August 2026 - HOPEFUL MOM

My child saw pornography. What should I do?

My child throws a fit when I ask him to turn his game off. What can I do?

My child keeps breaking our screen time rules. What steps can I take?

When parents ask these types of questions, they’re not typically pondering parenting styles. They desire a speedy solution. They want a formula—a statement or action—that will force their child to stop their current behavior immediately.

I understand. We should divert a child from destructive behavior as fast as possible. However, a quick fix is usually temporary. The pull of pornography, gaming, social media, vaping, fill-in-the-blank, will win unless we take a long-term approach. They’ll likely gravitate back to unwanted behavior unless we examine the heart of the problem.

I met Dr. Carol several years ago and have admired her ever since. Her sweet spirit is magnetic, and her knowledge is extensive. In her presence, you feel seen and heard. I’m thrilled that she’s back at Hopeful Mom helping parents understand what a safe enough parent looks like.

Your child has gotten involved in pornography or something similar. You’ve worked hard to keep your nervous system from going berserk. You may wonder, “What did I do to let this happen?” Some aspects of how you related to your child either now or in the past may leave you feeling overwhelmed, embarrassed, or sad. Some people tend to give up at that point. Others try to shift blame to the child, or step up the boundaries or controls.

But what your child needs most of all is a safe enough presence. They don’t need you to be perfect; they need you to be with them, to see them, and to care.

Month: August 2026

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