The Dance: Separation Anxiety in Parents
While providing tips and strategies for parents in how to help children cope with separation anxiety, I was struck with many parents’ reactions to the subject. Children are not the only ones who suffer angst when being separated from loved ones. Just when a parent gets comfortable with the changes in the child’s life, another…
Read MoreI'm a Capable Tween, Right? Middle School Angst
Middle school tweens, they are not youngsters anymore but not yet teenagers. Behaviors often vacillate between the two! Moving to middle school from the security of elementary school can be exciting or daunting. The resulting anxiety can be minimal or overwhelming. Although separation anxiety usually occurs in younger children, the angst associated with being apart from…
Read More"I Want My Mommy!" Separation Anxiety in Young Children
“I want my mommy!” Being separated from what is known and comfortable can be difficult. Some children say goodbye and hop right into the classroom without a backward glance. Others have a hard time leaving the protective arms of the parent. Sometimes it is the parent who has a hard time letting go. The behavior…
Read MoreBack to School for Little Ones
It’s time to get our little ones ready for school! Lori Wildenberg, my ministry partner and co-author, and I have a lot of experience sending our preschool through college-age children out the door for the first day. Combining our knowledge with that of the 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting Team, you and your kids will be…
Read More7 Reasons to Ask Your Child Good Questions
How was school? Good. What did you do? Play. Did your teacher read a story? Yes. Tired of one word answers from your preschooler? Want to learn more about your child’s school day? First things first, ask better questions. Open-ended questioning is a helpful parenting skill for a variety of reasons. 7 Reasons to Ask…
Read MoreAn Awesome Gift for Your Kids: A Strong Marriage
I was giddy. The hotel was beautiful, the restaurant opulent. This was special, dinner and an overnight date, just the two of us. Scott and I had just left our bags in the room and were waiting at the elevator to go for dinner when we received the call. “I’m so sorry but your son is…
Read MoreMessy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home
Life is messy. Jesus never promised an easy journey. In fact, He warned us of just the opposite, there will be trouble, difficulties, and sadness. (John 16:33) This includes challenges within families. Raising a prodigal child is usually extreme heartache for a parent. Lori Wildenberg, my ministry partner at 1C13P and co-author, has written her…
Read MoreTop 10 Tips to Inspire Learning this Summer
Summer.. fun, sun, and time to play! But don’t let the learning slide. Here are ten tips to inspire your children to keep the learning alive over the summer months. READ Read as much as you can as often as you can to your children. Spend time at the library. Your children can have their…
Read MoreParenting with Faith, Hope, and Love
Invite a group of friends or neighbors to join in a parenting study. The books and study guides will provide moms and dads with a practical and applicable guide to raise kids with faith, hope, and love. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 Do…
Read MoreFaith First? To whom will you go?
What does it mean to put “faith first”? It’s hard to keep a heavenly perspective in all aspects of life. The schedule gets busy. Horrific tragedies happen throughout the world. People we love get sick and die. Sometimes the storms of life are so heavy it’s overwhelming. It’s hard not to think the light at…
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