Linger Longer
Time . . . a precious resource that we yearn for more of. If time went fast before you became a parent, now it truly vanishes before your eyes. Babies turn to toddlers and suddenly your child is driving off to college, and your begging God for just a little more time. There is never enough time in the day to accomplish our aspirations. We whirl from one task to another, resenting distractions that take too long and steal our time. It’s our most precious commodity, and our children...
Read MoreFrom Mama to Mom: Journey of a Boymom
When our oldest son turned five, my husband was depressed at the thought of our little boy growing so big. He resisted that birthday more than any other we’ve experienced. At the time, it didn’t seem to me like that big of a deal. We still had lots of babies underfoot and I felt like five was still so young. But I think my husband saw down a road I was too distracted or too afraid to look. He saw our babies growing up and growing independent and it broke his heart...
Read MoreSurviving Adolescence
Adolescence: that lovely time of your life when you are the only person you know who isn’t dumb. It’s a lonely place, where very few understand or appreciate your genius. We all remember it. Most of us have a few embarrassing stories that still linger in the recesses of our mind. It’s marked by awkwardness, lanky limbs, questionable hygiene, and strong scents. We can see the body changing from child to adult, slowly but steadily. Some kids are self-conscious...
Read MoreJournals
One thing that has worked well for me to keep communication lines open with my younger kids is give them all a journal for them to keep by their beds. Through this approach, they can write about the things that they are having a hard time saying. Sometimes when they are angry that is a good place for them to blow off steam before we chat about it. Hypothetically speaking, a child might draw a picture of me with a beard or write about how I sent the wrong kid to time out because it was...
Read MoreBlessings from Raindrops
This will not go down as my favorite school year, however, I will admit I might have learned the most. I like it best when everything is going according to the plans that I have for my life. But that’s not always my reality. There is a quote that says: “God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” I have found that to be true this year as God shouted to me in my pain. As I fell before God in despair, He lifted my head...
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