Parent conversations: How does a parent’s role change over time?
No matter what age your children are, your role as a parent has changed over time. The first time we leave them with someone else as newborns can feel monumenta...
Parent conversations: How can parents and kids manage stress?
As a parent, I recognize that my response to stress is important because it’s likely to be copied by my children. “Do as I say, not as I do” seldom (never...
Parent conversations: What do your prayers for your children include?
Before our children are even born, we begin praying for them. This month, see how three Christian parents approach praying for their children. Then, share how y...
Parent conversations: How do we resist making our parenting law-based?
One of the reasons that I appreciate this column is that it continually reminds me of the importance of balancing law and gospel as a Christian parent. I don’...
Parent conversations: What Bible passages do you turn to most as a parent?
Although it’s not specifically discussing parenthood, Psalm 62 has always been my spiritual lifeline. When I face tough times as a mom, it’s Psalm 62 that c...
Christian Worship Lectionary March 2023
March 1: Job 33:1-18; John 10:22-42 March 2: Job 33:19-34:9; John 11:1-16 March 3: Job 34:10-33; John 11:17-37 March 4: Job 36:1-21; John 11:38-57 March 5: Job ...
Parent conversations: How can we help kids develop positive, healthy habits?
I consider myself an organized person, but when it comes to parenting, I often feel like a firefighter living in a house full of arsonists, running around putti...
Parent conversations: What tactics do you use to encourage children to tackle difficult tasks?
I love that the two authors of our articles this month both referenced science fair projects. Is there any more dreaded parenting task than helping a child navi...
Parent conversations: How can we model good listening skills for our kids?
Young people are frequently criticized for spending time on their smartphones even in social situations where they should be interacting with others around them...
Parent conversations: How do we help our kids move on from mistakes?
We all know what it’s like to beat ourselves up after we make a mistake. We’ve also probably contributed to our kids doing the same thing. Rather than perpe...
Parent conversations: How can we instill gratitude in our children?
How many times have you reminded your children to say “Thank you” when they’ve received something? More than you can count, right? Why do you do it? Part ...
Parent conversations: How can parents find the balance between being too restrictive and too permissive?
Am I the only parent who doubts herself so much that one minute I’m nervous that I’m being too strict and then the next I’m worried that I’m too much of...
The future is now
Young people show that they can make a big difference—right now—as they live out their faith in their daily lives. Noah Lukasek, a member at St. John, Marib...
Parent conversations: How can we teach kids to be good friends?
This might sound odd, but I’m usually more concerned about how my kids are doing interpersonally in school than how they are doing academically. Don’t get m...
Parent conversations: What life skills will help young people as they transition to adulthood?
If you’re expecting a column on the importance of teaching kids key life skills like how to do laundry and balance a checkbook, I’m going to save you time a...
Parent conversations: How do we discuss death with our children?
Contemplating some conversations creates butterflies in my stomach. Talking about death with my children falls into that category. What a comfort these two arti...
Parent conversations: What does it look like for a father to be a strong Christian leader?
There’s been talk over the past few years about the negative portrayal of dads on TV and in movies. Most on-screen dads are not strong characters. They provid...
Parent conversations: How can we help young adults stay engaged in the church?
The statistics on church membership for young adults are depressing. Is there anything we can do to stem the tide of those who are dropping out of our churches ...
Parent conversations: What do parents need to know about video games?
Trying to keep up with new video games and video gaming systems can be overwhelming. It’s easy for my first instinct as a parent to be “No!” For our famil...
Parent conversations: How do parents not let worry get the best of them?
When I was expecting my first child, I remember someone telling me that having a child means that your heart will forever go walking around outside your body. I...
Parent conversations: How do we teach our kids to value all people?
We can’t all raise our children in New York City like Tim and Amanda Bourman or serve as foster parents for a diverse group of children like Brenda and Steven...
Parent conversations: When parenting philosophies differ
Is it just me or does it seem like getting along with everyone has gotten harder over the past couple of years? We’re so divided on so many issues. It’s eas...
Parent conversations: How can we help today’s overwhelmed teens?
Being a teen has always involved struggle and angst. The difference today is that a teen’s struggles can be broadcast immediately to an entire world of virtua...
Parent conversations: How can parents maintain a healthy marriage?
Maintaining a healthy marriage requires work for any couple, but when you add kids into the mix, it can get more challenging because your time is divided into e...