As vice president of the Parenting and Youth department Danny oversees initiatives that equip parents to disciple and mentor the next generation, so that they can thrive in Christ. He is a bilingual, licensed clinical social worker.
John Fuller is vice president of the Audio division and co-host of the daily "Focus on the Family" radio program. He speaks and writes about family, faith, media and business. John and his wife, Dena, reside in Colorado Springs, Colo., and have six children.
If you’ve ever messed up so badly that you felt like you’ve disappointed everyone around you, pull up a chair and listen. John and Danny explain why it’s important to let go of past mistakes and forgive ourselves so we don’t end up carrying those burdens into our parenting.
Many moms worry constantly that they’re going to mess up their kids, but they don’t have to. John and Danny challenge parents to remember that while they’re significant, God is sovereign in their children’s lives.
When parents worry that a child isn’t living up to their potential, the child’s motivation may need to be re-directed. John and Danny remind parents that the only way kids will do what they’re supposed to, is for them to be motivated in that direction.
It’s our job as parents to help our children understand how to apply the Bible to their daily lives. John and Danny discuss how parents can use language about the fruit of the spirit or the feeding of the five thousand to show how God can work in the lives of their children.
We want our kids to be able to function well in society. That’s why we have to create boundaries for them when they’re young. John and Danny explain how to set boundaries by striking a balance of love and limits even if those boundaries are met with resistance.
There’s no way to keep your children happy all the time. They need to go through their own struggles so they know how to handle tough situations later on in life. John and Danny emphasize the importance of allowing kids to learn resiliency.
There seems to be an identity crisis going on in our culture, as we hear stories of boys wanting to be girls and girls wanting to be boys. John and Danny discuss some of the stark differences between boys and girls and why it’s important for our boys to be boys.
In TV and movies dads are often portrayed as kind of dopey or clown-ish. But dads are called to be leaders in their households. John and Danny emphasize how dads can often provide a unique perspective in troubling situations their daughters may be facing.
God disciplines those He loves and He does so with plenty of grace while implementing boundaries for our good. John and Danny explain how parents can do the same with their children, without using shame.
Saying “I’m sorry” can be difficult, especially for parents. But those two words can make a big difference in a child’s life. John and Danny discuss the times they need to use those words and how taking responsibility for mistakes as parents helps show God’s grace.
A lot of parents want their kids to like them, and not to ever get mad at them. But these wishes are all parenting red flags. John and Danny emphasize that it’s important to parent so that kids want to be your friend when they’re 25 years old, not when they’re young.
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