44 million Americans are food insecure. The wealthiest nation on earth is failing its most vulnerable citizens. And the solution isn't more food banks—it's addressing the systems that keep people trapped in poverty.

For decades, we've warned our children about stranger danger. We've taught them not to talk to people they don't know online. We've installed parental controls and monitoring software. But we've been looking in the wrong direction.

The uncomfortable truth? Over 70% of child sexual abuse cases involve another child or teen as the perpetrator. Not strangers. Not adults lurking online. Their classmates, teammates, and former boyfriends or girlfriends.

And now, artificial intelligence has weaponized peer harm in devastating new ways.

A father drops his daughter off at Montessori school. ICE agents approach. He tries to stay calm, not wanting to scare the child strapped in her car seat. "What's going on?" she asks. He jokes it off—just answering a question. Then his window shatters. He's dragged from the car as his daughter watches her Superman crumble.

This isn't a hypothetical scenario. It's one of countless real incidents happening across America as immigration detention reaches historic highs. And at the center of this crisis are children—many of them U.S. citizens—bearing witness to trauma that will shape them forever.

When you leave an abusive relationship with children in tow, the physical act of leaving is just the beginning. The real work—healing your trauma while being fully present for your kids—is a journey that requires compassion, support, and strategic self-care.

For over two decades, your life revolved around soccer practices, homework battles, and midnight snack runs. Then one day, they're gone—off to college or starting their adult lives—and you're left wondering: Who am I when I'm not needed anymore?

This is the reality of empty nest syndrome, and according to author and empty nest expert Anthony Damaschino, it's one of life's most underrated transitions. In a recent episode of Guardians of Hope podcast, Anthony shared insights from his years of research and personal experience navigating this challenging life stage.

Shielding our children from disturbing world events is nearly impossible. From international conflicts to local tragedies, children are absorbing information that can deeply impact their sense of safety—often before we even realize it.

What if the male loneliness epidemic isn't just a mental health crisis, but the predictable result of systems designed to strip boys of their emotional capacity?