Reflections from a Parenting Conference

Last weekend, I attended a parenting conference—not because I have young children myself, but because I wanted to better understand what younger parents are navigating today. My goal was to learn something meaningful that could help me serve my community more effectively.

Although the event was Christian-centered, I was particularly drawn to its emphasis on limiting household technology use and supporting family well-being—topics that are relevant to all families, regardless of background or belief. The messages shared were insightful and, I believe, valuable for everyone.

The conference drew a diverse crowd: primarily young parents, but also grandparents, single parents, parents of older children, blended families, and traditional two-parent households. It was inspiring to see people coming together across life stages and experiences, united by a shared desire to raise healthy, grounded children.

A few powerful takeaways that stuck with me:

“Your kids are not a distraction from your most important work; they are your most important work.”

• Rules without relationship = rebellion
• Relationship without rules = aggression
• Absence = desperation or feelings of abandonment
• Rules + Relationship = growth and blessings

Family is where a person is formed.
Two essential traits for parents on this journey: wisdom and courage.

One statistic that really hit home: the average American now spends seven hours a day on a screen. As Dr. Anna Lembke (author of Dopamine Nation) put it,

“The smartphone is a modern-day hypodermic needle, delivering digital dopamine 24/7 to a wired generation.”

Jonathan Haidt, in The Anxious Generation, described how we’ve shifted from a play-based childhood—where kids roamed, imagined, and played freely—to a phone-based one, where screen-based entertainment has hijacked essential developmental motivations.

We were reminded that for children to truly learn and grow, they need unstructured time—to play, imagine, and even be bored. Instead of constant entertainment, families are encouraged to:

• Make screen time shared when possible—like watching a movie or playing games together.
• Embrace boredom as an opportunity for creativity.
• Talk openly about finances. Do your kids know how to budget, pay bills, avoid debt, and use credit wisely?
• Encourage financial responsibility and generosity from a young age.

I’m truly grateful for opportunities to attend events like this. It’s encouraging to see people acknowledging their struggles and building communities of support so no one has to go it alone. In a time of shifting technological influences, it gives me hope to witness new leadership stepping up to help families and students face today’s challenges—together.

Elizabeth Hanke