The frustration was building on her face. She would not look my way. Perhaps it was to stay focused; most likely it was to keep from letting the tears escape. My heart hurt as I watched this girl of mine struggling to keep her composure. Golf is a long game. It is one thing to… Continue reading Helping Our Kids (and Ourselves) Navigate the Green When Life Just Doesn’t Care
She bounces when she walks. It is an outward sign of her inward joy. And she has so much of it. I don’t know how it happened. How it happened that she is so joyful is a mystery because she started life with so little. Almost ten years ago now, they handed her to me. … Continue reading All I Learned About Life From My 4th Grader as She Heads Off to School
I have parented my adopted child for over nine years. I will never be the same. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. On the days I am frustrated, it is good for me to go back and remember how far we have come. I only wish I had known… Continue reading Mom’s Top Ten Survival Tips for Raising Your Child with Attachment Issues
“I wish I could be a more self-confident! So many times I’ve whispered this prayer when I’ve had to do something new. Your hands shake, mouth gets dry, stomach flutters, and those legs feel so unsteady…don’t you hate that feeling? God asks us to do crazy things that require us to step OUTSIDE of our… Continue reading A Holy Confidence and The Cry for “Girl-Power”
It may surprise you to know that this mother and pastor’s wife struggles with intolerance towards “dumb” people. I’m not referring to intellect when I use the term “dumb”…but FOOLISH people who choose over and over to do dumb things. So when I was recently asked to teach our girls how to identify a “fool”, I jumped… Continue reading Mom’s Top 10 Ways to Spot A Fool
Dear Dad, Tomorrow is Father’s Day. You have now been a father for over 50 years. I know now that this is no small task. As a mother for over 18 years, I am beginning to realize the magnitude of the commitment you have made. Not just to me and my siblings, but to the… Continue reading Dear Dad…
I seem to have knack for weird parenting encounters. Last week I listened to a mother drone on and on about why her son was a problem. This kid is a typical pre-adolescent boy; creative…lazy…and as his mother explained, a trouble-maker. He would fall into the “not EVER fun to be with” camp. Now Mom… Continue reading Brat Talk: Great Expectations and Eliminating all of Mama’s Excuses
Last week I went to an estate sale. This was a first for me. I was unprepared for the feelings I had walking through that condo touching all the personal things that this woman had collected over the years. Each item seemed to tell a story about this woman I had never met. My thoughts… Continue reading “Once Upon a Time, There was a Mom…”
I just spent the most wonderful two hours today with a friend. We laughed, cried, drank way too much coffee, prayed, and yes, opened up to each other by sharing some of our deepest struggles with our kids. As I reflect upon those special moments, I realize how much we need each other to navigate… Continue reading The Power of Friendship
CONSISTENCY. Is there any other word that strikes fear into the hearts of people more than this word? This word follows us into every area of life: diet, exercise, devotions, and yes, parenting. Last week at church, I was enjoying conversation with another mom. You know how rare that can be when kids are around! … Continue reading Brat Talk: Consistency, Consistency, Consistency…Any Questions?
