Category Foundation
Tired of Not Feeling Christian Enough?
Here’s a confession: throughout my life I have periodically wrestled with the suspicion I was somehow “not Christian enough.” In some ways, it sounds silly, because being a Christian isn’t a quantity that you can have more or less of.…
Need vs Want
I plopped down on the couch with a friend and lamented about my latest parenting challenge. “I just need to learn to calmly follow through with a clear consequence. I keep getting in this nagging cycle. I need to stop…
Christmas greetings from Connected Families
Messes. You’re likely surrounded by a bunch of them. Piles of dishes in the kitchen. Wrapping paper on the floor. Tired and over-sugared children. Stressed relationships. Just like parenting, Christmas is both messy, and beautiful. Today we celebrate Jesus coming…
How to Break the Cycle of Crabbiness and Negativity
“I’m bored. No one wants to play with me. I hate my classes and that teacher. I’m no good at anything! Everything is just dumb!” Sound familiar? Kids can be pretty good at complaining and crabbing their way to get…
Should We Demand Immediate Obedience?
For a more in depth look at requiring immediate obedience from our kids (and the possible pitfalls) please check out our expanded version of this article titled, “Should I Require Immediate Obedience from My Child?” Do you require immediate obedience…
Encouragement from a Dad Who’s Been There
Hey, dads! I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately. You see, Lynne and I have this amazing opportunity to speak to groups of parents all over the country. Most of these workshops, however, are filled with a majority of…
It’s OK to Mess Up
Catie came for coaching to address sibling conflict and disrespect. During one session she confessed, “I get so mad when one son hits the other, and I just blew it yesterday. I got so angry, and yelled, and it all…
Would Jesus Say “Black Lives Matter”?
I believe that if Jesus came to us today, he would in some way say to all of us, “Black lives matter!* Be humble, listen, and love with my love.” My heart is troubled. As I look at the various…
An Open Letter to the Cincinnati Zoo Mom
Dear Cincinnati mom, You. Your son. An encounter with a gorilla at the zoo. These things have made you an unsuspecting internet sensation. We don’t know you. But, we do know that parenting is hard enough without the world scrutinizing…
The Biggest Parenting Responsibility You Have
The biggest parenting responsibility you have isn’t what you might expect. It isn’t to make sure your kids turn out a certain way. It isn’t even to stop their misbehavior.