I had the privilege of reading Brian Dollar’s latest book Talk Now and Later before it even hit the shelves. I am excited to share my thoughts and takeaways from reading it for the first time (because I will definitely be re-visiting this book many times in the future). Talk Now and Later is a must-read for anyone parenting or ministering to children. Brian Dollar tackles ten of the most common, difficult subjects that parents need to discuss with their children and teens. Each chapter is devoted to one topic and he breaks down the topics to help parents have the necessary conversations with their kids from a practical and Biblical standpoint.

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Talk Now and Later Topics:

  1. God
  2. Death and Tragedy
  3. Sex
  4. Self-Image
  5. Making Wise Choices
  6. Divorce
  7. Friendships
  8. Money
  9. Bullying
  10. Restoring Broken Relationships

Takeaways:

1. If we don’t talk to our kids about tough topics from a Biblical standpoint, they will only hear them from the world’s view. Parents can’t shield their kids from these topics by choosing to avoid them. Kids will hear about them from someone else. Kids need to be able to have open and honest conversations on these topics with their parents. Don’t wait for the issue to “come up” or for your kids to come to you. Be intentional about having these conversations with your kids.

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2. Parents are the primary influence in a child’s life, and should be the primary spiritual leaders. No one spends as much time with your children as you do, and no one has the influence that you do as a parent. It is your responsibility to use that time and influence wisely.

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3. Parents need to model the behaviors they desire to see in their kids. Most Christian parents want to raise well-behaved, Godly children, and it is not enough for kids to hear them saying how important it is to read God’s Word, pray, and have a personal relationship with Him. It is far more effective for kids to see their parents modeling these behaviors every day. When kids see how important those values and behaviors are to their parents they will be much more likely to listen and do the same.

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4. Tough topics need to be discussed often. It’s hard for many parents to have these uncomfortable conversations with their kids, but the more conversations kids have with their parents, the easier it gets. It is not enough to have one awkward conversation and never bring up an uncomfortable subject again. Children need to know that there is an open line of communication about these topics, and no question will go unanswered.

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Talk Now and Later is an amazing resource for parents and anyone leading children. Don’t take my word for it. You can pick up your own copy here. Also, be sure and check out Brian Dollar’s blog at briandollar.com.