Table of Contents
Introduction: Molly, My Kids, and Me Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan ix
Questions as Conversation Starters: Finding Your Way with Unanswerable Questions Rev. Dr. Kathleen L. Kussmaul xiii
"But Doesn't the Bible Say …?" Equipping Children to Discern Biblical Truth Rev. Sarah McWhirt-Toler xxi
The Skin I'm In
Both/And: Walking Alongside Biracial Kids Mikhail Stephens 2
The Way God Made Me: A Little Different, a Lot Loved Rev. Julie A. Higbee 7
How Did I Actually Get Out of Your Body? Honest Body Talk at Every Age Rev. Rebecca J. Gresham-Kesner 14
"Are You a Boy, or a Girl?" The Holy In-Between Rev. Drew Stever 20
"Am I Smart?" Nurturing Unique Learners in a Standards-Driven Educational Culture Rev. Sara C. Staton 26
Nothing "Down" About It: Down Syndrome and Difference Rev. Kit Lonergan 35
Big Feelings
"What's the Point?" Existential Angst with the Elementary-School Set Rev. Katherine Willis Pershey 44
"Why Am I Nervous All the Time?" Journeying with Childhood Anxiety Rev. Michelle L. Torigian 48
Considering Courage: Teaching Your Kids to Do Hard Things Carissa Kapcar 54
"Why Are You So Hypocritical?" Dr. Nancy S. Wiens 61
"Where Is My Home?" An Immigrant's Experience of Moving and Belonging Rev. Mindy Bell 68
Kids Are Ready: Intimacy and Bodies Rev. Ellie Roscher 76
Family Matters
Respecting One Another's Boundaries: Teaching Kids about Consent Rev. Laura Terasaki 84
New Neighbors, Again: Staying Grounded Dining a Move Rev. Allie Scott 90
Only Doesn't Have to Mean Lonely. On Family of Choice and on Being Okay Being Alone Rev. Sandhya Rani Jha 96
"Are We Brothers?" The Joys and Challenges of Multi-Racial Families Rev. Bonnie J. McCubbin 101
On Family Democracy, Sort Of: Including Kids in Decision-Making Rev. Andrea Roske-Metcalfe 109
Everyday Choices
A Future with Hope: Discernment and Decision-Making Rev. Lee Hull Moses 116
"Why Do I Have to Practice?" Rev. Julie Hoplamazian 121
"Why Do I Have to Go to School?" Education, Equity, and the Importance of Public Education Rev. Suzanne Parker Miller 127
Supporting Children in Times of Social Change Rev. Rhonda Grant Jordan 136
When You Care about the Environment but Also Love to Shop Sari Fordham 143
When a Child Is in the Hospital Mary Kate C. Morgan Rev. Dr. Katherine L. Kussmaul 150
What Is and What Might Be
"Why Is Our Peace Broken?" Rev. Dr. Kelsey Grissom 160
"Who Is My Enemy?" Interrupting Fear of the Other with Explicit Calls to Love Rev. Shannon E. Sullivan 166
When the World Is Fighting: Talking about War (and Peace) at Home Rev. Sara Nave Fisher 172
What a Wonder-fall World- Developing Ecosystem Ethics in a Time of Climate Change Rev. Anita Peebles 178
Why Do Bad Things Happen to Innocent People? Theodicy and the Problem of Child Sexual Abuse Rev. Victoria Wick 184
Conclusion: Telling True Stories Rev. Karen Ware Jackson 193
