A wonderful young mom recently asked Lis for some insight into what to do because she’s hit a new developmental threshold with her daughter which is similar to the challenges we had as young parents. When the family is on the move and has to be somewhere at a certain time, you need everyone in the family to get ready to the extent of their ability. Think about the complexity of the statement: “In 30 [...]

Over the years, we have taken many courses and attended many conferences on marriage, parenting, and relationships.  We love going to these events because we always come away with some new ideas and tips, as well as reminders of things we’ve let slide or have forgotten about over the years.  However, it seems that no matter how excited or recharged we get from these events, we’ve found that after a few months go by, our [...]

Besides creating a loving, safe environment to grow up in, what is a top skill a parent can teach a child that will absolutely ensure the best possible chances for success in life? There was a study done that provided clear evidence that the home conversational environment for a child dramatically affects their academic future. And their academic success in life dramatically affects their economic success in life. The study was documented in a terrific [...]

As we begin each new year, we are excited to share our top ten parenting tips. This list highlights the best practices and addresses some trends we have observed over the past year. Some of these tips may be familiar to you, while others might be new.  Be sure to click on the highlighted link if you wish to “dig a little deeper. Regardless, we hope this list serves as thoughtful encouragement to you as [...]

Over the years, we’ve shared many stories that have encouraged us as parents—but this one has become one of our favorites during the holiday season. Each time we revisit it, we are reminded of the quiet, powerful ways children absorb what we model and how wonderfully God works through the simplest moments. A few Christmas seasons ago, a mom and dear friend of ours took her two boys, along with their aunt and cousin, on [...]