Review: Passport2Purity

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This past winter, I kept seeing these little signs that it was time for “the talk.” That birds-&-bees-&-so-much-more talk. I wasn’t ready for it, so I pretty much ignored them.
Then I got this review opportunity in my email. I wasn’t ready for it. I ignored it.
It showed up again.
OK, God, I get the point. I signed up for the review. I still wasn’t sure if this would just be something I skimmed through and reviewed, waiting for the right time for “the talk.”
As the review deadline got closer, I tentatively made plans for “the talk.” I was all ready for God to intervene and cancel the plans.
He didn’t. Instead, there were more signs.
So we had “the talk.”
Out of respect for my daughter’s privacy, I won’t be giving a lot of details on “the talk.” I just want to say that God’s timing is always right. If you’re seeing the signs, don’t delay!
Synopsis of Kit

A life-changing getaway with your preteen
Your child begins the journey into adolescence in a world of sexting, bullying, online stalking and moral defiance. Innocence is under attack, and you cannot win the battle with a single awkward talk or a strict set of rules. The primary defense for your child is a strong relationship with you and with God.
FamilyLife has developed Passport2Purity® (P2P) to assist you in building heart-to-heart communication with your preteen while laying a foundation of purity that will prepare them for the turbulent years ahead. Through the shared listening experience, object lessons and guided conversations of a P2P weekend getaway, you can set your son or daughter on a journey of moral integrity—and strengthen the bond between you.
Passport2Purity® is designed to be used by a mother and daughter or a father and son when the child is a preteen. It is suggested that the materials be completed over a weekend away from home, as the child may be more open to discussing the topics away from his or her normal environment. If this isn’t possible, the material can be completed over a period of four or five weeks.

About the Author

Dennis and Barbara Rainey cofounded FamilyLife®, an international ministry to families and marriages, located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dennis hosts FamilyLife Today®, a nationally syndicated broadcast bringing help and hope to nearly 1000 communities in the U.S. They have six adult children and a growing group of happy grandchildren.

Age Recommendation: Parent with preteen 
Genre:  Christian parenting
Physical Description:  one Tour Guide (parent), one Travel Journal (preteen), and eight CDs (5 sessions, scripture memory songs & MP3s that can be downloaded from the CDs)
List Price:  $39.99
To Buy: http://familylife.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1022&url_id=18
For More Information: http://www.familylife.com/passport2purity
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Passport2Purity-Getaway-Kit-by-FamilyLife-Version-3/278981062285397
Mom’s Review: The Good 
This worked for us! Here are some of the things I appreciated:

• The Special Event. There are step-by-step instructions to make this a memorable event for your child. If you follow them, this is something that will stick with your child forever.
• The God Focus. It’s all about Him, and He is definitely a factor in all the sessions and discussion.
• The Ease of Use.
• Honestly, this isn’t the most comfortable topic! Having a third party bring up the topics and important factors via CD (not face-to-face!) takes away most of the stress, both on the part of the parent and child. The child doesn’t feel as singled out – other kids are going through this. Questions and discussion are much easier.
• The sessions are lined up to cover easier subjects first and work into the more difficult ones later, so you can easily dive right in on a comfortable topic and float along for the ride.
• Preparation is only as complicated as you want it to be. There is a separate to-do and supply list you can carry around as you get it done. The supplies are mostly items you probably already have, and a quick trip to the dollar store will wrap it up.
• The Parents’ Role. This wasn’t a presentation with all the answers. There was a lot of emphasis on communicating with parents throughout the adolescent journey and respecting their boundaries and input.
• The Interesting Presentation. Sound effects, audio skits, illustrations, personal experiences from a variety of people, and comments of other preteens keep the listener intrigued and engaged throughout all five sessions.
• The Projects.  They seemed a bit simple to me at first, but they are memorable, give a nice break from the audio presentation, and the kids like ‘em.
• The Scripture Songs.  These are inserted at various points throughout the presentation and add another bit of a break. Even if they are not your style of music, they grow on you and are very effective. I wasn’t particularly enamored with the theme song at the beginning, but it is stuck in our heads now and comes out at the oddest of times.
• The Versatility of Experience Range.  The presentation gives enough information for those who haven’t a clue, but also has good content for those who have thought a lot about the subject already. I think it would be most effective at the beginning stages of pre-puberty.
• The Grace Component. While the focus is on abstinence until marriage, there is a section covering those who may have slipped on the journey. I think this is vital to keeping the communication lines open with your child through the journey to adulthood.
• The Follow-up Devotionals. Some of the best discussion happens after the event is over and information has had time to sink in. I like the extension given by the 25 student devotionals.

Some Precautions:
This isn’t a fit for everyone. If you fall into one of the following categories, think seriously before purchasing.

• The Non-Weekend. Yes, this can be adjusted to fit your schedule, such once a week over a period of 4-5 weeks. But the presentation makes numerous references to your “special weekend” – so if you choose to schedule differently, prepare your child for the references and let her know why you’ve chosen to do it differently.
• Abstinence as an Option. If you’re wanting a sex-ed presentation that covers the options and pros and cons of each option, e.g. gives information on safe sex and alternatives to sex, this isn’t going to do it for you. It presents abstinence until marriage as the right choice and draws the line pretty early in the physical relationship.
• Nontraditional Family Structure. There are lots of references to family members in the intact nuclear format. If you have a nontraditional family structure, e.g. are a single parent, be prepared to deal with that.
• Diehard Feminist. There is a little section that addresses how girls’ actions can influence the way boys react and treat them. I personally think this is a great topic to cover with my daughter, but I could visualize the nostrils flaring on certain people I know.

Overall, this was a perfect fit for our family, and I highly recommend it for yours.
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"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to FlyBy Promotions for coordinating this kit for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.