by Shannon Popkin | Mar 8, 2023 | Change, Deception, Gender and Sexuality, Humility, Marriage, Parenting, Perfectionism, Podcast 4, Sin, Teens, Women
What does it look like to be brave and tell the truth, when so many are saying, “Maybe I’m not a girl…”? And what is the truth about a person’s gender? Also, why is masturbation wrong if it’s not hurting anyone? And how can we...
by Shannon Popkin | Mar 2, 2023 | Change, Deception, Gender and Sexuality, Humility, Pain, Perfectionism, Podcast 4, Rescue, Salvation, Sin, Teens
As a thirteen-year-old, Jessica innocently stumbled upon the world of pornography. She was lonely, and the porn chat rooms offered love and acceptance. And yet—similar to the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, pornography was not the harmless fruit Jessica...
by Shannon Popkin | Aug 10, 2021 | Control Girl, Parenting, Teens
The day we launched our first college student, I woke up in the hotel room with a pit in my stomach. This day is not about you! I reminded myself, and quietly began planning the photos I wanted to take, the quiet moment of prayer we’d have in her dorm room, and...
by Shannon Popkin | Jan 17, 2014 | Faith, Fear, Gifts, Humility, Kids' Perspective, Pain, Parenting, seasons, Teens
As a mom, one of the most painful things in life is to see my kids struggle through something that is humiliating. I alternate between wanting to fix my child and eradicate the struggle, and wanting to pummel anyone who would dare to snicker or poke fun at...
by Shannon Popkin | Sep 26, 2013 | Funny, Humility, seasons, Teens
I have absolutely no idea how my high school friends and I figured it out. Maybe we were driving along one day and it randomly happened. Or maybe we were trying out an urban legend. Whether it was on purpose or not, somehow we discovered that we could make the garage...
by Shannon Popkin | Aug 27, 2013 | Communication, Parenting, Teens
Recently, I was talking to one of my teens about an upcoming choice. I was laying out the consequences and helping her consider the cost of not doing what she should do.But she cut me off, and said, “Mom, STOP. You’re guilting me for something that...