Every young person needs to be intentionally prepared for and welcomed into adulthood. Often in our culture, we complain that teenagers are immature. The truth is, we fail to equip them. Rites of passage are the time honored way to do that. Last month we celebrated the Bar Mitzvah of our eldest son. We borrowed […]
The Gateway Drug Every Parent Should Expose Their Children To
As parents, we devote a lot of time and energy to protecting our children from harm. But what if what we expose them to is just as (if not more!) important than what we shield them from? Our family is making a big leap tomorrow, and I’ve been retracing our steps, remembering how God led […]
What if You’re Asking the Wrong Question?
I was. For most of my life I was fixated on the wrong question. I was frustrated and unfulfilled. The good news is a simple shift in perspective has transformed my life, and the lives of everyone who begins asking a different question. I had the privilege of being interviewed by the lovely Ilesha Graham […]
If this Is my Idea, It’s my worst Idea EVER
Last week I didn’t publish a blog post. I was dismantling the last 10 years of our life. Last Friday morning we said goodbye to our house. It was the only house we’ve lived in as a family, the house where I gave birth to three of our five children. Why did we do it? […]
How to Get even the Most Defiant Child to be a Team Player
Here’s a quick, simple game that works wonders when you can’t seem to get the whole family “on board”. You can play it with a group of any size. You don’t need equipment or materials. It fosters collaboration,creativity, and a sense of closeness. And, if you play it enough, it may have miraculous side effects […]
The Good News Is You’re Not Enough
There are many schools of thought in motherhood, but at some point every mom feels she isn’t doing enough for her kids. Sometimes you feel like who you are isn’t enough. Lots of experts want to reassure you that you are enough. I’m not one of them. Before I explain why this is really good […]
Want to See your Kids Blossom? It’s Simpler than You Think
It’s not everyday that I hear someone else make a compelling case for the power of listening. And when it happens, I have to share it! KC Baker knocks it out of the park in this short message to women thought leaders, but really, everyone can benefit from apply this truth to their relationships. I […]
Tired of the Constant Bickering? Here’s how to Stop It
Last week, I shared a simple shift that’s made a huge difference in our family. The response was unbelieveable! If you missed that post, you can read it here. This week I’ll show you how to use this same idea to teach your kids about forgiveness, in a way that makes sense to them (and […]
Tired of Punishing Your Kids? Try this Instead
One of the most exhausting parts of parenting young children is coming up with consequences that make sense. So today I’m sharing a discipline strategy that’s simple and crazy effective. For years I agonized over just the right punishment when any of my children hurt a sibling or friend. It had to be a strong […]
Ready to be Amazed? Try this with Your Kids:
Last week I introduced you to a simple practice that has transformed my family. If you haven’t yet, you can read about that (and sign up for the giveaway I’m hosting) here. This week I want to share a way to make it even more effective! When we check in as a family, we ask […]