parenting advice Archives - Page 8 of 9

The window of a mother’s influence

As the 16th President of the United States, he brought a broken nation together and freed a persecuted people, yet he said that, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” ~ President Abraham Lincoln. A mother has the potential to influence her child to become all God planned, despite the obstacles of life, to nurture greatness from a once-swaddled helplessness depending on her for life itself. The window of opportunity was wide open for so long. From her bassinet, her eyes locked on mine as if she studied my every word and expression. …

Red Flag

When we see a red flag we know to – BEWARE. We are alerted to a hidden danger near-by. Recently I wanted to wave a red flag in front of a mom at the grocery store. Her child knew the line that would get his mom every time, “Dad lets me.” When he spouted his claim, I could almost see the mother raising her white flag…surrendering to her preschooler’s whims. She had wanted him to walk alongside the grocery cart, holding on to her or the buggy. (Reasonable in my opinion, just saying.) Apparently this was too restrictive for the …

Special Siblings

Subscribe today and receive your FREE copy of… FACING OUR FEARS – 31 STORIES FROM M.O.M. “He gets mad at the smallest things. I’m embarrassed to be seen with him. I wish I had a normal brother like everyone else. I feel ignored and resent how much time he demands from my parents. As much as I can’t stand to be around my brother, I worry about if he is OK without me. It hurts when people are rude to him and I feel guilty because I am the rudest to him of all.” “Who will take care of …

To Count or Not to Count

It was hard not to notice her struggle, since she and her husband sat across from us while we all waited to board our flight. Her little princess was Pottery Barn catalog pretty, but she had an attitude that shouted “Diva!” With a patient voice and bottomless bag of tricks, the mom was trying to work her magic (emphasis on “work”) before we ever approached the plane. Nothing worked. Just then, she found hope in the form of another “traveling mommy.” Different kinds of moms Traveling mommy #2 took a different approach. She was streamlined. She was in charge. She …

Flying with Mom – Airline Travel with Kids

It’s dark and quiet as hundreds around me sleep, now that the small passenger in row 35 has given in. His mother looks relieved, but cautious, slumped under a blanket beside him. Airline travel with small children is not easy, but it can be done well. Before the flight attendant closed the overhead bins, the elderly lady in row 35 found a way to move far from the little wiggling person making demands before we even pulled away from the gate. Early indications showed it would be a long overnight flight with this half sized, yet powerful, passenger. His mom, …

Too Tired to Be Mom

Do you ever feel like you’re just too tired to be Mom? Like you know you should say “No” but it’s just easier to say “Yes”? Like you really wish they could fix their own breakfast so you could sleep in? Like you’re too tired to do the mountain of laundry and so you sniff to find the freshest smelling clothes in the pile and then commence to throwing them over your children’s head as you rush out the door to drop them off at school? Or like you could care less that you can’t figure out what type …

Pursuit for the Perfect Pediatrician

I still remember my firstborn’s baby room: light blue paint with Peter Rabbit border, rocking chair in the corner, brand-new crib with matching accessories. My time was spent making sure everything was just right. I had a great time planning everything for my babies first year. In all this fun planning, though, I didn’t save a single thought about his pediatrician. I didn’t realize at the time how important and stress relieving it is to have a great doctor on hand. I wish then what I know now. On your pursuit for a pediatrician, what should you look for? A doctor …

Summer Reader Guarantee

It doesn’t matter the age of your child; every mom hopes her child will spend more of the summer reading than channel surfing. On the same day school ended in our city, an email arrived from the Superintendent of schools. “Please remember that reading is a great way to keep engaged and learning over the summer. I encourage you to sign up for a Summer Reading Program at one of our local branch libraries – it’s free and for all ages. I invite our students to read consistently each day, and for our parents of younger children to make sure …

Plant a mentee, watch her grow

As the weather warms and growing seasons take root, are you planting anything? If you want plump, juicy tomatoes, now is the time to plant. If you want bunches of cilantro for guacamole, now is the time to sprinkle seeds. If you want to have a mom with her ear turned to the Lord, now is the time to plant a mentee and watch her grow. While soil is soft and sunshine frequent, lovers of all things veggie carefully dig and plant and water. Summer is the perfect time to nurture a mentoring relationship that will take root, sprout new …

10 Ways to Win the Whining War

It has a way of grating on your nerves. Whining can drive a momma up the proverbial wall. How do you stop a two year old from whining when it’s time for bed, when you take her favorite toy away or when she doesn’t get her way? What do you do when your 5 year old whines about what you feed him for lunch, when you make him play outside or when you make him take a nap? Somehow, whining is a universal language for children between 1 and 18… and if it’s not dealt with before they become adults, …

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