Reset for Parents: How to Keep Your Kids from Backsliding (Book Review)

Want to learn how to keep your kids from backsliding? Reset for Parents by Todd Friel is a must-read for all Christian parents!

“Raising a prodigal is every Christian parent’s worst nightmare. Horrifyingly, George Barna contends that over 60 percent of Christian kids will run off to university and “lose their faith.” Some pollsters believe the number is as high as 80 percent.

But there is great news! Your child doesn’t have to become a statistic. Your child can become an adult who loves the Lord the same way you do – but this will likely require a radical parenting reset on your part.” – Reset for Parents

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The above statements from the book, Reset for Parents by Todd Friel are both sobering and encouraging. I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that raising kids in this generation is hard! I would even argue that raising kids just five to ten years ago was much easier than it is today.

Parenting today is hard!

As a young girl and even a young woman, I longed to be a mom. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was simple – a mom.

And I did. I became a mother of five; one princess and two sets of twin boys. My princess is now a 21-year-old college senior. My oldest set of twin boys are 19-year-old freshmen in college and my youngest set of twin boys are currently 17-year-old high school juniors. I know that’s a lot of kids close in age!

And, yes – having five kids ages five and under was a challenge. But, I would trade that challenge any day for the unprecedented obstacles many parents (including myself) are now facing as we attempt to raise our children in today’s society – where most of our young people are abandoning their faith.

Needless to say, I did not know back then what I would be in store for as a mother today!

In this ever-evolving world of parenting, we have to overcome the strong grip of peer pressure, social media, cell phones, screen time overload, and much, much more as we aim to raise children who truly love and honor Christ – even after they leave our homes. It’s just not easy!

But, I’m encouraged.

Time for a Reset!

While we do our very best to raise our children, we don’t always get it right. Sometimes we need a do-over; a reset!

That’s where Todd Friel’s book, Reset for Parents: How to Keep Your Kids from Backsliding, comes into play! It offers practical guidance that every Christian parent can benefit from, making it a worthy addition to your parenting library.

Friel, a seasoned speaker, host, author, producer, and father of three, approaches the subject of biblical parenting with a unique blend of humor, relatable anecdotes, and wisdom, all aimed at equipping parents with the tools needed to navigate the challenges and obstacles of raising children in today’s world.

Biblical Discipleship

What I most appreciate is that it’s all about biblical discipleship. In fact, the very first chapter is titled, “Stop Disciplining and Start Discipling.” Friel encourages parents to stop striving for peaceful, quiet, well-behaved children. Instead, we should focus primarily on your child’s salvation.

“Christian discipline should never be dispensed without discipleship as the overarching goal. The only way you can biblically discipline your child is by discipling your child at the same time.”

How do you disciple your child? According to Friel, every interaction with your child should lead them to love and fear the Lord more than they currently do – even when you must discipline them. Essentially, we always, in every situation, be pointing them to Christ!

As I realize how often I discipline without discipling, this challenges me! Yes, it’s time for a reset!

Subsmission to the Right Authority

Another chapter in the book that stands out to me is chapter three which discusses submission to authority. Have you ever told your child to do something, “because I said so!”? Guilty – I’m raising both of my hands!!

Here are just a few of the nuggets from this chapter:

“Our instruction to our children should not be, “Do as I say,” but, “Do as God says.”

“…If our children are tethered to God and His Word, they learn to submit to the One who doesn’t stay home while they go live in a frat house. They learn that God is their ruler for life. They learn lifelong submission to their ultimate authority, not temporary submission to parental authority.”

“If your children are submitting to YOUR authority, then you are concocting a recipe for disaster. Tether your child to you, and odds are they will fly the coup. Tether your child “to Christ,” and he/she will submit to Him long after you and I are dead.”

But, how exactly do you teach and train your child to submit to the right authority? Not to worry – Friel provides instruction, examples, and scenarios of how to tether your child to Christ rather than us, the parents!

Intrigued? Take a peek at the table of contents:

My Thoughts

I haven’t even finished reading the book and I have already learned so much! And I’ve started implementing techniques Friel describes in his book! It requires more time and more intentionality, but it’s oh-so worth it!

There are so many golden nuggets, words of wisdom, straight-forward, no nonsense pieces of advice, and examples – lots and lots of examples!

I’ve been humbled. I’ve been challenged. And, although I wish I would have found this book years and years ago, I’m encouraged to reset, even now – with my high schoolers!

I am so thankful this book is part of the Master Books collection. While Master Books is known for providing students with Christian homeschool curriculum, they haven’t forget about the parents!

With books like Reset for Parents, the folks at Master Books provide “curriculum” for us parents as well! Thank you, Mr. Friel and Master Books!

Looking for more parenting resources from Master Books? Be sure to check out Will They Stand – another book I highly recommend!

This post was originally published on November 8, 2024.