Teaching Girls Discernment in a Loud World w/ Kari Kampakis
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On today’s episode…
In a world filled with noise and pressure, how do we raise girls with wisdom, strength, and clarity? Author Kari Kampakis shares how to help our daughters build spiritual discernment, process tough emotions, and stand firm in who they are. This episode is full of practical conversations and faith-based encouragement for moms raising girls today.
Insights
Teaching Girls Discernment in a Loud World
Guest: Kari Kampakis
Host: Dr. Kelly Cagle | Parenting IQ Podcast
In today’s digital culture, where voices and opinions are louder than ever, how can moms raise daughters with clarity, courage, and discernment? Author and mother of four girls, Kari Kampakis, joins Dr. Kelly Cagle to unpack timely and practical wisdom from her new book, Is Your Daughter Ready?
Raising Daughters with Intentionality
Kari shares that moms have a sacred window—18 years—to pack their daughter’s “suitcase” with what she’ll need for life. But that packing must be intentional, not rushed or reactionary. She encourages moms to start early, equipping their girls with tools like faith, courage, and self-awareness before life’s pressures hit.
🧳 “We have 18 years to pack their suitcase. Let’s make sure we fill it with the right tools—not just life lessons crammed in at the last minute.”
Discernment in a Digital Age
From TikTok trends to peer pressure, girls are being shaped by countless voices. Kari encourages moms to set the first tracks in the snow—meaning, help their daughters form convictions before the world does.
🎿 “If you lay the first tracks in your daughter’s mind, you give her a reference point when the other voices come.”
She stresses that discernment is more than common sense—it’s a spiritual and emotional muscle that must be strengthened through conversations, prayer, and shared values.
When Kids Make Mistakes
Kari shares vulnerable stories of her own daughters navigating tough moments—like secret Snapchat accounts or being at parties they shouldn't attend—and how these situations became teachable moments filled with grace, not shame.
💬 “I know my kids will mess up. But I want them to know when they mess up—and to come to us, not hide it.”
Perseverance & Identity
Teen girls today face increasing anxiety, comparison, and fear of failure. Kari discusses how resilience is best learned inside the safety of home, where daughters can fall and get back up with support.
She shares the emotional story of her daughter not making the cheer team—and how that moment, though painful, became the doorway to new opportunities, scholarship wins, and spiritual growth.
🌱 “Faith is best understood in hindsight. We don’t always get the answer we want, but there’s always purpose in the pain.”
Practical Advice for Moms
🔍 Signs of Emotional Withdrawal:
Decreased joy or talkativeness
Personality changes over multiple weeks
Loss of confidence or energy
💡 How to Respond:
Pray for timing and wisdom
Approach gently with curiosity, not control
Offer consistent love and small joys at home (like art supplies, a grandparent visit, or service opportunities)
Don’t underestimate your influence—sometimes just one or two people can walk a child through a hard season
About Kari Kampakis
Kari Kampakis is a writer, speaker, and mom of four daughters (ages 22, 20, 18, and 15). Based in Birmingham, Alabama, she has been married to her husband, Harry, for over 27 years and has spent decades helping mothers of girls navigate faith, identity, and culture.
Kari has published six books, including her latest, Is Your Daughter Ready? 10 Ways to Empower Your Girl for an Age of New Challenges, which offers practical conversations and tools for raising discerning young women in today’s noisy world. She’s known for her down‑to‑earth storytelling, faith‑filled wisdom, and commitment to intentional parenting over perfection.
You can learn more at KariKampakis.com and follow her on Instagram @karikampakis.
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HEY THERE! I’M DR. CAGLE… DO YOU NEED HELP WITH CREATING GREAT HABITS???
Parenting is hard work. It requires tons of boundaries, daily consistency, so much awareness, as well as lots of patience, grace, wisdom, and filters. Combine that hefty list with all of life’s demands and others’ voice may become louder than yours in your child’s life, increasing their anxiety, fears, and doubts.
Healthy parenting is about seeing yourself as your child’s #1 teacher, saying the right words (or nothing at all) at the right time, and having the right tools to be intentional and impactful. Guessing your way through life, which is what most parents do, is a recipe for failure, but following the lead of someone who has two decades of research-based information and fully understands the demands of parenthood is a recipe for a full life— for you and your child.
With a PhD in education, I’m here to teach you how to use daily moments are learning opportunities so you raise confident and competent lifelong learners that thrive in an ever-changing world.
Additionally, I offer workshops and keynotes on various topics to parents, educators, students, and business leaders— because the need to understand, support, and empower learners is everywhere..
