The parent-child bond is not the government’s to break

By Colleen Enos | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Each morning you kiss your 12-year-old daughter goodbye while sending her off to school. You trust that her teachers care about her and are nurturing her mind, not hiding things from you. Weeks later, you discover your once-bright child is now anxious, isolated, and medically altered, because her trusted teachers have secretly counselled her to take life-altering hormones while keeping you in the dark—the mother who loved her, sacrificed for her and would lay down your life to protect her. 

This scenario isn’t rare; it’s unfolding in schools nationwide. When the state severs the sacred parent-child bond, it doesn’t just break families; it assaults the natural rights that shield every American’s liberty and the rule of law itself.

Parental rights are not just a recent cultural issue, but they are the frontline defense of natural rights and the rule of law. Every American—whether a parent or not—should defend them, because when the state overrides the parent-child relationship, it undermines our liberty, family and society.

Natural rights existed before our government. They are given by God to every human and were recognized by John Locke, William Blackstone and the founders of our nation. 

It is the fundamental right and duty of parents to direct the upbringing, education and moral foundation of their children. This basic right has been affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925), and Troxel v. Granville (2000). Because our natural rights, including parental rights, existed before governments did, it is the duty of government to protect those foundational rights.  

Our government should be guarding our families, not trying to destroy them.  

These are rights that when left unprotected, have a profound effect on our communities. The result is children treated as little more than wards of the state and loving parents viewed as simply in the way. All people benefit when families are strong and not dependent on government. 

Tyranny is the end result of society that is over dependent on the state.

In Colorado, these rights are being threatened. 

The Lee family experienced the devastating scenario described in the beginning of this article, but because they had a close relationship with their child, they found out about the deception before it was too late. 

Others were not so lucky. Like the Durango mother who lost her 17-year-old daughter struggling with gender dysphoria to a LGBT activist math teacher and her trans-identifying male husband who took the daughter into their home without the mother’s consent. Or the Jefferson County 11-year-old girl who discovered she was sharing a bed with a biological male on an overnight school trip and hid in the bathroom to call her mother. These are real families who have suffered real harm.

The rule of law has been replaced with arbitrary administrative power. Parents who have objected faced accusations of bigotry while their fundamental rights were violated. The emotional toll is devastating. But there is something you can do.

Plan on helping campaign for the Protect Kids Colorado ballot initiatives. Initiatives 108, 109 and 110 will be on the 2026 Colorado ballot this fall. The initiatives will protect girls’ sports, protect children from sex trafficking and protect children from irreversible sex change procedures. 

Protect Kids Colorado will need help to get the word and the vote out. All three initiatives safeguard our children and support parental rights.

Restoring parental rights reaffirms our natural rights. We can demand transparency in education and policies that empower families. 

Let’s vote for candidates who prioritize strong families. 

By defending parental rights, we protect the liberty, rule of law, and natural rights that benefit every citizen. The sacred bond between parent and child must remain protected—for our children, our families, and our free society’s sake.

Colleen is a homeschooling mom of eight who began her homeschool journey in 1994 and graduated her last two children in 2024, spanning 30 years. Her children range in age from 20 to 36 years old. She has been married to her husband, Mark, for 39 years, and they are now grandparents to five grandbabies. She has been a speech and debate coach for 17 years, pouring her time, effort, and energy into preparing the next generation to speak truth into our culture. Colleen serves homeschool families as the CHEC Director of Government Relations and is working hard to safeguard homeschool freedom through her work with the legislature. You can reach Colleen at [email protected].

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.