My oldest daughter is headed off to her third year of college in less than four weeks. So when I received an email asking if I would take a look at a new book called, Starting Now: College is Hard - This Can Help, I was intrigued. The description states it’s a “30-Day Guide to Becoming Who You Want to Be in College”. The authors, Crystal Chiang, and Gerald Fadayomi, both have extensive experience working in student ministry.
Read MoreAs a mom of older kids, I often feel like my job is most accurately defined as taxi driver. We spend a lot of time in the car. When I start to complain about it, I remind myself that some of the best conversations happen in the car. I want to know what my kids are thinking and how they’re doing. I want to know what’s on their hearts. They’re so independent now, but at least they still depend on me for rides (most of the time). I try to remember to appreciate this part of our life, knowing that it won’t always be this way.
With tweens and teens, anything beyond surface conversations will only happen on their own terms. If I want to know the good stuff, I have to be available to listen when they feel like talking. And with my kids, that’s usually in the car. One such conversation happened earlier this week.
Read MoreThe book, Simplicity Parenting, by Kim John Payne, is a great resource. It has influenced my parenting choices over the years. A main idea of the book is to question whether we are building our families on the four pillars of “too much”: too much stuff, too many choices, too much information, and too fast
Read MoreChildren need to see the world as a good and safe place. This statement has always been a cornerstone of my parenting philosophy. Since my husband and I brought home our first baby, over sixteen years ago, this belief has shaped our actions and has acted as a filter. Mistakes aplenty have been made, but this is something I believe we got right.
Sadly, the world isn’t always a good and safe place. I know that, and so do my kids, but their exposure to the news and to adult problems was delayed and gradual. Thankfully, as kids mature, and a parent’s ability to control information declines, kid’s coping mechanisms also increase- particularly with loving guidance and Biblical teaching in the ways of God.
Read MoreHere is a list of summer reading designed for a young lady, centered around the theme of the Victorian and Edwardian time periods. When I homeschooled my daughter in seventh grade, these were the favorites from her booklist. Together, we enjoyed delving deeply into themes together- and for a while, we were immersed all things Victorian. I have great memories of that year, so I'm sharing this list in the hopes that some more young ladies (and their moms) might enjoy these books over the summer.
Read MoreSure, we can get outward compliance by shaming our kids, but that is all that it will be. Shame is not the same as repentance. It’s grace that brings about a heart change. I love the practical example, above, from Elyse, which shows what applying grace to our parenting can look ike in daily life. Here’s another example,
Read More“I will never give up on you. I will always love you.” I said it when she was thirteen. I meant it. I knew I wasn’t her favorite person. I didn’t expect much in response, maybe an eye roll or a deep sigh of annoyance. Instead, her expression softened and her whole body seemed to relax. Exhale. “Okay”. One small word, she said, with hope.
Read MoreParents who overvalue their children are more likely to raise narcissists. That’s the finding of a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. I don’t think any parent, myself included, wants to raise a narcissist. The headline got my attention.
No, I thought, that’s not right. I’m pretty sure that I’m overvalued by my heavenly Father- and he’s knows what he’s doing.
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