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You might have a middle schooler if your child's appetite has tripled.

You're buying new shoes for them every couple of months and they've grown half a foot almost overnight.

It's true that in middle school your kids will certainly grow physically and perhaps, we hope,

spiritually.

During seventh, eighth grade, kids really start to make faith their own and their own decisions about faith.

I'm John Fuller, along with Danny Werther.

He heads up our parenting and youth department here at Focus on the family.

Focus President Jim Daly and I recently sat down with Jonathan Catharman and his two sons

to talk about the tumultuous middle school years

and how you can encourage your kids' faith.

Jonathan, let me go to the faith component

because that plays an important role, obviously,

the role in Christian homes. And I guess the right question is what

role does faith play in preparing for middle school? How does a parent make sure

that their kid is grounded? How many moms, let me just speak to the moms listening,

are fearful of that moment, especially when their son, and we're addressing sons today,

but you can apply these things to daughters obviously but when

their sons are making that transition I'm sure a lot of moms are going wow.

...