A little over a year ago, the little girl who would later become my daughter, got sent home with a note for her foster mother. The note stated that she had been taking things from class. Sadly, this wasn’t the first incident, either. She had taken money from some of the other kids.

Fast forward a few months later - after the adoption and her transition to her new home - stealing is still an issue. Albeit abated somewhat, but nonetheless, our daughter has been taking things without permission.

It’s a complex issue for us, as her parents, to deal with, because... more

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

As each child is different, so must a parent’s approach to discipline match the child’s age, personality and ability.

Years ago, I was a Child Development major in college. I studied typical and atypical development as well as psychopathology. Since... more

Now, lest you see the title and get all excited that “Finally! Someone with all the answers!” is going to wave her magic wand and give you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about parenting – I’m writing this series, because, like you, I am searching for answers. If I already had them, I would be a trillionaire several times over, by now!

As a Christian mother, raising her children in the Christian faith, I seek guidance from the Scriptures and have found that the Bible has quite a bit to say on the subject of discipline and the parent’s responsibility to provide it:

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from... more

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)

The American Heritage Dictionary defines discipline as, “Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.” 1

Now that we are three months into this gig – the transition is over, the newness has worn off, life has settled into a routine – it was time tonight to revisit discipline.

We’ve noticed some behaviors that are beginning to slide down that “slippery slope” – having to repeat our requests to them, beginning to “negotiate” after a request has been... more

From the time my biological son was old enough to talk, he’s known about the word “consequences.” When we make good choices, there are often positive consequences; and when we make poor choices, there will be negative consequences.

Lately, I’ve been struggling to find the balance for appropriate negative consequences. Rewards are fairly easy to hand out. But meaningful negative consequences, particularly for children who have suffered trauma, take some thought.

My daughter is six, and as I have mentioned, has control issues that manifest themselves in the area... more

We all like to think about the warm fuzzy part of parenting while we are waiting to be chosen to adopt. If your chosen child is an infant, there will be lots of snuggle time before you need to think about discipline. If your chosen child is older, then you will need to think about discipline immediately, and how to do it.

Is discipline really necessary, and if it is, Why? The Bible is full of parenting advice for us to consider.

Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not... more