Chores or no chores?
Chores! Yes. Our kids need them. If there’s one thing that irritates me the most, it’s watching a child manipulate their mom or dad out of doing ANY work. How in the world are we going to teach our kids [...]
My kid’s always in trouble!
Do you know the difference between punishment and discipline? Yeah, it’s obvious, but the reality is a lot of us parents PUNISH and aren’t actively disciplining our kids. For example, if our son or daughter skips school for the tenth [...]
I’m not a built-in babysitter.
I’m a grandparent, and so are a lot of my friends. There seems to be a common theme, though, when we talk about our grandkids. When they come for a visit, our kids—for whatever reason—stop disciplining them. They let them [...]
I want to say no to my kids, but I can’t.
There are a lot of parents who have a hard time saying yes, but there are a few parents who can’t say no. Neither extreme is good. The first makes life miserable for kids. Think about it. If your mom [...]
At least I don’t need a massage.
That’s what I said as I stood up from my seat on an airplane recently. The three-or-so-year-old little boy sitting behind me decided to be an annoying little troublemaker on my flight from Grand Rapids to Chicago. I wish I [...]
What’s your family priority?
While sports and music can teach our kids valuable lessons, as Christians, we recognize that our faith in Jesus Christ should always take precedence. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will [...]
I spanked my child today. I feel so guilty.
Corporal punishment. In a culture where spanking is frowned upon and parents are encouraged to be more of a best friend than a disciplinarian, it’s no wonder that some parents today feel guilty about a swat on the fanny. What [...]
They just don’t listen. What do I do?
Have you been in a situation where the kids you’re working with just don’t listen? Maybe they’re your kids, your kids’ friends, or kids at church. I have a young man in my 5th and 6th grade church small group [...]
Are you asking me for a spanking?
I think we’ve all been there. Our son or daughter decides to test the limits of our resolve when we’re in the grocery store, restaurant, or mall. The arguing starts. The defiance. The tears. The temper. You have a choice—let [...]
They adore their parents. I want that with my kids.
Who doesn’t want a strong, godly relationship with their kids? In Colossians 3:21 it says, "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." Parents we can either build our kids up or tear them down. There’s a [...]