It's Friday, February 2nd, 2024.

I'm Albert Moller and this is the briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian

worldview. We're going to turn to questions

from listeners in just a moment, but first I want to talk about a rather heartwarming story

that appeared on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Sometimes we have to talk about deeply

troubling things, deeply controversial things. This one just in the oddest way is sweet and I think

without intending just points to the love between parents and children and some of the complexities that can come out of that.

The headline on the article and as I said it appeared on the front page of the print edition of the Wall Street Journal on Monday. The headline is this,

junior heads to college but empty nesters need the tutors. The subhead on the article,

after years of shepherding children, parents seek help learning to live on their own.

Tara Weiss is the reporter on the story, and it really does begin with something that a lot of

parents can identify with very quickly.

It's a big transition when the first child goes off to college

but when the last child goes off to college boom it's like a total change of life.

The article begins mentioning one father who quote

recalled bittersweet feelings when his oldest child left for college but he

didn't expect the profound sadness when his middle child said goodbye

last year. The 56 year old dad said they all sting but this one hurt.

The reporter then tells us quote helicopter parents get accustomed to tracking their children's

every move via smartphone, keeping activities tightly scheduled, scrutinizing homework and

grades, exchanging miles of text.

It goes on, quote, for a certain cohort of hands-on parents, getting their teens into college

...