Note: This post first appeared in 2017 but has been updated. The first three to seven years are the formative years in a child’s life. During this time you are building a foundation for the character of your child. Your child will not be able to reason until around age seven. This means your focus should not be on reasoning with your child, but training your child. A child below the age of reason does not choose to obey because they love Mommy or because the Bible says they should. They choose to obey because they…
NOTE: This post was originally published in 2017. What image does the word “Discipline” bring to your mind? Spanking, the naughty corner, scolding? Here is what most of us think: Discipline = Punishment. And most of what is called discipline is punishment. But good discipline is more than punishment. It’s about prevention rather than cure. The purpose of discipline True discipline is about teaching your children to be self-controlled, to obey you, and to show respect for authority – yours and God’s. It’s about teaching them to surrender their hearts to God. True discipline reaches children’s…
NOTE: This article was first published on January 4, 2017, but has been updated. There are many reasons parents avoid discipline: It doesn’t seem to work. It’s unpleasant. It’s easier to let the kid have its way. They feel guilty when the child accuses them of being mean. It doesn’t feel good. After all, who wants to make their kids cry? Sometimes we avoid it because of the way our parents disciplined us – harshly or not at all. Maybe the problem wasn’t the correction but how …
Note: this post was originally published on December 6, 2017, but has been updated. What life skills do your kids have? Do you know which ones they don’t have? Some things can make a huge difference in life – like getting that job or not, improving a relationship, or saving money because you can do it yourself. Here is a list of skills to guide you in preparing your kids for life – these are things they should know before they leave home: People Skills Home Skills Related: 12 Reasons to give kids chores Life Skills Download a printable version…
Tackling chores is not at the top of my favourite-things-to-do list. I’m pretty sure it’s not at the top of any kid’s list either. While researching this topic I read an article by a mother who does not give her kids chores because she wants them to have a happy childhood. Her reasoning is that life is going to be full of chores once they reach adulthood and why should her kids endure the hardship of chores before then? Is this mom doing a good thing by not expecting her kids to do chores…
Is there a conversation you’ve been putting off because it’s too difficult or you don’t know how to get started? Maybe you’re angry with someone for something they did or did not do you feel guilty or embarrassed about something you did you need to confront inappropriate behaviour you need to share something you see needs adjustment in the other person Difficult, awkward conversations crop up everywhere. Why are difficult conversations so hard? Difficult conversations can be hard for a number of reasons: You hate conflict You’re afraid of saying the wrong thing You’re…
All healthy relationships are based on trust. Without it a relationship will not flourish and grow, nor will it have the emotional intimacy that creates genuine connection. Importance of Trust in a Relationship The more you foster trust in your relationship, the safer you will feel. Without this sense of safety it will be very difficult to connect emotionally. And emotional connection requires deeper revelation of yourself to your partner. It’s hard to maintain a long-term relationship when the only thing keeping you together is the surface-level stuff. Please note: The following suggestions are for those…
Is time management and productivity important for Christians? Is it only for high-powered business people, or does God care how each person manages their time? Why we should be concerned about how we spend our time We should be concerned with how we spend our time because God is concerned with time management. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates how God expects us to make good use of the gifts He has given us, and time is one of those gifts. Romans 14:12 says, “So then every one of us shall give account…
Life has always been too big for me. A burden. Fear has been my constant companion. I have been afraid of people, of exams, of dentists, of dying, of suffering. of leaving home, of giving birth, of talking to strangers, of answering the phone, of daily living, of losing my children, that God won’t keep His promises. Afraid. Always afraid. Paralyzed by fear for most of my life, I learned to bury it deep. On the surface I was bright, cheery, and cheeky. But the fear was there. And it kept me from being happy. It made…