This Month's Issue

Annie Spratt/Unsplash

By Thomas and Hannah Luttrell

Bruce Perry, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, recommends the non-traditional “3 Rs” method to help children—especially those who are highly sensitive or neurodiverse—learn, think and reflect during difficult situations.

Regulate: Many parents try to reason with their children when they are already “unregulated”—unable to control their emotions. This can be due to being tired, anxious, fearful or hungry. The first thing parents need to do is help their child control their emotions. They can model this by not reacting in anger. Parents may need to remove the child from an overstimulating environment or immediately address their underlying physical need.

Graphic courtesy of the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

By Thomas and Hannah Luttrell and Visitor Staff

"I'm bored!" If you're a parent and it's the Sabbath, you've probably heard your kids say these words before. But Sabbath doesn't have to be dull and dry. There are many fun activities you and your family can do together. Here are just a few:

• Light a candle at sundown Friday to denote the start of a special time with Jesus.

• Start Sabbath morning with “Happy Sabbath pancakes.”

• Discover a new Christian artist or podcast.

• Create a seasonal scavenger hunt.

• Watch Hope+ Kids animated Bible stories on YouTube.

The Luttrell Family was featured on the cover of the May/June 2023 Visitor. Image by Nicol Belvedere

By Thomas and Hannah Luttrell

The hospital lights were dim, and medical equipment hummed quietly. I (Hannah) was still groggy from my emergency C-section just hours before. Our baby’s heart rate had suddenly dropped, and I had been rushed into the operating room.

We’re Parents; Now What?, editorial, Austin and Celeste Blyden, Sarita Blyden, Larraina Blyden, Columbia Union Conference

Editorial by Austin and Celeste Blyden

Our winter baby was born in January on the coldest day of the year. She was 7 pounds, 11 ounces and 21 inches long. She had 10 fingers, 10 toes and thankfully only one nose. Her hair was soft and curly, and her skin against ours was tender and moist. And when she looked at us—her eyes wide with wonder—we melted.

image by Donate PayPal Me from Pixabay

As summer camp season draws closer, many camp administrators are having a hard time recruiting staff for their ministries. "It has been much more difficult this year to find students/staff," say Ray Queen and Julie Minnick, director and associate director, respectively, at Potomac Conference's Camp Blue Ridge in Montebello, Va. “It has also been difficult to get them to commit and even fill out [an] application."

Other directors have reported similar situations. Minnick says that "students are being pulled in so many directions with school [and] career choices, and the biggest distraction is accepting internships," among other issues.