Kids have so many obstacles to face as they grow up.  As parents and mentors, it’s our job to help them balance it all. My daughter is eight years old and from the questions she’s been asking, she’s starting to work out her perspective on worldly things.  When I received these books to review, I breathed a sigh of relief to have a Christian resource for these intense topics. I teach sixth graders and see the struggles they encounter with hot button issues like social issues, dating, and peer pressure.  And I’ll be honest, there is often a lot more going on than I’m aware of.  When the kids start talking, you might find yourself with your jaw on the floor as they describe things they heard, saw, or participated in.   As a parent, it’s tempting to duck your head in the sand when your child asks a difficult and maybe embarrassing question.  But keep in mind — if YOU don’t talk about these issues with your child, someone will.  Don’t you want your child to know where you stand on hot-button issues like sexuality, drugs, and dating?     Consider this the parenting guide you’ve been looking for.  The Hot Buttons Series helps parents to navigate these waters with teens, giving parents a heads-up about what their kids are facing and guides parents through the difficult conversations that these topics require.    I’m really glad I had the opportunity to read these books before my children really need them.  This way, I can be better prepared when those topics come up in conversation.  Even though these books discuss the topics from a Christian parent standpoint, I wouldn’t hesitate to read these if I wasn’t a Christian.  The issues your teen will face are going to be the same despite religious beliefs.  I’d love to see more topics added such as academic success (addressing study skills, finding a career path, and topics such as cheating) and health (weight issues, exercise, eating disorders.)

This is a must-have series for parents.

I participated in the blog tour for The Hot Buttons Series.