I Chose to Teach Her Instead of Shield Her

I Chose to Teach Her Instead of Shield Her

A Rooted in Truth Blog Post — Episode 1

There's a version of me that would have just said no.

No explanation. No conversation. Just no — because that's what I was taught. That "no" was protection. That silence was safety. That if I kept the hard things far enough away, my children would somehow be ready for them when the time came.

But the time always comes. And I wasn't ready when it came for me.

In Episode 1 of Rooted in Truth, I found myself in the middle of a conversation I didn't plan — one that put my parenting approach right up against everything I was raised with. When the topic of drinking came up, I didn't shut it down. I leaned in. Not because I don't have values, but because my values include preparation.

I want Joi to know how to navigate the real world — not just be told to avoid it.

That's not rebellion against how I was raised. It's a response to it. I grew up in a home where I wasn't always given space to ask questions or express how I felt. I was loved, but I wasn't always heard. And I promised myself that my children would never have to wonder if their voice mattered in our home.

Does that mean every decision I make is perfect? No. Does it mean I always get it right? Absolutely not. But it means I'm present. I'm in the conversation. I'm choosing to guide instead of control — and trusting God to cover the rest.

Generational healing isn't just about breaking cycles. It's about building something new in their place.

Watch Episode 1 and tell me — how do you balance protection with preparation?

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