Chris brings a thoughtful perspective on what it looks like to parent in a hyper-connected world and makes a compelling case for reintroducing an ancient practice into our modern lives: the sweetness of doing nothing. Together, they unpack why it's more crucial than ever to carve out space for rest, presence, and intentional living in our daily routines.

This interview is part of the upcoming Confident Parent Series, launching April 28, 2025, from FamilyLife Canada. Don’t miss out on the full lineup of conversations and free resources designed to encourage and equip parents across the country.

👉 Sign up for the FamilyLife Canada newsletter to be the first to access this inspiring series and more!
 https://mailchi.mp/familylifecanada.com/9ozfzlbmh3

Chris McKenna is the founder of Protect Young Eyes and President of The Better Tech Project. Chris is a respected digital safety voice, creating valuable and practical resources for families and schools. His impactful 2019 testimony before the US Senate initiated a series of hearings to further online child protection policy. Years of gritty effort earned PYE the 2020 Dignity Defense Award from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and the 2024 Child Safety Award from The Phase Alliance.

Recent state-level legislation co-authored by Chris - the Child Device Protection Bill - passed in Utah and moved through multiple chambers in six other states. It will force devices to enable existing content filters when activated by a minor.

He is a technical advisor to Angel Kids AI and works closely with digital safety advocates and legislators to craft policies that reign in abusive technologies. As a representative of the Human Change Movement, Chris spoke at the 2024 and 2025 World Economic Forum.

Under his guidance, the Protect Young Eyes team conducts presentations worldwide to parents, professionals, and schools, and gained recognition by being featured in the Childhood 2.0 movie. Their website, courses, and private parent community show caregivers step-by-step how to prepare and protect their children in digital spaces.

Chris cherishes family, including road trips with his four children, connecting with nature, running, romping with his pups, and almost anything sweet.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protectyoungeyes/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mckenna-75962211/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/protectyoungeyes

Website: https://protectyoungeyes.com/

Links for items talked about in the episode:

3 Things To Get Started - https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/start-here

5 Habits of a Tech-Ready Home on-demand course for parents - https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/course

The Table - https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/the-table

Processing Questions:

1. How do you think your children interpret your relationship with technology?
2. How would introducing some sweet nothingness moments in your life help?
3. What’s one small step you could take today that could make a big impact in your household tomorrow?

Matt is the founder and director of Restored Ministries which aims to equip individuals and churches to have victory over the epidemic of pornography and sexual brokenness in our world. Matt has been a leading speaker and coach in Canada on the topic of sexual brokenness since 2014 and has seen countless lives radically changed all around the world through his ministry. 

Restored Ministries - https://www.restoredministries.ca/

Pure Freedom Community - https://purefc.ca/

Processing Questions:

1. What has shaped your view of sex and sexuality?
2. Next time you are tempted what would it do to ask God “what are you teaching me about you in this”
3. Where do you turn to find your value?

And honestly? That’s not a bad thing. But sometimes, change can make us feel like we don’t recognize the person we married… or even ourselves.

That’s why today, Sheldon and Valerie are talking about rediscovery—the adventure of continually learning about each other in marriage. Think back to the early days… the excitement of discovering new things about your spouse, the little surprises, the curiosity. That doesn’t have to fade! But it does take intentionality.

Let’s be couples who never stop discovering—who stay curious, who lean in, and who pursue each other daily. ❤️

Processing Questions From Episode:

1. In what positive ways have you changed since getting married?
2. In what positive ways have you seen your spouse change since getting married?
3. In what area do you feel you need to rediscover your spouse? What ways do you feel you need to reintroduce yourself to your spouse?

🎨 Maybe it’s coloring like you did as a kid.
 📖 Getting lost in a good book.
 🌱 Digging in the garden (weeds and all!).
 🙏 Taking a quiet moment with God.

However it looks for you, make time for it. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you. 💛

In today's episode Valerie and Sheldon continue their R-E series and today’s word is Relax. 

Processing Questions:

1. What helps you to release tension and find refreshment for your mind and body? 
2. When you take time to relax, what benefits do you see in yourself and your relationships?
3. What would you like to add to your schedule to have some intentional relaxation time? 

So, picture this: you’re on a cruise, living your best life, and they hand you a domino set as a gift (fancy, right?). But then comes the challenge—they ask you to reflect on what happens when someone blocks your move in a game of dominos. UGH. The strategy you carefully planned? Wrecked. You’re forced to realign, find a new position, and keep playing. Frustrating? Absolutely. Necessary? 100%.

Now, here’s where it gets real—this isn’t just a dominos thing. This is a marriage thing. Life happens. Unexpected challenges come up. We’re all human, which means sin, selfishness, and just plain old stress can knock us out of alignment with our spouse. But instead of staying stuck, what if we chose to realign? What if we found a way to reposition ourselves together and get back in the game?

In today’s episode, Sheldon and Valerie are diving into practical ways to realign in marriage—whether it’s communication, priorities, or just remembering why you started this journey together in the first place. Because trust us, the game isn’t over just because the strategy had to change.

Let’s talk about it! 🎧

Processing Questions:

What areas do I need to realign in my life?

Where do we need to realign together in our relationship?

What's one thing I could do today to help us realign in our marriage?

Processing Questions:

1. What keeps you from connecting with your spouse and God? 
2. How could a conversation with your spouse about what distracts you from connecting help you to reconnect? When could you have that conversation together?
3. What is one thing you can do this week to connect with your spouse?

Lynne​ has over 27 years of experience as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist working with children with sensory processing disorder, ADHD (including her own kids!), OCD, ODD and autism spectrum disorders. As a speaker, certified life coach, podcaster, and author, Lynne has helped thousands of parents learn to be peaceful, purposeful, and confident. In 2002, she and her husband, Jim founded Connected Families, a ministry that helps parents learn to embody God’s grace in the midst of family life. 

Links:
https://connectedfamilies.org/
https://connectedfamilies.org/courses/sensitive-intense-kids/

Ken talks about how we can experience God in every part of our lives when we are intentional in the way we live, caring for and growing in our spirit, mind and body. He says a rule of life is “simply a rhythm of practices that empowers us to live well and grow more like Jesus by helping us experience God in everything.” 

Scott and Joanne have a story of redemption, forgiveness, healing and God’s faithfulness. They have the honour of leading marriage ministries at their home church, HopeCity. They are believers in inviting people into their story - mentors in their life have been an integral part of their healing journey. They love serving marriages, families and ultimately God who has done so much for them. 

Be encouraged that no story is beyond redemption. God is faithful to do His most amazing work in the lives of those completely surrendered. Scott and Joanne have a desire that marriages would find hope and healing through their story of brokenness and God’s goodness.

They live in Fredericton, NB where they work together in their business and have raised 3 incredible children – Taylor (27), Micah (23) and Tori (21). 

Today we are returning to the interview Sheldon and Valerie did with their mothers Brenda Breker and Edith Dean. The interview is about their journey of motherhood and is full of laughter and tears. We trust it will be an encouragement once again.

Sheldon and Valerie have a conversation on what to do if you or your spouse become different around family as well as some reasons why that might be happening. With Christmas right around the corner this is a timely conversation and something that has affected Sheldon and Valerie in the past.

Processing Questions:

Has a change in you or your spouse around extended family affected your marriage?

What's one thing you can do to address this in a healthy way?

Blog link from Les and Leslie Parrott - Help! My Spouse Is A Completely Different Person With Family
https://www.symbis.com/blog/help-my-spouse-is-a-completely-different-person-with-their-family/?utm_source=Devotion+by+Les+and+Leslie&utm_campaign=b1c418513c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_11_26_07_36&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-b1c418513c-138746289&mc_cid=b1c418513c&mc_eid=9930e824af

Links from episode: 

Weekend Getaway - https://events.familylifecanada.com/weekend-getaway-marriage-conferences

Java with Juli - https://www.authenticintimacy.com/podcast/

Pure Victory - https://www.restoredministries.ca/purevictory

Links:
Weekend Getaway Pricing - https://events.familylifecanada.com/weekend-getaway-marriage-conferences/#rates-and-offers
Weekend Getaway Locations - https://events.familylifecanada.com/weekend-getaway-marriage-conferences/#locations

Jared and Courney have been married for 13 years and have called Regina home for the last 4.5 years. They have three kids together ages 9, 8 and 6. Jared works in Regina full time with Athletes in Action as a sports chaplain with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Regina Pats. Courtney works as a Registered Nurse. They keep busy following their kids around to hockey games, figure skating, gymnastics and football games if they aren’t at home that is where they will be.  

Sheldon and Valerie talk about the importance of gratitude and together they process seeing the good or bad in a situation, how we can make a shift in our thinking and the importance of honesty. 

Processing Questions

What are you thankful for today? 

What would help you to deal with issues rather than complain about them?

Where do you focus more, on the good or the bad, and is it dependent on the situation and person? Why do you think that is?

Processing questions from this episode:

1. How do we currently deal with the mental load in our family?
2. What would help us in dealing with the mental load? 
   • An honest conversation, increased awareness, making lists together and fairly dividing them, or having a teammate perspective?

Stacy has worked with Connected Families for over 8 years in many roles, including hosting the Connected Families Podcast, which recently reached 2 million listens. She has been married to her husband, Paul, for  24 years and has 2 young adult daughters. Stacy enjoys Ethiopian coffee, spontaneous mission trips, and supporting missionaries around the world. 

Connected Families was founded in 2002 by Jim and Lynne Jackson, and is dedicated to providing content and support to empower thoughtful and confident parenting. Their focus is on fostering Christ-centered transformation through a global community of parents, parent coaches, and ministry partners equipped with a biblical parenting framework.

This interview is part of a parenting resource called “The Confident Parent Series.” If you would like to receive the videos and other resources that are part of the Confident Parent Series you can sign up for the FamilyLife Canada newsletter at www.familylifecanada.com. And you can watch the first Confident Parent Series video workshop here: "How Can I Keep My Cool When Correcting My Child?"

Here are a few other helpful links from Connected Families:

Discipline That Connects With Your Child's Heart Course 

Connected Families Podcast

Weekly Parenting Tips Newsletter

Free Resource: Helping Kids With Anger

Free Resource: 20 Empathy Statements to Show Kids You Really See Them

Processing Questions:
What are areas where you have underestimated the difficulty of things?

What are areas where you have overestimated your abilities?

How would being realistic and honest with yourself help in these situations?

How can you gain some understanding and tools to help in difficult situations?

Processing Questions:
What points you back to truth when the lies want to take over?
Which stigmas about marriage issues have been part of your thinking?
What are you holding onto that needs to be surrendered to the Lord?

FamilyLife Canada Marriage Mentoring
FamilyLife Canada Weekend Getaways
Group Rates for Weekend Getaways

Processing Questions:

1. What would creating value statements do in your family?
2. What is one value you would love to cultivate or keep growing in your family?
3. What is one step you could take today towards creating value statements for your family?

Carey Nieuwhof Blog 

3 Steps to Create Church Core Value Statements (With Examples)

Processing Questions:

1. What is the current culture of your family?
2. What do you want the culture to be?
3. How do you achieve the culture that you want?

Carey Nieuwhof Blog 

5 Essential Building Blocks of a Healthy Church Culture 

Darren is a Quality Assurance Manager working for a global tech company. Elaine is a Strategic Projects Lead working in Power to Change. 

Elaine and Darren are passionate about food and travel and they each do equal amounts of eating and cooking, but Darren loves long journeys and hanging out in airports to check out planes, while Elaine prefers to get to the destination as quickly as possible.
 

They both grew up in Christian households but walked away from God for more than 10 years. They rededicated their lives to Jesus in 2018 whilst living in London, UK for 2 years. Darren & Elaine moved from New Zealand to Canada almost 5 years ago (Oct 2019). They lead a Prayer Ministry Team in church and love to see people experience healing and freedom by the work of the Holy Spirit through prayer. They facilitate a 12-step course called STEPS, designed to help people find freedom from unhelpful/unhealthy thought or behavior patterns. They have a heart for caring for people pastorally and hope that sharing their story would help strengthen relationships and marriages. 

Weekend Getaway Summer Sale happening July 5 - 18th. This will be the lowest publicly posted rate of the year. For locations and conference information go to familylifecanada.com/events.

If you sign up for the Four Weeks to Oneness free series at familylifecanada.com/live anytime now or during the promo period, you’ll get an exclusive behind the scenes discount on the summer promo. No need to wait until July!

Pat and Anita Neuman are actually part of the volunteer team that helps with FamilyLife Canada’s Weekend Getaways in the maritimes. They have been married for 27 years and have 4 children, 3 of whom are out on their own now, and their youngest is going into his last year of high school.

They live in New Brunswick, but have previously lived in Ontario, Michigan, and Ethiopia where they served as missionaries. A few years ago, Pat and Anita opened a retreat centre called Ballast Lodge at their home in Johnson’s Mills New Brunswick. The tagline is “a place of stability in the midst of life’s storms”, and that really is the focus of what they’ve created there. 

Pat and Anita love to serve and bless churches, pastors, and counselors. As well as couples who want to invest in their marriages, and families dealing with grief or loss. Ballast Lodge provides space for solitude, quiet reflection, time in nature, a break from technology, and opportunities to really be present with your spouse or family. 

It’s located right on the Bay of Fundy, which offers incredible views and lots of space to hike or birdwatch. And on clear days you can see the famous Hopewell Rocks. And  it’s open year-round!!!

For more information visit Ballastlodge.ca or search Ballast Lodge on Facebook

Weekend Getaway Summer Sale happening July 5 - 18th. This will be the lowest publicly posted rate of the year. For locations and conference information go to familylifecanada.com/events.

If you sign up for the Four Weeks to Oneness free series at familylifecanada.com/live anytime now or during the promo period, you’ll get an exclusive behind the scenes discount on the summer promo. No need to wait until July!

Intentional Grandparenting

Here is the link that is talked about in the show regarding FamilyLife US and their podcasts on intentional grandparenting.

Weekend Getaway Summer Sale happening July 5 - 18th. This will be the lowest publicly posted rate of the year. For locations and conference information go to familylifecanada.com/events.

If you sign up for the Four Weeks to Oneness free series at familylifecanada.com/live anytime now or during the promo period, you’ll get an exclusive behind the scenes discount on the summer promo. No need to wait until July!

Randy and Donna Carter began speaking at marriage conferences in 2015 after experiencing a renaissance in their own marriage. They quickly discovered that they love sharing, both what they’ve learned over a long marriage, and the stage. They are in demand as marriage speakers whose bible centred, research based talks brim with authenticity, humour, wisdom and empathy. Randy is also a seasoned youth speaker and youth ministry specialist. Donna is a bestselling author, broadcaster and speaker. They have two daughters, two sons-in-law and two adorable grandchildren.

Here is the link to the ADHD Toolkit that is referred to in the episode. 

FamilyLife Parenting Conference

Article that is discussed in the episode.

FamilyLife Canada

Here is the link to the Culture Translator that is mentioned in this episode.  

Here is the link to the article mentioned in this episode. https://www.crossway.org/articles/5-myths-about-mental-illness/?utm_source=Crossway+Marketing&utm_campaign=b29a9fc372-20230918+History+-+Puritan+Women+Debunk+3&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0275bcaa4b-9fa497e845-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

​​Sheldon and Valerie talk with Shaylee and Levi Durston about the loss of their son and God's faithfulness through it all.

Here is the blog from Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot that is referred to in this episode - https://www.symbis.com/blog/my-spouse-is-disengaged-from-our-marriage-what-can-i-do/

The Marriage Meeting Blog - By Sharol Josephson - www.familylifecanada.com/meeting

Link to Billy Graham article mentioned in the episode. https://billygraham.org/story/how-to-be-thankful-in-all-things

Restored Ministries - https://www.restoredministries.ca
Pure Victory Podcast - https://www.restoredministries.ca/purevictor
Pure Freedom Community - https://purefc.ca/

Here are the different links that are mentioned in this episode.
Dr. Juli Slattery Blog - https://www.authenticintimacy.com/learning-to-say-i-was-wrong
GotQuestions Article - https://www.gotquestions.org/emotional-healing.html
The Feelings Wheel - https://feelingswheel.com

Here is the link to the Discipline that Connects With Your Child's Heart course (https://connectedfamilies.org/discipline/). Save 10% on registration by entering FLC10.

Here is the article: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/family-qa/tough-love-in-adult-relationships/

Here is the article that is discussed on todays show: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/family-qa/tough-love-in-adult-relationships/

Here is a link to the assessment they talk about at the end. https://www.betterlove.com/

Trigger warning - We do talk briefly about sexual abuse and past sexual mistakes. 

Here is the website of The Union Movement if you would like to know more about Bryan and Bonnie - https://www.theunionmovement.com

https://www.theunionmovement.com/

Emotional Needs Questionnaire - https://www.marriagebuilders.com/download/library/questionnaires/the-emotional-needs-questionnaire-enq-2.pdf

Emotional Needs Questionnaire - https://www.marriagebuilders.com/download/library/questionnaires/the-emotional-needs-questionnaire-enq-2.pdf

Ron Blue (Financial Planning Worksheet) - https://ronblueinstitute.com/tools/#financial_planning
Dave Ramsey (Every Dollar App) - https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/everydollar
Sheldon's Blog (How We Finally Stopped Fighting About Money) - https://www.familylifecanada.com/blog/how-we-finally-stopped-fighting-about-money/

Here are the processing questions:

• How has your family of origin affected this area in your marriage?
• What are some things you appreciate about how you manage your household partnership?
• What is one area you would like to improve on in household partnership?

Check out the FamilyLife Canada Parenting Conference happening April 14-24, 2023 (https://www.familylifecanada.com/parenting-conference-2023/)

FamilyLife Canada - www.familylifecanada.com
Authentic Intimacy - www.authenticintimacy.com
The Union Movement - www.theunionmovement.com