Blindfolded Parenting and the Rise of Snapchat
A recent survey of American parents revealed that less than half of parents (40%) know the content their children are seeing through social media accounts. This indicates 60% of parents are metaphorically BLINDFOLDED to what content is being poured into their child. Not surprising considering Snapchat, the master Houdini of all social media apps, has taken […]
Killing the Silence: 3 Ways You Can Prioritize Face-to-Face Communication in Your Home
If you go to a Middle School party, you’ll be sure to find huddled up pre-teens, still small in their stature yet confidently boasting large smart phones. If a moment gets awkward or when 2 minutes have past (whichever comes first) they’ll reach for this technological security blanket. They’ll be messaging their friends who stand […]
How to Make ONE WORD Change Your Family’s Life
My husband and I recently had a discussion with our adult child about the difference between DREAMS and GOALS. She boasts of her dreams for a great life. A life of success, joy, and peace. A life that eludes her, as it presently appears her life is directed by the shake of a Magic 8 […]
Big Dreams: The One Thing Children Desperately Need From You
Children love to dream. Whether they dream about life, the future, or fantastic stories from their imagination, they know how to dream big. From the moment they begin speaking and through their adolescence they blissfully proclaim their desire to be a princess, a doctor, the President, or the next big NBA basketball star. As parents, […]
Before You Gift it – RESTRICT IT
What’s under your Christmas tree? Did you buy your children a device this year for Christmas? A screen of some sort? Something that connects to the internet, perhaps? A smart phone, iPad, or Xbox? The average age for ownership of these beloved gadgets are younger every year. NINE year old children now proudly posses smart […]
How to be BRAVE on Black Friday
Gratefulness is the hot button word of the day. If you aren’t reading something encouraging you to give thanks for all you have then you’re reading the Black Friday ads looking for deals. Isn’t it interesting how we give thanks for what we have one day and then the next buy a bunch more stuff […]
Digital Amnesia and Why You Won’t Remember These Moments
Have you been at an event and witnessed someone experiencing life and capturing the moment solely through their phone? The evolution from film to digital has changed our lifestyle and most importantly our memories. We photographically document our lives extensively and excessively. From “why is my toddler crying” (*snap*) to “this awesome meal we’re about […]
Forget About the Character of Our Candidates and Focus on the Character of Our Children
My 15 year old daughter often melts in frustration under the weight of our family rules. “MOM! I am the only Freshman in High School without any social media!” I listen then give her the same calm and confident reply every time: “That may or may not be true, however, your character will make you […]
CHARACTER Driven Read Aloud BOOK LIST
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links to products for which we may receive a commission. There are 168 hours in a week. On average this is how our children spend these hours: 6.5 hr school x 5 days = 32.5 hours 4-9 hr media consumption x 7 days = 45.5 hours (avg) 2-3 hours extracurricular […]
5 Crucial Answers You Need Before Sleepovers
The silent buzzing of my phone against my nightstand assaulted my consciousness. Terribly confused why my phone would be ringing at 4:30am, I fumbled to answer the persistent caller. The voice on the other end was a parent friend, her voice was somber and serious. “There’s been an incident at the birthday party involving your […]
5 Media Standards For Babies & Toddlers
A recent study found that 97% of US children have used a mobile device, most of which began before the age of 1 year old. By 2 years old children are using a device daily; by age 3 they are using devices completely on their own, with one-third of these 3 year olds multitasking with […]
Choice Hands: Be The Change or Be The Same
“This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn […]
The Instagram Games Girls Play (And Why My Answer is No)
For the thousandth time, my daughter breached the topic of social media with me. This time, however, I saw it coming. I knew she had a big question on her mind to ask me. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be following me around as I cleaned. As she worked up the courage to ask, I decided I […]
Breaking the Habit of Multitasking
You are Chief Coordinator of your household. You hold a job, cook meals, organize sports and extra-curricular activities, help with homework, schedule check-ups, drive the taxi, mow the grass, do the laundry and read stories at night. All of this while trying to keep an active social life and find time to be active in […]
4 Lies Your Teens Want You to Believe About Social Media
*updated for 2019 Honesty and Social Media….do these two coexist? By the most recent statistics, 76% of teens in the US are using social media. Similarly, 77% of adults are using social media. If we are equal consumers, is it safe to assume we all use it the same? No way. We may represent an […]
The New Silent Killer of Relationships: Multitasking
Last night I burned dinner while I was texting. I was embarrassed admitting to my family why dinner was less than my best. Have you ever done this? A “quick” look at Facebook and your water has boiled over? An email about a great sale happening sucks you in and you’ve forgotten what you were doing. Multitasking […]
Don’t Believe the Lie: Monitoring is Not Spying
I often hear parents and news articles refer to monitoring their child’s phone as “spying.” Most often this is referred to in a negative light, “I don’t feel right spying on my kids to see what they’re doing on-line.” While the definition of the word spying can mean (1)to observe secretively, which certainly can feel […]
Dear Homeschool Mom: 7 Truths You Need Right Now and Every Day.
Dear Homeschool Mom, You are a BRAVE PARENT. You might not believe me but I think you are amazing. Beautiful. Breathtaking. You inspire and encourage me, even when you’re struggling to form sentences after an exhausting day. I think you have the most beautiful heart and are so brave. You said, “yes” even when others (possibly even […]
#Flawless: How a Hashtag is Destroying Our Daughters
The evening sun was still blazing hot as my daughter and I found the tiniest patch of shade to settle our chairs in. We had 1.5 hours ahead of us while we watched my youngest son’s football practice. Without consideration of what my daughter planned to do, I selfishly and quickly settled into the book […]
Losing Your Mind Over Media? 3 Quick Fixes You Can Start Today
All of the dishes rest clean and dry in the dishwasher while their dirty counterparts pile higher and higher in the sink above. The chore of putting away those clean dishes lies with the child, who, at the present time could be found hiding behind the sofa. As I softly coax him out from behind the […]
