Old Ideas Made New
I have to believe that if I am truly called to love, then I will be truly equipped to do it. I have to believe that there are treasures to be found on the other side of fear; treasures that are worth mustering the courage to be uncomfortable.
Grace at the Table
What does my husband say in the quiet moments to our son when miscommunication threatens to rob them of unity? How can I learn from the way he parents?
What We Harvest
In a world that thinks vulgarity is a virtue, we as parents have got to take seriously our responsibility to create a home environment conducive to bringing about our kids’ best.
Siblings: Friends?
I am tunnel visioning myself into hopelessness if I only choose to notice when the rising volume indicates trouble. What about all the times the high volume is caused by uncontrollable giggles or shrieks of delight?
My Full-Time Modeling Gig
As a parent I am a model of behavior, a model of decorum, a model of thought and of presentation. I can easily forget how powerful that model is and yet my kids constantly remind me that, consciously or not, they are adopting and adapting what they see in me and making it their own all the time.
When Our Kids Cause us Pain
I have to think that if pain comes from my kids, there must be something for me in it. For each barb they send my way, there must be an opportunity to learn. I know at times when I have felt profound pain or deep sadness, something about the very depth of feeling itself is a hint at something beautiful.
The Meat
As a parent, you matter. It matters how you ask them questions and how you apologize and how you raise your eyebrows and if you believe them when they tell you something questionable. Your influence in your child’s life is paramount, as is theirs in yours. What a beautiful thing that is!
Tips and Tricks: Why They Let Us Down
We are a culture that loves quick fixes and simple sound bites. When a parenting guru hands out Eight Easy Tips on just about any subject, our desire for easy perfection kicks in. If only parenting could be reduced to a sound bite!
No Guarantees
Wouldn’t we all love a guarantee that our desires will be fulfilled? That our plan A will work out or at least that our plan B will somehow be just as good? I think of all the things I want for my children, all the desires I have for them as they grow and learn and make decisions and experience new things and of course I want to be able to guarantee all will work out for the best—just the way I imagine it.
Defining Discipline
We need to understand that discipline is not, in fact, what we do in response to our children’s unwanted behavior. Our response may be part of discipline, but it does not nearly encompass the whole thing. Because discipline does not happen in response to or because of; it happens before.