The Big Family
As the second of five children, I grew up in a big family. For the most part, I enjoyed having so many of us in the house, but there were definitely some challenges, too. Now I have five children of…
I’ll Never… (Part 2)
If you read my column back in September, you might remember that I discussed various things I said I’d never do as a parent… and have ended up doing, of course. And you might remember that one of the items…
New Starts
It’s quite possible that I say this in every January issue, but it’s true. I love new starts! There is something so refreshing and inspiring about a new year, a new beginning. In fact, I love to think of each…
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
For many people, December is the best time of the year! Kids, especially, seem to love this festive season. So I thought I’d ask kids what it is exactly that makes them look forward to this time. Here’s what they…
Trust: We’re Either Building It or Breaking It
We talk about trust a lot around our house. We believe that, pretty much all the time, we are either building or breaking trust with one another through our words and actions, whether we realize it or not. We stress…
I’ll Never…
There are probably many things that each of us thought/swore we’d never do when we became parents. It may have had to do with schedules or food or schools or housing or discipline or words or dress code or household…
Training
There are days when I don’t feel like doing all that is required of me as a parent–particularly in the area of discipline. Some days I am just really tired, and I think, “I only want to love my kids,…
The Importance of Fathers
In honor of Father’s Day this month, I want to specifically address dads. Dads, do you know how important you are? Do you know that every time you interact with your children’s mother, you are teaching your children how to…
The Mixed Emotions of Mother’s Day
Since this is the month of Mother’s Day, I wanted to write something about the greatness of all of our mothers. But as I sat down to write, I couldn’t stop thinking about the hard truth that the second Sunday…
Spring Is Coming
March has always been one of my favorite months. It’s my birthday month; we get a week off of school; the weather gets warmer; and things start to bloom! I have discovered throughout my 42 years of life that my…
