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On Greeting our Children and Becoming a Better Parent
Confession: There are times when I parent poorly. There are times when I put my needs ahead of my children’s needs. There are times when I’m more interested in what’s on Instagram than I am in my own kids. There are times when I allow my frustration with them to lead me to say harsh words that harm them. There are times I ignore them, and in doing so, devalue them. I am not a perfect parent. I make mistakes. And there are times when I hurt our relationship by how I treat them. I am guilty of this sad reality. I think, at some point, we all are.…
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How Hygge Can Help your Family
Dozens of candles are lit. Soft instrumental music is playing. Your house is filled with the scent of stove-popped popcorn and you can taste the warm vanilla in your cup of hot tea. Your family enjoys a simple snack together at the dining room table while playing a game. Then, you move to the living room and pile onto the couch, snuggled under blankets. There’s laughter, coziness, togetherness. This is hygge. What is Hygge? “In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cozying up with a loved one for a movie – that’s…
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Everyday Gratitude
In a few days, Thanksgiving will be over. But giving thanks doesn’t have to be. I love Thanksgiving. Not only do I enjoy the fun, food, feasting, and fellowship, but I think it’s beautiful to have a season in which we reflect on what we are thankful for. It forces us to be reflective, permits us to recognize how much we’ve been blessed. I think it also makes us all a bit more cheerful; focusing on the positive things in life is good for us. It makes us more patient with our kids, more appreciative of our spouses, more optimistic about humanity in general. But a few months from…
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‘Tis the Season…to Get Rid of your Kid’s Stuff
Have you ever walked into a home that felt more like a toy store than a place of residence? Is, perhaps, your home that way? If so, it’s easy to understand. We live in a materialistic, commercial culture where more is better and overstimulation is the norm. The problem is, more actually isn’t better, and an excess of stuff is taking a toll on American families. Simplicity Parenting A few months ago, I read Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne. It was informative and convicting, and one of the main things Payne addresses is the issue…
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“Actually, we don’t Celebrate Halloween”: Parenting According to Personal Values
“What are you dressing up as for Halloween this year?” the sales-woman asked. Levi looked at her, then me, and walked away. Typically, I gently encourage him to converse with the people talking to him, but in this case, I knew that I would have to answer on his behalf, since he had no idea what she was talking about. In the moment, though, I wasn’t sure how to answer, either. “Actually, we don’t celebrate Halloween. I despise the holiday, actually, and while I think dressing up little kids in various costumes is cute, I wasn’t planning on doing it with my children this year.” I wasn’t sure if I…
