EpicParent.tv – Honest • On the Edge • Creative Parenting

Can I just rant for a second!!!

I am disgusted by the latest issue of Cosmo showing off Selena Gomez’s boobs in a push up bra!!

I hate that Nikki Minaj dances around half naked on prime time television’s music award shows!

I can’t stand the fact that kids ages 12 t0 17 years of age consume more porn than any other demographic!! (more…)

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I love to lay in bed at night and watch CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360.  This is a time for me to download and catch up on the world’s latest news.  Anderson Cooper typically has what he calls his “RidicuLIST”.  This is a segment where he displays, mocks, and tears apart some of the ridiculous our world has to offer.  So today, I want to invite you to check out… (more…)

When I was a kid and went to your camp, there was a rule that was called the “no mixed bathing” rule!  I personally thought and still think this approach is a bit ridiculous.  The rule meant that girls and boys could not swim together (mix bath) while at youth camp.  There are some youth camps that will allow girls and boys to swim together but they must all wear shorts and t’shirts.

Now I know that this concept is foreign to some of you and your laughing and thinking to yourself that religious people can be so narrow minded and stupid at times.  The reality is that I agree with you!

There are some of you looked at the title of the post and are rolling your eyes, smirking at my conservative values, making judgements about my wisdom and some think that I have flat gone over the edge!!!

So where does Team Sprad land on this issue?

My boys are not allowed to wear bikinis and you will never catch me dead in one, however I do like wearing a speedo every once in a while…

Ok…that is disgusting!  I am just kidding!  Now get that sick image out of your head.

The truth is that my daughter and my wife Jodie both were bikini’s at times.  Now some of the conservative Christians have dismissed me and will never read my blog again…But seriously, we don’t draw the hard and fast line that bikinis are unacceptable but rather the ladies of Team Sprad have decided to use judgement, wisdom and walk in modesty.

If you are considering wearing a bikini, here are a few questions you should answer before making your purchase…

• WHAT IS MY PURPOSE IN WEARING A BIKINI: The harsh reality is that so many ladies are desperately looking for approval, acceptance and love in all the wrong places.  The purpose for many (some) ladies is so that boys and men would look at them.  They feel beautiful and wanted when guys gawk at them.
• CAN THEY SEE MY BOOBIES: Seriously!!  Although the ladies of Team Sprad will wear bikinis, they are very conscious of the fact that they need to keep the merchandise in and not on display.  I believe when purchasing this kind of swimwear, all ladies should keep them covered up!
• IS MY SUIT WEDGIE PROOF: I think you get the idea on this one, make sure your buttocks is appropriately covered!!  While “baby might have back” and  you want to show off the white creases below your cheeks, modest must prevail!!
• ARE THE BOYS CHECKING YOU OUT: I know that most God fearing men have read books like “Every Mans Battle” and they try hard not to look, the harsh reality is that mens’ eyes will wander.  Do you want to be the reason that men take their eyes off of their spouses and onto your hour glass figure?  I believe that all ladies should keep in mind that it is their responsibility to not be a stumbling block.
• WHAT STANDARD ARE YOU SETTING, MOM!!?!: I saw some pics of a friend on Facebook last week and it looked like mom and daughter were entering a skimpy bikini contest.  As mom’s, you have the responsibility to walk in character and model modesty.  Your daughters will typically set the standard a few notches lower than mom.  So how high or low is your modesty bar?  If I continue to wear my speedo, what will my boys start to wear next summer!!?!
• DO YOU WANT YOUR DAUGHTERS TO BE RESPECTED OR AN OBJECT OF LUST: We already asked the question “are the boys checking you out”.  But one thing that every parent must come to grips with is that boys are checking your daughter out!  They are looking at them, thinking about them and whether you like it or not many boys are lusting after your daughters.  Our job as parents is to teach our daughters to dress modestly and be an young lady that is respected not lusted after!
• WOULD YOU FEEL COMFY IF JESUS WERE HANGING AT THE POOL WITH YOU: I believe this benchmark raises the modesty standard fast.  If Jesus called you up and asked you to spend the day at White Water with you, what type of suit do you think you would wear?

I don’t plan on telling you what swimsuit your daughter should wear, but I pray that you would at least consider the questions that I have posed.

What do you think about girls and summer swimwear?

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*graph source www.womensday.com/blog

• According to Nielsen Media Research, children aged 2-11 spend more hours in front of the tube than they have since at least 2001. Kids aged 2-5 average more than 32 hours a week in front of a TV. Kids 6-11 spend a little less, about 28 hours per week, presumably because they’re spending more time in school.

• According to research from Family Safe Media, the largest group of viewers of Internet porn is children between ages 12 and 17

• In 2001, a study by social psychologists at the London School of Economics showed that 9 out of 10 children (ages 11 to 16) had viewed pornography on the internet. (more…)

great video from cedarcreek.tv production on Vimeo.

3 Reason Why Kids Should Wait To Have Sex

1. Sex Was Created For Marriage: As parents we don’t need to paint a picture of sex as naughty, dirty, nasty and shameful!  However we should teach our kids (age appropriate) that God created sex, and that sex is amazing, beautiful, intimate, fun and passionate…when experienced in the context of marriage.  (Genesis 2:23-25)
2. Deep & Passionate Love For Jesus: “The Sex Talk” can quickly turn into a list of DONT’S!  However, we should teach our kids to abstain because of a deep and passionate love for Jesus.  The Bible is full of verses that are DON’T verses (Acts 15:29, Romans 1:29, 1 Corinthians 6:13-18) but we must teach them to obey God’s Word out of love, devotion and passion for Him.
3. Sex Before Marriage Is Robbery: The reality is that we are God’s sons and daughters.  When we have sex outside of marriage we are robbing God’s kids of their purity and virginity.  I know this is a bold statement but we must honor God’s kids, we must value them, treat them with gentleness, love, kindness, care and treat them as precious and holy!

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High School students already know it all (at least they think they do)!  Parents, our job now is to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk…and did I mention talk?  Keep the lines of communication open!  Specific steps on talking to your High School kids about sex…

• First and foremost, you have to have a deep relationship with your kids before they will talk…they don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
• Revisit all that you have taught them
• Be open to questions, don’t be judgmental
• Ask personal questions… “how is the masturbation thing going”, “how can I help you remain pure”…this seems awkward but if you have open lines of communication you can ask the tough questions
• Encourage accountability relationships with other Godly peers
• Offer grace, love and discipline when they fail
• Have a monthly date night…show them how to treat men/women.
• Ask them about their relationships
• Be involved in the dating process, help them plan their dates…if you choose to let them date
• Quiz them about parties they attend
• Mom’s and Dad’s be involved in the conversation
• Single parents…step into these conversations with your kids of the opposite sex

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE FOR TEENS:

• I Kissed Dating Goodbye:  A New Attitude On Dating And Relationships
• Sex Is Not The Problem (Lust Is):  Sexual Purity In A Lust Saturated World

What insight can you share on talking with High School Students about sex?

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