A few years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, my kids helped feed the homeless at a church in town. After eating, the homeless men and women thanked the servers, then walked away–never hearing the Good News of Jesus. The adult in charge said, “We aren’t here to preach. We aren’t pastors. We just want to show…
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“It takes a village to raise a child,” says the old African proverb. How much we believe in that differs depending on our trust level of the village.
As parents see their children grow to leave the nest, they often start second-guessing themselves, wondering if they parented right. Especially if their young adult appears to be struggling to live on their own. Exploring two parenting styles helps us better understand the pros and cons of each. Hands-Off Parenting Free-range parenting is a…
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A few days ago, a DJ on the radio said his teen daughter just experienced her first heartbreak over a guy at school who dumped her for another girl. He tells the other radio host, “So we’re giving her some space.” I wanted to call into the program. There was so much wrong with this…
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I love my teens. But like all of us, they are prone to wander from what’s good and right. I’m not talking about childish irresponsibility–that’s a “mistake.” I’m talking about blatant disobedience… which ticks me off! Just being honest. Sometimes it makes sense. They have wants and desires that often conflict with what they are…
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We’re excited to announce the YouVersion 3-day reading plan “Hope For Single Fathers” by Tez Brooks, made the finalists today for the prestigious 2022 Selah Awards. This year the nationwide entries included 440 literary pieces from books to articles. The Selah Awards, which are awarded annually are given to books and other literary works within…
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Today’s post was submitted by Jessica Lightle, Community Manager for Education.com If you have kids in grades K-2, kids learn how to count by twos. In teacher-lingo, this is called “skip counting.” Give your child some practice with even numbers, while creating a cute Christmas keepsake. Plus, get some holiday cards in the bargain. For…
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How does your morning start on Christmas Day? As a parent, do you have plans or do you let the day carry you as it may? I’ve found I need to strike a balance between spontaneity and intentional planning. If you are a single parent, chances are you may have to share holidays with an…
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NOTE: Today’s post was written by guest blogger and single mom, Alex Hall. The holidays have arrived, and normally your kids would be delirious with excitement, chatting about the presents they hope to receive and upcoming holiday parties they plan to attend. But this year is different. You’re recently single, and the…
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I hate to see Advent Calendars in grocery stores that hold no meaning except to provide a countdown and a piece of candy for children. Often the calendar has no reference to Christ or anything remotely spiritual. It’s nothing more than a box of chocolate with cartoon characters on it. Years ago I decided to…
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My 32-year-old son hasn’t allowed us into his life in almost seven years. He has made it clear he doesn’t want any of us (me, his step-mom, his little sisters, his uncles/aunt or cousins) in his life. I won’t go into the bad choices he’s made nor the consequences he’s suffered. All I know is…
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A great post I had to share from Dr. Watson on Fathers.com On this Father’s Day weekend I have a gift for you…a gift of words, beginning with some validation and encouragement, then ending with a challenge. As a father, you no doubt have a lot of weight on your shoulders and I’m guessing that you often feel overwhelmed with all…
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A few months ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Lawrence Jackson, a local single dad who wants to encourage other parents who struggle to parent alone. It’s our hope his story helps someone. TEZ: Lawrence, how did your kids initially handle the news of your marriage break-up? LAWRENCE: The initial reaction to the divorce from…
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My youngest daughter entered high school last fall. I feel like she was just born a few months ago and I holding her in one arm. Parents, have you ever said “I have plenty of time”? I’m not so sure we do. Time flies by so fast and before you know it, it’s dusk. I’m…
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“Pick up your jacket and clean your bathroom!” I called from the kitchen. I was ticked as I cleaned the mess my teen had left after they made their own pancakes. The batter was everywhere (even the walls) and the dirty dishes looked like they had just fed an army. Why does it take 4 pans…
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Some of us wonder if our child will ever like us again or want to spend time with us, or worse yet, we wonder if they’ll survive. We’d be content just to hear from them to know they’re alright.
I was nineteen—old enough to know better. My yellow Maverick was a clunker and needed more attention than I was willing to give. In a hurry to get to work, I cranked the engine, threw the car into reverse, checked my mirrors, and backed out into the street. I turned on…
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Her name was Babette—Babs for short. She was my first Global Positioning System (GPS), and I loved the way she made my life so easy. After a few years, however, I noticed I couldn’t always trust her. One day while I was driving, Babs broke beyond repair. Our relationship was over and…
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I come from a very godly heritage on my mother’s side. I have ancestors and living relatives who are missionaries, pastors, and laypeople deeply grounded in the Word who followed hard after God. I’m thankful for that. Now pause for a minute and picture your own family tree. I’ll bet you thought mostly “up”, didn’t…
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Tomorrow we celebrate Independence Day. Our freedom from England. Several years ago I recall helping my young daughter celebrate freedom by allowing her to walk home half a mile from the grocery store alone…for the first time. She was 13. Was I a little behind with that? Is 13 years-old too long to be just then…
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