Finding Identity in Achievements

I recently had the opportunity to interview pediatrician and author Dr. Leonard Sax for an episode of our Youth Culture Matters podcast. Dr. Sax’s best-selling book is entitled The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups. In the book, Dr. Sax shares these timely and sobering words with parents about over-scheduling and cramming our kids’ lives full of activity: By cramming a child’s life full of activities, with little time for reflection, with no quiet time for a relaxed parent-child supper, parents send an unintended message. That message is this: what you do is more important that who you are. As I’ve thought about Dr. Sax’s words and the great dangers he points out, I got to thinking about where we push our kids to find their identity. Our identities and their identities are not to be found in activities and achievements. Rather, our identity must be found in who we are in Christ. Parents, where are you pointing your kids?