Parenting

  • Reading Roundup: 3 Takes on Family and Community

    It’s been awhile since I shared some great books, so it’s time for another Reading Roundup. Other than the fact that all three of these reads have blueish-greenish covers, I thought they were an eclectic group. However, I realized while writing about them that they all touch on themes of family and community. Explains why…

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  • Dear Younger Me, Here’s What They Don’t Tell You about Parenting

    Dear Younger Me, One day you’ll hear yourself yell in frustration, “If you‘re going to stand on the kitchen table, at least sit down.” With that nonsense echoing in your ears, you’ll suddenly awake from a parenting stupor. You’ll wonder when exactly you surrendered your home and sanity to a couple of pint-sized preschoolers. And…

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  • 3 Truths Teens Need to Hear 

    If you were asked to fill in the blank, “Sometimes, I feel like I’m not ___________ enough,” what would you say? What would your 15-year-old say? I asked 50 or so high school women just that. Here’s some of what they told me: Sometimes, I feel like I’m not Pretty Smart Strong Popular Involved Interesting…

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  • when the battle for “likes” wrecks your child

    We are creatures made for community. We have a longing to belong and experiences with rejection that shape decisions, relationships, and our willingness to take risks. This week, I’ve asked a friend to share her life-in-the-trenches parenting story of just how subtly the feelings of rejection and unworthiness can creep in. She and her husband have…

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  • It’s Not About the Bread: A 10-minute Devo to Calm Your End-of-School-Year Stress

    Yesterday, my daughter and I hunted like mad for her cellphone, so convinced she left it at school (grrrrrrr) that we overlooked it three times in an obscure backpack pocket (oops).  This morning, she left her breakfast behind while scrambling to get to an early rehearsal, so right now I’m sitting in the school parking…

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