The labeling of parenting styles has gotten a little out of hand lately. Are you a lawnmower or snowplow parent? Attachment or helicopter? Tiger or free-range? What I want to know is what happened to just being plain old mom or dad? Last week, a USA Today article printed a primer on parent labels. But not to worry if you see yourself exhibiting any of these tendencies—I offer a solution to overcoming the urge to get rid of obstacles, hover... Read more
All too often, private schools “criminalize” normal kid behavior by putting too rigid expectations on too young a child. Kids, particularly boys, mature at a slower rate, and therefore have trouble sitting still for long periods of time in a classroom setting. In this week’s video blog, I talk about what parents can do to help their young pupils in those settings. To connect with me and read more about raising kids, visit my NEW website: www.sarahhamaker.com. Read more
By Dianne Barker, guest blogger Do you have a strong-willed child? The Lord gifted our home with one. From birth, our daughter, Leanne, had a mind of her own. She screamed when hungry and demanded to be fed now…no bouncing, patting, or silencing her with a pacifier. Almost as soon as she began talking, she reacted to instruction with an alternate plan. And she sounded so reasonable, I didn’t recognize sass until she turned 13. Praying for wisdom, I’d cry... Read more
With Hurricane Florence pummeling the North and South Carolina coastline, it’s a good time to think about how kids react to natural disasters—and how we can prepare them to weather the storms. No matter where you live, chances are you and your family will be impacted by a natural disaster: hurricanes, tornadoes, derechos, mudslides, earthquakes and wildfires are happening all over the United States and the world. Smartphones and social media means we hear about these disasters as they happen,... Read more
We live in an impatient world, one where everything’s at our fingertips and the idea of waiting for anything beyond a nanosecond is nearly unimaginable. “Patience is something that’s fleeting even to adult as we navigate a world of computers, iPads, iPods and instant gratification,” agreed Jocelyn Bates, an expressive arts therapist. But patience is a virtue, one that we all need to cultivate. Patience is also one of the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit... Read more
Being late has become a status symbol of how busy we are, but it’s not doing us any favors when it comes to stress and anxiety and our interpersonal relationships. While it’s tempting to blame our lateness on genes or traffic, the truth is that we’re late because we haven’t helped our children learn to be on time and we’re always in a hurry. In this week’s video blog, I talk about how you can train your kids—from toddlers and... Read more
Actress Melissa Joan Hart, best remembered for her starring roles in “Clarissa Explains It All” and “Sabrina The Teenage Witch,” recently spoke with me about her faith and raising three boys (ages 5, 10 and 12) with husband, Mark Wilkerson. Melissa also starred in God’s Not Dead 2, which is being re-released in a God’s Not Dead 3-pack DVD. In God’s Not Dead 2, you play a teacher whose career and Christian faith come under attack. Knowing what you believe... Read more
How do you juggle school, sports, activities, playdates, homework, chores and family dinners without losing your mind? Our kids are busier than ever, and we often let their schedule get overcrowded while becoming overwhelmed with the stress of getting them hither and yon on time. In this week’s video blog, I provide a simple foundation upon which to build your family’s schedule. You start with what every child and teen needs to grow healthy and strong: sleep and downtime, then... Read more
Life isn’t neat and orderly but that only strengthens our family ties. Author Lori Wildenberg shares her insights about parenting and mothers from her new book, Messy Parenting. Why title your book The Messy Life of Parenting: Powerful and Practical Ways to Strengthen Family Connections? Lori: I love the title! New Hope Publishers perfectly named it, The Messy Life of Parenting. This title captures the message contained between the covers. Life is full of the unexpected, isn’t it? My life, my... Read more
While the main focus of the film is the romantic relationship between the two leads, there’s a surprising sub-story on what makes a good mom. Click here for a review of Crazy Rich Asians. For this video blog, I’m assuming you’ve seen the film or at least know its basic plot outline. While the main story of the romantic leads is funny and fresh, the relationship of many characters to their mothers in particular captured my attention too. In this... Read more
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