Parent conversations: Are we doing too much for our kids?
It’s a common complaint: “Parents today do too much for their kids.” Is it true, though? And what does that even mean? What’s the “right” amount of help...
Parent conversations: Do we want our children to be leaders or followers?
There is a natural tension between leading and following. Yet I believe the Christian needs to walk the tightrope of both. Figuring out how to translate that for...
Parent conversations: What is our goal as parents?
“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing,” wrote Stephen Covey in his best-selling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Yet...
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’t...
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...
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. It...
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 even...
Parent conversations: How do we teach children resilience?
One of the fun parts of managing this column is that I’m never quite sure how God is going to bring it all together—I just know that he will. For example, when...
Parent conversations: How can I let the gospel shine as I parent?
In my opinion, this is the toughest part of being a Christian parent—letting the gospel shine in how I deal with my kids. It just seems to come naturally to me...
Parent conversations: How can I stay calm when my child is out of control?
Warning: The two articles this month are a completely accurate portrayal of life with children. Tantrums happen. Parents lose it. If we’re being honest, most of...
Parent conversations: How can we prepare children for summer camp?
How can we prepare children for summer camp? When I was going into eighth grade, I went to band camp for a week during the summer. I had a blast, and the experience...
Parent conversations: What should we do when our children grow silent?
What should we do when our children grow silent? There are days when we all would long for some silence as parents—during those long colicky twilight hours; the...