Of all the things we teach our kids about greeting people, like looking people in the eye when they speak, using proper voice levels, the appropriate way to shake hands, and the general “how to” when talking to teachers, family members and their friends, we must remember to teach them to smile. So often we’ve encountered customer service people, store clerks, wait people and others who do not smile when they are speaking (sometimes they [...]
The 3rd and 4th Generation This is the last in a 4 part series about creating new patterns in your family that will bless the 3rd & 4th generation. 1) Stake in the Ground 2) Guard your Tongue and Tone 3) Can Do or Must Do 4) What’s Missing “The Lord…who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of [...]
The 3rd and 4th Generation This is the third in a 4 part series about creating new patterns in your family that will bless the 3rd & 4th generation. 1) Stake in the Ground 2) Guard your Tongue and Tone 3) Can Do or Must Do 4) What’s Missing “The Lord…who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of [...]
The 3rd and 4th Generation This is the second in a 4 part series about creating new patterns in your family that will bless the 3rd & 4th generation. 1) Stake in the Ground 2) Guard your Tongue and Tone 3) Can Do or Must Do 4) What’s Missing “The Lord…who keeps loving kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity [...]
The 3rd and 4th Generation This is the first in a 4 part series about creating new patterns in your family that will bless the 3rd & 4th generation. “The Lord…who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:7 You stand at the [...]
We recently read about an idea that really resonated with us. It described how children need their parents’ blessing. A blessing from mom and dad communicates unconditional acceptance and affirmation while greatly impacting a child’s identity. Your blessing frees their hearts and minds to grow into all the good things you as a parent want for them. For Dads, its especially important to know the impact your blessing has in the lives of your children. [...]
Parenting is a year-round process. However, we found that summertime seemed to be a really productive and effective time in our parenting. Maybe it was because many of the school year obligations and hectic schedules got dialed back and the excitement of sunshine, family vacations and barbecues filled our home. Whatever the reason, we used our summertime excitement as a special time of the year to “super charge” some of our parenting initiatives while enjoying [...]
“Can I ride my bike to the park with Ryan?” “No, not today sweetie!” Starting during the toddler years and continuing all through the adolescent years, there is a parenting tendency that seeps into a child’s psyche and deeply influences their motivations, efforts, and even their very personality. As parents we brought our own upbringing into the marriage and needed to get on the same page when providing answers to our children’s request. Lis grew [...]
If we’ve learned anything in the years we’ve lead parenting classes, it is this: The parenting process is a series of relational transitions. In our Parenting Phases letter, we described four stages and the relational phases: Birth to Toddlerhood – Discipline Phase Toddlerhood to Childhood – Training Phase Childhood to Teenagers – Coaching Phase Late Teens though Adulthood – Mentoring/Friendship Phase It’s often difficult for parents to transition through each of these phases and make [...]
With Mother’s Day approaching, Shelly reflects on four areas from her motherhood journey. _____________________ I feel truly blessed and grateful for the journey I’ve been on with Rich in raising our boys, now 23 and 21 years old. We were in our mid-thirties when Trevor and Alex were born and we thought we would be great parents. We quickly discovered all the ways parenting was going to challenge us. As a mom, the experience has [...]