Overcoming Lies with Truth for Our Kids and Ourselves

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! In this episode, my special guest is a children's book author, public speaker, and a busy biological, adoptive and foster mom: Beth Guckenberger. Beth is someone I have seen speak in sessions at Christian conferences and my daughter loves her latest book! I am so grateful she is my guest today to speak into the lies our kids believe and even ourselves, and how we can combat this with God’s truth to build emotionally stable homes. Deception, manipulation, triangulation, aggression, even violence, these are just some of the challenging and problematic behaviors we may experience with our foster and adoptive kiddos but what if I told you these were symptoms? These behaviors come from a child’s fear and insecurity, and not knowing how to deal with it in a healthy way. Often these kids have needs which are unmet, and when you grow up not having your needs met by parental figures, it develops these unhealthy coping mechanisms or methods of getting what you want. While this is frustrating for us as the parents trying to love our kids (and then to feel like they’re angry at us or lying to us all the time) it is important to remember this is coming from a place of fear, insecurity, and not knowing any difference. This is the key to breakthroughs - addressing the roots and not the symptoms: overcoming lies with truth. Here are a few key takeaways: Understanding children’s emotions and thoughtsHow challenging and problematic behaviors are often symptoms to a child’s inner identity and thought-process, and that’s the root which should be addressed. Identifying lies and intrusive thoughtsRecognizing behavioral signs of struggleCreating emotional safety in chaotic environmentsMarriage as the concrete foundation for the home and how to protect itBalance between child’s needs and parent’s needs Understanding spiritual warfare in your homeEmpowering children with tools against the lies of the enemy Connect more with Beth on her website and Instagram! Check out her children’s book series, StrongHeart Series: The BRAND NEW addition to the series, “The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts (A story about turning bad thoughts to good with prayers of gratitude)The Heart Who Wanted to Be Free (A story about finding freedom through admitting our wrongs)The Heart Who Wanted to Find a Way (A story about calming anxiety through resting in God)The Heart Who Wanted to Be Whole (A story about healing from negative talk through God's truth)Christian Parenting resource for you: Morning MinuteSubscribe now at MorningMinute.org  to receive each weekday morning a verse to strengthen your spirit, one parenting insight grounded in Christ-like wisdom, one short action item to guide your heart and your kids’ and one resource to help you go deeper.To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here! You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I would love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!