As a parent it’s easy to get caught up in just getting the basics done for your kids, and overlooking their need for connection with you. It’s important to do more than provide food, shelter, education, and clothing. Your kids need a healthy emotional connection with you in order to develop into a balanced person who is able to build solid relationships with others. Benefits of connection with your kids There are multiple reasons to build connection with your kids: How to bond with your child Now that you’re convinced you need connection with your child, let…

I’ve noticed that society is opposed to obedience. Our culture does not like or respect authority. Current parenting styles encourage compliance rather than obedience. Or they suggest that expecting obedience is not fair to your child or that it’s unkind and even abusive because you, the parent, are being a tyrant by expecting, or even wanting, obedience. It’s time to turn back to the Bible and find out what it says: “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for…

Who’s in charge at your house?  You or your kids?    Have you surrendered your authority and put your children in charge? In this post we’ll look at how to recognise a child-run home and the dangers of child-centered parenting. We’ll also look at how to avoid this kind of parenting.     What is child-centered parenting? Child-centered parenting makes the children more important than the adults. It puts the child’s needs, wants, and preferences above those of the parents. All decisions are made or influenced by the children and the…

Note: This post was first published in 2017 but has been updated. Woah.  Overnight your child mutated from a cute toddler into a fit-throwing stranger, as volatile as the Middle East.  You’re bewildered, frustrated, embarrassed, weary, and don’t know what to do.   Where did your sweet child go? How do you calm a tantrum? I’m going to share my unpopular opinion about tantrums: You don’t have to tolerate tantrums. I repeat:  You don’t have to tolerate tantrums.  In fact, you shouldn’t tolerate them. Not even once.  &nbsp…

Have you ever felt like you aren’t doing a good enough job as a mom? You feel you should be doing more with or for your kids, you worry you’re damaging them in some way, or you long for a break from them – but think you shouldn’t feel that way! Mom guilt can make you miserable! How can you stop feeling this way? What is mom guilt? Mom guilt is the feeling that you have done something wrong that will cause harm to your child. It usually arises from the feelings of not being able to…

What makes a child feel loved? In my opinion, it goes beyond taking care of their basic needs – food, shelter, safety, education, clothing – it’s when they know they are seen, heard, and understood. Feeling unloved can have long-lasting effects on your child, and if you’re like me, you don’t want to cause long-term damage to your kids. But, I get it, you’re a busy Mom (or Dad), and you want to meet the needs of your kids and make them feel loved and valued. How can you do this when your life is…