There are moments—maybe now more than ever—when the world can feel overwhelmingly heavy. War, climate anxiety, political unrest, social division, injustice, violence, uncertainty. It’s hard enough to hold that weight as an adult. But raising children in this world? Sometimes, it feels downright terrifying.

I frequently find myself wondering:

  • How do I prepare my kids for the world without scaring them?
  • How can I teach hope without ignoring reality?
  • How can I protect their innocence while also building their resilience?

It’s not easy, but I don’t think it’s hopeless. Times like this are when our influence matters most. Here are my thoughts on raising kids with courage, clarity, and compassion in troublesome times.

Live with Courage

As a mom, I am constantly reminded how closely my children watch me. Nothing reminds me of this more than when my toddlers fall down or otherwise have a minor accident, and they look at my face to see how I’ll respond. If I smile and say, “Oopsie, get up!”, then 95% of the time they just move on. If I look horrified or say, “Uh oh, are you hurt?”, cue the tears and requests for band-aids.

The same idea applies when we face difficulties in our own lives. One of the most powerful lessons our children can observe in our lives is how we respond to fear. Do we back down, or do we face things courageously?

This is something we must talk our kids through. Sometimes, it can be hard to let them into our private thoughts. However, they can’t know that we have fears unless we admit that to them! So, admit that you’re scared, but that you are choosing not to let that deter you. Take whatever action you are capable of in your sphere of influence. And show them how to keep hoping and trusting, even when it would be easier to disengage or give up!

Do the Next Right Thing

This is something my mom would always tell me as a child. While we might not be able to solve the homeless crisis in America, we can help one person we see in our neighborhood! And small things like this are a great introduction to our children about the realities of the world without it being too daunting or overwhelming.

What does this look like in practice? Maybe it’s as simple as telling the truth when it’s hard. Maybe it’s being kind to someone who is hurting in your church or neighborhood. Rather than pretending everything is okay when it’s not (whether this is in your personal life, a friend’s life, or after current event), share truth and strive to be a person who addresses hard times and does something to make it better.

I encourage you to model integrity in the small things. I distinctly remember times when my mom apologized to me and how powerful that was in building our relationship and teaching me character. Let your kids see that adults who live with integrity aren't perfect, they're accountable.

Remember that character isn’t magically created in emergencies, but it is built in the mundane. Never underestimate the lessons that you teach your children day after day after day, and what an incredible difference they can make in their future.

Replace Fear with Framework

How can you practically apply some of this to your homeschool? While we don’t want to dump the weight of the world on our children’s shoulders, we need to give them the tools to face things with strength and clarity. 

You don’t need to expose your kids to every crisis or news story. While some will inevitably come up (depending on age), you can preemptively introduce topics through stories, conversation, and age-appropriate context. Let them ask questions. Focus on cause and effect, justice and compassion—not just catastrophe.

Read historical biographies about people who faced adversity with courage. Give them real-life examples of responding to hatred with bravery and kindness. When things do come up in day-to-day conversations, ask your kids, “What would a courageous person do in this situation?”

When learning about suffering, highlight the helpers, rebuilders, and reformers. Teach them the value of small actions—things like writing letters and caring for neighbors!

Teach them this simple truth: Hard things are real. But love and kindness are real, too. What you choose to do can make a difference.

One of my favorite quotes by G.K. Chesterton says, “Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that dragons can be killed.” When we give our children a framework of courage and examples of heroism and bravery, they learn that the bad things in the world that they face are not the end of the story. Hope is real!

You don’t need to have the perfect answer to every question. What matters most is that they learn over and over again: The world can be hard and still beautiful. People can be broken and still capable of great good. You can feel afraid and still choose love, truth, and action. If they see that in you, they’ll carry it with them long after the lessons are over.