Bringing My Girls to a Women’s Event Was the Best Decision—Here’s Why

"We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done."

- Psalm 78:4

Derek and enjoy attending conferences each year on a variety of topics, but occasionally, one of us will strike out without the other. In March, I had the opportunity to attend the Time of Grace’s Women’s Event for two days, and it was a wonderful experience. One of the best parts? I brought all three of my daughters with me!

Our Story

When I first told my daughters about the conference, they were excited, but each had different expectations. Leah, my oldest, was thrilled for the time away and the chance to experience something new. My middle daughter, Lexi, was curious but a little hesitant about what a women's event would be like. And my youngest, Lily, was just happy to be included in a "big girl" event.

It was such a joy to share this experience with all of them. The worship time was particularly meaningful as we stood side by side, lifting our voices with hundreds of other women. I watched my daughters soak in the messages, scribble down notes, and even lean in during discussions. Throughout the event, I had opportunities to introduce them to other Christian women, modeling for them how to engage in conversations with adults.

After the conference, the conversations continued. Each of my daughters had different takeaways, but the common theme was how encouraged they felt to grow in their faith. Leah shared insights about how she wanted to deepen her personal Bible study. Lexi had questions about one of the breakout sessions and how it applied to her life. Lily, in her own sweet way, talked about how much she loved "learning about Jesus with all the ladies." Hearing their reflections confirmed for me how valuable this experience had been.

What We’ve Learned

Kids are capable of so much more than we often realize! Our culture tends to emphasize peer relationships, but we’ve found that our children actually love spending time with us. They crave meaningful conversations and opportunities to engage in grown-up experiences. Taking them to a women's event was a reminder that they are not just future Christians—they are active members of the body of Christ right now.

Bringing them along to events like this also gives them a front-row seat to what faith in community looks like. They get to see how we, as Christian women, learn together, encourage one another, and apply God’s Word in our daily lives. They watch how we share our faith and interact with other believers. These experiences help equip them to engage with their own faith in a mature and thoughtful way.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway for me was realizing how much deeper our family conversations became after the conference. It gave us a shared experience to reflect on, and it opened doors for rich discussions about faith, identity, and biblical truth. Instead of just hoping our kids "catch" our faith, we are intentionally placing them in environments where they can see it lived out.

Conclusion

As our children grow, it is vital that we provide them with opportunities to experience the Christian life beyond just Sunday mornings. Some youth events can be surface-level, but we want our kids to be deeply rooted in their faith. Attending this women's event together was a beautiful step in that direction, and I can’t wait for more moments like this in the future.

If you’ve ever considered taking your kids to a Christian conference, I highly encourage it! You might just be surprised at how much they absorb—and how much it strengthens your relationship in the process.