Enter Your Rest, Find Your Rhythm: How to Raise Children in a Noisy Age Without the Sweat

Take it easy. Heaven will not fall.

There are many voices out there, but not every voice is speaking to us. Some may not even understand the unique path we walk or the peculiar call upon our lives as parents. In these moments, we must anchor ourselves in truth, grounded wisdom, and tested experience.

I’m growing weary, especially navigating parenting in my twilight years. I’m exhausted by the Californication of voices telling everyone how to raise children. It’s as if anyone with a smartphone and Wi-Fi can claim the title of parenting expert, safeguarding consultant, or family-strengthening coach. And often, the more frivolous or sensational the take, the faster it trends.

But who filters the noise? Who checks for wisdom?

We’ve moved from analysis paralysis to information paralysis. There’s too much content, too little clarity. Today, one post tells you potty training must happen by age two. Tomorrow, another says don’t even try before age four. One says daycare at three is best; another says it’s too late. And in the middle of all this noise, parents are left second-guessing, comparing, or simply shutting down.

Raising a child in the 21st century, especially in my twilight years at 55, is not just about nostalgia; it’s about being present, urgent, and purposeful. One of the greatest challenges of our time is not scarcity of information but its hyper-democratization. Everyone is talking. Everyone has a method. Everyone claims “research.” And that can leave us confused or paralyzed.

I recall John C. Maxwell’s story after he suffered a heart attack. He searched for guidance and found contradiction at every turn. One expert said, “Eat this.” Another warned, “Never eat that.” Eventually, he realized: Study for yourself. Learn your body. Do what works for you.

Likewise, as parents, we must develop our own filters. We must:

1. Discern that every information carrier can also transmit error. Whether by design or by ignorance, wrong advice exists. If we follow it blindly, we own the consequences.
2. Understand that information is ideologically driven. Many “studies” are not neutral. Research is shaped by worldview, funding sources, corporate interest, and personal bias. From global warming to soda consumption, agendas shape narratives. This is true even in child development research.

So how do I find clarity? I wear three lenses:

1. Lens 1: Faith. What do timeless, universal principles say about this matter? God is not confused. Truth is not a trend.
2. Lens 2: Personal Experience. What has life taught me? What have I seen in my own journey and that of my child?
3. Lens 3: Professional Expertise. I’ve worked in this field for nearly 30 years. I’ve sat with families, schools, governments, and international agencies. I’ve seen trends come and go. I’ve seen what works.

Even without the third lens, the first two can provide powerful insight.

We also need to be street-smart: Every parenting voice carries a worldview. But truth under God is not an opinion, it is a person. And that person is our anchor.

When it comes to raising children, clarity starts with a few non-negotiables:

• The child is a person. Not a project. Not property. A unique, sentient being with dignity.
• Love is not abstract. To a child, love means attention and appreciation. That’s it. Anything less is noise. And everything else must stem from this.
• Our examples will shine through in the lives of our precious children. What we model has more power than what we say. Our lived values shape their future.
• Our role is defined by authority, not dominion. Authority exists to guide, not to control. And the purpose of authority is to communicate values, the values that define who we are as a family and the boundaries of our interactions with ourselves and the world.

Authority works hand in hand with power. While authority is a legal mandate to act or not act, power is the capacity to do so. Power is the operating system of authority. And both are transient. In most jurisdictions, parental authority formally ends at age 18. What you model before then becomes legacy.

Let’s also address practical flexibility:

• If your child needs daycare before age 3 due to circumstances, you haven’t committed a parenting sin. Life happens. Adapt and compensate with presence, communication, and emotional anchoring.
• If your child isn’t potty trained “on time,” that doesn’t ruin their destiny. Trust the child’s rhythm and give support, not pressure.
• Never leave your child with someone you cannot vouch for. This is not just safety advice. It is wisdom rooted in responsibility.
• Common sense is still a superpower. It helps us navigate dogma, trends, and contradiction.

Above all, know this: we may be bombarded by voices, but the most important voice is the one in our hearts, informed by faith, refined by our unique experiences, and empowered by truth.

I conclude with something I heard years ago from Mr. Olakunle Soriyan:

“There is a voice in the city, shun it. There is a voice in the community, test it. There is a voice in your heart, follow it.”

Just like Proverbs 14:10 (NLT) reminds us:
“Each heart knows its own sorrow, and no one else can fully share its joy.”

Stability happens when we refuse to be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
Let us rise above the noise, listen deeply, and parent with clarity.

That’s my #50PlusDad reflection this week.
I hope it made sense.

Wishing you an INSPIRED week ahead with the family.