Keeping It Young

Join Dave and Bethlie as they look at Psalm 107.  Get in the spirit of thanksgiving together. Happy Thanksgiving and thank you SO much for listening to the Keeping It Young Podcast!

In this episode, Dave and Bethlie discuss "Good Pictures Bad Pictures," a critical resource for porn-proofing today's young kids in an age where internet pornography is accessible, affordable, anonymous, and aggressively seeking out our children. This book provides parents with practical tools and age-appropriate language to help children develop their own internal filter against harmful content before they're exposed to it. We'll explore why protecting our kids from pornography is essential and how this book equips families with a proactive plan to address one of the most dangerous threats facing children today. Young children are being exposed to Internet Pornography They tell several devastating stories of real kids damaged by it These kids prompted the book Porn is accessible to children and is anonymous and affordable (free) When it comes to kids and pornography, ignorance is risk. A child's brain is wired to imitate what it sees A child is therefore more vulnerable to porn Viewing porn alters a child's brain in such a way that it easily leads to an addiction that is harder to overcome than drugs or alcohol 100% of kids who choose to continue to view porn after an initial exposure are negatively influenced  Today's porn has metastasized into degrading violence, rape, sex with children, group sex, and horrors that cannot be spoken outlaid. Addiction is very real Porn is a sinister counterfeit because it teaches that sex is a form of self-gratifying and often violent diversion instead of a way to build a loving committed relationship with someone they trust. Kids must develop their own internet filters.  Its called porn-proofing It teaches kids what porn is It teaches them why it is harmful to their brains It teaches them how to minimize impact once they have been exposed   About the chapters   Chapter 1 defines pornography Chapter 2 defines addiction Chapter 3 discusses the "feeling brain" (as opposed to the "thinking brain") Chapter 4 discusses the "thinking brain" Chapter 5 discusses how to put the two together Chapter 6 My brains attraction center Chapter 7 How Porn tries the brain into an addiction Chapter 8 A CAN DO plan Chapter 9 Escaping the poison of pornography   About the CAN DO plan   Close my eyes immediately Always tell a trusted adult Name it when I see it Distract myself Order my thinking brain to be the boss

Part 4 in the series on the book  The DNA of Parent-Teen Relationships. Chapter 5. How to Argue with Teenagers and Come Out as Closer Friends 5,000 adults asked what they wished their parents had done differently during times of conflict They wished their parents had listened more They wished they could have talked about feelings more. They wished they had talked to their parents more Begin by listening - James 1:19 Sometimes we men don't know what to say to connect to our children's emotions - listening is a huge part of the battle Allow their emotion to touch you Take time to feel their pain Take time to feel their sadness Four destructive ways to argue Continually withdrawing from an argument Letting them escalate into hurtful name calling fights Belittling or invalidating each other during an argument Believing that a family member is tryin to hurt, frustrate, or cause fear on purpose. Drive-thru talking!   Chapter 7 Democracy can bring responsibility to your home This is the chapter where they talk about making a contract  See p. 118 for the why have one And p. 118 on how to develop one p. 125 They give advice on Dating

Part 3 in the series on the book  The DNA of Parent-Teen Relationships. Chapter 6 Finding the Best solution to any conflict Making Wise decisions is having the ability through discretion and extensive knowledge to sensibly discern and judge something before receiving and acting upon it.  Power struggles cause the most issues with teens The key is to find a solution that both can feel good about Keys: Establish rules about discussing conflicts 10 rules for fair fighting The calmer the argument, the better the chance of an honoring outcome. With teens agree ahead of time on what the consequences of poor choices will be. Chapter 7 Democracy can bring responsibility to your home Real freedom is having the inner power to do what is best for all concerned. Immaturity is lacking the power to do what we know is right and not being able to delay gratification This is the chapter where they talk about making a contract  See p. 118 for the why have one A written and signed document has tremendous power to keep peoplein harmony with agreed-upon, loving rules And p. 119 on how to develop one You have to read the book for all the details, but here are a few thoughts:   Younger kids need less contract Teens need more Use precise wording that makes expectations clear We have recommended this in blended families especially The more involved in the agreement the greater the outcome There is a section here with some very practical advice: On asking questions - important to teach our teens We taught ours the Daniel method based on Daniel 1 On Cleanliness is good too Their rooms had to be clean before leaving for school or no TV for 24 hours

Dave and Bethlie continue their series on the book  The DNA of Parent-Teen Relationships.   Chapter 5. How to Argue with Teenagers and Come Out as Closer Friends 5,000 adults asked what they wished their parents had done differently during times of conflict They wished their parents had listened more They wished they could have talked about feelings more. They wished they had talked to their parents more Begin by listening - James 1:19 Sometimes we men don't know what to say to connect to our children's emotions - listening is a huge part of the battle Allow their emotion to touch you Take time to feel their pain Take time to feel their sadness Four destructive ways to argue Continually withdrawing from an argument Letting them escalate into hurtful name calling fights Belittling or invalidating each other during an argument Believing that a family member is tryin to hurt, frustrate, or cause fear on purpose. Drive-thru talking!

We're taking a break from our book study this week and focusing on a very important topic in our society.  During this season of high emotions in our country, join Dave and Bethlie as they look at emotions and personality from a Biblical standpoint.  This episode originally aired on episode 142.  

Dave and Bethlie begin a new series on the book  The DNA of Parent-Teen Relationships.   This is a great book about navigating the teen years. I love the quotes that are at the beginning of each chapter: Any adult who behaves the way that teenagers behave would be judged as certifiably insane.  Ana Freud In no order of things is adolescence the simple time of life.  -Jean Erskine Stewart   Fifty years from now it will not matter what kind of car you drove, what kind of house you lived in, how much you had in your bank account, or what your clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because you were important in the life of a child.  -anonymous   Many of the others are verses. Here are some of the subjects he tackles: How to make the teen years the best years How to keep anger levels low How to argue with a teen and come out as closer friends Finding the best solution in any conflict How democracy can bring responsibility to your home Strengthening your relationship with your teenager Helping teens make lemonade out of life's "lemons" Helping teens maintain and regain their virginity When teenagers walk away from the light Leaving home in honor   Chapter Three  - Keeping Anger Levels Low Unresolved anger is the number one enemy of our teen's healthy development and spiritual growth. Three faces of unresolved anger Hurt feelings Frustration Fear/Feeling unsafe What does it look like? Relationally - We distance from others Spiritually - We walk in the dark  Emotionally - we close our heart What provokes anger? Sarcastic jokes and comments Refusing to let them think on their own That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard You are too young to understand Who asked you?  Four steps in opening a teen closed spirit Reflect tenderness Lower your voice Become gentle in heart Speak slowly Get down on one knee Relax your facial expressions Increase your own understanding Empathy is identifying and understanding the other person's situation, feeling, and motives Admit the offense Write a note of apology And so forth Seek Forgiveness

Join Dave and Bethlie discuss as they discuss part 2 of thei 4th book in this series. Solving Marriage Problems by Jay E. Adams. Part 2 Chapter 5 - More Unbiblical concepts about marriage One's priorities must change radically with marriage.   Marriage is a commitment to become a new person.   Chapter 6 deals with handling Stubborn Habits that wreck a marriage A habit is dislodged only by crowding it out with its biblical alternative. No change commanded by God is unrealistic for those who know Christ as their Savior and are willing to do things His way.   Chapter 7 deals with communication Communication is essential for developing and maintaining the deep intimacy that God designed for the marriage relationship. The Christian walk (subject of Ephesians 4-6) is not a solitary walk.  Harmony in walk requires harmony in talk. Mishandled anger is one of he biggest hindrances to communication Clamming up Blowing up Truth may hurt, but in the long run it will not hurt like a lie And truth can be told to another, if it is relevant and spoken in the right manner   Chapter 10 The parent-child relationship is temporary: God says it must be broken.   The husband wife relationship is permanent.  

Dave and Bethlie discuss the 4th book in this series. Solving Marriage Problems by Jay E. Adams. Chapter 1 p. 2. Husbands and wives must grow as individuals in conformity to Christ in order to be compatible with each other. What this book is all about? Marriage problems of all sorts. Causes of these problems Ways of detecting, categorizing, naming and describing problems in a biblical manner. Ways of reaching biblical solutions to marriage problems    Chapter 3 - What causes Marriage Problems? The basic cause is always sin. But sin manifests itself in two ways: in erroneous concepts and in sinful attitudes or practices p 11 Wrong living will be changed only by rooting out the fundamental cause in a person's thinking. P. 12 Correcting organic problems do not make everything better.  An organic problem may include bad attitudes to develop or cause a breakdown in communication.  Correcting the problem does not automatically correct the attitude and the communication. Those have to be corrected separately.   Chapter 4 - UnBiblical Concepts about Marriage The purpose of marriage is to meet man's need for companionship. Marriage was designed to defeat loneliness.  Companionship, therefore, is the essence of marriage. This is why fornication, adultery and polygamy are wrong. They vitiate true companionship because they destroy the intimacy of a constant, close relationship.   The Obligation of marriage is to vow to provide companionship for another for the rest of their lives.   It is not about receiving companionship but about giving it.

Join Dave and Bethlie as they discuss the third book in this series entitled Books That Can Help and Why. This series they'll be discussing Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman. About the author Dr. Leman is a psychologist and best-selling author He is also a radio and tv personality  He is a speaker About the book Dr. Leman says that sex is about the quality of your entire love life His book is a challenge to give your spouse the best gift ever—a sexually enthusiastic mate Not just a how to book but a do it yourself look at why to do it and how to do it better He writes about what goes on in our brains and in our relationship with our spouse and how to overcome some errors and also to use what we learn to our advantage A few good points "The physical aspect will usually take care of itself if the relationship is healthy. If you decide to become sexually adventurous as a couple, you're not going to do things perfectly, anyway; you're going to fail, and hopefully, you'll laugh about it when you do. Nobody's sex life is such that every experience is a ten. You may have to be satisfied with regular eights or sixes and even an occasional three. P 10 This book is written "to hep you understand what a unique and wonderful gift you are to each other, as well as the unique and wonderful ways you can express your love in a very physical and pleasurable sense." P 10 "Sex is part of a relationship." P 12 "Why do you think that God reserves sex for marriage? I believe that one of the reasons (which gets very little attention, unfortunately) is that good sex is not easy and it's very personal." "Abstinence doesn't make the loins grow hotter, it just begets more abstinence." P 184 "We live in a world that glorifies youth, uncommitted sex, and bodies that require a ridiculous amount of self-serving time in the gym. Let's turn that around. Let's reaffirm the bodies of women who have generously and selflessly produced life for one, two, three, or four babies. Let's appreciate those men who work hard to support their families and who don't have time to stop off at the gym and lift weights because they're eager to get home and play with their kids" p 238[';;  A  few challenges from the author about reading the book One to you who are living together but not married - this book is not for you "If you are living with someone outside of marriage, I suggest you move out and start over. The two of you may still make it work, but if you can't make it work outside of marriage without being sexually active, odds are that the marriage will soon fall apart anyway." p. 19 One for those who are uncomfortable talking about sex in a forthright manner. He is rather frank. So be warned! So some good quotes: Good lovers learn to know their lover better than they know themselves. You've got to stop viewing sex through your perception alone and start viewing in through your spouse's eyes." P 32 Great marital sex is about learning to love someone else the way he or she wants to be loved. p. 33 Some recommended chapters Learning to make music, the first night and beyond Very good for those about to get married Very good in preparing for the honeymoon For women only For men only 31 flavors (not ice cream) 31 suggestions for keeping your love life exciting and fresh Turning off the turnoffs Sex's greatest enemy For women - weariness Chapter 14 is called "too pooped to whoop" It gives practical advice for dealing with weariness For men - lack of pursuit on the part of the wife A man wants to be needed and wanted and prized Sex in the Winter - about getting older and how to face it and handle it well and enjoy sexual relations as you do

Dave and Bethlie continue their  multi-part series on the book Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp.   PART 3 4.  His comments about the ROD are really good in chapter 11 Children are not born morally and ethically neutral If they are they don't need correction, just direction If they are not, then they need correction Our child's problem is that he or she is a sinner! p. 102. Folly is the problem we have to address according to proverbs Folly is not childishness Folly describes the person who does not fear God A fools life is run by his desires and fears The fool lives out of the immediacy of his lusts, cravings, expectations, hopes, and fears The issue is authority Will a child live under the authority of God and his parents? Will he/she live under their own authority? All children choose to live under their own authority: I don't want my diaper changed I don't want to sit quietly at the table during this meal You are going to make me and if you do I will scream and throw a huge fit Leave this to take root and grow, and it produces "a rebellious teenager who will not allow anyone to rule him." "God has ordained the rod of discipline for this condition." p. 103 "Confrontation, with the immediate and undeniably tactile sensation of a spanking, renders an implacable child sweet." (p. 103) The quote on p 103 is massively important            4.  The rod's function It imparts wisdom Pr 29:15, which is tied to the fear of god "It creates an atmosphere in which instruction can be given. The spanking renders the child compliant and ready to receive life-giving words."  (p 104) Tripp deals with the question - don't all children eventually learn to obey? He say NO!! Proverbs 29:15, 17

PART 2   3. Some important quotes stand out!  4.  His comments about the ROD are really good in chapter 11 Children are not born morally and ethically neutral If they are they don't need correction, just direction If they are not, then they need correction Our child's problem is that he or she is a sinner! p. 102. Folly is the problem we have to address according to proverbs Folly is not childishness Folly describes the person who does not fear God A fools life is run by his desires and fears The fool lives out of the immediacy of his lusts, cravings, expectations, hopes, and fears The issue is authority Will a child live under the authority of God and his parents? Will he/she live under their own authority? All children choose to live under their own authority: I don't want my diaper changed I don't want to sit quietly at the table during this meal You are going to make me and if you do I will scream and throw a huge fit Leave this to take root and grow, and it produces "a rebellious teenager who will not allow anyone to rule him." "God has ordained the rod of discipline for this condition." p. 103 "Confrontation, with the immediate and undeniably tactile sensation of a spanking, renders an implacable child sweet." (p. 103) The quote on p 103 is massively important The function of the rod It imparts wisdom Pr 29:15, which is tied to the fear of god "It creates an atmosphere in which instruction can be given. The spanking renders the child compliant and ready to receive life-giving words."  (p 104) Tripp deals with the question - don't all children eventually learn to obey? He say NO!! Proverbs 29:15, 17 The rod defined - p. 104 "The rod is a parent, in faith toward God and faithfullness toward his or her children, undertaking the responsibility of careful, timely, measured, and controlled use of physical punishment to underscore the importance of obeying God, thus rescuing the child from continuing in his foolishness unto death."  It is a parental exercise It is an act of faith in God and His Word It is an act of faithfulness - an expression of love and comitment It is an act of responsibility - not a parent determining to punish, but a parent determining to obey It is an act of physical punishment Not venting or parental anger Not frustration Not based on a feeling of my child is bothering me It is always measured and controlled It is a rescue mission Rescues the child from continuing in foolishness To ignore your child's rebellion against God's authority is to ultimately brings God's greater chastisement into their lives. The Rod clarified Not unbridled temper Not the right to hit my child Not venting or frustration not retribution Not payment but restoration Not vindictive The Rod objected I love my child too much too spank You love yourself too much to spank them I am afraid I will hurt them "Biblically-balanced discipline never physically endangers a child" I am afraid it will make him rebellious and angry Proverbs 29:17 teaches the exact opposite I am afraid it will teach them to hit Only if you spank in anger It doesn't work It doesn't when you spank in anger or out-of-control It doesn't when you are inconsistent It doesn't when you fail to be persistent It doesn't when you aren't effective I could be arrested for child abuse Only spank in the privacy of your home and do it right

Join Dave and Bethlie as they embark on this multi-part series on the book Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. What is the point of the book? It is written to parents with children of any age and provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child's heart into the paths of life. Several things stand out in Part 1 His comments about Behavior on page 4 If behavior becomes our only focus, we miss an important part of training "Parents often get sidetracked with behavior. If your goal in discipline is changed behavior, it is easy to understand why this happens.   . . . You think you have corrected when you have changed unacceptable behavior to behavior that you sanction and appreciate. "What is the problem? You ask. The problem is this: Your child's needs are far more profound than his aberrant behavior . . . If you are to really help him, you must be concerned with the attitudes of heart that drive his behavior. " "A change in behavior that does not stem from a change in heart is not commendable; it is condemnable." Don't miss the balance there . . . "What must you do in correction and discipline? You must require proper behavior. God's law demands that. You cannot, however, be satisfed to leave the matter there. You must help your child . . . expose the attitude of the heart that has resulted in wrong behavior." A few suggestions from be and Bethlie If your child is younger, behavior is the first priority. They don't understand yet, but you can't wait until they have the capacity to reason and think.  You will be way behind if you do.  So go ahead and focus on their behavior. Give me your attention. As they then begin to grow and understand, you can then begin working on their heart.   Give me your heart His comments about influences that shape who a person is and what they become as a result What are the influences? Structure of their family life Family Values Illustration of Vases or Disobedience on p 12 Family Roles Family Conflict Resolution Family Response to Failure Family History What are the mistakes we often make regarding these influences? We assume they are just helpless victims because of their We assume they are unaffected by their experiences We rely on determinism: if the environment is right, the kid will turn out right We have to remember that the clay is not passive This is why the heart is so important

Join Dave and Bethlie as they continue a study on a few select chapters of the book Ten Pillars of an Awesome Marriage by Charles Shoemaker.    PART 2 5. Chapter 5 Conflict Resolution Goal - not to avoid but to handle wisely Illustration of Lady Astor to Winston Churchill - If you were my husband, I would give you poison; if you were my wife, I would take it! P. 85 Swindoll Quote Frequently, marital warfare is in the trenches of belligerence or moodiness. Some battles are night attacks or surprise assaults. Others are cold wars of stoic silence.  Cruel methods of torture are also employed—public criticism, fearful threats, intimidation, ugly sarcasm, and hateful remarks designed to put down one's mate. Such tactics are popular . . . but wrong because they are unfair and they never lead to domestic peace." P. 87 PFS - personal filtering system Age Gender Education Life experiences Culture Temperament  Skills Personality Spirituality How do you resolve conflicts Be right with God Be swift to hear and slow to speak Own it when you are wrong Stay focused on issue at hand Face conflicts with a team mindset We not me A marriage struggles when it has two "I"s

Join Dave and Bethlie as they begin a study on a few select chapters of the book Ten Pillars of an Awesome Marriage by Charles Shoemaker.  Here's the notes from this episode. Introduction to the author He and His wife Sharon have been married for 50 years They have conducted Marriage and Family Conferences throughout North America, Asia, Central America, and Europe Overview of the book There are Ten Chapters - Neatly Alliterated Core Values - building a strong foundation Compatibility - understanding each other Commitment - staying connected Communication - learning to share openly and lovingly Conflict Resolution - solving disagreements peaceably Charity - loving unconditionally Choices - making wise decisions Companionship - living as positive partners Chemistry - enjoying marital intimacy Christ and His church - Going the distance with God's help Chapter 3 - Commitment A reminder of our wedding vows For better of for worse In sickness as in health Forsaking all others Until death do us part Why is commitment such a struggle for us today The culture we live in Low standards of many Christians Delayed consequences A section about truths to remember Commitment is a choice We choose to stay married We choose to make our spouse happy to be married Bring joy to your spouse Bless your spouse Serve your spouse We choose to continue growing together Two illustrations  No gas in a car it will stop running We have to grow the marriage relationship by putting fuel in the tank A plant ignored will die For a plant to thrive it has to receive a lot of attention

We reached back into the archives and pulled out a very special episode that Dave and Bethlie did back in season 2. Pray for Pastor Dave as he recovers from a pretty nasty cold.  In this special episode, Dave and Bethlie Young tackle the critical issue of internet pornography and its impact on families. They share alarming statistics about pornography exposure among children and teens, including that 93% of boys and 62% of girls are exposed to internet porn before age 18, with the average first exposure occurring at age 11. Pornography has become "aggressive" - actively seeking out children rather than requiring them to search for it. No family is exempt from this challenge, whether homeschooled, Christian schooled, or public schooled. If you'd like more information regarding this please visit https://www.covenanteyes.com/ and use the promo code dnbyoung.    

Thanks for joining us for part 2 of this series entitlted, "The Family Altar." If you've listened to Keeping It Young for long, you've probably heard Dave refer to the "family altar" but what exactly does he mean when he says that?    7.  How do you do it? Schedule it John R. Rice had family altar after breakfast each morning. Read Scripture out loud as a family Each one prayed We had family altar in the evenings before bed. It was a calm down time It was a quiet time It was a special and fun time We have many scheduled habits We brush our teeth We watch certain shows We eat at certain times We leave for school at specific times Schedule in a way that fits your family Make the schedule a habit Communicate the schedule Change it as needed . . . Make it predictable Be clear about how you do it Be clear about what will happen Plan it No phones Light conversation Scripture reading Time of prayer Gratitude 8.  Final thoughts: You can't do it if you aren't what you should be as a parent If you are growing and taking steps to be right, get started   Links: Want to hear Pastor Dave Young preach? Westwood Baptist Church Westwood Baptist Church Podcast

If you've listened to Keeping It Young for long, you've probably heard Dave refer to the "family altar" but what exactly does he mean when he says that? The next few episodes will explain exactly what he means! In this episode, you heard Dave and Bethlie reference a past episode on Deuteronomy 6. Here is the link to part 1 of that 7 episode series. Here are the notes from today's episode. The Family Altar What is a family altar? The family altar refers to the way a Christian family regularly prays together. It is different than grace at a table. It is a daily time that frequently includes Scripture combined with prayers The family altar is: A family altar is a designated space or time in a home dedicated to religious or spiritual practices, often involving prayer, worship, and study of sacred texts. It serves as a focal point for family devotions, fostering a sense of unity, spiritual growth, and connection to faith. The specific elements and practices associated with a family altar can vary greatly depending on the family's religious or spiritual tradition.  An "on purpose way" for a family to regularly learn spiritual truth and traditions The family altar — a designated time and place at home where the family comes together to pray, worship and experience the living God — is like a firewall against Satan's schemes. Show me a family altar, and I will show you an atmosphere of faith and a house where God's presence resides.-Samuel Rodriquez, Influence Magazine The term "family altar" speaks to a time when the leader of the home gathers the family together to focus on God. For some families, that may mean once a week. It could be Sunday evening as the family prepares for another week. It could be Saturday evening as they family prepares their heart for worship with their church the next morning. Other families might practice it everyday at the breakfast table or at nighttime prayers. Why is the family altar important? God says so – that's why! Here are just a few of the examples of God's stance on the family altar: Abraham was told to teach his children so that following generations would know the Lord (Gen. 18:19). Moses taught that parents were to teach their children to love the Lord all throughout the day (Deut. 6:7). The psalmist taught the necessity of God's people declaring God's greatness to the next generations (Ps. 78:3-7). Solomon taught that if you trained a child in the Lord, they would not depart from that way (Prov. 22:6). Fathers were instructed to teach children in the instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Why should we have one? It builds unity in a family It teaches Bible truths systematically to our children It makes a statement that our faith is real and valid It focuses our attention on our God It helps to foster peace in the home It is a way to influence our children on a daily basis It provides a way for us to obey the Scriptures regarding our family Links: Want to hear Pastor Dave Young preach? Westwood Baptist Church Westwood Baptist Church Podcast

We conclude this series this week with Part 3. To make it easier for you to remember the outline for the last two weeks we've included all three weeks below.  Part 1 It is hard. Life is busy all by itself, but caring for aging parents doubles or triples the load. Some parents are pretty much on their own all the way through life, but others need lots of help and care.   As much as possible, plan ahead before care is needed. Talk with all the family who is involved or who will be. If possible, purchase insurance plans that will help. Perhaps pay for them as a family. Secure wills and power of attorneys and bank accounts and all that while it can be done easily. Have a plan as to who is in charge and who will help and how it will be done. Be prepared for misunderstanding and difficult responses Remember truth when accusations are made Remember truth when challenges occur   Part 2 It needs to be a WE affair and not a ME affair Get everyone involved Brothers and sisters Typically best to give someone power of attorney Typically best to give someone the power of the money Aunts and uncles They can spend nights They can transport to appointments Sons and daughters If you parents live with you, the kids can help with them Spouse Communicate Prioritize On both sides The one who is care-giving needs love and understanding as they give to their parent The one who is married to the care-giver needs the same as they give to their spouse Everyone should get involved One person likely cannot do it by themselves Each person must shoulder some responsibility Make it a practical matter Prepare wisely Think ahead while the decision is easy Decide ahead of time as many things as possible Have a will Have a living will Have all information and important papers located and available Plan carefully Sit down with as many people as possible to make a plan Someone should be designated as the one who "takes-charge" Talk continually Keep everyone in the loop Keep everyone organized Perhaps use a group text morning and evening   Part 3              4.  Schedule specific responsibilities Living arrangements Driving arrangements Appointments Events Financial arrangements Know your limitations Some things can be done Some things cannot be done Some times you need a break Never allow yourself to feel guilty for taking a break when it is needed Some questions How do you handle difficult parents? Do the right thing The right thing is to keep caring The right thing may be to allow someone else to do the caring Do the hard thing You may have to choose a nursing home You many have to choose assisted living Allow someone to have veto power over your decisions? By that I mean limited veto power Limited by time (they can override for a set amount of time) How do you handle parents with whom you have little or no relationship? Prayerfully Pray about it Seek counsel as you pray Wisely If you have no relationship, you do not have to carry the burden of responsibility  If you have a damaged relationship, seek to make things right If you cannot make things right, you may need to allow others to serve as the care-giver and you serve as a helper . . .

Part 2 Caring for aging parents is hard! Dave and Bethlie discuss practical ways you navigate these difficult times.  If you are in this season, or will be in this season, we trust this content will be a help.  If you know of someone who could use this, please share it.    4. It needs to be a WE affair and not a ME affair Get everyone involved Brothers and sisters a Aunts and uncles Sons and daughters Spouse Everyone get involved One person likely cannot do it by themselves Each person must shoulder some responsibility 5.  Make it a practical matter Prepare wisely Plan carefully Talk continually Keep everyone in the loop Keep everyone organized Schedule specific responsibilities Living arrangements Driving arrangements Appointments Events     Links: Want to hear Pastor Dave Young preach? Westwood Baptist Church Westwood Baptist Church Podcast