The following is an excerpt from my interview with Susan Morley on my podcast, “You’ve Got This.” When my two oldest children were around 10 and 11, I let them walk to our city library, located about a mile away. It was a route we often took on foot as a family, and the girls were more than ready to complete the journey by themselves. Armed with bags to carry books and their library cards, the pair set off as... Read more
The Christian’s response to Halloween can be, well, tricky. Should parents allow their children to dress up and go door to door asking for candy? Should they attend a local church’s harvest festival or trunk-or-treat event instead? And what about all those ghosts, goblins and ghouls you’ll encounter everywhere you go this month? In this week’s video blog, I talk about my own family’s approach to Halloween and why we go trick-or-treating. For more on Halloween and the Christian’s response... Read more
The following is an excerpt from my interview with David Martin on my podcast, “You’ve Got This.” My oldest turned 16 a few weeks ago, and she’s about to get her learner’s permit. I freely admit that I’m a little bit nervous about her driving. I don’t think she’ll be reckless, and I’m not overly concerned about the other drivers on the road. I am, however, a tad anxious about the actual teaching-her-to-drive part. “I was especially concerned when they... Read more
By guest blogger, Deborah Hackett My almost 12-year-old is preparing for her fourth move, and it’ll be number three for my 10-year-old. My girls are lucky. We are a military family and have friends who’ve relocated twice that many times in the same number of years. When we moved to the East Coast, we added further uncertainty because the length of our stay was adjusted twice. On top of that, my children are used to knowing there’s a move coming... Read more
The following is an excerpt from my interview with Sherry Kyle on my podcast, You’ve Got This. Moms can feel really disconnected from other women, whether they stay home with the kids, work from home or work outside the home. Being a mom today can be rather lonely. “I think it’s partly because social media is great for a quick contact but it’s not great for that deeper connection,” said Sherry Kyle, who writes books for tween girls, including the... Read more
Let’s stop the criticism and focus on offering moms we come into contact with encouragement and help instead. In this week’s video blog, I discuss how all too often we as mothers criticize rather than build up our fellow moms. I also challenge you to look for ways to offer a word of encouragement to the moms you come in contact with—or to provide assistance to them in the moment. Something as simple as a smile and “May I return... Read more
The following is an excerpt from my interview with Courtney Messick on my podcast, “You’ve Got This.” When my younger daughter was in second or third grade, she went through a rough patch with a close friend—it ended up being so rough, that I separated the girls for a month. While that has since sorted itself out (my daughter and this friend are thick as thieves now), it was a rather rocky time for my daughter. “I think as parents,... Read more
For today’s new parents, the first time their precious little angel screws up her face and lets out a wail to rival an opera singer can be extremely discombobulating. Most of the time, the mother frantically tries to figure out why her darling is screaming and flailing about like a fish out of water. The father attempts to reason with the shrieker, only to find himself thoroughly rebuffed. Finally, one parent figures out that the child wants something and usually... Read more
The following is an excerpt from my interview with Elizabeth Spencer on my podcast, You’ve Got This. When you have teenagers and girls, you get sympathetic glances. I get it. People think teenage girls are drama machines. And while there is a certain amount of drama involved with ninth and tenth grade girls, there’s also a lot of joy. More joy than I thought possible. This summer, I took my daughters and one of their friends to New York City... Read more
With the school year back in full swing, parents are starting to see their children’s grades, especially for their middle and high school students. With teachers sending home grades weekly, it’s tempting to become over-involved in your children’s academic success or failure. In this week’s video blog, I encourage parents to remember whose grades those are—the child’s, not the parent’s. Grades are just a letter, and yes, high school grades carry a little more weight, but to overly focus on... Read more
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