4 Developmentally Appropriate Ways to Empower Your Kids

Being a mom is filled with adjustments and seasons of letting go isn’t it? Because it is, we need to encourage and empower our kids in ways that they are developmentally ready for.  Okay most of us could agree that we desire to empower our kids to be the people God created them to be, right?   So…In order to take on this task of “raising adults” there are various parenting shifts and approaches that must take place.  4 Developmentally Appropriate Ways to Empower Your Kids @themominitiativ @loriwildenberg Click To Tweet Here are 4 developmentally appropriate ways to encourage and …

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How to Help An Adopted Child Develop His Identity - Tips to help them wrap their identity around Christ via The Mom Initiative and Lindsey Bell

How To Help an Adopted Child Develop His or Her Identity

 Identities are important, aren’t they? They’re important for us as adults, but they’re equally as important for our children. I remember being a young child, probably about 10 or so, and waiting in line for an attraction on a family vacation. When my brothers and me got to the front of the line, an older gentleman said to us, “You three boys go on ahead.”  When he said that, I just stood there, assuming he was referring to my two brothers and my dad. But then he repeated himself. And I got it. He thought I was a boy too.  Granted, …

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A School Time Prayer

Father God, as I place my kids in the care of their school I pray Your hand of safety and guidance surround them. Help them to develop a love for learning. Give their teachers wisdom in how best to inspire a love for knowing. May their desire to know draw them closer to You. Father be with the other kids in their classes. May my kids be lights of encouragement to all the kids in their classes. Help them to treat others how they would want to be treated. May they point others to Your love and kindness. When they …

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“Grown-Up Time Out”

Lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, … teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up … -Deuteronomy 11:18-20 We all have those proud mom moments when our children surprise us and make us look like the mom of the year. You know… that rare family dinner out where all of the kids display their best table manners with no whining or crying and they …

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Precious in My Sight

  I wasted a year of high school starving myself. Tall is fine when you’re 30-something, but back then my 5-foot 9-inch healthy frame didn’t fit the tiny sophomore cheerleader mold, and I concluded—I must be a big girl. I was a smart girl, too, who should’ve known better. Straight A’s looked great on college applications, but they did nothing to enhance the mirror image. So I did what good overachievers do. I set a goal. My goal was to be skinny—and I chased it with gusto. For breakfast, I rationed exactly half a cup of cereal because the box said …

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Are Power Struggles Your Kryptonite?

  Are power struggles your kryptonite?  Kids are in it to win it, aren’t they? They are all in when it comes to fighting for their way. Power struggles are exhausting for the parent. Exhilarating to the child. It has helped me to understand why power struggles occur. Then I am better able to avoid my parent kryptonite. So WHY?  Just ‘cuz. Just ‘cuz that is how we are all wired. One of our most basic needs is the need for freedom and independence. We need opportunities to make decisions for ourselves. Of course as parents  we know our end goal …

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The ADHD Bill of Rights – A Must Read for Every Parent

Can I be honest for a minute?  I have been lonely, angry, and guilt ridden. I know it’s summer, I know we are all busy, but what made issues for me more intense was realizing I had no one who understood what I was going through. Maybe they didn’t want to. Who knows? But, when you’re a mom of a child with ADHD and processing disorders, it’s a new ball game.  When you’re a mom of a child with ADHD and processing disorders, it’s a new ball game. Click To Tweet The rules of cause and effect don’t apply. Discipline …

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How to Build Resentment in Your Child

The goal: Keep the child happy. (seems good)  The trend: Be the child’s best pal. (sounds pleasant)  BUT…the reality is relationship without rules breeds resentment.  relationship without rules breeds resentment. Click To Tweet Here are the top 6  ways to increase bitterness in a child’s heart by being his all time best chum. The best bud parent:  1. is over-indulgent: Says yes to every material item and whim under the sun. The child never has to earn anything and doesn’t experience the chance to say, “Yes I worked for that.”  2. is unable to make a decision:  An indecisive  parent …

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Raising Children with a Faith Goal in Mind

Motherhood can be overwhelming at times. It’s easy to get pulled into the day-to-day details, taking care of tiny needs to the point of distraction, while pushing off the big picture that seems so far ahead of us. Before we know it, our babies have grown from 4 to 14 in the blink of an eye, and it suddenly hits us that the things we hoped to have accomplished may not have even been addressed. This is especially true of doing our part in building their faith. Just like everything else of any value in life, it takes preparation and …

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Easy, Fun, ETERNAL Impact

Kids Time Bible Verses A-Z is a simple, fast, FUN way to teach your children about Jesus.  “Mom, I think we’re going to spend the night.”  My husband, Keith and I were thrilled. Our daughter and her family live 45 minutes from us, and we love every chance to see them.  After everyone went to bed, I did what I used to do when our daughter and son were 5 and 3. I set up “KIDZ TIME.”  It’s a simple, easy to use devotional activity.   “E” Enter through the narrow gate . Matthew 7:13 “Welcome to Kidz Time!” I greeted …

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