When the World Feels Out of Control: What Our Kids Need Most From Us Right Now

Moms, Dads, and Gratitude: How Apprec...

When the World Feels Out of Control: What Our Kids Need Most From Us Right Now

Depending on which news channel you follow, parents today are watching scenes no one ever expected to see on the evening broadcast—

teens attacking strangers,
young people setting others on fire,
and violent videos going viral within minutes.

It’s overwhelming.
It’s frightening.
And for many families, it sparks the same heartbreaking question:

“What is going on with our kids?”

Whenever a story breaks about errant behavior from tweens or teens, the immediate reaction is often:

“Where are these kids’ parents?”

It’s a fair question… but it’s not the whole story.

Because what we’re seeing isn’t simply about “bad kids” or “bad parenting.”
It’s a symptom of something deeper:
a growing emotional and relational disconnect inside families.

And if we want to raise emotionally healthy, resilient children—especially in a culture where violence is normalized and attention is hijacked—we have to start with this truth:

Kids don’t just need rules. They need emotional structure.

Rules tell a child what to do.
Emotional structure teaches them why it matters.

Kids thrive when they feel:

seenguidedconnectedand safe enough to express what’s really happening inside them

Without that foundation, they search for identity and belonging somewhere else—often in peer groups, online trends, or dangerous corners of the internet that prey on insecurity.

This is where so much of the risky and violent behavior begins:
kids who are trying to feel powerful, accepted, or noticed in all the wrong ways.

Father–son relationships matter more than ever.

Boys especially learn:

impulse controlempathyemotional expressionand confidence

…from the men who raise them and the men who show up consistently.

In my new book, Fathers and Sons: Raising Sons Through Dinosaurs, Testosterone & Girls, I talk about how boys’ behavior is shaped long before the teen years—long before the fights, defiance, or aggression ever surface.

When boys have fathers, father-figures, or male mentors who are present, firm, and emotionally available, they develop:

better judgmentstronger self-controland a healthier sense of identity

The absence of that guidance leaves boys vulnerable to the pressures of “toughness,” impulsive behavior, and the desire to prove themselves in ways that can quickly turn dangerous.

Blended families bring a unique set of challenges—and opportunities.

Let’s be honest:
Blended families don’t come with a manual.

You’re navigating:

different parenting stylesemotional historiesloyalty bindsjealousyinconsistent rulesand kids who feel torn between households

If parents aren’t intentional about communication and unity, those cracks become breeding grounds for rebellion, acting out, and emotional withdrawal.

But with intention, blended families can become powerful places of:

stabilitybelonginghealingand new beginnings

It starts with parents getting on the same page—about expectations, discipline, values, and emotional support.

So how do we make the most of this one life we have together?

We can’t control the world our kids are growing up in.
But we can control how we show up in their world.

Here are a few ways to start:

1. Ask real questions—not just “How was your day?”

Try:

“What felt hard today?”“Did anything make you angry or embarrassed?”“Who did you sit with at lunch?”“What did you wish you could say but didn’t?”

2. Set limits AND talk about why they exist.

Kids follow rules more willingly when they understand the purpose behind them.

3. Don’t avoid the tough conversations.

Talk about violence.
Talk about peer pressure.
Talk about online behavior.
Silence is not protection—connection is.

4. Make emotional check-ins part of your family culture.

Five minutes a day can change everything.

5. Show them they matter—even when they push you away.

Especially then.

Here’s the truth I want every parent to hold onto:

We only get one life together.
One childhood.
One chance to build connection before the noise of the world gets louder than our voice.

Our teens and tweens aren’t just acting out randomly.
They’re communicating something—even through the wrong behaviors.

And it’s our job to slow down, listen, guide, and reconnect before crisis forces us to.

Because when families strengthen their emotional structure…
when fathers and sons rebuild their bond…
when blended homes become united teams…

Kids make better choices.

Kids feel safer.

Kids stay connected.

And that connection is the greatest protection they’ll ever have.

If you’re ready to learn more about taking care of your needs while parenting, I’d love to support you. Contact me — Ms. Parent Guru — to receive resources and guidance to help you along the way.