Ten minutes before dinner your child wheels around the corner and asks, "Can I go to a friend's for dinner?" Many parent mentors would suggest that this is one of those times to stand firm. And we agree. The question is - about what should we be firm?
ย Big sister Bella bounces and crashes her way through life with Tigger-like abandon, unaware of the impact of her big movements and energy on those around her. When it came to pushing her new little brother in his babyโฆ
Iโve blown it many times. But the following event stands out as an example of both a failure to live by the stuff I teach, and the power of the teaching. Upon reflection, itโs a tale of battling giants. Oneโฆ
Sometimes it can be hard and scary to start something new, especially with a blended family, and especially with teenagers! See how Tom and Shelly handled things when their first family meeting blew up in their facesโฆ literally!
We do it all the time. “Nice work! Great job! You’re so awesome!” It’s nice to take notice and give energy to the good things our kids do. But throwing kids compliments like this without any substance is akin toโฆ
Sometimes it can be a good thing to let kids fight. This played itself out last week as I was caring for my niece and nephews (4th – 7th grade). During dinner they began to argue the sort of argumentโฆ
Is dinner at your house a bit crazy? Perhaps it needs a little injection of purpose. When the meal is all about getting kids to settle down and eat their food, itโs bound to be a struggle. But when itโsโฆ
Our family likes to haveย plans in the works for the upcoming year. A possible Florida trip this spring to see family? What about our familyโs favorite summer vacation spot in the Colorado Rockies? In order to make these dreams aโฆ
Last Christmas I pulled out Godโs Word to read the familiar passages of Luke 2:4-20 to my niece and nephews and extended family. The version I read from was the Hawai’i Pidgin Bible (โDa Jesus Bookโ), a Wycliffe translation ofโฆ
Simply stated, kids have tantrums because they pay off. In some convolutedย sort of way they get what they want. Even if it means they lose their cool and wear themselves out. The challenge for a parent is determiningย what exactly aโฆ