I don't know exactly when it happened. It was subtle and gradual, but my relationship with my preteen son has shifted ever so slightly. At almost 10 he has started to pull away from me a little, and gravitate towards my husband more. I know it won't be long before that soft, smooth face will be sprouting fuzz and the voice that still calls me "Mommy" will get crack and deeper. It's only a matter of time before I get demoted to just mom. Yet while our relationship is evolving and I witness even more changes in our son, I can still capitalize on the time we have left together under one roof, as well as on my influence over him. Here 5 ways you can connect with your maturing preteen boy and navigate that changing relationship, ... Read More...
What Reading Methods Have To Do With Biblical Literacy
When my son was almost eight, we posed a challenge to him of reading through the entire Bible one chapter at a time. He cruised through the first several books of the Old Testament quickly (even Leviticus!) in his Adventure Bible. Now at 9 1/2, he reads the NLT version each morning on his iPad. This is the same kid they told me might need to be tested for a learning disability at 5. Words cannot express how amazing it is to hear the text of God's Word rolling right off of my son's lips. To say I am blessed is an understatement! So, did he ever truly have a learning disability that he somehow overcame? I don't think so. In this instance, I believe environment and method of learning were total game changers. I used to make fun of ... Read More...
When You Want To Quit Homeschooling Do These 4 Things Instead
I think most of us have in mind a homeschool journey that is full of serene, orderly days when we first start out. We plan for smooth schedules and obedient, enthusiastic children. But, as we try to teach them, we keep running up against something. You ask your daughter to read a paragraph and she has a meltdown. Your son gives you an attitude when you explain another way to work out a math problem. Your kids start fighting over who's going to do which part of the science experiment. Or maybe you have lofty goals of your children becoming world changers, but you seem to be stuck in a never ending loop of correcting the same behaviors. If homeschooling isn't going to "fix them", then why bother? Too many moms give up on ... Read More...
Why It’s Not Your Job To Make Your Kids Happy
The other night, my family and I went out for dinner. In addition to the big screen televisions placed in various positions, my kids were distracted by a boy around 5 or 6 at the next table over who played games on his tablet the whole time. Last Sunday at church, there was an antsy toddler in the row across from ours. My husband went to find him a coloring book and crayons to keep occupied, and by the time he came back the little boy's parents had given him one of their iPhones. Technology is a big part of this next generation of kids we're raising. My children can't remember a time when there weren't smart phones or social media. And it can be a wonderful tool. Our nine-year-old has an iPad that he uses to create drawings, ... Read More...
How To Fit More Joy Into Your Motherhood
Out of all the adjectives my children could pick to describe me several years ago, I don't think "fun" would have been high on that list. "Stop running around and get ready for bed!" "Be careful. You're going to make a mess." "It's not time to fool around and play now. It's time to be calm." I've said all of these phrases at one time or another to my kids. Out of context, they are understandably normal things a mother would say to her children to redirect them to pay attention or begin a task they've been asked to do. However, in my haste to maintain order and discipline, I frequently ended up putting the kibosh on their joy. I believed that efficiency was the highest priority in my homemaking, so I became a multitasking ... Read More...
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