I mentioned last week that a very gracious person is willing to match any donations up to $5000. If it is within your means to give to help protect these children, now is a perfect time to do so.  

DONATE HERE

Today I had the joy of speaking with a very kind and generous person who has offered to match all donations made over the next two weeks up to $5000!

It is so encouraging to see people give so freely to care for those in need and the protection of children that so desperately need it.

I challenge you all to share this information and motivate others to share as well. Every small amount is a blessing and more greatly appreciated than you can possibly know.

To know that what you share is doubled- is an extra special gift.

Click HERE to donate!

Upon the wake of the American Academy of Pediatrics releasing its official policy statement on how to ensure “comprehensive care and support for transgender and gender diverse children and adolescents”, the article questions,  “1. To what extent did activists and interested third parties influence this policy? 2. To what extent was the AAP able to hear from all stakeholders? (Especially parents unable to speak up publicly due to concern for their relationship with their child, and professionals who fear animosity from an activist community.) And, related, 3. Is this official policy likely to be helpful or harmful to children?” Jeff falls into the category of a parent unable to speak up publicly for himself because he has been enjoined from doing so. That adds another element altogether!

Dr. Susan Bradley, a child psychologist with 40 years of clinical experience and research, who founded the Toronto Gender Identity Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, was quoted as saying,

“I’m deeply concerned that AAP’s guidance has gotten so far ahead of the current knowledge base about gender dysphoric children, according to the best research we have that spans decades of clinical practice. We know from multiple studies that around 80 percent of gender dysphoric children will desist from their cross-sex identification in childhood to identify with their natal sex. Most of these will grow up to be gay or lesbian; a substantial minority have also been diagnosed with autism.

Yet the AAP guidance incorrectly dismisses these studies as flawed and outdated. There is no professional consensus on medical treatment of gender-dysphoric children and young adolescents. While some preliminary studies of puberty suppression followed by cross-sex hormones and surgery have shown benefit to gender dysphoric youth, these have had small sample sizes and have only followed patients for a short period of time.

We do not know the long-term effects of medical transition in young people; these effects are mostly irreversible and include sterility and sometimes impaired sexual function. Watchful waiting, which was the treatment of choice for many years, has been dismissed as false and harmful with no evidence for this assertion.“

I urge you all to read this article in its entirety – LINK HERE. NATIONAL REVIEW ARTICLE

I have also added the link to the article under the resources tab along with other articles and information if you haven’t had a chance to check it out.

Thank you again to all who love and support these sweet kids. I will continue to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves in love and with effort to be wise and kind in relation to all those involved.

Sarah

A great privilege and duty, I believe, we have as parents is to shape our children’s characters. Every question and interaction is a teachable moment.

My middle son, Patton, told me around age 3 (much like James in the video) that he liked girls and thought they were pretty. I told him, “That is wonderful! Boys should like girls and think they are pretty. What girls are you thinking of?” His first response was, “Mommy!!!” “Oh thank you so much!”, I said. “Girls love compliments. It is always nice to tell someone they are pretty. It makes them feel great!”

In that moment, I began to instill in him an instinctive consideration for the feelings of others. He (like James) also told me that he liked my fingernail polish and thought it was pretty and colorful. I thanked him again for the compliment! When he asked if he could have pretty colors on his fingers too, I gently told him, “polish is a special grown up mommy paint. It is very messy, wet and sticky at first and can damage furniture if you are impatient and don’t let it dry, but I will give you one sparkly magic finger if you can sit still long enough.” I put glitter polish on his pointer fingernail and he went around pointing and “magic-ing” everything around the house that day. It was great fun that sparked imagination. It also taught patience and caution to not damage the furniture.

I did not discourage him or tell him it was a “girl-thing”. A toddler is not motivated by gender when expressing what he finds attractive or interesting. What 3 year-old doesn’t like color and movement? The gender issue never entered my mind, because the person he is – is more important to me.

Ask anyone who knows him, my child is very boyish, some might say a little “rough and tumble” but he is also bright, imaginative, observant, has an eye for detail, loves colors and textures, is artistic, complimentary and kind. These are the qualities that will make him an excellent husband and father one day. He may be an artist, or a chef or a fashion designer or an architect with his appreciation of aesthetics. So many things I was able to encourage in him that have absolutely nothing to do with gender.

It is a great privilege to teach our children to become great people regardless of gender, and a great responsibility of a parent is to be trustworthy. It is so true that children believe what we as parents tell them. They expect and trust us to encourage them, support them, instill confidence in them and teach them truth.

They should be able to trust us. A child should never be lied to. He should be able to express his feelings, likes and dislikes without being labeled or forced into a gender role that he doesn’t really understand, especially at such an early age.

A God-given love for artistic, colorful, soft and beautiful things can be a marvelous trait in both boys and girls.

Can you imagine life if every little boy who told his mommy he liked girls and thought they were pretty was then required to dress as one and told by the person he trusts most that he is one?

A toddler will believe what his mommy says and when encouraged, will continue to do what brings him praise. Gender has absolutely nothing to do with a person’s character, qualities and temperament… the things we should praise, direct and encourage in our children.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

~Sarah

VIDEO – JAMES AT 3 YEARS OLD

Thank you so much to those directing people to this site and sharing James’ story. Word is spreading and we are thankful for the many of you praying and sharing. In an attempt to raise awareness we have started a SAVE JAMES T-SHIRT Campaign. The shirt is super cute, is a conversation starter, directs people to the website and the profits – (though small-depending on how many shirts sell) will go to help Jeff.

Three Steps Back…

Unfortunately my update today isn’t very encouraging, although I hope this news will inspire you to help in any way you possibly can.

As I have mentioned before, Courts have enjoined Jeff from dressing James as a boy at school, from teaching him that he is a boy, and from sharing religious teachings on sexuality and gender. He has literally been accused of abuse for affirming his son’s biological sex and by simply stating that his son is a boy.

I suppose anything that negatively influences or encourages opposition of James’ social transitioning and acceptance of the change that has been decided for him (not by him) is frustrating to the other side – but to call it abuse is outrageous.

Last week this resulted in the loss of Jeff’s job because this “abuse” was “anonymously” reported to his employers. They had recently given him a raise and his job performance was not called into question. He was given a severance package because they had no reason for dismissal other than fear of liability by association I guess. Of course this severance package will just barely cover child support and a few basic expenses over the next few months not to mention the extreme costs associated with this battle including the $10,000 fee he will have to pay for the court appointed psychologist.

It sickens me that his right to free speech and ability to protect and father his sons has been restricted. I have seen first hand what an excellent father he is and how well he interacts with his boys. He is encouraging and supportive and gentle. I trust him with my children and am outraged that anyone would call his behavior towards his sons anything but exemplary.

The court costs, legal fees, and child support have drained his finances, and he is completely on his own fighting to protect his children…. now without employment!

He is usually a very motivated individual, but the past few setbacks have really been hard on him.

I ask again that you pray, donate, share and raise awareness.

Thanks ~ Sarah

Check it out.

So – here goes…

The most recent court battle lost Jeff some of his weekend possession time.

Jude is in soccer with other kids that may know James as “Luna” so if Jeff wants to take Jude to the games and cheer him on while in possession of both boys – his ex-wife wants him to bring James dressed as a girl. The court allowed her to pick up the kids and take them away from Jeff during his scheduled time – so that she can dress them the way she wants to – or Jeff can bring him in “gender neutral clothing” but can not call him by his name or use masculine pronouns while talking with him in public. This greatly shortens his already limited time with both boys and James isn’t even playing! Its a terrible offense and a loss of constitutional rights to not allow a man to speak to and encourage his son.

It is disheartening to say the very least. Jeff isn’t allowed to talk to James about his feelings without the threat of losing him and Jude. The mother is a pediatrician and up until a few weeks ago had pictures of James dressed as a boy on her website. After Jeff’s attorney made it clear in court that she was portraying James in opposition to what she is asking the court to demand of Jeff, she changed the pictures on her site and the court simply gave her a verbal reprimand. The bias is so evident.

On a somewhat lighter note…

This past weekend the boys all came over for a “camp out” indoors! We pitched a tent in the living room, read stories, sang songs, made s’mores and had a wonderful time. These kiddos are so respectful and kind and thankful. James drew some beautiful pictures for my fridge and I think its safe to say that James and Jude have become part of the family. My boys certainly consider them brothers and our little Lily (who is only 2) asks for them when they aren’t here. We saw them again on Sunday and Jude was visibly upset. He let me comfort him a little and I was able to find out that he hates leaving his father because he knows that for the next 2 weeks he is going to have to lie about his brother.

It hurts his little heart to be forced to lie – and he is punished for extended periods of time out if he doesn’t comply. If that isn’t abuse, then I really don’t know what is.

In October  Jeff has to pay $10,000.00 for the court appointed psychologist. Financially this is a major strain – and its just one of the many large sums required to continue this battle for the protection of his children. Expert witnesses are needed and are so very expensive. Please consider a donation to help this family if it is within your means.

As a Christian- I feel that it is my responsibility to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” Proverbs 31:8. The Gag order keeps Jeff from speaking, these little boys are not able to speak up – so here I am, doing the only thing I know to encourage others to get involved and support people who are in desperate need of it, both financially and spiritually.

Please take time to read all of the information on the site- share with all that you know and pray…

• That God would be merciful and uphold these children in their daily lives and struggle to be brave and truthful.
• That Justice would prevail in the court system and that the Judges would be granted wisdom.
• That the heart of their mother would be radically changed and that God would work a miracle in her life for the sake of her children.
• That Jeff would be upheld and supported by the body of Christ through this terrible time and that the financial strain would be lessened.
• That those of us who know and walk with this family would be wise, kind, generous, loving and protected

More updates to follow weekly.

Thanks!

~Sarah