In previous generations, kids were expected to work for their own spending money, and even to contribute to the family’s needs. Later as parents, they, understandably, wish their children to have an easier life than they had by making it possible for their children not to have to labor as they did.
Unfortunately, this has led [...]
Next month I will be speaking to a youth group on the topic of modesty. Â I wrote a series on modesty, and had the privilege of interviewing Dannah Gresh for a podcast on “Is the Fashion Industry Sexualizing Our Kids?”.
I perused the blogosphere for more perspectives on this topic and came across a few sites [...]
According to a survey by Babycenter.com, teaching children manners is “back in Vogue.”
Why?
The top reason, the survey found, moms say that the world has become a more “freewheeling” place and they want to give their children tools to guide them.
The number two reason that moms give for teaching children manners is witnessing bad behavior in [...]
In answer to a reader’s question, How do I pass our values on our children? I posted Part 1 and Part 2.
I conclude this series with some thoughts of what we can do when we feel we’ve failed.
Millie at Christian Values Legacy has an insightful article on “Seven Ways to Tell if Your Child is [...]
In yesterday’s post, I covered Part 1 of a reader’s question, “How do I pass our values on our children?”
Here are some more practical tips on how to pass our values on to our children:
1. Have good reasons for your stand.
“Why is it wrong to have sex before marriage? A lot of people do [...]
A parent asked me, “How do I teach my children good values?”
Actually, teaching values to our children is both easy and hard.
It’s easy because you don’t have to do anything extraordinary or inconvenient. There are no books to buy, no conferences to attend.
But here’s the hard part. You are non-stop teaching your children values, whether [...]
I mentioned here before, my mother-in-law lives with us.
While there are certainly many adjustments, there has also been many benefits.
One of the most important advantage is that my children get to have an intergenerational relationship. Yes, grandma makes them whatever they want to eat. Grandma buys them stuff when we go shopping. Grandma does [...]
Do you love to shop?? Duh, that’s a rhetorical question!
My daughter loves to go to the mall – Hollister, Anchor Blue, Forever 21 – you know, all those stores with the cute teen fashions. After a while, they all look the same to me!
Have you noticed that the sizes offered are very small? I saw [...]
A female caller to the radio talk show today asked the host, “I’m a virgin and I’m 24 years old. I’m probably the only one! Should I continue to hold out?”
The host answered facetiously, ” Yes, you’re probably the only one.” Then she added seriously, “And Yes, you should hold out.”
Even if the caller was [...]
On a rare occasion when I was cleaning up yesterday, I found a card written by my son in 2003. He was 15 years old at the time.
I was overwhelmed with gratitude as I read his words, written to Mom and Dad: “Thank you for always being there for me, being people I can trust, [...]
“Mom, what can I have for breakfast?”
I yell from in front of the comfort of my computer screen: “There’s cereal. You can get it yourself.”
My 12-year-old is certainly old enough to get her own breakfast, why should I disturb my ease?
But there were nagging questions going on in my head:
1. Do I want to answer [...]
My mother-in-law lives with us.
You read it right. My mother-in-law lives with us.
My father-in-law passed away of cancer about 10 years ago, and she has been living with us for about that long now.
What is your reaction when you read this? People usually think I am either a martyr or a saint.
But the truth is, [...]
It may surprise you to know that my children do not like to drink soda.
We basically like to drink water. When we go out to eat, we save a lot of money because we don’t order any soft drinks. It’s great.
I didn’t drink soda growing up and never liked it. So when I had children, [...]
When my girls were little, I hear parents with teenage girls who dress with too much skin showing (that’s the nice way of putting it) say with a resigned sigh, “Well, I can’t control what they wear anymore.” At that time, I thought, “I still have control of what my girls wear for [...]
This is the 6th and last article on Effective Discipline
I heard on the radio of a dad telling the story of his 6 perfectly behaved children . He trained them properly alright. But as his children got older, he realized they were behaving out of fear and guilt. They did not dare disobey their [...]
We parents recognize that the computer is a great tool and we want our children to use the computer.
But at the same time we are fearful for our children when they do use the computer!
My son is one of those that would have taken apart the radio and rebuilt a better one if he was [...]
“I didn’t get what I wanted for Christmas!”
“Is that all??”
Did you hear that at your house after all the Christmas presents were opened?
How do we teach our children to have a thankful heart instead of being discontent with what they have?
“I am disappointed that I didn’t get what I wanted for Christmas, but I [...]
“My kids are so disrespectful when they talk to me. How can I get them to show some respect at home?â€
I have to warn you here, you may not like my answer. I wish there is an easy answer to that question. But from what I have experienced and observed, the [...]
If you don’t want to gain weight, you shouldn’t hang around Mrs. Field’s cookie shop.
If you don’t want to drink, you shouldn’t go to the bar to watch the football game.
If you don’t want to have a materialistic mindset, you shouldn’t hang around the mall.
I made a mistake today. I took my daughter to the [...]
A friend of mine paid me a huge compliment. It’s not about my hair, or my clothes.
She said, “If you wrote a book on parenting, I would read it.”
I know for a fact that I am not the best mom. Nor do I know all there is to know about raising children. I don’t pretend [...]
