Last week, I posted a little rant about Barbie and her vlog on “Sorry”. Barbie is afraid that saying “sorry” when we haven’t done anything wrong damages our self-confidence. I begged to differ. Maybe you agreed with me. Or maybe you thought I was dismissing something that really does need some consideration. Today, I’m going to […]
Parenting
Do We Say “I’m Sorry” Too Much?
Have you heard the latest controversy over the phrase “I’m sorry”? Some folks are worried that saying “I’m sorry” when we haven’t done anything wrong means that we are taking blame for things we didn’t do and handling relationships in unhealthy ways. Is that really true? Should we teach our children to stop saying “I’m […]
Why We Aren’t “Trusting God” with Our Family Size
Has anyone ever told you “We are trusting God with the size of our family”? Did you agree? Did you feel a little shamed or confused? I love being a mother of eight kids. I always wanted a large family. My husband loves having a big brood. But we’re not “trusting God” with our family size. […]
Real Help for Angry Mom Days
The other day, an online personality I admire shared a graphic with three helps to stop the yelling. Here were the tips (in summary):Believe that you can change.Look to Jesus for strength.Ask friends for help.So true. And also … so general. This could also be labeled as a list of tips for starting a new […]
News Flash: You are Not Raising Ideal Kids
Last week we talked about yelling and what pulls us back into that habit, even when we don’t want to go there again. I promised we’d talk more about real strategies for handling the anger. Here’s the first one. Adjust your expectations.Expectations vs. RealityAnger happens when there’s a disconnect between our expectations and our reality. It […]
You Yell at Your Kids Because It Works
Do you ever have one of those days? You know the days I’m talking about. The days when you lose your temper and yell at the kids? Maybe you’re tired. Maybe you’re frustrated or overwhelmed. But no matter what the case, you always feel rotten afterwards. No more yelling, you determine. And you promise yourself not […]
The Issue is not the Issue
The Real IssueWhen Matt and I were first married, one of our ongoing fights was about counter space. Matt took a practical approach. Anything you use on a regular basis should stay on the counter top. In the bathroom, the toothpaste, deodorant, and shaving cream should be stored on the counter. In the kitchen, the cutting […]
The REAL Reason Sibling Conflict is a Problem in Your Home
Is sibling conflict a problem in your home? Maybe you think that question is just a joke. Maybe you think it’s a nice way to begin a post by making everyone feel normal and right at home because DUH! of course sibling conflict is a problem. In everyone’s home. Always. But it may not be for […]
Do You REALLY Want the Children to Stop Fighting?
We’ve all been there. You’re tired. The kids are bickering. Again. If only they would just stop fighting. If only they could just quit all the arguing. If you had a magic word, you’d say it, right?(Hey, magic words might be better than the other kids of words you’re tempted to say when the children […]
5 Surprising Books that have Impacted My Parenting
Before I even had kids, I started reading all the parenting books I could get my hands on. I wanted to become an expert so I could be the perfect mom. What surprised me as I walked along this parenting journey was that some of the books that have shaped how I view my role as […]