As a mom, I can tell when I’m out of sorts. Sometimes I don’t stress about the sticky floor or the grumbling kids. And then there are days when everything seems wrong, and deep down I know the “wrong” is something inside me. Everything makes me angry. Have you ever had days like that? The… [Continue Reading]
The Better Mom
How to stop your child’s angry cycle
The flash of anger in my tween daughter’s eyes surprised me. We’d been camping, and Maddie’s 6-year-old sister, Aly, had just burned her finger on hot ash. As I treat the wound, Maddie strode up. “I hurt myself, too,” she said, with attitude. “Last night when we were making S’mores.” “Hold on,” I said. As… [Continue Reading]
3 Ways Children Teach Us To Pray – Kari Patterson
As I type these words, my daughter is snuggled up next to me with her head resting on my stomach. She’s been mostly quiet, but throughout the past few minutes she’s softly spoken a thought: “I loved seeing the ducks today.” A question: “When am I going to Madison’s house?” A praise: “I love you,… [Continue Reading]
Staying Strong When Your Heart Feels Weak
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 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]