Report Says One in 30 U.S. Teens Identify as Transgender
What? According to a report published by UCLA’s Williams Institute, one in every 30 teens identifies as transgender.
So What? To put this in perspective, the average high school classroom size is between 25 and 30 students. Which means that there’s a good chance that your child personally knows someone who identifies as transgender.
Now What? With all of that in mind, it’s important for parents to address transgender issues with their kids. As Christians, we want our kids to be able to respond with compassion, courage and truth. So be prepared to ask and answer questions about the topic. You can find excellent resources at Focus on the Family’s website (including this great PDF on the topic published by Focus’ Daily Citizen). And stand firm in what the Bible tells us: that God created us in His own image and likeness, separating us into two sexes, male and female; that each sex is distinct and valuable; and that both separately and together, men and women reflect the image and likeness of God.
Labubus Are Like Beanie Babies for the 2020s
What? Labubus are “cutesy monster” dolls with pointed teeth, rabbit ears and “wide, glaring eyes,” writes Kyle Chayka for The New Yorker. They can usually be found attached to phones or handbags. And thanks to social media and celebrity promotions, they’ve boomed in popularity, making them difficult to find both online and in physical stores.
So What? The scarcity of Labubus may actually make them even more desirable, which might cause some headaches for parents of tweens and teens. Also of note: Some commentators have called Labubus satanic; and a few people have compared them to Furbies from the ‘90s, which had their own demonic comparisons.
Now What? Chayka jokingly calls Labubus “tiny demons haunting our accessories.” However, while the creator of the toy derived inspiration from Nordic folklore, there doesn’t actually seem to be anything inherently evil about this Beanie Baby-esque trend. So instead, parents should perhaps use Labubus as an opportunity to talk about fads and consumerism. Ask your child why he or she wants a Labubu so badly. Ask them if they think that’s a good investment of their money. And remind them that fads such as these tend to fade. So instead of focusing on fleeting material trends, perhaps they should redirect their energy toward building a lasting spiritual foundation for their lives.
Teens Are Lying to Their Parents About the Profane Meaning of SYBAU
What? SYBAU (pronounced in speech as “see-bow,” “sigh-bow” or “sea-brow”) is the latest acronym to enter teen speech and texts. And unfortunately, it stands for “shut your b–ch a– up.”
So What? Many teens are trying to convince their parents that SYBAU means “stay young, beautiful and unique.” As a result, some teens are making fun of their parents’ ignorance while others are using the opportunity to insult their parents directly to their faces.
Now What? If you hear or see an acronym that you’re unfamiliar with—or perhaps you are familiar with but have been misled on the meaning—look it up. Check multiple sources to make sure you have the correct definition. And if you realize your teenager has lied to you or has used your ignorance to bully you (or another unwitting adult), then you’ll probably need to sit down with them to talk about honesty and mutual respect. Additionally, you should probably let your child know that even if they’re only using it with friends, it’s not a kind or polite way to respond to others.
