Ep. 85 - They're Coming For Your Parental Rights - Here's What You Need To Know - The Christy-Faith Show

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Christy-Faith (00:00):
One of my friends grew up in a communist country.

(00:03):
She told me a story one timethat haunts me to this day. When
she was a little girl, herparents sat her down and said,
do not tell anyone at schoolthat we are Christians. If you
do, we could lose our jobs, wecould lose our house, and we
could lose our land. We couldlose everything.
Can you imagine being a childand carrying that kind of burden

(00:23):
knowing that one wrong word, oneinnocent slip could destroy your
family? Her parents weren'tbeing paranoid. In that society,
the state had the power todecide what was acceptable to
believe, how children should beraised, and what values families
were allowed to teach, andparents who didn't comply were
punished. Now you might bethinking that was communism,

(00:45):
Christy. That would never happenhere.
But let me ask you this. Whenthe state starts to see itself
as the ultimate authority overchildren, when it begins to
override parents in decisionsabout education, health care,
and values, how far are weactually from a world where
families are forced to hide whothey are just to survive? We are

(01:06):
already seeing warning signs.Laws like California's a b four
ninety five and s b one zeroseven are shifting key decisions
away from parents and giving thestate more power to intervene in
family life. For example, a bfour ninety five allows distant
relatives or even nonrelativeswith a close affinity to the

(01:26):
child, what does that even mean,to assume caregiver rights over
your child without your consent?
An s b one zero seven allowscourts to strip custody from
parents who do not consent togender transition procedures for
their children. Even if theselaws are presented as
safeguards, and you betterbelieve they are, of course they
are. How else are they gonna getthem to pass? And for the best

(01:48):
interest of children, no.History and psychological
research urge caution whenparental roles are undermined.
The pattern is clear. Asparental authority erodes, the
foundational bonds andprotection that families provide
can become vulnerable. If you'refeeling uneasy right now, you're
not alone. The desire tonurture, guide, and protect our

(02:11):
children is deeply rooted inhuman nature and recognized by
psychology as critical tohealthy child development. But
what happens when that role isthreatened, not by circumstance,
but by laws in your own state?
Today, we're gonna explore howthe erosion of parental
authority affects not onlyindividual families, but the

(02:31):
wider fabric of society. BecauseI don't think this is just a
legal or political matter whereyou're on one side or the other.
This is about the deep emotionalbonds that nurture children and
shape the next generation. Stickwith me because I got pissed off
and decided to do a show. Whoknows where this is gonna go
today?

(03:01):
Alright. Welcome. If you don'tknow me, hi. I'm Christy Faith,
author, speaker, educational,and parenting expert, and
founder of Thrive HomeschoolCommunity. I have been in
education a very long time, andI am convinced that there is no
better place to educate a childthan in a loving home with a
motivated parent.
If you're listening today, youprobably know that homeschooling

(03:23):
is deeply meaningful, but alsocomes with a lot of worry and
self doubt. Maybe you felt thelate night anxiety wondering if
you're making the right choicesor have found yourself feeling
weighed down by the endlessconflicting advice that you can
find in online forums and onsocial media. I created Thrive
Homeschool Community becauseI've been there too, and I

(03:44):
wanted parents to have a clearpath forward with real support
and expert guidance, not justmore noise. Your children
deserve an exceptionaleducation, and Thrive is here to
help you make that possible.Enrollment isn't always open,
but if you've happened to findthose doors closed, please do
get on the wait list because youwill then be the first to know

(04:05):
when we open, and you'll get anexclusive bonus.
It's worth it to be on there.Okay. Let's talk about the
historical and philosophicalfoundations of parental rights.
Now I know that's word salad andword jumble, but that's really
what this show is about. Doparents have rights in this
country over our children?

(04:25):
To understand what's at staketoday, let's take a step back
for a hot minute and examine thefoundation of parental
authority. You know, I'm ahistorian, so I'm usually gonna
bring in this piece becausehistory informs us of so much.
Don't worry. I'll keep it brief.So throughout history, the
family has been seen as thefirst and most vital protective

(04:46):
unit in society.
Even the ancients recognizedparents as a child's primary
guide and protector. In TheUnited States, this view found
legal footing in Pierce versusSociety of Sisters in 1925 where
the supreme court affirmed thatthe child is not the mere
creature of the state. By theway, that's what we're talking

(05:08):
about here. Is our child acreature of the state or is our
child under our authority? Theimplication is profound.
Children thrive best when theirprimary attachment and identity
are rooted in family, not ingovernments. Decades of
psychological research includingthat of John Bowlby's attachment

(05:29):
theory reinforced thesehistorical insights. Secure
attachment to one's parent isthe building block for healthy
emotional, social, and cognitivedevelopment. This is why kids
who have an insecure familyupbringing or maybe were in the
foster system struggle so much.They didn't have secure
attachment to someone who lovedthem unconditionally.

(05:50):
When policymakers in governmentdecide to undermine these bonds,
intentionally or not, thewell-being of children comes
under threat. And let me tellyou, when you start messing with
my kids, you are rattling thecage of an angry beast. And I
know I'm not alone. Do not messwith a homeschool mom. History

(06:11):
offers sobering reminders.
In the early twentieth century,totalitarian regimes like Nazi
Germany and The Soviet Unionsystematically weakened family
bonds to redirect children'sloyalty to the state. This is
what my friend grew up in.Families that dissented faced
punishment and children enduredlong term emotional turmoil as a

(06:33):
result. These examples are astark warning of how undermining
parents can have consequencesthat echo through generations.
Now while our society is quitedifferent today, the importance
of strong parental roles remainsunchanged.
Each new law that shiftsauthority away from families
deserves careful and criticalscrutiny, not just for today's

(06:55):
children, but for the future ofthe society that they will
shape. So we just looked at thehistory. Next, we're gonna talk
about the current erosion ofparental rights, and we will do
that right after this word fromour sponsor. As a homeschool mom
who values a family togetherapproach and leans towards the
classical and Charlotte Masonstyles, I often struggle to
bring my educational vision tolife with my kids' diverse ages

(07:17):
and learning needs. With all ourinterests and super packed
schedule, bridging that gapbetween the dreamy homeschool I
want and reality, I gotta behonest.
It's a challenge. Now, yes, Iknow perfection isn't the goal.
But if you're listening and youcould use a little easing of
your mental load in your day today, I found a resource that has
become the quiet hero of ourroutine and could be a really

(07:37):
great option for you too. BJUPress homeschool curriculum. Now
many think that BJU Presshomeschool is solely an all in
one option and though it doesexcel in that role, did you know
you can also opt for specificcourses and tailor them to fit
your family's needs just as Ihave?
BGU Press Homeschool providesthe perfect balance of structure
and flexibility and easilycomplements my family's mixed

(08:00):
age family together on the couchlearning style. They are second
to none in integrating abiblical worldview, stimulating
critical thinking, and offeringtons of hands on activities in
the lessons. To find out how BJUPress Homeschool can come
alongside you in yourhomeschooling goals too. Visit
bjupresshomeschool.com or clickthe link in the show notes. I've

(08:20):
got some news.
There's a new reading curriculumthat ditches workbooks and
drills for fun and games. Ifyou're thinking fun and games
sounds a little too good to betrue, it's not. Ninety eight
percent of children improvedtheir reading test scores in
just six weeks with the readingskill set by Lovevery. It's a
phonics based program thatfollows a science of reading,

(08:41):
but makes learning to read fun,motivating, and confidence
boosting because it happens byplaying games and then
practicing with just right skilllevel books. Kids love it and
parent educators love it, and itworks.
Visit lovevery.com/christyfaithtoday and use code christy 10 to
get 10% off your purchase of thereading skill set by love every.

(09:04):
That'slovevery.com/christyfaith. Okay.
So let's dive into what'shappening today and the
psychological stakes involved.AB four ninety five in
California, for example,broadens a list of people who
can become a child's caregiver,sometimes at the exclusion of
the parents themselves.
Under certain circumstances, aperson with only a minimal

(09:27):
relationship to the child candecide on their medical or
psychological care withoutparental agreement or even
knowledge. Research on familycohesion consistency finds that
disruptions in parentalauthority and involvement can
trigger stress, anxiety, andconfusion in children and can
undermine trust in family as asupport system. And even more

(09:48):
striking is SB one zero seven,which allows for the transfer of
custody from parents who objectto specific medical procedures
for their children. Whatever thelegislative intent is here,
psychologists warn and there isno question that any type of
undermining of parents and thestable secure attachment of
children to their family is nothealthy. No one's gonna love our

(10:12):
children more than us.
Now supporters of measures likethis sometimes frame the debate
as simple, One side is helpingand the other side is harming.
It's important to consider howbroad policies like this cause
harm. This is a completeoverreach. If you're listening
today and you come from aChristian worldview perspective,
of course, you know this isabsolutely ludicrous and

(10:34):
damaging. Just another way toerode families.
But you also might be wondering,okay, well, what can we actually
do to turn the tide? We'll talkabout that right after the
break. Before we continue, Iwanna share with you a program
that's been a game changer forour homes chool. At our center,
we instructed and helped kidsthrough pretty much every math
program on the market and knowfirsthand just how important a

(10:54):
solid math foundation is for ourkids' futures. As a career
educator with high standards,finding the right program that
checked all the boxes felt liketoo tall of an order.
Until one day, I tried CTC Math.CTC Math is an online math
curriculum for k to 12 studentswith motivating interactive
lessons that allow kids to learnat their own pace. It does all
the teaching and grading so youdon't have to, and their

(11:16):
adaptive lessons adjust so yourchild is progressing
confidently. With CTC Math, yourchild is getting a top notch
education and you just made yourhomeschool life easier. Visit
CTC Math dot com to start yourfree trial today or click the
link in the show notes.
The show will resume in just aminute, but first, I wanna share
with you an incredible resourcethat is totally free to

(11:37):
homeschooling familieseverywhere. Have you ever felt
like you were on trial for yourhomeschooling choice when
visiting a doctor or anotherservice provider? It's
unsettling, especially whensomeone misinformed has the
power to threaten your family.Unfortunately, we have heard
countless stories of parents whohave felt trapped in offices and
met with suspicion rather thansupport simply because they were

(12:00):
homeschoolers. I've beenprofiled and interrogated
myself, and I'm sure many of youhave as well.
Enough is enough. It's time weproactively vet service
providers before giving them ourbusiness and our money. Enter
Christy Faith's list, adirectory 100% free to
homeschooling familiesconnecting you with homeschool

(12:21):
friendly service providers whopromise to support you in your
homeschooling choice. We wantevery homeschooler in America to
know about and be using thislist. So here's how to make
Christy Faith's List a householdname.
One, tell all your friends aboutit. Let's show the market just
how powerful the homeschoolmovement is. Number two, check

(12:41):
Christy Faith's List websitebefore stepping foot into any
service provider's office tomake sure they are on there. And
number three, if your favoriteservice provider isn't on the
list, make sure to refer them.There's a button on the homepage
of the website.
It takes only thirty seconds,and that way we can send them a
lovely invite. If you'relistening and you are a

(13:02):
homeschool friendlyprofessional, we want you on the
list. We're eager to connecthomeschooling families with you,
shout your name from therooftops, and bring you tons and
tons of business. We have plansfor every type of business, both
small, local, nationwide, andworldwide. Check out
christy-faiths-list.com today.
Welcome back. Alright. Now we'regonna talk about why everyone

(13:25):
should care about parentalrights. Of course, homeschoolers
are always some of the firstones to say, excuse me. Right?
Because we know that our rightto homeschool our children is
threatened every single day incapital buildings across our
country. Thank goodness for thestate homeschool organizations
that fight to preserve ourfreedoms. So no. This isn't just

(13:46):
for homeschooling parents.Research shows that strong
family bonds act as a protectivefactor for society as a whole.
They buffer youth from crime,substance abuse, and mental
health crises. When parents aresidelined, those protective
effects are diminished. It'sjust better for society to
support an intact family.Homeschooling families, for

(14:07):
example, already face skepticismfor choosing a less conventional
path that a lot of people don'tunderstand. Laws that allow
other adults and governmentagencies to make decisions for
our children make ourhomeschooling rights vulnerable.
But even for those withoutschool age children, these
consequences are far reaching.When the state is directing

(14:27):
things like education, healthcare, or moral instruction,
freedom of thought, spiritualautonomy, and community
diversity erode. Many studiespoint out the ripple effect.
Weakening parental roles leadsto greater community
fragmentation, a loss ofcultural continuity, and
increased societal challenges.The evidence is clear.

(14:51):
When families are supported andempowered, society thrives. When
they're weakened, societalproblems multiply. That's why
this conversation matters toeveryone, not just for
individual parents orhomeschoolers scared that the
government might infringe on theway they need to homeschool
their kids. So what practicalsteps can you take? Because this

(15:12):
is a really important issue.
First, stay informed aboutpolicy conversations in your
area. Laws affecting familiescan change rapidly often with
very little public discussion.Staying aware is the first step
in protecting the ties thatmatter most. Second, strengthen
your support network. Studiesshow that families with strong

(15:32):
connections to others, whetherthrough neighborhood groups,
faith communities, or localorganizations are more resilient
in the face of pressures.
And last, consider supportingorganizations that work to
protect parental rights. Oneorganization is HSLDA,
Homeschool Legal DefenseAssociation. Just joining their
mailing list will keep youinformed about what's going

(15:54):
nationally. They advocate forthe best homeschooling laws
nationwide, and they providelegal support to homeschool
families across the nation.Another really important thing
to do is join your statehomeschool organization.
They support your statehomeschooling rights and provide
all sorts of support, includingconferences that I often speak

(16:14):
at. These are nonprofitsfighting behind the scenes for
your homeschooling freedoms. Soget to know them and support
them. And when something comesup in your area and in your
state, join the fight. To builda future America that our kids
can enjoy, it's important thatwe protect family bonds, and
that includes parental authoritybecause a strong family is one

(16:35):
of society's greatest sources ofstrength.
Thanks for listening today. Ifthis show resonated with you,
please share it with a friend,and I'll see you next time.

All Episodes

Ep. 85 - They're Coming For Your Parental Rights - Here's What You Need To Know

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Ep. 85 - They're Coming For Your Parental Rights - Here's What You Need To Know