The Dance: Separation Anxiety in Parents

A person in a dark outfit leans back against the kitchen counter, silhouetted against a window. The dimly lit scene, with scattered kitchen items, evokes a contemplative mood tinged with separation anxiety.

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…

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I'm a Capable Tween, Right? Middle School Angst

Tween with long brown hair gazes thoughtfully to the side, her face partially hidden by a cozy white sweater. A calm and contemplative expression graces her face while soft natural lighting enhances her reflective demeanor.

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…

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"I Want My Mommy!" Separation Anxiety in Young Children

A woman with dark hair holds a young child with light brown hair close, soothing them through separation anxiety. The child wears a plaid shirt and rests their head on her chest. The background is softly blurred, suggesting an outdoor setting with warm, natural light.

“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…

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Back to School for Little Ones

A yellow school bus is captured speeding along a road, a slight blur indicating swift motion. This traditional school vehicle features its iconic stop sign on the side. In the backdrop, trees and the familiar road complete this quintessential school-day scene.

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…

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7 Reasons to Ask Your Child Good Questions

A young child with curly hair, wearing a gray shirt and gold hoop earrings, looks directly at the camera with eyes full of questions. The background is softly blurred, highlighting the child's expressive eyes and slight smile.

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…

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An Awesome Gift for Your Kids: A Strong Marriage

Two gold rings rest on the open pages of a Bible, gracefully symbolizing the sacred bond of marriage. One ring is plain, while the other sparkles with small diamonds, underscoring the deep connection between love and faith.

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…

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Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home

The image showcases the cover of "Messy Journey: How Grace & Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home" by Lori Wildenberg. Earthy tones complement an open road stretching to the horizon, symbolizing the prodigal's journey back home with grace and truth.

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…

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Top 10 Tips to Inspire Learning this Summer

A person in a light blue shirt holds a waffle cone with brown swirled ice cream, wrapped in a napkin, capturing the essence of summer. The background showcases a wooden surface while the partially visible face is fixated on the delightful frozen treat.

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…

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Parenting with Faith, Hope, and Love

Stack of books and an open book on a table bathed in soft sunlight. A cup of coffee sits beside the books, perfect for a moment of quiet contemplation, while a vase with dried flowers adds a decorative touch. Shadows create a serene, cozy atmosphere ideal for reflecting on parenting joys and challenges.

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…

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Faith First? To whom will you go?

A wooden cross stands on a rocky mountaintop, surrounded by a vast, blue sky filled with billowing white clouds. The scene conveys a sense of serenity and elevation, embodying the essence of faith within nature's embrace.

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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