In August we started a new diet. I actually hate to call it that. It's really been more of a lifestyle change. Diet implies something you do for a time to lose weight. To fix a problem. Then you go back to your old ways, leading to another diet down the road. This program is [...]
Big families are hard. Big families are wonderful. So many moving parts and so many messes. So many tears, and so many laughs. How do we keep it together? How do we schedule our time, yet leave time for spontaneous fun? Start with a routine It doesn't have to be a minute by minute schedule, [...]
I don't like feeling stuck. Not physically stuck, although I don't particularly care for that either, but emotionally stuck. A place where my emotions seem to take over at a moments notice. I seem to be sailing through my day and wham, out of nowhere I get an email that rattles me. Someone makes a [...]
Would you love to have a simple parenting tool you can start implementing right away that will help you build trust with your kids? There is one simple word that can make a huge difference... "YES!" An easy way to begin giving our kids more yes’s is to make a Yes Jar. https://vimeo.com/188710828 Here's what [...]
The pain of moving forward after a loss is hard. Losing a child, a spouse, or a parent. Losing a job or a friendship. A failed business venture or a failed marriage. You know that pain that hits you deep to your core. The grief hits you when you least expect it. That knot in [...]
We strive to connect with our kids as we teach them new skills. Before we can take away a survival skill, we need to replace it with a new one. One of the things we often suggest to families is for them to do family nurture group in their home. Before you begin Gather some [...]
Finding ways to connect with your kids can be hard. Connection jars can give you a quick and easy way to add connecting activities to your everyday routine. Set a certain time each day and allow each of your kids to pick an activity from the jar. Spending just 5 minutes each day connecting with [...]
I don’t consider myself a lazy person. I am up early, I rarely sit down, and I always have a to-do list a mile long. I mean who has time to be lazy when you are a parent? Yet I find myself parenting lazy. I find myself saying ‘no’ to my kids out of laziness. I [...]
One of my favorite parenting strategies is one that is easy to forget -- playful engagement. It’s easy to see why. We spend so much time focused on correcting our kid’s behaviors that we don’t spend enough time connecting with them. Who has time for play when the goal is behavior modification? We want obedience. [...]
The Bible says the children are a blessing from the Lord. That’s a big, sobering statement because as their parents we have the responsibility to raise them well. There are days when I feel like I get it wrong and I know I have to repair the relational wounds and distance I created. Let’s look [...]