FamilyFire

Be still and know I am God.  Psalm 46:10 Sometimes I wonder what we are missing.  In the midst of the hurried world, what is lost in the rush?  As we run from place to place, from task to task, from event to event, what… (more)

Driving through the neighborhood, I am surprised again to find that yards are empty and streets are quiet.  As I head out to run errands, I am reminded that children do not play outside as they did years ago.  They do not ride bikes off… (more)

As parents, we want our children to do well. When they struggle, we long to step in and help our children along. From the time our babies are placed in our arms, we want to be supportive and help them through the challenges Homework can… (more)

It is a battle, to be sure.  The colors of candy and the sweetness of snacks call to our kids day and night.  Taste buds engaged, they beg for these items.  As parents, we draw a line and stand as firm as we can against… (more)

As I drew the broom across our wood floors, the evidence of a life lived with children piled up.  Yes, there was dust.  But I also saw small sticks, Easter grass, tabs to yogurt tubes, small clumps of mud from shoes, indoor soccer field filings… (more)

As a therapist who works with many teenagers and their families, there’s one thing I can say about teenagers; it’s that you know how to push your parents’ buttons.  Instinctively, it seems, you come with an arsenal of tools to get what you want, avoid… (more)

We could have said no.  It was, after all, way too much driving.  But after days of spring break spent relaxing at home, we felt it was time to get out.  Limited time, a balanced budget and dog-sitting concerns quickly eliminated beach escapes, hotel stays… (more)

Proverbs 13:10 says,“Where there is strife, there is pride.  But wisdom is found in those who take advice.” When my children were born, I wanted to do it right.  I wanted to work hard and be a good momma and love them fiercely and raise… (more)

Our culture is obsessed with physical beauty.  Images bombard us, telling us how we should dress, wear our hair, apply make-up, and what products we should buy to acheive the perfect weight or turn back the clock of aging.  But what does God think about… (more)

My daughter lives away at college, and every week we talk on the phone to catch up on the week’s events. I love hearing about her classes and her relationships. Each week the conversation begins the same way: “Happy Thursday!” It is a happy Thursday… (more)

In current times, more and more people are pooling their resources together and living with extended family members.  Some of the reasons include financial assistance, childcare, and providing care for elderly or sickly family members.  Whatever the reason, living with one’s family can be a… (more)

I remember it well. Carrying my newborn, holding hands with my toddler, we arrived at the family Christmas party just a few minutes late.  I counted that as success, given the fact that we were all dressed and no one was crying, not even my… (more)

Our life is full and busy.  Sometimes, it feels as though the things that keep us running are non-negotiable.  It feels like being at practices, games, and rehearsals are not choices and are not flexible and even if we are tired, we still must persist.… (more)

Remember the Brady Bunch?  Carol had three girls and Mike, three boys.  On a hunch they married to form one big happy family.  America faithfully watched as the family faced one silly crisis after another, but within 30 minutes all was well again. The fantasy… (more)

The house was quiet, the kids all at school.  Sitting at the table, head in hands, I was frozen in worry for my son.  Caught in the midst of some struggle, he felt hard to reach, distant.  We always worked hard to maintain good communication… (more)

As parents, we see the big picture.  We understand the whys behind the lessons we seek to teach.  We know that those sight words in 1st grade lead to fluent reading in 2nd grade.  We see that the 5th grade unit on government and laws… (more)

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, we gaze at magazine racks covered with pictures of peaceful presentations: turkeys roasted to perfection, potatoes baked and boiled and whipped and flavored, pies offered in endless variety, and all of it set upon beautiful tables adorned with costly linens… (more)

I’ve heard parents say that it is their job to embarrass their kids. Sometimes that phrase is meant to say that parents keep their kids honest and real. It’s hard to be hip when Mom has diaper stories. But there’s danger in using that phrase… (more)

I want to protect my kids.  I want to guard their hearts and shield their minds and keep their bodies safe.  From the time they were in my arms, I could discern their cries and respond accordingly.  I could hear the hurt or hunger or… (more)

The trees had dropped half their leaves and the sun fell on new places in the street.  In the breeze, green, yellow, red and orange leaves tumbled like snowflakes on my son and me.  His hand found a place in mine while we walked that… (more)

Do you have a difficult child? What advice have you been given about how to teach them and handle discipline? Was it helpful? The trouble with advice is that even when the intended message gets through, most suggestions are both right and wrong. For instance,… (more)

I would not generally read my child’s diary or emails. I have never activated the tracker on their cell phones to spy on them. My children’s rooms are their own domain to arrange as they choose (but are still responsible to keep them tidy). We… (more)

There was a chill in the air as I drove my oldest to school today.  I grabbed a sweatshirt and mumbled a complaint about the breeze that cooled us down.  Taking a cue from his momma, my son crossed his arms, pulled up his hood… (more)

“Never delegate to someone else the job that belongs to you.” I once heard these wise words at a conference, and they have impacted me ever since.  Initially, this applied to my teaching career.  But it has also impacted my work as a parent. During… (more)

It doesn’t happen nearly enough. With the level of our kids’ involvement controlling much our time, it can be difficult to find a day to spend relaxing at home.  There are soccer games, travel teams, gymnastic meets, piano recitals, music lessons and play-dates structuring our… (more)