Of all the expressions of unwanted behavior that we encounter during the course of parenting, Whining and Temper Tantrums seem to span all ages. Toddlers and Teens resort to whining when they don’t get their way, just as 3 year olds, 4th graders and high schoolers can all throw temper tantrums when they get frustrated. Unfortunately, you may even notice this behavior in adults as well. With all the COVID restrictions and spring fever in [...]
When we took our first parenting class, our boys' behavior was not characterized by First Time Obedience (FTO). In fact it was after the very first parenting class we attended, when we picked up our boys from childcare, that they immediately proceeded to run around in every direction away from us. Our embarrassed calls and pleading for them to come to us were definitely not obeyed. As parents, during that time, we relied on a [...]
With Valentine’s Day coming up, we want to offer you some practical ideas regarding love for your family. Love can be expressed in a multitude of ways and it’s the greatest gift we can offer our spouse and children. Here are three thoughts we continue to focus on in our marriage and family. Being intentional with these things has changed who we are as a couple and who we’ve become as a family. Our Marriage and [...]
"Be patient, be a good listener, be consistent..." these are just some of the more common “Top Parenting Tips” you'll find when searching around the Internet. And we would agree with many of those tips. However, we thought it would be fun, and encouraging, to provide you with our top ten parenting tips that have most impacted us over the years. 10) Have fun and enjoy your kids – It was very easy for us [...]
What does a thriving family look like? Certainly, there are many answers to this question, but we believe at the heart of a thriving family is a healthy marriage and effective parenting. It is an encouraging home environment where children are flourishing with everyone feeling emotionally and spiritually fulfilled in each other's company. Our marriage and family life is definitely not “Perfect.” Yet, our home life is characterized by our efforts toward being the [...]
For the Howards, this is our favorite time of year. It’s a great time to reflect upon our blessings, enjoy many family traditions, and refocus our perspective on our life’s priorities. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! However, in all that wonderfulness, it can also be the most stressful time of the year… Especially this year! Many of us are missing loved ones and friends this Christmas Season as we practice [...]
During the COVID pandemic, we noticed several behavioral issues with our kids. We have two sons ages 3 and 6. The added stress of working from home while helping our kindergartner with remote learning and keeping an eye on our preschooler had us at our wits end. It got so challenging that we began to wonder if we needed to get my 6-year-old tested or take him to a child psychologist! He was having huge [...]
Young parents and even experienced parents cannot anticipate the wide array of challenges that come with raising their children. Many couples are “winging it” and can be blindsided by children’s unexpected emotions, behaviors and logistical issues that arise. In these stressful moments, any parent can feel overwhelmed and frustrated and their best intentions go out the window. This is when parents wish they had been laying a solid foundation for their marriage and children early [...]
Is your family characterized by having an attitude of gratitude? When creating family identity do you cultivate and teach gratitude? Among the many reasons we love the Holiday Season, Thanksgiving to Christmas, is that it provided us a wonderful opportunity to build our family identity through family traditions that encouraged Trevor and Alex’s hearts towards internalizing the virtue of gratitude. Family Identity Through Family Traditions Family identity is an anchor for you and your children. [...]
Zig Ziglar said children spell love T-I-M-E. We remember how hard it was when our boys were young, to carve out time for them as we juggled work, housework, working out, errands, quiet time, kids’ activities and the list goes on. We were doing a lot of things with and for our kids, but the truth is that’s not the same as giving them time. During this COVID time and as we prepare for the [...]