Discipline
My Kids’ Messes Drive Me CRAZY!
For years I have struggled with the mess that our lively, spontaneous, creative, frequently disorganized children made at high speed. I used to call it “Trash and Dash.” Since their father has somewhat more “relaxed” standards of housekeeping than I…
Connected Families in Ferguson, MO
Today we’d like to share with you a story we received from a dad who has been impacted by Connected Families and seen change not only in his parenting, but also in his urban ministry in Ferguson, MO. Brycen Marner…
What Do I Do If I Don’t Like My Child?
Let’s face it: sometimes you find yourself saying, “I don’t like my child right now.” In Scripture, children are described as a heritage, a reward, a blessing from God, and lots of kids in the family means lots of blessing!…
Stay Committed to Your Parenting Goals with One Simple Reminder
Parenting is a beautiful gift. It can also be some of the toughest work you’ll ever do. As we work to “train up our children in the way they should go,” sometimes it’s hard to keep focused on the…
Seven Minutes of Powerful Parenting Wisdom [video]
In this seven-minute video, Jim and Lynne share the "secret sauce" behind Connected Families -- the framework that has transformed so many parents and changed the lives of so many families.
Why You Don’t Need a New Parenting Strategy
John was fed up. He told me that everything he’d tried had failed. No matter what consequences or logic John put in place, his 6th grade son Ben just wouldn’t take responsibility for getting himself up and moving and out the…
Love – No Matter What!
For I am convinced that neither arguing nor defiance, neither sibling conflict nor disrespect, neither bad grades nor failure, neither whining nor lying, neither forgetfulness nor messes, nor any other misbehavior will be able to separate you from my love…
Why “It Is NOT OK to Talk That Way!” Doesn’t Work
There are many ways in which parents intentionally or unintentionally model positive character qualities: self-control, caring, diligence, faithfulness, etc. But we can also model negative character qualities, especially when we’re not thoughtful!
The Most Important Key to a Child’s Success
Pretty much every parent wants their children to succeed in life. When talking about teaching kids to be successful, parents often want to jump right to tactical issues like chores, homework, respect, and obedience. These are important issues, and we’ve written…
What Happens When We Approach Our Kids with an Empty Tank
Sometimes, especially when we’re stressed and our tank is on empty, it’s easy to approach kids with our needs instead of a full heart. We demand the good behavior that “fills our tank” instead of filling them with our love.…