"Mom, can we play our tablets?" "Mom, can I watch something?" "Mom, can I play the Playstation?" Am I the only parent who feels like she deals with these kinds of questions almost constantly? Granted, that's partly because I have a larger-than-average number of children. But still, I can't deny the fact that screen time has become my kids' "go-to" activity whenever they have a free moment. Moderation Is Not Always An Excuse My husband has been extra alert to this lately, and to be honest, I've been dismissing his concerns (which probably merits an article of its own—ahem). You see, I've been excusing the ...Read More
Beyond the Busy: Simplifying family life using routines
When I was a brand-new mom, I came across a book that advocated getting your infant on a schedule as soon as possible, preferably within the first few weeks of their life. At first, this sounded like a great idea to me. Though I was utterly in love with her, I wasn't really a fan of the way this tiny bundle had completely upended every single thing about my life - especially when it came to my beloved sleep. Plus, when she was about three weeks old, she suffered from colic, and I was willing to try anything to help us both cope just a little better with life. It wasn't long before I came to realize that while ...Read More
40+ Text Messages to Send Your Teens
In this high-tech modern world, you might find it handy to have this list of encouraging text messages to send your teens on hand for inspiration. I love that my thirteen-year-old has an iPod. With it, she's able to download and play worship music that suits her tastes. She can keep in contact with extended family members and friends through the social media apps we allow her to have. She enjoys the depth and convenience of electronic Bible-reading and devotional apps. And she has quick and safe access to the internet thanks to the accountability software we've installed. (That's not just for kids, by the way. The ...Read More
Even YOU can be patient with your kids — here’s the key!
I didn't say a word, but I was stewing internally when my daughter's little hand reached over the counter and dropped her cup in the sink. How many times do I have to tell these kids to rinse their breakfast dishes and put them in the dishwasher? It's times like these when I'm tempted to let my temper erupt. I almost feel like I deserve the release what would come with letting my kids have it. (After all, I've told them at least a hundred times.) But I've been doing this parenting thing long enough to know that losing my temper won't make me feel better in the long run. Not only is it woefully ineffective at ...Read More
Don’t Forget Jesus on Your Vacation! 7 Strategies for Christian Parents
Ah, the lazy days of summer are almost upon us. For many families, summer means relaxed schedules, more family time enjoying the great outdoors, and week-long vacations at the beach or other exciting places. Unfortunately, the break from our normal routines can also make it tempting to take a vacation from our faith, which helps explain seasonal trends like drastically reduced church attendance during the summer months. As a Christian parent, you probably long to establish a foundation for your child's lifelong faith in God. And a critical component of that faith is the development of a constant and conscious ...Read More
6 Things to Pray for Your Kids Every Day
I don't think it's possible to overstate the impact of a parent's prayers in the life of her child. At the very beginning of my parenting journey, God drew my attention to the biblical account of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1-2. She was a praying woman, a praying mom who devoted her son to the Lord quite literally, sending him to the temple to live and work when he was very young. But the temple was a wicked place during that time, and Samuel was surrounded by immorality. Yet from his boyhood and throughout his whole life, God spoke to Samuel powerfully, using him to speak his truth to multitudes of people, including ...Read More
6 Traits Your Kids Need to Avoid Bad Friendships
I'm constantly amazed by the differences between my kids. Their personalities, their preferences, their talents, and their tendencies can be as different as night and day. This is certainly true in the realm of friendships. One or two of my kids have never known a stranger. They happily chat with the grocery clerk, the elderly neighbor they barely know, and even the bigger kid who was downright mean to them yesterday. On the other hand, one or two of my other kids really do like people (really, they do), but they have a hard time showing it. They are still learning that whacking friends in the head, ...Read More
Should You Be Your Child’s BFF? (the answer may surprise you)
Once upon a time, I would've said that I didn't want to be my kids' friend—at least not when they were still living under my roof. You see, before I was a mom, I was a public school teacher, and that season of my life left a bad taste in my mouth toward permissive parents who were more concerned with being fun-loving, peer-like buddies than role models and authority figures. Can you blame me? The entitled, disrespectful, self-centered children of those parents weren't exactly a pleasant addition to my classroom. But then I became a mom. I'll never forget the way my heart melted the first time my ...Read More
