If you want your children to learn how to: Trust in God’s Sovereignty…You must respond to life’s challenges like you believe that God is Sovereign. (Philippians 4:10-13) Be content and serve God where He has placed them…You must strive to look at life in light of Scripture, remembering you are where you are at, and surrounded by the people we are surrounded by, because God has placed you there. (Ephesians 6:5-8) Communicate with others with an attitude of grace and humility…You must communicate with others with grace and humility, and with the ultimate goal of restoration and helping a brother or sister …
5 Reasons Why Kids Act Differently When Momma Is Around
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 There she was over in the corner talking to some friends when I brought her children into the room. I had been watching them all day so she could help her hubby with some work around the house. But it was time to take them home. I loved spending time with her kids. They were funny, cute and occasionally a bit mischievous in the sweetest kind of way. At least most of the time. But the minute they were within a stones throw from …
Strategies for Shopping with Youngsters
The little one rounded the corner, alone, crying, carrying her pink, velcroed, tennis shoes. She was maybe three years of age, at the most. “Are you looking for your, Mommy?” I asked. I looked around, expecting to see a frantic mama in search of her child. No one matched that description. Then out popped a young mom from behind the shelves of shoes. I suppose she was fearful of me, a stranger, talking to her child. “Oh, look! There’s your mom. See she won’t leave you. She’s right here.” The woman gave me an icy stare and said, “I was hiding to …
You Might Have a Strong Willed Child IF…
Do you have a strong willed child? When I was writing, The Plan A MOM in a Plan B World, I asked moms to share some of their experiences with their “strong willed” children. Can you “feel their pain”? You Might Have A Strong Willed Child IF: It’s not your child but you who’s crying when your husband comes home from work. You threaten to throw away all his toys, and he tells you he doesn’t want them anyway. Your child insists on having the last word, even after being warned not to say another word. She weighs the consequences …
QbyUand4U: Movies and Videos + TMI Monday Link-Up!
Hey sweet moms…many of you have been asking questions and we want you to know WE HEAR YOU and WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. Here’s a recent question that was sent to us at The M.O.M. Initiative ~ “When my son goes over to his friend’s house, they let him watch movies I don’t approve of and play video games I don’t like either. I love the parents but I’m how do I tell them that he is not allowed to watch certain shows or play certain games when he’s over there?” Two weeks ago, we looked at some foundational questions …
What Peter Rabbit’s Momma Can Teach Us About Parenting
My twin two year old girls love The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I’m sure they can relate to mischievous Peter, who doesn’t listen to his mother and goes to Mr. McGregor’s garden anyway to eat carrots. Our version has the pull tabs and it is almost torn to pieces we’ve read it so much. They love finding Peter’s lost shoes and pulling the gooseberry net up and down trying to release him. They explore the tool shed looking for Peter but only finding a ladybug, butterfly and bubble bee instead. Finally, Peter makes it out of Mr. McGregor’s garden and …
Questions Moms Ask ~ How Do You Make a Strong-Willed 2 Year Old Obey?
I get strong-willed. My youngest son was exactly that…IS exactly that. It’s part of his DNA. If your child is strong-willed, you didn’t have to wait until they turned ten to figure that out. Whether they are two, ten and in their teens, a strong-willed child is to say the least…challenging. But as you raise your precious little bundle of determination, please remember that strong-willed isn’t equal to ill-willed. A strong-willed child is not a bad child…just one who wants to have his/her way, press the envelope and think he/she is always right. One sweet mom asked, “How do you …
Talking Turkey
What comes to mind when you hear the word, turkey? Thanksgiving, a bird, Ben Franklin, bowling, an insult? How odd that one word has the power to present so many divergent thoughts. A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went bowling with a group of family members. I had a crazy streak of skill. I got two strikes in a row! Oh yah! As I clutched the ball for my upcoming turn, my husband called out, “Get a turkey.” I had no idea what to make of that comment. As it turns out, a turkey in bowling is …
Raising Kids to be Independent Adults: How to LET. THEM. GO. & The M.O.M. Initiative Monday Link Up!
with Karen Ehman My friend Sheila Wray Gregoire asked a great question last week: “When Does Childhood End?” I agree with her premise that one of my duties, as a mom, is to help my kids find their route to independence, maturity, and purpose. So it’s been hard to admit that I was a “smother mother” when my daughter was in high school. I ran interference with my daughter’s teachers so often, she did not learn how to advocate for herself. She didn’t know how to ask, “When can I come make up the quiz I missed yesterday?” or “Why did …
Red Flag
When we see a red flag we know to – BEWARE. We are alerted to a hidden danger near-by. Recently I wanted to wave a red flag in front of a mom at the grocery store. Her child knew the line that would get his mom every time, “Dad lets me.” When he spouted his claim, I could almost see the mother raising her white flag…surrendering to her preschooler’s whims. She had wanted him to walk alongside the grocery cart, holding on to her or the buggy. (Reasonable in my opinion, just saying.) Apparently this was too restrictive for the …