Kids
Tales from Life Skills Summer Kids Bootcamp: Day One
It’s Day Two of our Life Skills bootcamp, and I’m happy to report that everyone’s room passed inspection yesterday. Today, we’re having an all-day It’s-Summer-Vacation movie fest, and I suspected that I was the only one who remembered to make my bed. I decided to remind them that I’ll be doing a room inspection around…
Read MoreBuilding Life Skills: A Summer Bootcamp for Kids (FREE printable!)
I have known for years that as a parent, my job isn’t to make my kids happy. As my friend Missy wrote, I don’t want my kids to be happy. My job, as their mom, is to prepare them to be decent hard-working independent adults. That means teaching them things they don’t want to learn,…
Read MoreI Don’t Know Much But I Know I Don’t Spank
I gave my son a slap on the behind yesterday. It shocked us both. He was startled because I told him nine months ago that I wasn’t going to spank him ever again. I want to say that it wasn’t really a spanking, that instead it was an attempt to get his attention, a physical…
Read MoreNo Matter What: My One Good Phrase
Micha Boyett and I would be best friends by now, if fate hadn’t intervened and spoiled our plans. Micha was originally on the World Vision team that traveled to Sri Lanka last summer, but had to withdraw when her husband got a job transfer and they had to move. I still hope to meet her…
Read MorePlaying Super Mario Brothers Is Not Wasting Time
“Mom, let’s see how strong you are at Mario.” My five-year-old waves a Wii remote at me. I remember what Scott told me two days ago: “That hour I spent playing Wii with him meant so much, Joy. Even though I’m terrible at it.” I smile, and close the lid of my laptop. “I’m weak at…
Read MoreAm I Changing Minds or Just Modifying Behavior? ~ The Parent ‘Hood
The irony of hosting a parenthood synchroblog while not having grown children is not lost on me. My kids are 10, 7, and 5, so while I may know a few things about babies and toddlers, beyond that, I feel like the blind leading the blind. I’m relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance as much…
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