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 […]
SEXTING: What Parents Need to Know (and Do!)
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links to products for which we may receive a commission. What you know about sexting probably depends on your age and the age of your child. If you have middle school aged children in the public school system, you may have heard stories directly from your children or perhaps you have already dealt with […]
The Truth About Fairy Tales
Childhood is a brief and sacred time, and sometimes parents skip over how important it is for kids to be kids. We tap our foot waiting for Father Time to speed up the process, because when they’re little, they can be exhausting! We’re almost always expecting relief in the next phase of their maturity rather […]
7 Character Building Family Activities
Nine months have quickly passed and we find ourselves surrounded by the endless possibilities of summer. If you are like most parents, you stand at the end of May in disbelief another year has flown by. We can wish for time to slow down but in reality the time with our children is fleeting. We have […]
The One Reason Kids Need Parental Restrictions on Phones
A recent study by Pew Research Group showed that only 16% of parents use parental controls to restrict their child’s cell or smart phone. To restate this in a more obvious and ominous way: 84% of parents DO NOT USE parental controls to restrict phone usage. As a parent in the 16% I assume this […]
Parents Need Second Chances
I recently gave my Canon point and shoot camera to one of my children to use for fun. I loved the idea of supporting her interest in photography. I anticipated seeing the world through her eyes as I uploaded the pictures to my computer. What would be the primary focus of the pictures? People, nature, […]
Maintaining Boundaries: A Simple Way to Avoid Resenting Your Children.
It was 7:54am. I just returned home from my second trip to the schools to hear my middle school daughter lamenting about having to walk out into the morning mist and humidity with her freshly straightened hair to catch the school bus at 8:02. This girl can go from smooth and sleek to afro in 3.6 […]
5 Reasons To Stop Wishing Yourself Rich
It’s so easy to conclude all our problems would be made easier with more money. It’s such a lie. The lies I tell myself are: more money would mean my family would be able to travel when the kids are out of school (the ‘peak times’ we currently have to avoid). More money means my […]
Your Brain on Books: 10 Incredible Benefits to Reading
A brain on books is proven to be better than a brain without books. Statistics show that a quarter of Americans have not read a single book in the past 12 months. Come on now, we need to be reading a lot more! Here are 10 game-changing and incredible reasons you should be reading more […]
The Key Difference Between SELF and SELFIE
We have a rule in our home of “No Selfies.” None taken, none texted, and none posted on social media. None. And we don’t just state this as a rule, we ensure it is complied with by restricting all pictures from being sent and received on our kid’s phones. If selfies are found, the camera […]
How 20 Minutes a Day Can Change Your Child
I want the best for my kids. You do too, I’m sure. What if I told you that one of the best things you can do for your child only took 20 minutes. That a solid 20 minutes has the potential to change your child’s life. Dare I say it, maybe even your relationship? Would you […]
The Brave Work of Protecting Free Play and Family Time In Our Over-Scheduled Culture
I struggle with wanting my kids to be the best. I want them to be outstanding students, accomplished in their strengths and be good citizens. This is not about them or even about competition – it is about me. With their achievements comes praise for me, for I must be smart… and accomplished… and a […]