A few days ago, I took my children with me on a weekly grocery shopping trip. They were eager to help with pushing and loading the cart, along with checking things off the list, as we went to not one, but two stores. It wasn't always this way, though. I used to be reluctant to let them help. I frequently picked up after my kids, cleaned their messes, and generally required very little of them. It worked well, for a little while. Until I realized they were always waiting and looking to me for... everything. I couldn't really be angry with them- I had been enabling their helplessness. Thankfully, my other half has expected much more from my kids. He pointed out that I can still serve my children without waiting on them hand and foot. No ... Read More...
7 Tools To Build Strong Relationships With Your Kids
Someone wisely said once, "Children don't rebel against rules; they rebel against a lack of relationship." Strong parent/child relationships are not only critical for your kids' spiritual formation, but also their success in life. Relationship is more than just living together as a family; it's a heart response. It implies a deeper connection that communicates, "I know you and I enjoy being around you." Building relationship is foundational for passing the faith on to your kids. It's the channel through which spiritual training becomes effective. If we're going to impress God's commands on our children's hearts as we "sit in our house and walk by the way and when we lie down and when we rise up", relationship simply isn't optional. But ... Read More...
6 Reasons Your Children Don’t Obey
We all want well behaved, obedient kids, and it's so disheartening and frustrating when they aren't. We're left wringing our hands, wondering why they don't listen to us. Unfortunately, the reasons for our children's disobedience may very well be our own fault. Without realizing it, our actions or beliefs can actually be the cause of our kids' rebellion. Ouch! You don’t expect them to Your kids act how you expect them to act. If your child repeatedly doesn’t listen or doesn't do what you ask of him, chances are you’ve trained him that way. Too many of us approach discipline flippantly and treat obedience from our children as optional. Ignoring direct disobedience can make a child vulnerable to an ongoing spirit of rebellion. So set ... Read More...
4 Ways To Equip Your Kids With a Biblical Worldview
It takes intentionality and purpose these days to create Christ-centered homes that teach and train our children well. In this fallen world, the default mode is most definitely NOT biblical. A huge part of that training is equipping them with a biblical worldview. But what exactly is biblical worldview? Why is it important to teach it to our children? And how do we go about doing that? A worldview is simply our perspective, or assumption, on how the world works. Everyone has one because it's the way we see and experience the world through the lenses of our beliefs. Most of us aren’t even aware that we operate from a particular worldview, since it was formed uncritically and informally, but it influences everything- values, ... Read More...
6 Strategies To Stop Being An Angry Mom
Recently, I posted one of those "Throwback Thursday" photos on Facebook. 7 years ago, while I was in the thick of parenting a toddler and a colicky infant, we somehow found time for family portraits. I'm smiling in the picture, but beneath the surface I was a ticking time bomb. Quite often, I'd lose my temper with my son, saying unkind words and making threats I had no intention of following through on. I reacted badly to disobedience and became easily frustrated with what I perceived as slowness to complete tasks. I was an angry mom. As I look back on that photo now, I wish I hadn't been ruled by my emotions, and overlooked the special moments right in front of me. Anger towards our children can have serious consequences, not just ... Read More...
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