My Child Saw Porn, Now What? A S.M.A.R.T. Plan for Parents

My Child Saw Porn, Now What? A S.M.A.R.T. Plan for Parents

We talk about protecting our children from pornography ... but if they've seen it, have we failed? What should we do AFTER our kids are exposed to porn? Our world is saturated with inappropriate images, and chances are that as hard as we try, our kids are likely to be exposed. You are not a failure! But what do you do now? We can help with that. Kristen Jenson joins us on today's show to talk about her S.M.A.R.T. plan, which she developed just for this purpose. It includes 5 steps to help parents after their kids have been exposed…
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Fact vs Fiction: Addiction, Pornography & Teens

Fact vs Fiction: Addiction, Pornography & Teens

When it comes to addiction, context is everything! If you say I’m addicted to chocolate, carbs, or TV your friends may laugh, wink and probably agree —yup, me too! But if you swap those vices out for alcohol, gambling or heroin, things get real serious, real fast. Suddenly addiction becomes a frightening word—ominous, unrelenting, maybe even permanent. It conjures up images of broken homes, back alleys, and vagrant living. These are not thoughts we wish to linger on. It’s easier in many ways to turn a blind eye. But what if the vice is pornography? And what if the individual…
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Parenting, Porn & Not-So-Common Sense

Parenting, Porn & Not-So-Common Sense

Related Podcast: Ep. #1-11, Bad Parenting Advice About Porn: When Common Sense Flies Out the Window Why would I ever have to justify the stance that pornography is harmful to a 12-year-old child? That’s the question I keep playing over and over in my mind since I found myself in this exact scenario. Several individuals, who by every indication should have a child’s best interest in mind were quick to throw common sense out the window and offer this dangerous advice to other parents. (See story below). In response, this post will review 5 ways porn seriously harms children. It will dig…
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My Child Needs Help! 6 Practical Ways to Put Your Oxygen Mask on First

My Child Needs Help! 6 Practical Ways to Put Your Oxygen Mask on First

Everyone knows when the cabin pressure drops, you must put your own oxygen mask on before attending to others. That’s tough advice for parents to swallow. Even in the best of times we’re apt to put our kids’ needs ahead of our own. But when it comes to helping a child let go of a compulsion to use pornography, it's crucial that we have a dependable source of air to help us maintain steady breathing patterns. After all, it's going to be important to take regular calming breaths as we face the journey ahead. [media-credit name="Unsplash" link="https://unsplash.com/photos/WRM14fQLkV8?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" align="aligncenter" width="800"][/media-credit] Your…
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I Panicked When my Child Confided in Me About Porn, Now What?

I Panicked When my Child Confided in Me About Porn, Now What?

Related Podcast: Ep. #1-18, I Panicked When My Child Saw Porn, Now What? Don’t overreact! Almost every article I’ve read (and written) about what to do when you discover your child is viewing pornography starts out with this advice. Nine times out of ten it comes too late—you've already gone down that road! [media-credit name="Unsplash" link="https://unsplash.com/photos/dQLgop4tnsc?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" align="aligncenter" width="800"][/media-credit] So you didn’t have a perfect response? Well, congratulations… it’s confirmed... you’re human! Any parent in this situation would be flooded with negative emotions. Feelings of shock, horror, anger, fear, sadness, betrayal (the list goes on and on), are normal responses. So…
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Kids are Drowning in Porn; So Why Aren’t Parents Asking for Help? [Video Podcast]

Kids are Drowning in Porn; So Why Aren’t Parents Asking for Help? [Video Podcast]

If it feels like your kids are drowning in porn, then chances are, so are the kids of your closest friends. As parents our inclination is to clam up and say nothing to nobody. Why is this? [media-credit name="Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash" link="https://unsplash.com/photos/h1vdmVQqPmM" align="aligncenter" width="800"][/media-credit] In today’s post and video podcast we’ll explore the answer to that very question. We’ll also find out what parents can do to get over their inhibitions on this topic and why talking with other parents about pornography will actually benefit our kids. I’m a parent and I have questions Just before we…
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Parents Aware Podcast 002 [Sneak Peek]: Compassion for a Friend Struggling with Porn Addiction

Parents Aware Podcast 002 [Sneak Peek]: Compassion for a Friend Struggling with Porn Addiction

Life is busy for everyone! It’s no exception here at Parents Aware. That said, we haven’t stopped working on new ideas to help you continue the conversation with children and teens about pornography —including a brand new Parents Aware Podcast! I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have so much on my plate I don’t get to read everything I want. In fact, there’s so much good information online that I often feel overwhelmed by what I can't get to. This is why I've decided to focus on 3 areas at Parents Aware that will help you stay up-to-date on this incredibly…
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I Gave Up Sugar to Help a Friend Struggling With Porn

I Gave Up Sugar to Help a Friend Struggling With Porn

As the old adage goes: Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If you've ever watched a friend struggling with porn you know how hard it can be to empathize. In fact, at times you may feel like throwing your hands in the air and shouting  —"Just get over it already!"  One of our main objectives at Parents Aware is to promote understanding of the addictive nature of pornography. That's because there are thousands of teens and young adults joining different recovery programs every year. Many were introduced to porn as kids. They stumbled across it online. One…
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When Porn Attacks Your Family Like a Monster Refusing to Quit [Reader Story]

When Porn Attacks Your Family Like a Monster Refusing to Quit [Reader Story]

In Greek mythology, the Lernean Hydra is a gigantic, nine-headed water-serpent. As one of his twelve labors, Hercules was sent to destroy her. By all accounts, the task seemed impossible. When he cut off one head, two more would spring forth. There are times as parents when we too have to muster herculean effort in what feels like an impossible task to save our kids from the influence of pornography. One of our readers shares with us how she found herself battling this monster for the second time in her home. Her story is heartbreaking but hopeful. --- Read the truths…
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The Power of a Single Compliment [Reader Story]

The Power of a Single Compliment [Reader Story]

We teach our kids to be polite using phrases like please, thank you and I’m sorry.  But beyond the surface, these expressions really denote respect and attentiveness to those we are speaking with. They are powerful communication tools.  When used appropriately, these 3 simple expressions can break down barriers, make up for misplaced words and even defuse hostile situations. Recently I learned the power of a single compliment against shame—one of the biggest obstacles kids face in overcoming a compulsion to use porn.  What do good manners have to do with helping children reject pornography? We know that the porn…
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