What Holds You Back as a Mom?
Are you the mom you want to be? In this video, Lauren Dungy and I talk about the challenges that hold us back as mothers.
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Parenting
Gossip Girls
It bothers me and deeply offends me when I hear that someone has talked about me behind my back. But I must confess that I’ve been a part of plenty of those conversations, too. You know the drill, one minute you’re sipping coffee talking about kids, and the next minute, you’re slamming a mutual friend over what she chose to wear to church on Sunday…”Bless her heart.” Next someone chimes in about the way she disciplines her children…”I’d never…!” Finally, an inadvertent comment about her less-than-perfect past…”Gasp! Oh my gosh!” And the damage is done. It reminds me of the BP oil spill in the gulf. Gossip is explosive. It comes gushing from deep in your heart and once it flows, it’s not easily capped. Then it spreads. It gets deeper, and thicker, becoming harder to contain. The cost is severe, the damage is irreversible, and try as you may to clean it up, there are still residual effects. I’ve resolved (several times over I might add—hey, I’m not perfect) to stay away from gossip, however trivial. I’m challenging you to do the same! Strive for more positive conversations in your friendship circles. Challenge each other to be better, and …
Read Post →Mind the Gaps
My daughter’s godparent is an avid “Facebook-er” and since I’m not, I’ve asked him to keep an eye on what my kids post on their walls. Well, just a few days ago my daughter put some summertime fun pictures of herself in a bathing suit on Facebook—an absolute no-no in our house, no matter how innocent the intention. He immediately messaged her and said, “It’s hard to catch that scripture you posted with all that skin showing.” Of course, she wasn’t too pleased with him, but she took the pictures down. And I never had to say a thing. Where parenting is concerned, Mark and I have incorporated the old adage “it takes a village (albeit a trustworthy one) to raise a child.” I adopted it from one of my favorite bible stories, in the book of Nehemiah. My quick version is this: Nehemiah goes back to his people in Jerusalem to help rebuild the walls and city that had been destroyed by its enemies. The people are tired from fighting, overwhelmed with the task at hand, and scared—all the while, their enemies were crouched just outside the walls, regrouping to attack. Sound familiar? Nehemiah encouraged and prayed for the …
Read Post →Tebow Inspiration
One of the most powerful things we can do as Moms is to inspire our children to greatness. Pam Tebow, the mom of NFL quarterback, and college football great Tim Tebow, used these words to shape the way Tim lives by hanging this in his room. Little Eyes Are Watching You There are little eyes upon you and they’re watching night and day. There are little ears that quickly take in every word you say. There are little hands all eager to do anything you do; and a little boy who’s dreaming of the day he’ll be like you. You’re the little fellow’s idol; you’re the wisest of the wise. In his little mind about you no suspicions ever rise. He believes in you devoutly, holds all you say and do; He will say and do, in your way when he’s grown up just like you. There’s a wide eyed little fellow who believes you’re always right; and his eyes are always opened, and he watches day and night. You are setting an example every day in all you do; for the little boy who’s waiting to grow up to be like you ~ Author Unknown
Read Post →Don’t Worry, Be Happy
When your first child was born, you studied the rise and fall of their chest while they were sleeping, certain that at any moment this beautiful and perfectly healthy child would suddenly stop breathing. Now that my kids are older, and especially as I’ve watched them head off to college, I often look back at those early years and wish that I would’ve stopped worrying about the silly and unpredictable things. I wish I had been happier about the important and the even-less-than-important things. I can’t go back, but I can share my wisdom with you. So here are my top five: 1. Don’t worry about a super clean house…unless your mother-in-law is coming. Be Happy that your kids use their creativity and imaginations while they play games and trash the house. Believe me; soon you’ll miss hearing the trucks slide across the kitchen floor. 2. Don’t worry about how they compare to other children. Be happy with who God created them to be and teach them to be confident in the same. 3. Don’t worry about the “ifs” and the uncertainties of parenting. Be happy and find the value in what you know and can control. 4. Don’t worry …
Read Post →Is it Crazy To Let Your Kids Drink?
I recently overheard this conversation, “Oh, my kids drink, they all do you know, but mine only drink at home so I know they are safe. I take everyone’s keys, including their friends, and I don’t let them leave until the morning.” Is letting your teenager drink ever safe? Is it ever safe to break the law? Is a child safe from becoming an alcoholic because they drink at home with mom there? If the kids spend the night, does the mom then give out condoms to keep them safe from sex as a result of the lowered inhibitions due to alcohol? What if they get bored with alcohol and would like to try some drugs? What is the difference between illegal drinking and illegal drugs? Will they be safe doing drugs at home? Does all of this sound crazy to you? Or am I the one who has lost her mind because I cannot fathom how anyone could believe they were doing the right thing by allowing their underage child to drink?
Read Post →Discipline Basics
What’s in your discipline arsenal? Do you use rewards or motivators with your kids? Do you sometimes resort to bribes to get them to behave? In this video I talk with my friend, Jan, about the discipline basics that work in raising kids.
Read Post →Princess and the Pee…
…(or in this case Pee-Pee) When I was potty-training my kids, they didn’t have light-up, musical, transforming, or animal shaped potties. They may have come in different colors, but that was about the extent of it. Recently, a friend of mine entered into the potty-training phase with her child. After reading what she went through, I’m glad I didn’t have to deal with these potty issues! It just goes to show you that more bling doesn’t equal better. Here’s what she shared… After an entire day and a half of either sitting in wet pants, or holding it until her belly was about to explode, my big (little) girl (baby) finally let out a little tinkle on the potty! Not without a little drama though. See, at age 2, my little girl is all about the Princesses–if it has a princess on it, she wants it. Following suit, I purchased a throne-shaped…ugh, potty throne for her. And to top it off, once her pee-pee hits the bowl, this potty instantly rewards her by playing an enchanting little celebration song and lighting up! I was certain that once she heard the music play, it would be a Princess Potty & Pee-Pee …
Read Post →Perspective
Yesterday, in the midst of a whiny mood about the business of my life, I opened this email from a friend. My mood melted away in shame as I read about the reality of her unexpected guest – cancer. Please read and soak up Lisa Hayes’ wisdom and perspective. Here we are finally at the end. It’s different than I thought it would be. The end comes with little comfort or relief and no closure . . . only a pause and the knowledge that for the next 6 to 8 weeks we have only two appointments. The end comes with more questions – did any of this work? We know that chemo drugs do not work on this type of cancer and that it was used just to break down Rich’s body to allow the radiation to work harder. Will anything grow, spread or get worse during these next weeks of no treatment? Is anyone working on a cure for this? We’ve been told repeatedly “no cure, only remission.” Isn’t there an exception to every rule? How long will the radiation continue to eat away at Rich after these last treatments? What is the next treatment? Will God chose …
Read Post →Mothering……Different Children
iMOM Ambassador, Lauren Dungy, shares her take on how to effectively discipline children.
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