I agree we should aim high. It’s a tough ask in today’s society – but not impossible. It frightens me knowing what’s out there for my kids as they grow up (also knowing what I got up to as a teen) – but I just have to trust in God and his protection for them.

Posted by Debbie, on July 23rd, 2010, at 11:21 am. #.

I give God all the glory…My daughter married at 19 years old, she was a virgin and had never touched anything stronger than a panadol…My Son is 18 and the same can be said for him…I was not raised a Christian but was born again after my marriage broke down and I raised 2 little girls…remarried a wonderful Born again Christian and we raised 2 beautiful boys…All for the Glory of God…When we dedicated out children to God, we fully expect His wisdom and understanding in raising our Children as He intended….Praise always to God Most High..

Posted by linda chapman, on July 23rd, 2010, at 2:34 pm. #.

We are definitely seeing a shift in the cultural landscape in terms of what normalcy is. The culture is against us no doubt as our society loses its Judeo-Christian moorings.
I’m particularly struck by the “18, Drug-Free, Virgin” answer… it really goes to show how parenting assumptions and expectations have become so minimalist in our day.

Posted by Lilian, on July 23rd, 2010, at 3:28 pm. #.

I love MOPS. It’s a wonderful place for mums to talk about real issues, with real women.

Posted by SquiggleMum, on July 23rd, 2010, at 5:13 pm. #.

Alas Debbie, like you I know only too well what I got up to as a teen … and the kids think we are clueless LOL!

Cath I really wish there had been a local MOPS group when my kids were small. I think it’s a fantastic program/group – because nurturing mums means that the whole family benefits!

Posted by Webmaster, on July 23rd, 2010, at 5:34 pm. #.

One of our MOPS slogans is “Impact a mum, impact a family, impact the world!” I agree we have to aim high when it comes to expectations for our children.

Posted by Jillian, on July 24th, 2010, at 7:08 am. #.

X and two of her friends have a pact to stay virginal ’til marriage. I hope and pray for each of them that they can stand by this, but even should any of them fail in this, it’s also a real blessing seeing young people encourage each other in this way.

And it reminds me of a reasonably famous person talking about their failed marriage in terms of, “We didn’t plan to get divorced” and it going through my head that they didn’t plan to stay married either.

I think purity is just as important and the same principal applies.

Even those who plan to stay married sometimes fail, but they’re less likely to fail than those who didn’t plan to get divorced. Likewise not all those who plan to stay pure will succeed, but they have a much higher chance than those who don’t make any such plans at all.

Posted by Kylie, on July 24th, 2010, at 9:13 am. #.

I think that title describes me in 1967. People who look back on that time seem to have a different vision of it. But it reminds me that our own actions are not necessarily just a sample of everything else that is going on around us.

Posted by Ken Rolph, on July 29th, 2010, at 3:33 pm. #.

Ken I was born in 1967 … you’re right, everything I’ve ever read or heard about the 60′s tells me it was a swinging old time … except for my parents of course! LOL

Posted by Webmaster, on July 29th, 2010, at 4:16 pm. #.

I was growing up in the 60s but was pre-teen till 1969 so didn’t really have any of those experiences at all. I never even knew what drugs were till I was in my mid to late teens and someone in class talked about trying marihuana. I was shocked – it wasn’t something ever talked about at home. My biggest fears in those days was that the man I might choose to marry would get called away to the Vietnam war.

Posted by Kathie M Thomas, on July 29th, 2010, at 4:23 pm. #.