If I live to be one hundred, I hope and pray never to have another night/morning like this last one. Two of my three children came not once, but twice (each!) to our room in the middle of the night. One of whom, somehow managed to “slip and fall and have a pee-pee accident” during one of the visits. Why do I doubt the veracity of this? It’s exactly how she claimed to have the last accident. Same exact spot, same exact scenario, two “accidents,” two days, both under suspicious circumstances (and no one else has “slipped” in this spot!).

So, Mama was pretty cranky... 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

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17; NASB).

My daughter had a spectacular day yesterday – simply stellar! She made appropriate toileting choices, she spoke considerately to others, and was warmly and genuinely praised for her efforts by her Dad and I, as well as both of her brothers.

So, why, right before bedtime,... more

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31)

This was my daughter’s memory verse from Bible class at church. She recited it for her teacher tonight and received a little pin in the shape of a key that says, “Jesus” on it. It is as though she received the Crown Jewels! She ran up to me the most excited that I have ever seen her (and I’ve seen her pretty excited!) and said, “Mommy! I got the key of Jesus!... 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

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)

I have posted several times in past about my daughter’s tendency toward rudeness, but today had to be some sort of world record! She had three separate incidents of indescribable rudeness toward those she calls friends. After each incident, I told her what she did and why it was rude. After the second one, I specifically told her not to say anything unless it was something she would want said to her. I was explicit... more

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

I’m confessing one of my little “guilty pleasures” – I’m a gamer. Not a hardcore Xbox/Nintendo/Whatever gamer. But I love games on my PDA and my desktop computer. I discovered a new one today, and it has me thinking about a parable of Jesus. Crazy, huh?

The game is Farm Frenzy. You basically buy farm equipment and have quotas for eggs, milk, wool and such. But, there are little surprises along the way – bears! Now, how bears got... more

"A friend loves at all times..." (Proverbs 17:17)

Many times our children come to us with poor social skills. These can be due to trauma, neglect, abuse, medical or mental health conditions – a variety of causes.

In my own life, with my ADD undiagnosed until adulthood, I found social settings to be my undoing. I had difficulty reading social cues (like when to shut up!), and my impulsivity manifested itself in constantly interrupting others.

When my daughter first arrived, on her very first night with two new acquaintances,... more

On this day that our final decree is granted, I’m wondering: What do you call the day you adopted your children? I have mixed feelings about many of the choices I’ve seen. I don’t mean to hurt or put down any of the fine families I’ve seen use these terms, but here’s a summary of the issues I have:

Family Day: Were you not a family before you adopted? Thus, this really isn’t the day you became a family. “Bigger Family Day” maybe...but that just doesn’t have a catchy ring to it, does it?

Gotcha Day: True, it’s the day we “got” our, but I “get” things every... more

Nancy Clark, MFT, has written a series of books in fairy tale form for children who have experience trauma, grief, and loss.

So far in the series are: A Tale of Anger and Fear; A Tale of Loss and Impossible Dreams; and A Tale of Lies and Love.

Each of the books comes with a parent guide written by Dr. B. Bryan Post. From all I have been able to gather, the books are being used with children as young as nine. My background may not be in therapy, but it is in child development, and I think the books are far too dark.

Yes, terrible and unspeakable things happen to children. Yes, not every parent who... more