Many years ago my son and his father got involved in an epic yelling match. No one can remember what it was about. But it ended with my son storming out the back door. We realized a few minutes later… that he wasn’t in the backyard, but instead had left. After a little while we got nervous and my husband took off… Read More »I will never stop loving you
Reading through Chapter 30 of Sirach during this first week after my son returned home from college, I was drawn to the practical truth proclaimed thousands of years ago. “Whoever loves a son will chastise him often, that he may be a joy when he grows up” Sirach 30:1. Chastise is a strong word. It means to rebuke or reprimand. Being able… Read More »A Biblical Approach to Parenting: Part 1
Like so much of parenting, the answer lies in moderation. It is okay to let your kids be bored – but if you want to help them to continue to grow in divergent thinking, creativity, and cognitive functioning, you can’t take a completely hands-off approach. Some periods of boredom are okay, but generally, boredom is not a good thing for their cognition. … Read More »Is it okay to let my kids be bored?
Traveling with children can be overwhelming to think about, but it can also be absolutely delightful! Traveling transforms a family – the kids may fight until we leave and start bickering again as soon as we pull into the drive, but there is nothing like an adventure! And the more we travel, the more they love to do it. My first suggestion-… Read More »Traveling with Kids – Quick Tips for Success
For years I ignored the 10th Commandment. “Keep the Sabbath Holy”. That was a commandment for other people who had the luxury of just taking a day off. Or maybe it was for people who weren’t as busy as I was with little kids and a list of volunteer duties. Sunday was my day to catch up. I am slowly discovering that… Read More »How to Keep the Sabbath Holy -for Moms
When she walked in the restaurant she looked at my daughters and rolled her eyes “how did you get them to wear a dress?”. I sighed back at her. There had been some discussions and eye rolling. Getting kids of any age to dress for the occasion is not simple and for some parents it is a bitter battle. Here are four… Read More »How to get your child to dress appropriately
It has to be one of the questions we ask ourselves repeatedly. Managing big emotions can be hard for little ones and it doesn’t get easy on its own. As puberty creeps earlier and earlier in our culture, our brain development isn’t keeping up. Our childhood brains are no match for the emotions of puberty. Because children lack the ability to self-regulate… Read More »How do I Help My Child Deal with Big Emotions
“He loves you for who you are. He just wants to see you try.” I have said some variations of those words so often in the 20 years of parenting. There is so much meaning in that message. Hearing it from the pulpit from the mouth of the priest this morning gave me a renewed appreciation of its importance. As adults, we… Read More »Teaching them to try
As a big proponent of attachment parenting, I had a hard time with the spiritual concept of detachment. Forming and maintaining healthy attachment to and with our children is a primary task of parenthood. It begins as soon as they are born with skin-to-skin contact. The act of breastfeeding a child releases oxytocin which is our body’s primary bonding chemical. We establish… Read More »Healthy Detachment in Parenting
From the moment they can crawl, they start to explore. We remain their “safe base” in psychology speak. We are the place they return, the place they look back to for reinforcement and reassurance. At the end of the slide, under of the monkey bars, on the sideline, from the audience, we encourage and cheer as they take big and little steps,… Read More »How to Encourage Independence – and why you should.