taking the time to find the resources you need to grow as a parent and give you some ideas about where you can look. There is so much out there that can help you gain knowledge, shift your perspective, or simply give you encouragement as you walk down this parenting road. Ask yourself, “Am I taking advantage of the parenting resources that are out there to help me lead my family well?” Know that we are here to help, and we can point you to some of the resources you need. Don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know what you need or how we can be praying for you and your family.
You likely know this, but as a parent, you play a significant role in the spiritual health, growth, and development of your children. Actually, according to the Bible, you are the primary spiritual leader for your kids. Hearing that may have made you cringe a little or make your hands start to sweat, but the truth is that you are perfectly positioned to be the best spiritual leader your kids could ever have. It’s God’s design.
One way to encourage spiritual growth in your children is to model a strong and consistent faith yourself. Your kids are watching you lead by example as they try to decipher what following Jesus actually looks like. That’s why it’s important for you to spiritually lead them by example. In fact, this month, we are providing you with a Parent Toolbox Resource that will help you do just that. Discipleship Starts At Home: Romans is a resource designed to help you lead your child through a book of the Bible and have spiritual conversations as a family. This study is all done for you and is simple to use. It includes:
▪ Book Summary that comes complete with descriptions of the setting, overview, and theme of Romans.
▪ Daily Reading Plan that breaks each of the 16 chapters of Romans down chapter by chapter into seven themes.
▪ Family Journal sheets help guide the reader’s thoughts through each chapter. Every journal sheet corresponds with a chapter in Romans and provides space to write (or draw), share favorite words, and more. This section creates opportunities for spiritual conversations over dinner, at night before they go to bed, in the car, or anytime the opportunity arises.
To watch this month’s Online Parenting Class video, click the link below.
[ INSERT LINK TO ONLINE PARENTING CLASS VIDEO ]
Cheering you on!
[INSERT LEADER’S SIGNATURE HERE]
EMAIL 2
Copy/ Paste this email into a browser and send it to parents.
Subject Line: Learning and Growing as a Parent
Dear Parents,
Have you ever heard the phrase “leaders are learners?” If not, you have likely heard some version of it. We all know that we have to learn more about the things we are involved with if we are going to hone our craft and get better. We go to conferences, listen to podcasts, and read books that help us in our careers or hobbies. We want to get better, and we take the time to grow and learn.
And those of us who lead at church know that one of the things you want to get better at is parenting. Not only do you want to be a good parent, but you want to be a great parent. It’s the most important role you have, and it’s a big job. Your kids need you, and you need help in order to be the best version of you as you lead and guide them. As you move through life and attempt to learn and grow as a parent, there are lots of resources that can help you along the way. There are books, articles, online classes, and groups you can join. We want to help point you to the resources and help you need to be the parent God has called you to be.
If you haven’t watched this month’s Online Parenting Class Video, you still have time. It will help you think deeper about how you can learn and grow as a parent and point you in a direction you can go to find the help you need. We also have an online article called “Ages & Stages- What To Expect As Your Child Grows” and exercises you can do at home (like this month’s Parent Toolbox Resource, Discipleship Starts At Home: Romans) to help you create the parenting rhythm you need to continue growing and learning. Make sure you are taking advantage of the resources that are available to you, and know that we are always here to help. 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 February KIDS Parent Video Script
I don’t know if this was true for you, but I remember when our first child was born bringing him home and having no idea what to do. There was even this moment a few hours after we got home when his face went blue, it seemed like he couldn’t breathe, and my wife and I were really freaking out. Then, once he did his business in his diaper … all was well, and he actually gave us a smile. If I’m honest, I often haven’t known what to do along my parenting journey, and I’ve needed help. I bet you can relate.
As parents, we all want to be good at parenting. We want to love our kids well and give them the best possible opportunity to be successful in the world. We want them to be healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And in order to do that, we need to always be learning and growing ourselves, giving us the best possible opportunity to be the parents God has called us to be. Over the years, I have heard people say that “leaders are learners,” and I think we would all agree with that. We all know that in our careers or even in our hobbies, we need to be learning in order to be successful. I would argue that the same is true in our parenting. And I might argue that continuing to learn as a parent is one of the most important things you can do. Here’s why: Sometimes you can learn something about something, and you know what you need to know and what you need to do. That often occurs when the environment around the thing you are doing never changes. I’ve learned how to make sourdough bread, and I do the same thing every time, and I get the same results every time, and that’s because nothing around the process ever changes.
But when it comes to our kids and raising them, everything is changing all the time. First and foremost, they are changing. Literally every day, they are changing. Their body is changing, their mind is changing, their emotions are ever-changing, and the kid you are parenting today isn’t the kid you were parenting yesterday or the kid you will parent tomorrow. And then there’s the culture they are living in that is ever-changing, They are around different people each day, they are in different situations each day, and they are being influenced by different things all the time.
So, as parents, we need to be students of our children and students of the culture they are in, and we need to find resources to help us learn and grow. I’m not sure the “I hope we figure it out along the way” approach is a good one.
One of the best resources we can have as parents is other people who are walking with us along our journey. These could be friends from church or wise family members. We need people in our lives to bounce ideas off and encourage us along the way. Connecting with fellow Christian parents in community groups or churches can be a source of tremendous support. Sharing experiences, seeking advice, and praying together can create a network that uplifts and strengthens us in our parenting journey.
There is also an abundance of materials available. Christian parenting books can offer guidance on navigating various challenges, help you learn how to foster a nurturing environment in your home and give you practical ways to instill biblical principles in your family. Take some time to find a book that speaks to the specifics of what’s going on in your family and read it. Short articles can encourage us and give us regular insight as we seek to lead our teens, so create a rhythm of finding articles or blog posts to read regularly. Online platforms and courses tailored for Christian parents provide a convenient way to deepen our understanding of parenting through a spiritual lens. Engaging with these resources can equip us with the knowledge and tools we need to navigate the complexities of raising kids in today’s world while staying true to our Christian beliefs. I know your church wants to help you have the resources you need, so continue to be on the lookout for both what they provide and take the time to find things on your own.
So, as we continue to walk down this Christian parenting path, I would encourage you to actively seek out resources that align with your Christian values, remembering that growing as parents not only is a personal benefit to us but it’s also a gift we give to our children. When we take advantage of all the tools at our disposal, and we become better parents, it has a tremendous impact on our family, and the faith and lessons we pass on could make a difference for generations. Together, let’s embrace the opportunity to continually learn, grow, and deepen our faith and our parenting skills as we navigate the role God has given us to lead our kids.