No one knows a child better than their parents. From the moment we hold our newborn in our arms, we are entrusted with the responsibility of guiding, protecting, and nurturing them into adulthood. Yet across New Mexico and the nation, that role is being chipped away by policies and practices that sideline parents and elevate government authority.
We see it in education, when schools insert controversial curriculum or have explicit materials on library shelves without informing families. We see it in healthcare, when minors can access abortions or begin life-altering gender treatments in secret, while at the same time needing parental permission for something as simple as an aspirin. And we see it in the broader cultural narrative that paints parents as obstacles to progress instead of the irreplaceable guardians that children need.
This trend is dangerous, not only for families but for children themselves. Studies show that children thrive when their parents are involved in every aspect of their lives—academically, medically, spiritually, and socially. The opposite is also true: when parents are cut out of decision-making, children suffer. Medical research confirms the risks of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, from sterility to lifelong health problems. Psychologists have long noted that parental support is one of the strongest protective factors against depression and suicide in teens. And data consistently shows that students succeed when parents are engaged in their child's education.
This is not simply a matter of preference either, it is a matter of rights. The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed time and again that parents have the fundamental right to direct the care, custody, and upbringing of their children. In Pierce v. Society of Sisters, the Court declared that “the child is not the mere creature of the state.” In Parham v. J.R., it reaffirmed that parents are the ones who decide what medical treatments are best for their children. And in Troxel v. Granville, the Court recognized parental authority as a cornerstone of American liberty.
The current narrative in New Mexico is that leadership, not parents, are better equipped to raise and take care of your child. That your parental rights end when you drop them off at school. But the state doesn’t know your child like you do, and they certainly don’t love your child like you do. This responsibility cannot be outsourced to bureaucrats, activist organizations, or political agendas. Parents are the first and most important teachers, counselors, and protectors of their children and no institution can replace that role.
That is why we have launched a new, commonsense initiative, My Kid, My Choice. This isn’t about attacking schools or doctors. It’s about restoring balance by recognizing what has always been true: parents, not the government, are best equipped to make decisions for their children.
Partnership between parents and institutions is valuable, but it must be rooted in respect. Respect for parental authority. Respect for family values. Respect for the truth that parents know and love their children better than anyone else.
If we truly want to see New Mexico’s children flourish, it starts with empowering their parents. Because when parents lead, kids thrive.
Learn more about My Kid. My Choice, and access opt out forms for your child, at mykidmychoicenm.com.
Jodi Hendricks is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Family Action Movement.
