From the time my children were born, I have been overcome with the need to protect them. I remember the first time flying with my newborn daughter in my arms. I have never been so afraid to step on a plane, a place where I had no control! As a mom, I am the wall of protection between my child and the world. As my kids grew my fears changed and I stopped hovering like a helicopter. I learned to…
As the Christmas season approaches I’m reminded of my childhood. I always felt excited about everything: the decorations, the food, the shows, and especially the presents. It was easy for me to focus on the festivities and lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas. Now that I have children of my own I don’t want that to get lost. The other day I turned on the television and saw a commercial for a new movie called The Star. I…
I know many of you can’t picture this day, but it will come. The day you drop your child off at college. When we dropped off my oldest child at her dorm and drove away, my husband was in tears. I couldn’t cry because I was thinking of the 500 things I wanted to make sure she knew! I kept asking myself: Is she ready to stand on her own? That day changed my thinking in how I would parent the children…
A few months ago in a previous vlog, I went on a panoptic journey through the Bible focusing solely on women. The study led me to a discovery about two female powerhouses: Ruth and Esther. In my research, I clearly saw how God uses each of us no matter our background. Whether Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, powerful or peaceful–God has a part for you to play in HIStory. In my panoptic wandering, there were so many stories I wanted to…
If you’ve ever wondered how to deal with toddler tantrums, we have the answer for you—very carefully. Yes, that’s a joke, but it does have some truth in it. The toddler stage can be trying for a mom as her baby turns into a little person with preferences, a desire for independence, and the ability to express himself. The best toddler tantrum approach is one that’s not reactionary, spur of the moment, or born of fatigue or frustration. Here are 5 tips…
Have you ever thought that love and hate are two sides of the same coin? I might have at one time, but marriage has taught me a lot about love. Hate is not the opposite of love, selfishness is the opposite of love. And selfishness is killing marriages. It is the root cause of many marriage problems–problems that are ending in divorce. A decade ago the number one cause for divorce was financial problems. Today it is irreconcilable differences. That…
What is the purpose for your parenting? Before we can parent effectively, our purpose needs to be clear. When we have that clarity, we will be able to train our children to be responsible adults when they leave us. One of the most important developmental stages of children is the transition from preteen to teen. These years before the age of 13 are golden because we can help our children build the moral warehouse they’ll need as they face life’s challenges and dilemmas.…