I’ve never thought of myself as a weak person. That is until the day I crumbled onto the floor of my bedroom, feeling as if I had nothing left to give. Tears had flowed earlier that day, but not now. I’d been trying to reach out to my angry daughter throughout the day but to… [Continue Reading]
The Better Mom
The Gift You Give God This Christmas
I have a favorite Christmas memory. I was in the sixth grade, and I received a cassette tape player that could record. After spending time at my grandparents that afternoon, my mom, step-dad, brother and myself sat around our dining room table and told stories into that recorder. It was special because it was one… [Continue Reading]
Encouraging Kids to Volunteer
Encouraging Kids to Volunteer You know the old saying, “It is better to give than receive.” For many families, the best gifts they can give is the gift of themselves … through volunteering. Family volunteering has been an interest to homeschooling advocates for years. Raymond and Dorothy Moore recommend an hour a day of home… [Continue Reading]
God Loves the Real You | Ruth Schwenk
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! —1 JOHN 3:1 A parent’s voice is powerful, isn’t it? I love that we belong to a Father who is not silent. He is a Father who not only speaks to… [Continue Reading]
How to Truly Love Your Middle Schooler
“Why don’t you just grow up? You’re thirteen. Act like it.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “How can I act like it?” my daughter said in desperation. “I’ve never been thirteen before!” I took a deep breath and sighed. My daughter was right. I was expecting a lot… [Continue Reading]
Prayers for the School Year
It’s the beginning of the school year, and I have so many hopes and desires for my children’s year. I want it to be a year of learning, yes, but I also want so much more. I want this to be a year in which my children grow spiritually, not just physically and educationally. I… [Continue Reading]
How Parents Can Handle Teen Emotions
You can read the first blog post of the series here ~ What You Really Need To Know About Emotional Teens. On the top of my to-do list, today was writing this blog on how to handle emotional teens. It’s easy to make that a goal and spout all types of wonderful advice on a… [Continue Reading]
What You Really Need to Know About Emotional Teens
I have three children beyond their teen years, and I currently have four teens in our home. Let’s pause right now as I ask for prayer. Do you also have a teen—an emotion-filled creature—in your house? I’ll pause and say a prayer for you too. One thing I’ve learned with these teens is that their… [Continue Reading]
7 Tools for Calming Angry Kids
In the past three years, John and I have adopted seven children from foster care, which means we’ve had to deal with a lot of angry kids. Anger displays itself in many ways. I’ve had children yelling, screaming, kicking, fighting, and throwing things. I’ve seen looks of pure hatred directed at me. (I know the… [Continue Reading]
16 Ways to Offer Yourself Grace As a Mom
I don’t know about you, but I don’t need anyone to point out my flaws … because I’m a tough enough critic all by myself. It’s easy for me to see another mom and want to tell her, “It’s okay, you don’t have to be perfect. Don’t stress yourself out trying to be.” Yet I… [Continue Reading]
Staying Calm When Dealing with Angry Kids
Why is my child so angry? My heart pounded as I asked the question. It thumped with fear. What if this doesn’t change? My mind raced with worry. What if I can’t control my child? Just as bad: What if—because of their anger—I can’t control myself? With each scream of my child’s lips and the… [Continue Reading]