It’s Good to Require Obedience
It’s challenging to require obedience from our children. Just like us, our kids are sinful and naturally resistant to any will other than their own. Additionally, many of us struggle to exercise good and healthy authority because we know we aren’t perfect parents. Those internal…
Blessed Boundaries
I’m currently reading through the Pentateuch again. If you’ve read the first five books of the Bible, you’ve probably noticed that God gives his people a lot of laws and demands their obedience. As I read through this time, however, I’ve noticed how often God says He wants to bless His people. Even…
Little, Developing, Overstimulated Brains
We often talk about how what we consume, and what our kids consume, impacts the conditions of our hearts. And it does. But did you know that what we watch also impacts our brains? Especially when it comes to children. While we might bristle against the idea of boundaries, adults and children both…
Fierce Trust Leads to Fierce Love
“You can take care of him because I’m taking care of you.” This statement has recently become a common reminder in our home. My son is constantly trying to hoard his stuff away or show he is the best or the fastest. He wants to be in control— he wants to prove he’s worthy— and he doesn’t want his…
4 Helpful Tips in Teaching Young Children to Communicate
When my youngest was two, he annoyed his older brother continually by taking his toy and running away. My oldest would chase him, screaming and angry, trying to get back what belonged to him. Can anyone relate? My younger son simply wanted to play with his big brother, but he didn’t know how to ask…
Teens, Politics, and a Book on Kindness
“Where did you hear that word?!” We realize pretty quickly that children are parrots, don’t we? As a result, most of us attempt to temper what we say and how we say it. My wife and I decided early on to crack down on how we spoke about others— especially in front of the kids. If you had…
3 Thoughts on Parenting in the Smartphone Age
This conversation will benefit all of us, in all seasons of life* but especially parents with teenagers. Navigating your teenager’s relationship (or potential relationship) with a smartphone is no joke— here are some guiding thoughts that have shaped the way we view and use tech in our home. *Many…
4 Steps to Turn Your Smart Phone into a Dumb Phone
Spoiler alert: these tips are just as helpful for parents as they are for kids! This post is all about practical tips and tricks that will make your smart phone less addictive. Check out our previous post for more on our philosophy and why this approach might be right for family. Set Your Phone to…
Your Family Needs a Tech Policy
Your Family Needs a Tech Policy Sarah walked into my 8th grade Language Arts class a little sheepish one morning— and that was unusual. I started teaching and realized Sarah didn’t have her phone out— also unusual. While students worked on the assignment, I asked her what was going on and a nearby…