In the season finale of the NextGen Roadmap, Garrett, Andrea, and Daniel walk through the final stage of the parenting journey: Launch.

Senior year brings a whirlwind of emotions: joy, grief, pride, and uncertainty as parents prepare to release their students into adulthood. Whether your child is heading to college, joining the workforce, or staying home with new independence, this stage is not just the end of one chapter, it’s the beginning of a whole new one.

🛠️ In this episode, we unpack three key ways to navigate the Launch Stage with wisdom and grace:

✅ 1. Intentionally Transition

• Don’t just “ride it out”—take time to reflect, celebrate, and speak life into your student.
• Have honest conversations: offer apologies, blessings, and encouragement as you transition into a new kind of relationship—from parent to coach to friend.
• Give your student a vision for a life of faith beyond high school.

✅ 2. Celebrate the Achievement

• Mark this moment with joy—not fear.
• Find meaningful ways to commemorate what God has done—graduation parties, letters, shared memories, even trips.
• Celebrate not just the academic or life milestone, but God’s faithfulness through every season.

✅ 3. Lean Into Community

• You weren’t meant to walk this season alone.
• The transition affects everything—your emotions, your marriage, your home rhythms—and you’ll need godly friends and mentors to process it with.
• Community isn’t optional—it’s the context where encouragement, wisdom, and grace flow most freely.

💬 Key Takeaways & Encouragement:

• You can’t go back and rewrite the last 18 years, but you can influence the next 18 by launching well.
• Give your student a sense of belonging, direction, and spiritual vision—even if things didn’t go perfectly.
• Your identity as a parent doesn’t end at graduation—it just changes.
• God’s grace covers your shortcomings and fills the gaps.

📝 “You may have dropped the ball in some areas—but God hasn’t. His grace is what carries both you and your child into what’s next.”

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

In this episode, we walk through the “Coaching Stage” of the NextGen Roadmap—a critical and often emotional season for parents of high school sophomores and juniors.

As your child begins to move toward independence, this stage calls for a shift in your parenting approach—from director to coach. You’re no longer riding the bike for them, but you’re running alongside, offering wisdom, encouragement, and correction as needed.

🛠️ Key Concepts Covered:
✅ Taking Off the Training Wheels – Let your student experience the natural consequences of their choices while staying close enough to guide, support, and help them process.

✅ Calling Them to More – Don’t just prepare them for adult responsibilities—invite them into the joy and purpose of using their gifts for the Kingdom. Serving in church and stepping into meaningful community can make faith “stick.”

✅ Prioritizing Check-Ins – Create intentional rhythms for conversation where you listen first and ask good questions. Learn to respond with grace, not just correction, especially when your child shares something hard.

💬 Big Takeaways:

• Your reaction shapes their perception of God. How you respond to their honesty often speaks louder than your rules.
• Don’t parent for your reputation. Letting your child fail can be a gift—especially when done in a gospel-centered, grace-filled environment.
• Model the Gospel. Your humility, presence, and patience preach far more than your advice.

🔁 Memorable Quote:
“Parenting at this stage is less about control and more about influence. You’re watching and guiding while they begin to ‘do.’”

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/

In this episode of the 226 Podcast, we dive into one of the most critical and challenging seasons of parenting: the Independence Stage—typically starting around 8th or 9th grade. We unpack how to intentionally prepare students for the freedom that’s coming, rather than reacting once they already have it.

🎯 Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✅ Prepare for Independence Before It Happens
Don’t wait until your student is fully independent (or has car keys in hand) to shape their habits and values. Set clear, non-negotiable expectations now—like church attendance or family priorities—and explain the “why” behind the rules.

✅ Help Them Build Their Own Faith
By this stage, kids don’t just need to know what they believe—they need to know why. The goal is to transition from you teaching them truth, to helping them explore and own it themselves. That includes welcoming tough questions and walking with them through doubts in a healthy, Christ-centered way.

✅ Formative Rhythms > Behavior Modification
It’s not just about telling your student what not to do. Help them develop rhythms and practices (like Scripture reading, prayer, and community involvement) that form them into someone who loves and follows Jesus. Focus less on rule-following, and more on identity and spiritual formation.

✅ Widen the Circle of Influence
At this age, students begin to view their parents as the least-informed people in their lives. Instead of fighting it, recruit godly voices—small group leaders, mentors, coaches, and teachers—who can say the same things you are. The message stays the same, even if the messenger changes.

✅ Who They Do Life With Matters
The people surrounding your child in this season will either shape them toward Jesus or pull them away. Help your teen evaluate their friendships by asking, “Who do you want to become—and are your friends helping or hurting that?” Prioritize community that encourages confession, prayer, and growth.

💬 Encouragement for Parents:
➡ You cannot parent from a place of fear. Trust God with your student’s heart and future.
➡ Give yourself grace. This season is fast, messy, and hard—but you are not alone.
➡ Parent in community. You need godly adult friendships just as much as your student does.
➡ Don’t aim to control—aim to coach. Give your teen room to process, fail, and grow under your guidance.

📌 Three Essential Areas to Focus On in This Stage:

1. What They Believe – Build a resilient, gospel-shaped worldview.
2. What They Do – Cultivate habits and rhythms that shape their character.
3. Who They Do Life With – Surround them with Christ-centered community.

Thank you for joining us! Want more information? Check out our website:

Kids: https://www.fbcboerne.org/kids/

Youth: https://www.fbcboerne.org/youth/