Today, we have a treat for you! A giveaway of GARY CHAPMAN’s and ARLENE PELLICANE’s new book, GROWING UP SOCIAL! Arlene is a guest who has shared here at The M.O.M. Initiative several times and I love her heart to minister to women! Today’s post is an adaptation from Growing Up Social and Arlene has graciously offered to give away a copy! SOOOOO… be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win. Winner will be announced in Sunday’s post. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – …
5 Ways to Teach Your Children to Behave Themselves in Public
It’s almost inevitable. Kids behaving badly in public and moms wanting to hide under a rock. It happens to the best of moms! So what’s a mom to do when her child begins to behave badly in public? How can a mom teach her children to behave themselves? 1. Begin setting very clear expectations at a young age. Even when your children are only about two, you can convey your expectations to them and when you have defined the ‘code of conduct’ for your household, your children will begin internalizing those expectations and make them their own. Remember, clear expectations …
The Dark Place of Addiction ~ for Moms Whose Children Struggle with Addiction
The M.O.M. Initiative is going where some moms live so that we can offer hope and encouragement to those who are there now… for those who have children who are struggling with the dark place of addiction. Before you begin to read I want you to know that I believe there is always hope in every situation. I only write from what I have seen and experienced through my children and others who are on this journey. As addicts progress on the path of addiction, the partial light that once illuminated from the shadows gradually fades away. The darkness begins …
How to Have Fun When They Don’t Feel Like It
I have a confession. Deep down I have a lazy side. I’d prefer to do only what I “feel like” doing, but still have success. You know I’d prefer to not work out or watch what I eat and lose weight. Or have a book deal fall into my lap and a book pour out of me that requires no editing. And the same is true of mothering. I want it to be easy. My kids to obey me, respect me, and on the rare occasion they disagree with me they respectfully state their opinion and don’t complain when I …
A Story Like Yours… or Maybe Not ~ But a God Who Makes Beauty Out of Ashes…OH…and a Conference You Just Can’t Miss!
Hey you. Yeah. You! The one who may have had a rough day, a bad past, or are feeling a little lost in this great big wide world. I want to share a bit of my heart with you about what God has brought me from and what God has brought me to. It’s not a rags to riches story…but is is beauty from ashes story. It’s a story about a girl…a girl whose story might be like yours…or maybe not. But it’s about a God who is really good at making beauty out of ashes. It’s a story about …
Raising Boys as Knights in Training
You know why public schools were created? So that every citizen could read their bible, so that no one would ever be able to take away an individual’s salvation by omission of knowledge. Being able to read the bible gave every citizen control over the destiny of their soul. America was built on the foundational principles of Judeo-Christian faith and values. No other country had ever been built on the foundation America created. Communities, schools, our government instilled those principles, raising boys and girls to be men and women of faith. Boys to men weren’t ridiculed, belittled, diminished because it …
How to Cast Visions with and for Your Kids
It hit me when she turned nine. I am halfway done with her…. I don’t mean I won’t be part of her life any more, but I won’t be the main influence. She will be out on her own, making her own decisions…AND it freaked me out. I haven’t done enough, taught her enough, loved her enough… Now let’s be real. Some of you moms are great at seeing your kids’ future selves. Somehow you synthesize what you know about them and their personality and you have a vision of who they will be. I don’t. My kids are mysteries …
How to Help Your Children Make Wise Choices
Today, we’re honored to have a precious sister who has become dear to me very quickly. Her heart for God, to minister to women, and to be bold for Christ has been obvious from the moment I met her and I’m so glad she is sharing these words of wisdom about wisdom with us today! Welcome Dawn Wilson, sweet moms! Ask parents, “Do you want a wise child?” and they’ll likely all say, “Yes!” But how do we cultivate that wisdom? It doesn’t just happen. When my two sons were in high school, people often asked me, “How did …
5 Ways to Assure that Your Kids Will Rebel
It’s a lie. Not every child rebels when they hit that magical age of 13. But some do. In fact, statistics tell us that the majority of kids rebel in one way or another. There are so many physical, emotional, hormonal and social changes that take place during those very crucial years that there are bound to be times when they balk at the boundaries their parents place on them. But resistance doesn’t have to become rebellion. Parents have the opportunities to sow seeds in their children’s heart, and to cultivate an environment that fosters faith, integrity, responsibility, morals and wisdom, …
5 Ways to Cultivate Confidence in Your Child’s Heart
Catherine of Sienna once said, “Be all God created you to be and you will set the world on fire.” We all want our kids to be who God created them to be. We all want them to be men and women of God who set the world on fire. But their level of confidence is a huge factor as to whether or not our kids will step into their God-given identities and their God-given destinies. Confidence. It’s the stuff that risk takers are made of. And risk takers are the stuff world changers are made of. But confidence …