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Photo credit: CaptPiper via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC
Parents, this is such an important post by Heidi St. John.
Something very sad but fascinating is happening to us parents in this postmodern era. We’re being lied to.
We’re being told that we aren’t necessary and what’s worse is many are buying into the lie!
After all, they say the “village” can do it better. Well, I’ve seen the village. I don’t want it raising my children.
I call it “culture creep.” I live in a rural (well, it used to be rural) part of Washington State. Slowly but surely, urban sprawl has reached my town. I like the convenience that comes with it; for example, we just got Red Robin and Walmart last year… but I don’t like the traffic. I loathe the congested streets and long lines at the grocery store. I miss the “small town” feel that it used to have at Christmas and the 4th of July.
Culture is the same way. Except that from what I can tell, we’re not benefiting one bit. There are no perks. The culture has it’s own agenda.
Look carefully. It’s creeping up into places where parents should not want it to go.
I just learned the Anne Arundel County Public School District in Maryland has instructed teachers and faculty to let transgender students bunk with other students of the gender with which they identify — and not tell parents.
In a video of a June meeting titled “Supporting Transgender Students in School,” Bob Mosier, the district’s chief communications officer, told teachers and administrators how to handle transgender issues at overnight school-related events:
“Many of you might be asking yourselves, “So I’m at an overnight field trip, and I have student who’s biologically a male, identifies as a female and we’ve worked with that student and her family, and that student wants to sleep in the dorms, or whatever sleeping arrangements are, with the females. They don’t want to sleep in a room by themselves; they want to sleep with the rest of the females. So what do we do?”
And the answer is, they sleep with the females. That’s not the easy answer; it’s the right answer. And in some cases, it’s going to cause issues, because … the private information piece doesn’t allow you to share that with parents of all of the other campers. Right? So that’s difficult.”
Another school official had just explained how such issues relating to a student’s personal information, including identity, are “private” and not to be discussed with other parents.
Oh, and pssst! By the way: since the school values the transgender student’s privacy, make sure no one tells the parents.
This is what I’m talking about.
Since when did we stop valuing a parent’s right to know what-in-the-world is happening with their children? How can parents make wise decisions for their children if information is being purposely withheld from them? How can we protect our kids if we don’t know what they’re being taught or exposed to?
And how is this not infringing on the rights of the other children and their family?
Parents today are being told that kids can make their own decisions (starting in elementary school) on everything from birth control to which gender they want to be. What used to be regarded as a parent’s responsibility is often seen as an infringement on the child.
Here in my state, simple tasks like looking at my 13 yr olds’ medical records require effort, persistence and even permission from my 13 year old. If we want to stay in the race and finish it well, we must refuse to be sidelined.
I understand that there are abuse situations that require different measures, but shutting healthy parents out of the lives of their kids is not the solution. Keeping parents from knowing what is happening with their children at school should not be commonplace! It should be a crime.
When the world says “give up” or “it’s not your business,” I challenge you to stand up for the sake of your child. Go ahead and risk being annoying. Be the mom who knows the names of your child’s friends. Be the mom who asks the hard questions and loves unconditionally.
Be the mom who refuses to be sidelined and instead guides her child in the way of Truth through every stage of growing up, including adolescence.
Our kids need their parents. They don’t need the government or the school system to teach them about the big things in life, they need their parents.
And parents? Today’s parents need the wisdom of Solomon. They need the wisdom that comes straight from God Himself.
Heidi St. John is a speaker, author and writes TheBusyMom.com. Heidi speaks frequently all over the country sharing encouragment and biblical truth with women. Heidi and her husband live in Washington State, where they enjoy life with their seven children.
Heidi believes that today’s mothers need a special kind of strength. We need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We dare not rely on human strength for the battles we’re facing right now.
Becoming MomStrong: How to Fight with All That’s in You for Your Family and Your Faith has a powerful message just for you – the mom in the midst of it all.
As parents, we have to stand up for our rights. Don’t be bullied.
Thanks for reading!
Robyn Gibson says
Thank you for sharing!
Bessie Potter says
This has been creeping in for decades. Slowly, but surely. Where I used to live the school bus driver drove the handicapped transit bus during the summer. She was telling me about a 10 yr old who had been told by the school that no one has the right to tell their child “No”, and if your parent verbally abuses you, call 911 and report the parental abuse. The 10 yr old wanted to go out, at night, with some 17 yr olds, this was after 9 PM. The Dad sad no. Dad spent 4 months in jail. I call Child Services and was told you do not have the right to say squat to your own child. I found that hard to swallow. However, I have noticed in a couple of states that if the child gets in trouble with the law the parent is held accountable and the kids are placed in foster care just because – Hey! Bad parenting is not good for the children and they can be traumatized for life. But also, Child Services get more money from the state and the feds because they have more kids in the system. Just like if Johnny is a daydreamer and looks out the window the kid is called ADHD or something and the school gets more money for having a ‘handicapped’ kid in the school. But you know? In the 70’s Johnny was sent to the principle, the principle gave Johnny a talking too and Johnny went back to class and paid attention. Now? Johnny goes on pills and is ‘handicapped’ for the rest of his life. We have such a lovely system. The thing is, we have been losing our rights on a steady bases over the past 70 or so years, in many areas, and almost no one has noticed.
Jacqueline says
Bessie, what you write makes me deeply sad…we have been losing out for many years and at 65, I have seen the steady erosion for myself. I pray parents will all stand up and resist this terrible intrusion into our private lives. Still, I trust a righteous God knows and will make all right one day for those that look to Him!
Thank you!
Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle says
Thanks Heidi and Jaqueline for helping us to wake up to the culture creep. I feel all sorts of anger reading this and I pray it makes a lot more people angry enough to take back their rights to shepherd and protect and guide their children. Nobody can love a child like a parent. I feel so sorry for the children growing up with confusion and conflicting influences surrounding them.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
Jacqueline says
Ahh! Kathleen, we are kindred spirits in this area! Thanks for the reinforcement, friend!
Roseann Hampton says
Well said! I work for the public school system in Texas and although our school district has not gone to these extremes it definitely feels like we are heading in the wrong direction! Thanks for sharing at The Blogger’s Pit Stop! Roseann from http://www.thisautoimmunelife.com
Jacqueline Cleverley says
I am totally puzzled about the playmobil toys used to illustrate this article! Could you please explain them to me?
Jacqueline says
Jacqueline, there is nothing to explain. It is the photo Heidi St. John chose and I didn’t change it.. Is there something you see that we have missed, something symbolic? Thanks!
SR says
I just mourn for the days when this wasn’t so. No society is perfect, but do we have to destroy all that is good and innocent with our children? Why do they have to know these things at such a young age? Also, are there really that many trans children that this is really a problem or are the powers that be just trying to get on the most current bandwagon? I pray for our society almost daily.