{"id":306750,"date":"2021-02-27T07:00:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-27T12:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/performance-driven-parenting\/"},"modified":"2021-02-27T07:00:04","modified_gmt":"2021-02-27T12:00:04","slug":"performance-driven-parenting","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/performance-driven-parenting\/","title":{"rendered":"Performance-Driven Parenting"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can you raise &#8220;perfect kids&#8221; by being a &#8220;perfect parent&#8221;? Not only is it impossible, but you&#8217;ll bring more harm to your kids the harder you try to achieve perfection. Hear Meg Meeker, Karis Kimmel Murray, Elisa Morgan, and Reb Bradley share their parenting stories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/d2c17sq0nj1f7e.cloudfront.net\/flw2021-02-27.mp3","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:28:00","filesize":"25.64M","filesize_raw":"26883168","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2850,2853,2806],"tags":[2209],"podcast_series":[],"cwp_profile":[9367,3061,3187,3143],"series":[10388],"class_list":["post-306750","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","hentry","category-character-development","category-frazzled-family","category-spiritual-development","tag-parenting","cwp_profile-elisa-morgan","cwp_profile-karis-kimmel-murray","cwp_profile-meg-meeker","cwp_profile-reb-bradley","series-familylife-this-week"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":false,"episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/10\/FLTW-Podcast-Cover-2-1400x1400-1-300x300-1.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/dts.podtrac.com\/redirect.mp3\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/306750\/performance-driven-parenting","player_link":"https:\/\/dts.podtrac.com\/redirect.mp3\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/306750\/performance-driven-parenting","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-this-week","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"CEKBHYIG2c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/performance-driven-parenting\/\">Performance-Driven Parenting<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-this-week\/performance-driven-parenting\/embed\/#?secret=CEKBHYIG2c\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Performance-Driven Parenting&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"CEKBHYIG2c\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"spectra_custom_meta":{"_wp_page_template":["default"],"transcript_url":["https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/flw\/flw2021-02-27.pdf"],"audio_file":["https:\/\/d2c17sq0nj1f7e.cloudfront.net\/flw2021-02-27.mp3"],"transcript_content":["<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Pastor Reb Bradley couldn\u2019t accept that his son wanted tattoos; he was a pastor after all. They needed to part ways, and his son left home. A while later, when the prodigal wanted to come home, well, Reb had some requirements. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> So here is my son\u201420 years old\u2014he was living in Lake Tahoe. He calls me; he says, \u201cDad, I can\u2019t make it up here. I really need to come home. I want to come live with you and go to school.\u201d I said, \u201cThat\u2019s no problem, son; but look, you\u2019re going to be a pastor\u2019s son again at home, if you want to come home, you can\u2019t be\u2014I can\u2019t have people pointing at the pastor\u2019s son, saying, \u2018Don\u2019t be like him.\u2019 You\u2019ve got to wear sleeves to cover your tattoos.\u201d He said to me over the phone, \u201cOkay; never mind then.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> How would it feel if <em>your<\/em> dad had said that to <em>you<\/em>? We\u2019re going to hear more from Reb Bradley, and we\u2019re going to talk about the pitfalls of performance-driven parenting: what it means for the parent <em>and<\/em> the child. We\u2019re going to give some hope and help on this edition of <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Welcome to <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. I\u2019m Michelle <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">Trial<\/a> When I first learned how to cook, I was introduced to a pressure cooker. You use a pressure cooker so that you can cook your food in shorter amounts of time and get it done quicker\u2014so that combination of steam and pressure\u2014and that boils the water at a higher temp. Well, probably the most important part of that pressure cooker is the valve\u2014the valve that makes sure that the pressure doesn\u2019t get to dangerous levels inside of that pot\u2014you know, when the whistle starts? \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> is my wondering, \u201cWhat happens if the whistle doesn\u2019t go off?\u2014it malfunctions.\u201d I\u2019m pretty sure that there would be a nasty explosion; right? It seems to me that a lot of people are under that kind of parenting pressure. Today, we\u2019re going to talk about the substantial pressures facing parents that tend to be caused by perfectionism. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tPediatrician Meg Meeker, who is a good friend of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, is going to set things up for us and let us know just exactly what we\u2019re dealing with. Here is Meg. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Broadcast]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Meg:<\/strong> Many young moms\u2014and many older moms\u2014really have lost their joy in being mothers. They don\u2019t feel valued; they don\u2019t feel they are doing a good enough job, and it makes me very sad because being a mother is such an incredible joy. A lot of the joy has been robbed from us. I think it is because, honestly, of peer pressure\u2014we can talk about that a little bit later\u2014but a lot of mothers feel so much peer pressure to be perfect moms\/to produce perfect kids. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMothers are a fiercely competitive lot. If you go into a new school, and you meet another mother in a class, the first thing you do is sort of size her up: \u201cOkay; what neighborhood is she living in?\u201d Of course, we look at her weight; we always do that\u2014[Laughter]\u2014once we get through that and figure out, \u201cOkay; are we in the same kind of shape?\u201d\u2014then we move onto the kids: \u201cWhat is her child like compared to my child like?\u201d \u201cIs her child in the fast reading group? My child is in the slow reading group.\u201d We go on, and we go on, and we go on; and that\u2019s not what motherhood is all about, but we do that because all our <em>friends<\/em> are doing that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMothers\u2014now, if <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> are at-home moms, they feel, because they are not out earning money, that they need to be super-duper uber moms. They need to have perfect kids; their kids need to be in three extracurricular activities after school, not just one or two. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019ve gotten ourselves to a place where, no matter where we are in life\u2014whether we are full-time at-home moms, part-time moms, or we\u2019re working full-time outside the home\u2014no matter what we\u2019re doing, it\u2019s never good enough. We\u2019re never reaching the mark; we are always falling short, and we\u2019re not happy. Guess what?\u2014if mom ain\u2019t happy in the home, you\u2019ve got a dad who isn\u2019t happy, and a whole lot of kids who are not happy. I see that all the time. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Ooh; ouch! Did those words hit a little too close to home for you? I mean, is that how <em>you\u2019re<\/em> feeling? Well, Meg Meeker should know these feelings well because she has raised four kids, and she has been a pediatrician for 25 years. You can bet she hears, all the time, from some super moms, who are just tired, and can\u2019t seem to meet that mark. That\u2019s the cost of perfectionism to parents. We\u2019re going to hear more from Meg a little later on, because she has some really good points. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo what\u2019s the opposite of perfectionistic parenting? Well, our friends, Tim and Darcy Kimmel, would say it\u2019s grace-based parenting. Karis Kimmel Murray\u2014she is daughter to Tim and Darcy\u2014and she grew up a recipient of grace-based parenting. Karis would say that she\u2019s not graceful\u2014she\u2019s kind of a wrecking ball\u2014it\u2019s <em>not<\/em> a quiet life. So grace-based wasn\u2019t in her plans until she had kids. Let\u2019s listen to Karis explain every parent\u2019s worst nightmare on a shopping trip. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> Broadcast] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Karis:<\/strong> My first trip out of the house, with both of my kids, for about five weeks\u2014because we had been sick, and somebody had been down with some kind of a virus\u2014but we were just out of everything. It was a trip of necessity to go to Walmart<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> with two kids. Any parent listening, who has attempted this, knows what I was walking into. I was racing around Walmart, with both of them in the cart, just trying to get everything so that we could get out of there before they exploded\/two little bombs exploded. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt would <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> maybe, been fine\/I would have made it if my flip-flop hadn\u2019t broken. We went to the shoe department. I just said, \u201cI\u2019m going to buy the first pair of flip-flops that I see. I don\u2019t care if they are the ugliest things on the planet. I\u2019m going to get them, and we\u2019re going to get out of here.\u201d My two-year-old had been  <em>begging<\/em> to get out of the cart\u2014begging\/begging\u2014because my kids see that kind of confinement like total oppression. They just start writing letters to their congressmen; if you have confined them in some way, they launch a campaign. [Laughter] They just think that we are the worst for strapping them into something. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tShe wanted to get out. I had a moment of weakness, and I let her out. I knew, by the look on her face, that I had made a mistake by letting her out. She comes up to a row of shoes; there are shoeboxes lining walls all the way up. She puts her little arms out to either side of this row of shoeboxes, and she holds them out, and she walks kind of resolutely to the other end of the aisle. She knocks every box of shoes off in\u2014I don\u2019t know\u2014retaliation for her confinement and in protest and in rebellion of the fact that we\u2019re not home yet. The Walmart shoe department looked like a bomb had gone off. [Laughter] Metaphorically, it had; yes. I just\/it was in that moment that I just looked at her\u2014and wanted to die out of embarrassment\/wanted to give her a spanking\u2014but I also said, \u201cThis is a child that has needs right now, and she is two.\u201d Yes, that\u2019s just an example of the craziness of life with kids. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014and an example of grace-based parenting. I\u2019m sure you are laughing hysterically, because you\u2019ve <em>lived<\/em> through that scene that Karis just described; or you were horrified, because you lived through that scene that Karis just described. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tParenting is <em>hard<\/em>. And what\u2019s <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> harder?\u2014parenting with grace and realizing that the toddler just had all they could take. Their self-control mechanism just has not fully developed yet, and neither has their way of expressing frustration or anger, because they are two! Give them a break. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFor some parents, who grew up in a broken home, parenting may give you a chance to make right what you feel went wrong; but then there might come a time when you realize that not even your parenting is as perfect as you hoped it would be. That\u2019s what happened to Elisa Morgan. Elisa Morgan is a sought-after speaker, leader, and author on mothering and spiritual formation. She is also the CEO of MOPS International. Elisa Morgan and her husband had the urge to do better when they became parents to two adopted kids, but Elisa quickly found out that being a perfect mom wasn\u2019t as attainable as she thought it would be. Here is Elisa. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>Broadcast] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Elisa:<\/strong> <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">Trial<\/a> she was about three years old, I remember truly one night putting her to bed; and then she called me down the hall to come back; I did\/I had nothing left; I was like, \u201cSeriously? I was so close to getting to watch  <em>ER<\/em> and George Clooney\u201d; and I was just <em>done<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI go back in the room, and I am on empty. It wasn\u2019t a pretty moment; monster mom emerges, and I got through the moment. But I went back to my bed, and I didn\u2019t feel like I deserved mommy time anymore. I found myself praying Hannah\u2019s prayer from \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t1 Samuel, Chapter 3: \u201cFor this child, I prayed. Now, I give her over to the Lord all the days of her life; because you\u2019re going to better a parent than I am, God.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt was like God just pushed at me there and goes, \u201cElisa, do you really trust Me with her?\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cSure; You are God.\u201d It\u2019s like, \u201cWell, do you trust Me to decide if she should get married or not?\u2014or see her through a life-threatening illness?\u201d He pushed me; and He goes, \u201cIf you trust Me with her truly, then do you trust Me to pick for her the very best mother for who I know she will become?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> That commitment you made to God, when she was three years old, is one thing; but you said, 27 years later, you look back on it; that was a watershed moment. In your book, you talk about several additional times when that commitment was put to a severe test. Which test do you think was the most difficult? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Elisa:<\/strong> When she was a teenager, I had a dream. I was walking through a home, and in this home\u2014it was under construction, and Jesus was my tour guide in this dream\u2014He led me through different rooms. He stopped at a bedroom; He said, \u201cThis bedroom is for your daughter.\u201d Then he went to the one right next door to it; and He said, \u201cThis bedroom is for the baby.\u201d I went, \u201cWhat?!\u201d; and I woke up. The next night, truly, I had the same dream repeated: home under construction; Jesus is the tour guide: \u201cThis room is for your daughter; this room is for the baby.\u201d I remember saying, \u201cShe\u2019s not pregnant.\u201d He looked at me and said, \u201cYes, she is.\u201d I, truly, shook this off. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJust a few days\u2014maybe weeks later\u2014I was at MOPS, where I served as the CEO in those days. We were sitting around at a conference table, talking about the formation of Teen MOPS for moms, who were teenagers themselves. I felt God whispered to me, \u201cYou\u2019re going to know more about this than anyone in this room.\u201d I thought, \u201cOh my gosh! I better talk to my daughter.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI went home. I asked my beautiful varsity-swimming medalist\u2014back from a mission\u2019s trip in Kenya, serving HIV orphans; just back from that\u2014I stopped her in the hall, and I just said, \u201cIs there any reason you could be pregnant?!\u201d She looked at me and <em>nodded<\/em>. I\u2014never-before-pregnant me\u2014I get in my car, and go to the grocery store, and get an at-home pregnancy test; and I bring it home. Yes; she\u2019s pregnant. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019m blown away by this. It felt like, to me, that\u2014\u201cI have come from a broken family; and I have given all of my life to creating this perfectly in-tact second family. We\u2019ve spent time with Jesus; we did it right!\u201d\u2014and it felt, to me, like my second family fell and broke again. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> The <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> of love; forgiveness; compassion of a mom, who had chosen this little girl, really came to bear in a big-time way; didn\u2019t they? \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Elisa:<\/strong> Such a long journey and a <em>beautiful<\/em> one, where God began to reveal\u2014in ways that I couldn\u2019t translate, at first\u2014the beauty in broken. My daughter went through this process of this pregnancy\u2014ended up having a baby way early through an abrupted placenta; made the very <em>painful<\/em> <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> but  <em>important<\/em> decision, to relinquish this baby; and then continued with her life\u2014but veered off into some other surprising choices. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p><a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">Trial<\/a> story goes on in our family of my daughter, with another pregnancy, and an accident that changed her life in dramatic ways, an abusive relationship\u2014we go on and on here\u2014and this is not a tie-it-up-in-a-bow story. This is a real life\u2014like everybody listening\u2014story of people, who want to cling to God, and  <em>do<\/em>; and sort of bump along behind Him, trying to find our way. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tGod began to <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> me that I am responsible to mother my children as best I can, but I\u2019m not responsible for  <em>their<\/em> choices and their responses. I\u2019ve had to relinquish that\u2014understanding, as well, that I can throw myself over a pothole; I can say, \u201cDon\u2019t go near that pothole!\u201d and put my body on top of it\u2014and they may pick me up, and throw me out of the way, and dive down by their own choices. In those moments, I need to relinquish responsibility of their choices. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Wow; what a difficult story to hear from Elisa Morgan. Her family is broken, just like the rest of us, and just like the one she came from. How hard, when you have different hopes and dreams for your life and your kids\u2019 lives. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re going to <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> from Meg Meeker and Reb Bradley on the other side of the break\u2014more about pitfalls of perfecting parenting\u2014when we come back. Stay tuned. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Radio Station Spot Break]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Welcome back to <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. I\u2019m Michelle Hill. TV commercials are created to sell things; they are to build ideas of a better life; you know?\u2014\u201cIf only I had one,\u201d\u2014sort of thing. I\u2019m thinking about the commercials\u2014with the family sitting around the dining room table, smiling and laughing, and having a great conversation over food\u2014in our minds, we want to create this idyllic-looking life: the perfect cleaned house, smelling of chocolate chip cookies; the perfectly-manicured lawn; the happy, successful spouse; and the children, who have perfect ACT\u2019s, play perfectly in volleyball\/act perfectly around their friends and <em>your<\/em> friends. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut in the process, we can somewhat find ourselves building an impossible world for ourselves <em>and<\/em> for our kids. Here is some helpful advice from Meg Meeker again. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>Broadcast] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> If a mom is going to navigate, really, the pace of life and the comparison that is taking place, she better pull out\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Meg:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u2014of the battle; reflect; and re-center herself; and know what God is expecting of her as a woman, wife, and, most certainly, as a mom. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Meg:<\/strong> Yes; absolutely. That\u2019s where we\u2019ve really veered away from this. Even a lot of Christian moms, whose hearts\u2014they are really trying to do what God wants them to do\u2014but again, it\u2019s we don\u2019t want to miss opportunity for ourselves or for our kids, and we\u2019re not trusting our instincts. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI sort of look at it this way, Dennis and Bob\u2014is we\u2019ve got all these mothers, who have jumped on a train that is going very, very fast in a direction. We don\u2019t know exactly where it\u2019s taking us, but it\u2019s picking up speed as it goes. We all want off; but we want the gal next to us to go first: \u201cOkay; I have my child in three extracurricular activities, and I want him in two; but why don\u2019t you go first, neighbor?\u201d; you know? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut that\u2019s where the freedom really comes; and that\u2019s why I\u2019d encourage every mother listening to us: \u201cBe the first; jump off the train,\u201d\u2014you know\u2014\u201cbecause it\u2019s <em>wonderful<\/em>; and there is an enormous benefit in it for our <em>kids<\/em>.\u201d But since <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> talking about moms\u2014\u201cThat\u2019s what brings some calm and sanity into our lives,\u201d\u2014I really worry about mothers and their health, because there isn\u2019t  <em>calm<\/em> in the American home anymore. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> A somewhat simple solution; although, a very hard solution, from Dr. Meg Meeker. \u201cBe the first person off that train\u201d; it\u2019s a hard thing to do: \u201cIf you have a full schedule of ballet, and soccer, and piano lessons, what can give? Can you scratch out the soccer lessons or, perhaps, ballet?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd sometimes, it\u2019s not about <em>activities<\/em> <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> keep you busy and looking like the \u201cperfect parent\u201d; maybe, it\u2019s the appearance of being a perfect parent that has you held captive. That\u2019s what happened to Pastor Reb Bradley. Here\u2019s Reb telling Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine about what he learned about himself and setting impossibly high standards on his kids. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>Broadcast] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I lived in fear of what people thought. I thought I\u2019d lose credibility if my kids looked a certain way\/acted a certain way. My oldest son, when he was 20 years old, he did get his first tattoo. He walked in the door; and I saw, from under his t-shirt, something. I said, \u201cSon, what is that sticking out from your t-shirt sleeve, son?\u201d [Laughter] He looked at me, and he pulled it up; and \u201cI didn\u2019t think you could see it.\u201d I said, \u201cNo; I can see it clearly, son; what is it?\u201d He showed me; he said, \u201cDad,\u201d\u2014he showed me\u2014\u201cit\u2019s a crown of thorns. I\u2019ve been so flaky with God. I just\/I wanted to permanently mark my body so that I couldn\u2019t\/I will look at that the rest of my life, remembering the sufferings of Christ.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Wow. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I\u2019m thinking, \u201cOh, he\u2019s got a great justification; this is\/he\u2019s got an excuse.\u201d He is tearing up. I\u2019m looking in the eyes of a son, who is tearing up saying, \u201cI don\u2019t want to turn my back on God again.\u201d Then he looks at me and says, \u201cI was hoping you would tell me what Scripture to put under it.\u201d [Laughter] Now, he wants me to help him with his tattoo. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> He just turned the knife; didn\u2019t he? [Laughter] First, he stabs you in the heart, and then he turns it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I give him the text in Leviticus that says, \u201cDon\u2019t tattoo your body.\u201d [Laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You didn\u2019t; really?! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I did. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You did?! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> Yes\u2014not on the spot; I called him up later\u2014\u201cYou wanted a text. Here, look up Leviticus\u2026\u201d; and I told him the text. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You just had to be right; huh?! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> Brother, I look back\u2014you talk about hills to die on. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Here\u2019s where I think the tension came in for you: because you had high standards for your children\u2014but there was not much room, in those high standards, for your children to be themselves\/for your children\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> \u2014no room. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> \u2014to be individuals\/autonomous. Every person, as he grows to adulthood, has to establish his own identity, his own independence, his own sense of self. You were telling your kids, \u201cYou want to have a sense of identity of self. You\u2019ll have the one we prescribe for you; if you don\u2019t, you\u2019re in trouble.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> \u201cYou\u2019ll have it within our little circle of reference.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn fact, there is more to the story. Here is my son, 20 years old, now\u2014talking about the tattoo\u201420 years old; he was living in Lake Tahoe. He calls me; he says, \u201cI can\u2019t make it up here. I really need to come home. I want to live with you guys. I know you\u2019re not in town anymore; you moved out to a farm. I want to come live with you and go to school.\u201d I said, \u201cThat\u2019s no problem, son. Look, you\u2019re going to be a pastor\u2019s son, again, at home. You\u2019ve got to wear sleeves to cover your tattoos,\u201d\u2014plural. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> So he\u2019s got more now. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I said, \u201cYou\u2019ve got to yank the earrings,\u201d\u2014the things that he had cultivated while he was on his own. I said, \u201cYou want to come home. I can\u2019t have people pointing to the pastor\u2019s son, saying, \u2018Don\u2019t be like him.\u2019\u201d He said to me over the phone, \u201cOkay; never mind, then.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tA few months later, he calls up again\u2014six months later\u2014he says, \u201cDad, I really need to come home.\u201d I said, \u201cYou know the rule.\u201d He says, \u201cThat\u2019s no sweat. The Lord has already dealt with me about the earrings. They are gone; that\u2019s not a problem.\u201d I said, \u201cWell, come on home.\u201d I regret that because, ultimately, I was saying, \u201cI choose my church\u2014of what they think of me\u2014over my children.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> That\u2014I look back\u2014for years, that\u2019s what was guiding me\u2014is I was trying to please everyone else around me and sacrificing my children\/ultimately, who they were. I\/if that were to occur now, I would say, \u201cCome on home, tattoos and all.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Great advice on parenting through example from Pastor Reb Bradley\u2014what a <em>humble<\/em> servant of God. I would say he\u2019s learned a lot about himself and God through parenting. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat opens the question: \u201cHow can we change our ways?\u201d According to King David in the Bible, the answer is \u201cGod.\u201d Now, we\u2019ve all heard this verse that children are a heritage from the Lord. Well, in Psalm 127\u2014just to give you a little bit of context here\u2014starting in verse 1, David writes: \u201cUnless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stay awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil, for He gives to His beloved sleep. Behold! Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.\u201d Did you catch that connection in there between resting and parenting? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBefore we wrap things up for today, I want to hear a little bit more from Meg Meeker with some practical advice on how to let God <em>build<\/em> our homes. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>Broadcast]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Meg:<\/strong> You know, so often I tell moms, \u201cYour child doesn\u2019t care whether you go to a store and buy a box of brownies that are premade, or get a box and cook them, or make them from scratch. What your child really wants is to sit down and eat a brownie with you.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat I would <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> all the  <em>great<\/em> mothers out there\u2014and I know we\u2019ve got <em>thousands<\/em> and <em>thousands<\/em> of great mothers listening right now\u2014\u201cJust calm down. Peel off some of those expectations that you have of yourself for your kids; and start giving your kids your company, and focus on that rather than giving them time that you are running around with them. Just try an experiment: do it for a month and see how the dynamics in your home change.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI have a <em>great<\/em> story about that. When my daughter\u2014one of our daughters was 13, and she was our eldest daughter\u2014and I had a big, old Suburban. It was about 7 o\u2019clock at night. I was\u2014nobody had eaten dinner; I didn\u2019t even know what I was going to cook for dinner\u2014and I was driving her to a birthday party. It was very far away, and I was exhausted. I pulled the car over to the side of the road; and I said, \u201cWe\u2019re done. This is <em>ridiculous<\/em>. I\u2019m racing; I\u2019m not going to do it.\u201d I turned the car around, and I went home. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWell, my 13-year-old was <em>furious<\/em> with me; because that\u2019s not what good mothers do\u2014they take their girls to the birthday parties, even though the whole family hasn\u2019t had dinner\u2014she was very upset with me. We pulled into the garage, and we were pretty strict with our kids\u2019 language. She got out of the car; she pounded her fist on the hood of my car, and she looked at me. I said something; and she said, \u201cMom, shut up!\u201d I said, \u201cOh, you\u2019ve done it now!\u201d because we don\u2019t speak like that in our home. I grounded her for a month, which meant she could only come home after school and be with me all month. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe first week of that month was not very fun. By the end of the month, we enjoyed being together so much that, when the next semester of school came, she backed out of a lot of her stuff and wanted to be home more. That was a real turning point in <em>my<\/em> life, to recognize that what our family needed was more time at home under the same roof. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> If you are a parent, your children are some of God\u2019s <em>good<\/em> gifts to you; but they are not your ticket to validation or a project to figure out. They are your fine gifts to raise and to point towards Christ. Be humble as you encourage them, and correct them, and love them; and don\u2019t be in a hurry about it\u2014just something to think about this weekend as you love on those kiddos. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOkay; coming up next week, if you happen to talk to your kids about giving up some ballet, or talk to your spouse about crossing off the t-ball on the schedule, there is probably going to be a little bit of conflict. So next, we\u2019re going to talk about <em>conflict<\/em>; you\u2019ll want to tune in to <em>FamilyLife This Week <\/em>for that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThanks for listening! I want to thank the president of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, David <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">Trial<\/a> along with our station partners around the country. A big \u201cThank you!\u201d to our engineer today, Bruce Goff. Thanks to our producer, Marcus Holt. Justin Adams is our mastering engineer. Megan Martin is our production coordinator, and Keith Lynch is our executive producer. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOur program is a production of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, and our mission is to effectively develop godly families who change the world one home at a time.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI'm Michelle Hill, inviting you to join us again next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife This Week.<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2021 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/Home\/Payment\" style=\"color: #990000; font-size: 26px\">Converted with the trial version of Doc Converter Pro Online (random words are replaced with 'trial' word, images are watermarked). Buy the full access now.<\/a>"],"_seopress_titles_title":[""],"_seopress_titles_desc":[""],"_seopress_robots_index":[""],"duration":["00:28:00"],"show_notes":[""],"filesize":["25.64M"],"filesize_raw":["26883168"],"_uag_css_file_name":["uag-css-306750.css"],"_uag_js_file_name":["uag-js-306750.js"],"_uag_page_assets":["a:9:{s:3:\"css\";s:82560:\".wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-e11dbe9f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-e11dbe9f > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 3em;padding-bottom: 3em;padding-left: 1.5em;padding-right: 1.5em;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #f8f8f8;;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-e11dbe9f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-e11dbe9f > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f{padding-top: 3px;padding-bottom: 3px;padding-left: 1.5px;padding-right: 1.5px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #f8f8f8;;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-e11dbe9f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-e11dbe9f > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-e11dbe9f{padding-top: 3px;padding-bottom: 3px;padding-left: 1.5px;padding-right: 1.5px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #f8f8f8;;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-85559158{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-85559158 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 960px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 10px;padding-right: 10px;margin-top: 60px !important;margin-bottom: 60px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ea16301a{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ea16301a > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.uagb-layout-grid > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{row-gap: 40px;column-gap: 40px;grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr)  minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: start;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-26ccc5c9{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: flex-start;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9{min-height: 710px;box-shadow: 3px 7px 7px -1px rgba(0,0,0,0.15) ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #ffffff;;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: flex-start;flex-wrap: nowrap;align-self: start;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;background: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/07\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.jpg) 50% 50%;;background-size: cover;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-84f50fa3{max-width: 100vw;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-84f50fa3 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3{min-height: 250px;box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: 50% 50%;background-size: cover;background-attachment: scroll;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.webp);background-clip: padding-box;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-271bf38d{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-271bf38d > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ab8d0982{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ab8d0982 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.uagb-layout-grid{row-gap: 8px;column-gap: 8px;grid-template-columns: auto  minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-heading-text{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3 .uagb-heading-text{font-weight: 300;font-size: 16px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: left;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-f9d54988 .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 4px;padding-bottom: 4px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;border-top-width: 3px;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-heading-text{color: #006a5a;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-3208cc36 .uagb-heading-text{font-weight: 400;font-size: 26px;line-height: 1.2em;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;color: #1573a2;fill: #1573a2;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{padding: 0px;border-radius: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__label{font-size: 20px;text-decoration: !important;line-height: em;color: #1573a2;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;padding-top: 0px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__label{text-align: left;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{text-decoration: !important;font-size: 20px;line-height: em;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{margin-left: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child {flex-direction: row-reverse;}.uagb-block-fdd052c2.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-fdd052c2.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-679dc0da.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-679dc0da.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-fbb8dca6.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-fbb8dca6.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-b5e9a44d.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-b5e9a44d.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-10525170.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-10525170.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-48a597f8{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-48a597f8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: flex-start;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8{min-height: 710px;box-shadow: 3px 7px 7px -1px rgba(0,0,0,0.15) ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #ffffff;;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: flex-start;flex-wrap: nowrap;align-self: start;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;background: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/07\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.jpg) 50% 50%;;background-size: cover;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-22a41c70{max-width: 100vw;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-22a41c70 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70{min-height: 250px;box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: 50% 50%;background-size: cover;background-attachment: scroll;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/HelpFamiliesGrow2.webp);background-clip: padding-box;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-562935bf{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-562935bf > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5a1442f2{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5a1442f2 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.uagb-layout-grid{row-gap: 8px;column-gap: 8px;grid-template-columns: auto  minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-heading-text{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f .uagb-heading-text{font-weight: 300;font-size: 16px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: left;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 4px;padding-bottom: 4px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;border-top-width: 3px;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-heading-text{color: #006a5a;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-31f155e3 .uagb-heading-text{font-weight: 400;font-size: 26px;line-height: 1.2em;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;color: #1573a2;fill: #1573a2;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{padding: 0px;border-radius: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__label{font-size: 20px;text-decoration: !important;line-height: em;color: #1573a2;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;padding-top: 0px;padding-right: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__label{text-align: left;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{text-decoration: !important;font-size: 20px;line-height: em;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{margin-left: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child {flex-direction: row-reverse;}.uagb-block-83befcbf.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-83befcbf.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-75d2f158.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-75d2f158.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-0d14af90.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-0d14af90.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-4dd6f9d3.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-4dd6f9d3.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-28c58e21.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}.uagb-block-28c58e21.wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child:hover .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{background:  !important;border-color:  !important;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-85559158{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-85559158 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 10px;padding-right: 10px;margin-top: 60px !important;margin-bottom: 60px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ea16301a{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ea16301a > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.uagb-layout-grid > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr)  minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-26ccc5c9{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #ffffff;;grid-column: span 1;grid-row: span 1;align-self: stretch;justify-self: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-84f50fa3{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-84f50fa3 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-position: 54% 48%;background-size: cover;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.webp);background-clip: padding-box;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-271bf38d{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-271bf38d > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ab8d0982{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ab8d0982 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.uagb-layout-grid{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3 .uagb-heading-text{font-size: 12px;letter-spacing: 1px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: center;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;margin-bottom: initial;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-f9d54988 .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 10px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap {padding: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-48a597f8{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-48a597f8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #ffffff;;grid-column: span 1;grid-row: span 1;align-self: stretch;justify-self: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-22a41c70{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-22a41c70 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-position: 54% 48%;background-size: cover;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/HelpFamiliesGrow2.webp);background-clip: padding-box;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-562935bf{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-562935bf > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5a1442f2{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5a1442f2 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.uagb-layout-grid{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f .uagb-heading-text{font-size: 12px;letter-spacing: 1px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: center;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;margin-bottom: initial;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 10px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap {padding: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-85559158{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-85559158 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-85559158{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 10px;padding-right: 10px;margin-top: 60px !important;margin-bottom: 60px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ea16301a{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ea16301a > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a.uagb-layout-grid > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ea16301a{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-26ccc5c9{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-26ccc5c9 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-26ccc5c9{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;order: initial;background-color: #ffffff;;flex-wrap: wrap;grid-column: span 1;grid-row: span 1;align-self: stretch;justify-self: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-84f50fa3{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-84f50fa3 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-84f50fa3{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/Grow-with-your-family_545x307.webp);background-clip: padding-box;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-271bf38d{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-271bf38d > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-271bf38d{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ab8d0982{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-ab8d0982 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.uagb-layout-grid{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ab8d0982.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading {padding-left: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d4c1a7e3 .uagb-heading-text{letter-spacing: 4px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: center;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;margin-bottom: initial;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-f9d54988 .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 10px;}.uagb-block-f9d54988.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{padding: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-cbb8c5bd.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-48a597f8{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-48a597f8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-48a597f8{padding-top: 0px;padding-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 0px;padding-right: 0px;margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px;margin-right: 0px;order: initial;background-color: #ffffff;;flex-wrap: wrap;grid-column: span 1;grid-row: span 1;align-self: stretch;justify-self: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-22a41c70{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-22a41c70 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-22a41c70{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-image: url(https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/03\/HelpFamiliesGrow2.webp);background-clip: padding-box;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-562935bf{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-562935bf > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-562935bf{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 40px;padding-left: 40px;padding-right: 40px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5a1442f2{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5a1442f2 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.uagb-layout-grid{grid-template-columns: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;grid-template-rows: minmax( 1px, 1fr) ;align-items: stretch;justify-items: stretch;align-content: stretch;justify-content: stretch;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5a1442f2.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading {padding-left: 40px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-d9c0200f .uagb-heading-text{letter-spacing: 4px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator{text-align: center;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator--text .wp-block-uagb-separator-element .uagb-html-tag{font-style: normal;margin-bottom: initial;line-height: 1em;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e .uagb-separator-spacing-wrapper{padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 10px;}.uagb-block-aa17f10e.wp-block-uagb-separator:not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--text):not(.wp-block-uagb-separator--icon) .wp-block-uagb-separator__inner{-webkit-mask-size: 5px 100%;width: 100%;border-top-color: #eabe5e;border-top-style: solid;margin-top: 5px;margin-bottom: 5px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__source-image{width: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap svg{width: 18px;height: 18px;font-size: 18px;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child .uagb-icon-list__source-wrap{padding: 0px;border-width: 0px;align-self: center;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64 .uagb-icon-list__wrap{display: flex;flex-direction: column;justify-content: center;-webkit-box-pack: center;-ms-flex-pack: center;-webkit-box-align: flex-start;-ms-flex-align: flex-start;align-items: flex-start;}.wp-block-uagb-icon-list.uagb-block-ced20c64.wp-block-uagb-icon-list .wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child{margin-left: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 24px;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ecebc267{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background: linear-gradient(130deg, #ffffff 60%, #f8f8f8 46%);;background-clip: padding-box;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ecebc267{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background: linear-gradient(130deg, #ffffff 60%, #f8f8f8 46%);;background-clip: padding-box;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-ecebc267{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-ecebc267{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background: linear-gradient(130deg, #ffffff 60%, #f8f8f8 46%);;background-clip: padding-box;flex-wrap: wrap;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: row;align-items: flex-start;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 32px;column-gap: 32px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 80px;padding-bottom: 80px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;row-gap: 32px;column-gap: 32px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 25%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;max-width: 25% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 25%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;max-width: 25% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 25%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;max-width: 25% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 25%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;max-width: 25% !important;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{padding-top: 80px;padding-bottom: 80px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;max-width:  !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;max-width:  !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;max-width:  !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;max-width:  !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-8d4ac8a0{padding-top: 80px;padding-bottom: 80px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;max-width: 100% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;max-width: 100% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;max-width: 100% !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-047d9c4f{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-047d9c4f{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;max-width: 100% !important;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662.wp-block-uagb-container{color: #ffffff;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662.wp-block-uagb-container *{color: #ffffff;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-f064f662{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-f064f662 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 20px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 20px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #25282a;;row-gap: 20px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: row;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 20px;column-gap: 32px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;flex-direction: row;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;row-gap: 20px;column-gap: 32px;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0.wp-block-uagb-container > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not( .spectra-container-link-overlay ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox):not(.wp-block-uagb-lottie):not(.uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap){width: auto !important;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0.wp-block-uagb-container > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap > *:not( .wp-block-uagb-column ):not( .wp-block-uagb-section ):not( .uagb-container__shape ):not( .uagb-container__video-wrap ):not( .uagb-slider-container ):not(.spectra-image-gallery__control-lightbox){width: auto !important;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default figure img{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000070;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure figcaption{font-style: normal;align-self: center;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay figure img{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000070;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__color-wrapper{opacity: 0.2;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner{left: 15px;right: 15px;top: 15px;bottom: 15px;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-heading{font-style: normal;color: #fff;opacity: 1;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-heading a{color: #fff;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-caption{opacity: 0;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay .wp-block-uagb-image__figure:hover .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__color-wrapper{opacity: 1;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-separator{width: 30%;border-top-width: 2px;border-top-color: #fff;opacity: 0;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure img{width: 292px;height: 48px;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure:hover .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-caption{opacity: 1;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure:hover .wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay__inner .uagb-image-separator{opacity: 1;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default figure:hover img{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000070;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image--layout-overlay figure:hover img{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000070;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-f064f662{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-f064f662 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 20px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #25282a;;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure img{width: 280px;height: 45px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-f064f662{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-f064f662 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-f064f662{padding-top: 20px;padding-bottom: 20px;padding-left: 12px;padding-right: 12px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #25282a;;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-dbd5f6c0{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;flex-wrap: wrap;}.uagb-block-644e4891.wp-block-uagb-image .wp-block-uagb-image__figure img{width: 280px;height: 45px;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #006c5b;;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #006c5b;;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #006c5b;;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;background-color: #006c5b;;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #006c5b;;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-beb12949{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-beb12949 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-beb12949{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #006c5b;;}}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5096eaa1{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5096eaa1 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-color: inherit;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__shape-top svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-top .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__shape-bottom svg{width: calc( 100% + 1.3px );}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__shape.uagb-container__shape-bottom .uagb-container__shape-fill{fill: rgba(51,51,51,1);}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 .uagb-container__video-wrap video{opacity: 1;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-89b3b7a8{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1320px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;flex-wrap: nowrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8{box-shadow: 0px 0px   #00000070 ;padding-top: 2em;padding-bottom: 2em;padding-left: 2em;padding-right: 2em;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;overflow: visible;order: initial;border-top-left-radius: 30px;border-top-right-radius: 30px;border-bottom-left-radius: 30px;border-bottom-right-radius: 30px;border-color: inherit;background-color: #ebebeb;;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-97ee3d2f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-desc-text{margin-bottom: 15px;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-97ee3d2f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight{font-style: normal;font-weight: Default;background: #007cba;color: #fff;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-97ee3d2f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::-moz-selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading.uagb-block-97ee3d2f.wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading .uagb-highlight::selection{color: #fff;background: #007cba;-webkit-text-fill-color: #fff;}.uagb-block-232092dc.wp-block-uagb-buttons.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap {gap: 10px;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap {justify-content: left;align-items: center;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-uagb-buttons-child .uagb-buttons-repeater{background: #f3bd48;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link{background: #f3bd48;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link:hover{background: #f4deaa;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link:focus{background: #f4deaa;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-button__wrapper .uagb-buttons-repeater{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link.has-text-color:hover .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .wp-block-button__link.has-text-color:focus .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-button__wrapper  .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000026;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-button__wrapper  .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link:hover{box-shadow: 0px 0px 0 #00000026;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link{border-color: #333;border-style: none;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link:hover{border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link:focus{border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .uagb-button__wrapper .wp-block-button__link.uagb-buttons-repeater{border-color: #333;border-style: none;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .uagb-button__wrapper .wp-block-button__link.uagb-buttons-repeater:hover{border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater:hover .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater:focus .uagb-button__link{color: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater .uagb-button__icon > svg{width: 15px;height: 15px;fill: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater:hover .uagb-button__icon > svg{fill: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater:focus .uagb-button__icon > svg{fill: #25282a;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater .uagb-button__icon-position-after{margin-left: 8px;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater .uagb-button__icon-position-before{margin-right: 8px;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-button__link{text-transform: normal;text-decoration: none;}@media only screen and (max-width: 976px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5096eaa1{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5096eaa1 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-89b3b7a8{width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 1024px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8{padding-top: 2px;padding-bottom: 2px;padding-left: 2px;padding-right: 2px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #ebebeb;;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap {justify-content: center;align-items: center;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap .wp-block-button{width: auto;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .uagb-button__wrapper .wp-block-button__link.uagb-buttons-repeater{border-style: none;border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link{border-style: none;border-color: #333;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-5096eaa1{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-5096eaa1 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-5096eaa1{margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container .uagb-block-89b3b7a8{max-width: 100%;width: 100%;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-is-root-container.alignfull.uagb-block-89b3b7a8 > .uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap{--inner-content-custom-width: min( 100%, 767px);max-width: var(--inner-content-custom-width);width: 100%;flex-wrap: wrap;}.wp-block-uagb-container.uagb-block-89b3b7a8{padding-top: 2px;padding-bottom: 2px;padding-left: 2px;padding-right: 2px;margin-top:  !important;margin-bottom:  !important;order: initial;background-color: #ebebeb;;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap {justify-content: center;align-items: center;}.uagb-block-232092dc.uagb-buttons__outer-wrap .uagb-buttons__wrap .wp-block-button{width: auto;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .uagb-button__wrapper .wp-block-button__link.uagb-buttons-repeater{border-style: none;border-color: #333;}.wp-block-uagb-buttons .uagb-block-00708611 .uagb-buttons-repeater.wp-block-button__link{border-style: none;border-color: #333;}}\";s:2:\"js\";s:161:\"document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(){ window.addEventListener( 'load', function() {\n\tUAGBButtonChild.init( '.uagb-block-00708611' );\n});\n });\";s:18:\"current_block_list\";a:17:{i:0;s:14:\"uagb\/container\";i:1;s:12:\"core\/heading\";i:2;s:9:\"core\/html\";i:3;s:10:\"core\/group\";i:6;s:21:\"uagb\/advanced-heading\";i:7;s:14:\"uagb\/separator\";i:8;s:14:\"uagb\/icon-list\";i:9;s:20:\"uagb\/icon-list-child\";i:10;s:11:\"core\/search\";i:13;s:18:\"core\/legacy-widget\";i:16;s:10:\"uagb\/image\";i:17;s:17:\"core\/social-links\";i:18;s:16:\"core\/social-link\";i:19;s:14:\"core\/paragraph\";i:20;s:30:\"meta-box\/fl-conditional-blocks\";i:21;s:12:\"uagb\/buttons\";i:22;s:18:\"uagb\/buttons-child\";}s:8:\"uag_flag\";b:1;s:11:\"uag_version\";i:1776462354;s:6:\"gfonts\";a:1:{s:7:\"Default\";a:2:{s:10:\"fontfamily\";s:7:\"Default\";s:12:\"fontvariants\";a:0:{}}}s:10:\"gfonts_url\";s:71:\"\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css?family=Default&subset=latin&display=fallback\";s:12:\"gfonts_files\";a:0:{}s:14:\"uag_faq_layout\";b:0;}"]},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Can you raise \"perfect kids\" by being a \"perfect parent\"? Not only is it impossible, but you'll bring more harm to your kids the harder you try to achieve perfection. Hear Meg Meeker, Karis Kimmel Murray, Elisa Morgan, and Reb Bradley share their parenting stories.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/flw\/flw2021-02-27.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Pastor Reb Bradley couldn\u2019t accept that his son wanted tattoos; he was a pastor after all. They needed to part ways, and his son left home. A while later, when the prodigal wanted to come home, well, Reb had some requirements. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> So here is my son\u201420 years old\u2014he was living in Lake Tahoe. He calls me; he says, \u201cDad, I can\u2019t make it up here. I really need to come home. I want to come live with you and go to school.\u201d I said, \u201cThat\u2019s no problem, son; but look, you\u2019re going to be a pastor\u2019s son again at home, if you want to come home, you can\u2019t be\u2014I can\u2019t have people pointing at the pastor\u2019s son, saying, \u2018Don\u2019t be like him.\u2019 You\u2019ve got to wear sleeves to cover your tattoos.\u201d He said to me over the phone, \u201cOkay; never mind then.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> How would it feel if <em>your<\/em> dad had said that to <em>you<\/em>? We\u2019re going to hear more from Reb Bradley, and we\u2019re going to talk about the pitfalls of performance-driven parenting: what it means for the parent <em>and<\/em> the child. We\u2019re going to give some hope and help on this edition of <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Welcome to <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. I\u2019m Michelle <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">Trial<\/a> When I first learned how to cook, I was introduced to a pressure cooker. You use a pressure cooker so that you can cook your food in shorter amounts of time and get it done quicker\u2014so that combination of steam and pressure\u2014and that boils the water at a higher temp. Well, probably the most important part of that pressure cooker is the valve\u2014the valve that makes sure that the pressure doesn\u2019t get to dangerous levels inside of that pot\u2014you know, when the whistle starts? \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> is my wondering, \u201cWhat happens if the whistle doesn\u2019t go off?\u2014it malfunctions.\u201d I\u2019m pretty sure that there would be a nasty explosion; right? It seems to me that a lot of people are under that kind of parenting pressure. Today, we\u2019re going to talk about the substantial pressures facing parents that tend to be caused by perfectionism. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tPediatrician Meg Meeker, who is a good friend of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, is going to set things up for us and let us know just exactly what we\u2019re dealing with. Here is Meg. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em><sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Broadcast]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Meg:<\/strong> Many young moms\u2014and many older moms\u2014really have lost their joy in being mothers. They don\u2019t feel valued; they don\u2019t feel they are doing a good enough job, and it makes me very sad because being a mother is such an incredible joy. A lot of the joy has been robbed from us. I think it is because, honestly, of peer pressure\u2014we can talk about that a little bit later\u2014but a lot of mothers feel so much peer pressure to be perfect moms\/to produce perfect kids. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMothers are a fiercely competitive lot. If you go into a new school, and you meet another mother in a class, the first thing you do is sort of size her up: \u201cOkay; what neighborhood is she living in?\u201d Of course, we look at her weight; we always do that\u2014[Laughter]\u2014once we get through that and figure out, \u201cOkay; are we in the same kind of shape?\u201d\u2014then we move onto the kids: \u201cWhat is her child like compared to my child like?\u201d \u201cIs her child in the fast reading group? My child is in the slow reading group.\u201d We go on, and we go on, and we go on; and that\u2019s not what motherhood is all about, but we do that because all our <em>friends<\/em> are doing that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMothers\u2014now, if <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> are at-home moms, they feel, because they are not out earning money, that they need to be super-duper uber moms. They need to have perfect kids; their kids need to be in three extracurricular activities after school, not just one or two. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019ve gotten ourselves to a place where, no matter where we are in life\u2014whether we are full-time at-home moms, part-time moms, or we\u2019re working full-time outside the home\u2014no matter what we\u2019re doing, it\u2019s never good enough. We\u2019re never reaching the mark; we are always falling short, and we\u2019re not happy. Guess what?\u2014if mom ain\u2019t happy in the home, you\u2019ve got a dad who isn\u2019t happy, and a whole lot of kids who are not happy. I see that all the time. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Ooh; ouch! Did those words hit a little too close to home for you? I mean, is that how <em>you\u2019re<\/em> feeling? Well, Meg Meeker should know these feelings well because she has raised four kids, and she has been a pediatrician for 25 years. You can bet she hears, all the time, from some super moms, who are just tired, and can\u2019t seem to meet that mark. That\u2019s the cost of perfectionism to parents. We\u2019re going to hear more from Meg a little later on, because she has some really good points. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo what\u2019s the opposite of perfectionistic parenting? Well, our friends, Tim and Darcy Kimmel, would say it\u2019s grace-based parenting. Karis Kimmel Murray\u2014she is daughter to Tim and Darcy\u2014and she grew up a recipient of grace-based parenting. Karis would say that she\u2019s not graceful\u2014she\u2019s kind of a wrecking ball\u2014it\u2019s <em>not<\/em> a quiet life. So grace-based wasn\u2019t in her plans until she had kids. Let\u2019s listen to Karis explain every parent\u2019s worst nightmare on a shopping trip. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> Broadcast] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Karis:<\/strong> My first trip out of the house, with both of my kids, for about five weeks\u2014because we had been sick, and somebody had been down with some kind of a virus\u2014but we were just out of everything. It was a trip of necessity to go to Walmart<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> with two kids. Any parent listening, who has attempted this, knows what I was walking into. I was racing around Walmart, with both of them in the cart, just trying to get everything so that we could get out of there before they exploded\/two little bombs exploded. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt would <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> maybe, been fine\/I would have made it if my flip-flop hadn\u2019t broken. We went to the shoe department. I just said, \u201cI\u2019m going to buy the first pair of flip-flops that I see. I don\u2019t care if they are the ugliest things on the planet. I\u2019m going to get them, and we\u2019re going to get out of here.\u201d My two-year-old had been  <em>begging<\/em> to get out of the cart\u2014begging\/begging\u2014because my kids see that kind of confinement like total oppression. They just start writing letters to their congressmen; if you have confined them in some way, they launch a campaign. [Laughter] They just think that we are the worst for strapping them into something. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tShe wanted to get out. I had a moment of weakness, and I let her out. I knew, by the look on her face, that I had made a mistake by letting her out. She comes up to a row of shoes; there are shoeboxes lining walls all the way up. She puts her little arms out to either side of this row of shoeboxes, and she holds them out, and she walks kind of resolutely to the other end of the aisle. She knocks every box of shoes off in\u2014I don\u2019t know\u2014retaliation for her confinement and in protest and in rebellion of the fact that we\u2019re not home yet. The Walmart shoe department looked like a bomb had gone off. [Laughter] Metaphorically, it had; yes. I just\/it was in that moment that I just looked at her\u2014and wanted to die out of embarrassment\/wanted to give her a spanking\u2014but I also said, \u201cThis is a child that has needs right now, and she is two.\u201d Yes, that\u2019s just an example of the craziness of life with kids. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> \u2014and an example of grace-based parenting. I\u2019m sure you are laughing hysterically, because you\u2019ve <em>lived<\/em> through that scene that Karis just described; or you were horrified, because you lived through that scene that Karis just described. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tParenting is <em>hard<\/em>. And what\u2019s <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> harder?\u2014parenting with grace and realizing that the toddler just had all they could take. Their self-control mechanism just has not fully developed yet, and neither has their way of expressing frustration or anger, because they are two! Give them a break. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFor some parents, who grew up in a broken home, parenting may give you a chance to make right what you feel went wrong; but then there might come a time when you realize that not even your parenting is as perfect as you hoped it would be. That\u2019s what happened to Elisa Morgan. Elisa Morgan is a sought-after speaker, leader, and author on mothering and spiritual formation. She is also the CEO of MOPS International. Elisa Morgan and her husband had the urge to do better when they became parents to two adopted kids, but Elisa quickly found out that being a perfect mom wasn\u2019t as attainable as she thought it would be. Here is Elisa. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>Broadcast] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Elisa:<\/strong> <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">Trial<\/a> she was about three years old, I remember truly one night putting her to bed; and then she called me down the hall to come back; I did\/I had nothing left; I was like, \u201cSeriously? I was so close to getting to watch  <em>ER<\/em> and George Clooney\u201d; and I was just <em>done<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI go back in the room, and I am on empty. It wasn\u2019t a pretty moment; monster mom emerges, and I got through the moment. But I went back to my bed, and I didn\u2019t feel like I deserved mommy time anymore. I found myself praying Hannah\u2019s prayer from \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t1 Samuel, Chapter 3: \u201cFor this child, I prayed. Now, I give her over to the Lord all the days of her life; because you\u2019re going to better a parent than I am, God.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt was like God just pushed at me there and goes, \u201cElisa, do you really trust Me with her?\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cSure; You are God.\u201d It\u2019s like, \u201cWell, do you trust Me to decide if she should get married or not?\u2014or see her through a life-threatening illness?\u201d He pushed me; and He goes, \u201cIf you trust Me with her truly, then do you trust Me to pick for her the very best mother for who I know she will become?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> That commitment you made to God, when she was three years old, is one thing; but you said, 27 years later, you look back on it; that was a watershed moment. In your book, you talk about several additional times when that commitment was put to a severe test. Which test do you think was the most difficult? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Elisa:<\/strong> When she was a teenager, I had a dream. I was walking through a home, and in this home\u2014it was under construction, and Jesus was my tour guide in this dream\u2014He led me through different rooms. He stopped at a bedroom; He said, \u201cThis bedroom is for your daughter.\u201d Then he went to the one right next door to it; and He said, \u201cThis bedroom is for the baby.\u201d I went, \u201cWhat?!\u201d; and I woke up. The next night, truly, I had the same dream repeated: home under construction; Jesus is the tour guide: \u201cThis room is for your daughter; this room is for the baby.\u201d I remember saying, \u201cShe\u2019s not pregnant.\u201d He looked at me and said, \u201cYes, she is.\u201d I, truly, shook this off. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tJust a few days\u2014maybe weeks later\u2014I was at MOPS, where I served as the CEO in those days. We were sitting around at a conference table, talking about the formation of Teen MOPS for moms, who were teenagers themselves. I felt God whispered to me, \u201cYou\u2019re going to know more about this than anyone in this room.\u201d I thought, \u201cOh my gosh! I better talk to my daughter.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI went home. I asked my beautiful varsity-swimming medalist\u2014back from a mission\u2019s trip in Kenya, serving HIV orphans; just back from that\u2014I stopped her in the hall, and I just said, \u201cIs there any reason you could be pregnant?!\u201d She looked at me and <em>nodded<\/em>. I\u2014never-before-pregnant me\u2014I get in my car, and go to the grocery store, and get an at-home pregnancy test; and I bring it home. Yes; she\u2019s pregnant. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019m blown away by this. It felt like, to me, that\u2014\u201cI have come from a broken family; and I have given all of my life to creating this perfectly in-tact second family. We\u2019ve spent time with Jesus; we did it right!\u201d\u2014and it felt, to me, like my second family fell and broke again. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> The <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> of love; forgiveness; compassion of a mom, who had chosen this little girl, really came to bear in a big-time way; didn\u2019t they? \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Elisa:<\/strong> Such a long journey and a <em>beautiful<\/em> one, where God began to reveal\u2014in ways that I couldn\u2019t translate, at first\u2014the beauty in broken. My daughter went through this process of this pregnancy\u2014ended up having a baby way early through an abrupted placenta; made the very <em>painful<\/em> <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> but  <em>important<\/em> decision, to relinquish this baby; and then continued with her life\u2014but veered off into some other surprising choices. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p><a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">Trial<\/a> story goes on in our family of my daughter, with another pregnancy, and an accident that changed her life in dramatic ways, an abusive relationship\u2014we go on and on here\u2014and this is not a tie-it-up-in-a-bow story. This is a real life\u2014like everybody listening\u2014story of people, who want to cling to God, and  <em>do<\/em>; and sort of bump along behind Him, trying to find our way. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tGod began to <a id=\"trial11324\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> me that I am responsible to mother my children as best I can, but I\u2019m not responsible for  <em>their<\/em> choices and their responses. I\u2019ve had to relinquish that\u2014understanding, as well, that I can throw myself over a pothole; I can say, \u201cDon\u2019t go near that pothole!\u201d and put my body on top of it\u2014and they may pick me up, and throw me out of the way, and dive down by their own choices. In those moments, I need to relinquish responsibility of their choices. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Wow; what a difficult story to hear from Elisa Morgan. Her family is broken, just like the rest of us, and just like the one she came from. How hard, when you have different hopes and dreams for your life and your kids\u2019 lives. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re going to <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> from Meg Meeker and Reb Bradley on the other side of the break\u2014more about pitfalls of perfecting parenting\u2014when we come back. Stay tuned. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Radio Station Spot Break]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Welcome back to <em>FamilyLife This Week<\/em>. I\u2019m Michelle Hill. TV commercials are created to sell things; they are to build ideas of a better life; you know?\u2014\u201cIf only I had one,\u201d\u2014sort of thing. I\u2019m thinking about the commercials\u2014with the family sitting around the dining room table, smiling and laughing, and having a great conversation over food\u2014in our minds, we want to create this idyllic-looking life: the perfect cleaned house, smelling of chocolate chip cookies; the perfectly-manicured lawn; the happy, successful spouse; and the children, who have perfect ACT\u2019s, play perfectly in volleyball\/act perfectly around their friends and <em>your<\/em> friends. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut in the process, we can somewhat find ourselves building an impossible world for ourselves <em>and<\/em> for our kids. Here is some helpful advice from Meg Meeker again. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>Broadcast] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> If a mom is going to navigate, really, the pace of life and the comparison that is taking place, she better pull out\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Meg:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> \u2014of the battle; reflect; and re-center herself; and know what God is expecting of her as a woman, wife, and, most certainly, as a mom. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Meg:<\/strong> Yes; absolutely. That\u2019s where we\u2019ve really veered away from this. Even a lot of Christian moms, whose hearts\u2014they are really trying to do what God wants them to do\u2014but again, it\u2019s we don\u2019t want to miss opportunity for ourselves or for our kids, and we\u2019re not trusting our instincts. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI sort of look at it this way, Dennis and Bob\u2014is we\u2019ve got all these mothers, who have jumped on a train that is going very, very fast in a direction. We don\u2019t know exactly where it\u2019s taking us, but it\u2019s picking up speed as it goes. We all want off; but we want the gal next to us to go first: \u201cOkay; I have my child in three extracurricular activities, and I want him in two; but why don\u2019t you go first, neighbor?\u201d; you know? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut that\u2019s where the freedom really comes; and that\u2019s why I\u2019d encourage every mother listening to us: \u201cBe the first; jump off the train,\u201d\u2014you know\u2014\u201cbecause it\u2019s <em>wonderful<\/em>; and there is an enormous benefit in it for our <em>kids<\/em>.\u201d But since <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> talking about moms\u2014\u201cThat\u2019s what brings some calm and sanity into our lives,\u201d\u2014I really worry about mothers and their health, because there isn\u2019t  <em>calm<\/em> in the American home anymore. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> A somewhat simple solution; although, a very hard solution, from Dr. Meg Meeker. \u201cBe the first person off that train\u201d; it\u2019s a hard thing to do: \u201cIf you have a full schedule of ballet, and soccer, and piano lessons, what can give? Can you scratch out the soccer lessons or, perhaps, ballet?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tAnd sometimes, it\u2019s not about <em>activities<\/em> <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> keep you busy and looking like the \u201cperfect parent\u201d; maybe, it\u2019s the appearance of being a perfect parent that has you held captive. That\u2019s what happened to Pastor Reb Bradley. Here\u2019s Reb telling Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine about what he learned about himself and setting impossibly high standards on his kids. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>Broadcast] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I lived in fear of what people thought. I thought I\u2019d lose credibility if my kids looked a certain way\/acted a certain way. My oldest son, when he was 20 years old, he did get his first tattoo. He walked in the door; and I saw, from under his t-shirt, something. I said, \u201cSon, what is that sticking out from your t-shirt sleeve, son?\u201d [Laughter] He looked at me, and he pulled it up; and \u201cI didn\u2019t think you could see it.\u201d I said, \u201cNo; I can see it clearly, son; what is it?\u201d He showed me; he said, \u201cDad,\u201d\u2014he showed me\u2014\u201cit\u2019s a crown of thorns. I\u2019ve been so flaky with God. I just\/I wanted to permanently mark my body so that I couldn\u2019t\/I will look at that the rest of my life, remembering the sufferings of Christ.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Wow. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I\u2019m thinking, \u201cOh, he\u2019s got a great justification; this is\/he\u2019s got an excuse.\u201d He is tearing up. I\u2019m looking in the eyes of a son, who is tearing up saying, \u201cI don\u2019t want to turn my back on God again.\u201d Then he looks at me and says, \u201cI was hoping you would tell me what Scripture to put under it.\u201d [Laughter] Now, he wants me to help him with his tattoo. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> He just turned the knife; didn\u2019t he? [Laughter] First, he stabs you in the heart, and then he turns it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I give him the text in Leviticus that says, \u201cDon\u2019t tattoo your body.\u201d [Laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You didn\u2019t; really?! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I did. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You did?! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> Yes\u2014not on the spot; I called him up later\u2014\u201cYou wanted a text. Here, look up Leviticus\u2026\u201d; and I told him the text. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> You just had to be right; huh?! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> Brother, I look back\u2014you talk about hills to die on. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Here\u2019s where I think the tension came in for you: because you had high standards for your children\u2014but there was not much room, in those high standards, for your children to be themselves\/for your children\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> \u2014no room. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> \u2014to be individuals\/autonomous. Every person, as he grows to adulthood, has to establish his own identity, his own independence, his own sense of self. You were telling your kids, \u201cYou want to have a sense of identity of self. You\u2019ll have the one we prescribe for you; if you don\u2019t, you\u2019re in trouble.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> \u201cYou\u2019ll have it within our little circle of reference.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn fact, there is more to the story. Here is my son, 20 years old, now\u2014talking about the tattoo\u201420 years old; he was living in Lake Tahoe. He calls me; he says, \u201cI can\u2019t make it up here. I really need to come home. I want to live with you guys. I know you\u2019re not in town anymore; you moved out to a farm. I want to come live with you and go to school.\u201d I said, \u201cThat\u2019s no problem, son. Look, you\u2019re going to be a pastor\u2019s son, again, at home. You\u2019ve got to wear sleeves to cover your tattoos,\u201d\u2014plural. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> So he\u2019s got more now. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> I said, \u201cYou\u2019ve got to yank the earrings,\u201d\u2014the things that he had cultivated while he was on his own. I said, \u201cYou want to come home. I can\u2019t have people pointing to the pastor\u2019s son, saying, \u2018Don\u2019t be like him.\u2019\u201d He said to me over the phone, \u201cOkay; never mind, then.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tA few months later, he calls up again\u2014six months later\u2014he says, \u201cDad, I really need to come home.\u201d I said, \u201cYou know the rule.\u201d He says, \u201cThat\u2019s no sweat. The Lord has already dealt with me about the earrings. They are gone; that\u2019s not a problem.\u201d I said, \u201cWell, come on home.\u201d I regret that because, ultimately, I was saying, \u201cI choose my church\u2014of what they think of me\u2014over my children.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dennis:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Reb:<\/strong> That\u2014I look back\u2014for years, that\u2019s what was guiding me\u2014is I was trying to please everyone else around me and sacrificing my children\/ultimately, who they were. I\/if that were to occur now, I would say, \u201cCome on home, tattoos and all.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> Great advice on parenting through example from Pastor Reb Bradley\u2014what a <em>humble<\/em> servant of God. I would say he\u2019s learned a lot about himself and God through parenting. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat opens the question: \u201cHow can we change our ways?\u201d According to King David in the Bible, the answer is \u201cGod.\u201d Now, we\u2019ve all heard this verse that children are a heritage from the Lord. Well, in Psalm 127\u2014just to give you a little bit of context here\u2014starting in verse 1, David writes: \u201cUnless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stay awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil, for He gives to His beloved sleep. Behold! Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.\u201d Did you catch that connection in there between resting and parenting? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBefore we wrap things up for today, I want to hear a little bit more from Meg Meeker with some practical advice on how to let God <em>build<\/em> our homes. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Previous <em>FamilyLife Today <\/em>Broadcast]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Meg:<\/strong> You know, so often I tell moms, \u201cYour child doesn\u2019t care whether you go to a store and buy a box of brownies that are premade, or get a box and cook them, or make them from scratch. What your child really wants is to sit down and eat a brownie with you.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWhat I would <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> all the  <em>great<\/em> mothers out there\u2014and I know we\u2019ve got <em>thousands<\/em> and <em>thousands<\/em> of great mothers listening right now\u2014\u201cJust calm down. Peel off some of those expectations that you have of yourself for your kids; and start giving your kids your company, and focus on that rather than giving them time that you are running around with them. Just try an experiment: do it for a month and see how the dynamics in your home change.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI have a <em>great<\/em> story about that. When my daughter\u2014one of our daughters was 13, and she was our eldest daughter\u2014and I had a big, old Suburban. It was about 7 o\u2019clock at night. I was\u2014nobody had eaten dinner; I didn\u2019t even know what I was going to cook for dinner\u2014and I was driving her to a birthday party. It was very far away, and I was exhausted. I pulled the car over to the side of the road; and I said, \u201cWe\u2019re done. This is <em>ridiculous<\/em>. I\u2019m racing; I\u2019m not going to do it.\u201d I turned the car around, and I went home. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWell, my 13-year-old was <em>furious<\/em> with me; because that\u2019s not what good mothers do\u2014they take their girls to the birthday parties, even though the whole family hasn\u2019t had dinner\u2014she was very upset with me. We pulled into the garage, and we were pretty strict with our kids\u2019 language. She got out of the car; she pounded her fist on the hood of my car, and she looked at me. I said something; and she said, \u201cMom, shut up!\u201d I said, \u201cOh, you\u2019ve done it now!\u201d because we don\u2019t speak like that in our home. I grounded her for a month, which meant she could only come home after school and be with me all month. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe first week of that month was not very fun. By the end of the month, we enjoyed being together so much that, when the next semester of school came, she backed out of a lot of her stuff and wanted to be home more. That was a real turning point in <em>my<\/em> life, to recognize that what our family needed was more time at home under the same roof. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[Studio] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Michelle:<\/strong> If you are a parent, your children are some of God\u2019s <em>good<\/em> gifts to you; but they are not your ticket to validation or a project to figure out. They are your fine gifts to raise and to point towards Christ. Be humble as you encourage them, and correct them, and love them; and don\u2019t be in a hurry about it\u2014just something to think about this weekend as you love on those kiddos. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOkay; coming up next week, if you happen to talk to your kids about giving up some ballet, or talk to your spouse about crossing off the t-ball on the schedule, there is probably going to be a little bit of conflict. So next, we\u2019re going to talk about <em>conflict<\/em>; you\u2019ll want to tune in to <em>FamilyLife This Week <\/em>for that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThanks for listening! I want to thank the president of FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, David <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">Trial<\/a> along with our station partners around the country. A big \u201cThank you!\u201d to our engineer today, Bruce Goff. Thanks to our producer, Marcus Holt. Justin Adams is our mastering engineer. Megan Martin is our production coordinator, and Keith Lynch is our executive producer. \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOur program is a production of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, and our mission is to effectively develop godly families who change the world one home at a time.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI'm Michelle Hill, inviting you to join us again next time for another edition of <em>FamilyLife This Week.<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to <a id=\"trial47439\" href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/\" title=\"Converted with Doc Converter Pro Online trial\">trial<\/a> defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2021 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/docconverter.pro\/Home\/Payment\" style=\"color: #990000; font-size: 26px\">Converted with the trial version of Doc Converter Pro Online (random words are replaced with 'trial' word, images are watermarked). Buy the full access now.<\/a>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/306750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=306750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=306750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=306750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=306750"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=306750"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=306750"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=306750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}