Sometimes God puts something so heavy on my heart that I can’t ignore it—even when I want to.

This is one of those times.

I’ve been sitting with this, wrestling with it, but I know I need to say it.

Because what’s happening right now isn’t just a cultural shift or a political debate.

It’s personal.

And it’s dangerous.

A recent news story reported about "Sarah" McBride; a transgender congressperson—who was elected while openly identifying as transgender—spoke to a room full of kindergarteners about gender identity. And while many in our state voted this person into office, the response to this event has been overwhelmingly negative.

Parents are outraged.

Yet this individual has been actively pushing this agenda for years, using their political position to introduce these conversations to children.

And I can’t stay silent about it.

Because I know exactly what it feels like when an adult starts chipping away at a child’s innocence before they’re ready—before they even know what’s happening.

And I know the damage that it leaves behind.

This isn’t just about disagreement.

This isn’t about politics.

This is about protecting our kids.

Whether you believe in Jesus or not, whether you support transitioning or not—it doesn’t matter. The reality is that our children are caught in the middle of this, and that should concern all of us.

Grooming is when an adult exposes a child to ideas, conversations, or behaviors they aren’t developmentally ready for in order to break down their natural boundaries.

It can be subtle.

It can even look like “help” or “education.”

But the end result is the same—a child who is now more vulnerable to influence, to confusion, to harm.

Grooming doesn’t always start with abuse.

It starts with words. With ideas. 

With the normalization of things a child isn’t prepared to process.

This is exactly why young children are being introduced to conversations about gender identity before they can even spell their own names.

And the most concerning part?

It’s happening behind parents’ backs.

Everyone knows that I used to be a teacher.

I walked away from the career I loved because I saw things happening in schools that went against everything I knew to be true and good.

The push to introduce young children to conversations about gender and sexuality—before they can even tie their own shoes—was one of those things.

We were given professional development on “diversity,” but in reality, it was training to force us to be comfortable with pushing the transgender ideology in our classrooms. We were expected to put books on our shelves that introduced these topics to children.

I refused.

We were also not allowed to tell parents if their child was using a different name or pronouns in school.

Students were encouraged to sign up for “diversity” groups—support groups where counselors and other transgender students reinforced these ideas.

Bulletin boards lined the hallways with messages introducing these topics to young elementary students. With covid, they limited the parents in the buildings, so of course they didn't see it.

Boys were allowed in girls’ bathrooms.

Boys were allowed in girls’ sports.

And teachers were not allowed to say anything. 

When I brought my concerns to my principal, he told me, “I am not touching that with a ten-foot pole.” 

He refused to protect the children in his care.

Yet parents had no clue.

I knew then that I didn’t want my daughter in that environment.

I knew that I wanted her innocence to be preserved, her childhood to be developmentally appropriate.

So I walked away from my career.

Many parents don’t realize how deep this issue goes.

It’s not just about one classroom discussion or one guest speaker.

In many schools across the country, the conversations are happening without parents knowing.

Most of my teacher friends can't talk about this, but I can, so let me share with you what I KNOW.

Teachers and counselors are talking to kids about gender identity and preferred pronouns—without informing parents.

Some schools are allowing students to socially transition (change their names and pronouns) without parental consent.

Gender and sexuality curriculums are being introduced in early elementary grades, framed as “inclusivity” while sidestepping parents completely.

Teachers are being told that if a student expresses confusion about gender or sexuality, they should not involve the parents unless the child consents.

These are major red flags.

When an adult keeps a secret with a child about their identity, that is a classic grooming tactic. It isolates them from their parents and makes them more susceptible to outside influence.

I know there are people who will say, “But we just need to be kind and accept people for who they are.” And I get that. I believe in kindness. I believe in loving people where they are. Adults are fully capable of understanding short and long term decisions. They are fully capable of making those decisions for themselves.

But when you start messing with our children, children who are not capable of understanding the weight of those decisions, I draw the line.

Love and truth are not opposites.

In fact, real love demands truth.

If a child was running toward traffic, you wouldn’t just smile and say, “I support you!” No, you’d do everything in your power to stop them—because you love them.

Love doesn’t affirm destruction.

Love protects.

And right now, our kids need protecting.

If you feel this same urgency, you don’t have to be silent.

Here’s what we can do together:

• Pray for wisdom and courage – Speaking truth isn’t always easy, but we need to do it anyway.

• Stand up for parental rights – Parents should be the ones guiding these conversations, not politicians or strangers.

• Call it what it is – Adults should not be introducing sexual identity conversations to children. That’s not education. That’s manipulation.

• Hold schools accountable – Know what’s being taught in your child’s school. Ask questions. Demand transparency.

• Speak out—boldly but with love – The world is loud right now, but that doesn’t mean we have to shrink back.

• Teach our kids biblical truth – If we don’t, someone else will teach them something else.

  
  

I know this might be uncomfortable.

But silence isn’t an option anymore.

If we don’t speak up, who will?

I know what it’s like to lose my innocence too soon.

It wasn't until I became an adult, and realized the gravity of it all.

I will do everything in my power to make sure my daughter, and other children, don’t have to experience that.

If that makes me unpopular, so be it.

If that makes me different, I’ll take it.

Because once their innocence is gone, we can’t get it back.

And I refuse to stand by and watch it happen.