Keep your Saddleback Kid or Student connected online:
Survival Kit
As school, play, work and more have moved at-home, Saddleback Parents wants to help you not only survive but win during your time at-home. Check out these resources below to help you win at-home. Also, follow our “Saddleback Parents At Home” Pinterest account for ideas constantly being added to make the most of your time.
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When is there a good time to step out in faith? Is it when the waters are calm? Is it when the storm is raging? The best time to step…
As we kick off National Suicide Prevention Week, I want you to hear from my good friend, Dan Adams, from Sources of Strength. Sources of Strength’s upstream approach to suicide…
The COVID-19 at-home trends are all about comfy and cozy. Moms and daughters alike are sporting messy buns on the daily. Working parents are dressed for work…from the waistline up…
The school year is upon us once again. The landscape is far different than what any of us expected and trying to navigate has proven to be nothing short of…
Kara Powell, a leader and research at Fuller Institute, shares a wealth of expertise and wisdom around the seeming increase in stress and anxiety in today's children. Tune in as…
Ashlee Eisland, author of Human(kind), engages with Saddleback Parents about teaching our kids about kindness through our words, deeds and model. There are lots of great values and fruit to…
Mark at Amazon Saddleback Parents is joined by Mark Oestreicher, well-known trainer and leader of youth workers across America with almost 40 years of experience in student ministries. He shares…
Join us for our Hope for Mental Health Community – a safe place for anyone living with or affected by mental illness. Our monthly gatherings are a time to connect…
By Julius Lester View at Amazon REVIEW: A beautifully written story about the story that each of us has to tell and are. Many things contribute to our story, race…
By Trillia Newbell View at Amazon REVIEW: Rightfully titled, this book takes us back to the beginning of “God’s Very Good Idea” in the creation of man and woman. Traversing…
By Michael Tyler View at Amazon REVIEW: This is a colorfully illustrated, sing-song rhyming book for younger kids in early elementary and below. It is a joyful appreciation of the…
By Jacqueline Woodson View at Amazon REVIEW: There is power in simple friendships, a great message for school-age children from preschool through elementary, addressing the realities of our racially separated…
Pause and breathe. You are covered in our prayers in this heavy time in life. Thankfully, Colossians 1:9-11 is full of practical and extremely applicable wisdom in this season of…
There are so many people to be thankful for, especially in this time of COVID-19. Take a moment and relish in a little appreciation for YOU, mom and dad. Seriously,…
By Angela Joy View at Amazon REVIEW: Beautiful illustrations and eloquent words woven together bring this book to life. Best audience is elementary age for comprehension of its depth. “Black…
By Karen Katz View at Amazon REVIEW: This book, not intended, seems like a great follow-up to “Shades of People”. It takes the idea of shades of skin to…
By Shelley Rotner & Sheila M. Kelly View at Amazon REVIEW: Toddlers up to early elementary will appreciate this simple reminder that people come in all sorts of shades. It…
Our country is in the middle of two big crises right now: the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial injustices that have led to the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud…
By Richard Michelson View at Amazon REVIEW: What a beautifully illustrated story of friendship between two boys—one Jewish and one black. It is a great conversation starter for elementary-age children…
By Bobbi Jane Kates View at Amazon REVIEW: This is a great picture book for babies up to Kindergarten, maybe even early elementary. The beloved Sesame Street character present a…
Your job as a parent is a calling from God. It is more important than your vocation, bank account, education or even your own happiness. Besides your relationship with God…
By now, we’ve all grown weary of High School Musical’s hit number “We’re All in This Together!” (Don’t start singing it! Seriously, you’ll regret it for the rest of your…
To say that 2020 has been a whirlwind is an understatement. At least we’re halfway through the year…or wow we still have 6 months to go?!?! No matter how you…
A great message about the sin of racism from our friend, Jeff Walling, the Director of the Youth Leadership Initiative at Pepperdine University.
My mind lies awake and restless at night—the endless posts, comments, videos and more dealing with every aspect and facet of the racial injustices pervading our country spin through my…
Let’s be honest, if the recent events have not ignited an earnest time of heart check self-reflection, it’s not too late. You may have chosen to not click on the…
Is racism a problem that can be solved? Big question! Racism is a pervasive problem that divides us and threatens to to keep us divided. How are we supposed to…
We have gone from pandemic to pandemonium. Join Pastor Rick Warren and Reverend A.R. Bernard as they addressing the national consensus of outrage in response to George Floyd's murder.
Join two of our Pastors, Kurt Johnston and AC Crumbey as they share some thoughts and tips about talking to our kids about racism. They recorded this short conversation in…
The last day that our kids were in school. Who would have even known that March 13th would be the final day that our kids would see their friends, their…
The ramifications of this COVID-19 season have been extensive. Suicide rates. Domestic violence. Child abuse. Lives lost. Fears raised. The list could go on and on. One of the most…
Kay sits down with Dr. Jerry Sittser, author of "A Grace Disguised", to discuss grief and loss during COVID-19. Both Kay and Jerry have experienced catastrophic loss and the grief…
The stressful impact of COVID-19 on our daily lives is unprecedented, affecting our physical and mental health, our work, our finances, our communities, and our relationships.
Join us as we focus on caregiver burnout, substance use, addiction, and isolation with Dr. Glenda Wrenn. Dr. Wrenn is a practicing psychiatrist, mental health policy expert, and thought leader…
We are so honored to have Dr. Diane Langberg join us. Dr. Langberg speaks on two often hidden experiences of suffering: sexual abuse and domestic violence. As a practicing psychologist…
Your mental health, especially as a parent, is vital in this season. Take time to reflect on and protect your mental health.
The kids in our lives have experienced a tremendous amount of change and loss due to COVID-19 – loss of school, the ability to participate in extracurricular activities (sports, art…
Does stay-at-home time feel like managing a zoo? It's not too late to bring some order and consistency into the inconsistent uncertainty of life.
Is your angst increasing about the possibility of a "new normal"? What tomorrow holds can be overwhelming. Don't get lost in tomorrow at the cost of today.
Your kids have lost a lot in this season. There are great lessons that can be pulled even in the midst of loss. Learn these lessons to pass along.
You are probably doing a good or even great job in managing this norm. But, you don't have to keep it all together all the time. It's okay to not…
With COVID-19, the quarantine, and the economic turmoil, our intake of information has increased, and with it, comes the news of pain around the world. It can be a simple scroll…
It’s a common surprise: parents think that once their children get past the exhausting toddler years and become more independent, life will slow down and the couple will have more…
Teenagers are being asked by the government to socially distance themselves from friends, meaning they are trapped at home with parents and siblings. Can you see the eye rolls? How many parents are quoting…
The temperature has gone up as our world revolves around and at-home. Step back, settle in, and see things from a fresh perspective.
It’s such a crazy time for all of us. Families are feeling the stress and yet, for many of us, we have more time to have meaningful conversations. I wanted…
About a month ago, many of us were complaining that we were too busy, that life was moving too quickly, and that we wished we had more time to spend…
By: Kay Warren w/ Kay & Milan Yerkovich
Join Kay and Dr. J.P. Moreland as they share about anxiety. Dr. Moreland is the author of Finding Quiet: My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace.…
While I know this is our new norm, honestly, reality hasn’t fully set in. The statewide reports and letters announcing the closures of schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020…
By: Kinsey Hunting There’s a lot to process through with all of the drastic changes that have happened in our society over the last few weeks. This pandemic has created…
By: Laleanne Stanbery Before COVID-19 we filled our lives with... Busyness School Work Sports Extra-curriculars Bible Studies Lunches Meetings, meetings, and more meetings The occasional, penciled into the empty…
By: Shawn Hyde If you’re feeling a bit more exhausted than usual, you’re in good company! Each of us has had to make some big adjustments in our daily…
The freedoms and growth of college may have halted as college students return home sooner than anticipated. Learn how to navigate the early return-home with your college student.
If you are raising a middle schooler, sometimes you just have to have a good laugh. Can you relate to any of this?!?!
In this episode of Parent Pit Stop, Kurt shares one of the most famous moments of Jesus' ministry and reminds us that oftentimes God not only meets our needs... but…
In this episode of Parent Pit Stop, Kurt talks about making sure you find time to do the things that fill your tank.
The uncertainty of tomorrow, next week and next month can be overwhelming. Be reminded about how to live in the short-term, day-to-day, while keeping a long-term, bigger picture vision in…
If you are raising a middle schooler, sometimes you just have to have a good laugh. Can you relate to any of this?!?!
As someone who thrives off of in-person connections and relationships, social distancing has been like my kryptonite. Guess that is why God blessed us with a high-energy household of kids…
Hey Parents! From time to time during this health crisis, we will be sharing links to stories, articles or resources that we think may be helpful. Not all of them will be…
There is no time like the present, in the “new norm” of being at-home for work, school, play, meals and more, to take an intentional pitstop. Get your at-home living…
YOU’VE GOT THIS Most nights, our family gathers together for family time. Some nights we shoot baskets on the Over the Door basketball hoop. Other times we talk about school,…
One of the most consistent compliments I get is my high capacity—multitasking juggler of many kids, jobs, roles and responsibilities. You would think that would be an asset in this…
Homeschooling, two full-time jobs relocated, at-home sports, virtual friend dates…we are PICTURE perfect as you can see! Here is the key word in this…PICTURE. It is all a captured façade…
Even though your college student is technically a young adult, they are still your child. Check out these frequently addressed topics that college students are facing today so that you,…
The Gospel In 5 Words As parents and kids spend more time at home together during our current health crisis, there is certainly an increase in the amount of time…
By Jason Pogue If your students are anything like mine, they spend a TON of time in their bedrooms. In fact, they typically only come out of their rooms for…
We are navigating uncharted territory with the coronavirus and the closure of virtually everything “normal” in our day-to-day…schools, sports, extracurriculars, playdates, amusement parks, stores, and church. One thing is certain,…
Our Friend Adam McLane is a parent who has worked from home for almost a decade, and we think his insight might be helpful to those of you who may…
It is an inevitable part of life and parenting, that there will be challenges. You will face a parenting struggle. Your child will struggle with a friend, coach, teacher or…
I’m a children’s minister; have been for the last almost 15 years. I’ve been a follower of Jesus for more than 20 years. Been through seminary classes and countless Bible…
“AH, a spider!” “Daddy come get this BIG bug.” “I don’t want to go upstairs by myself, it’s dark and scary!” “What if there are monsters in my closet?!?!” In…
I’m afraid too many parents have indulged and enabled their children to such an extent that they have helped create irresponsible and even narcissistic kids. When we have weak, inconsistent…
