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Previously heart to heart
I have seen many calls for 2020 to end so that we can start fresh in 2021. Yet let’s be honest. By the time January 1, 2021, ends, we’ll already…
For better or worse, Christmas is filled with traditions. Some of these traditions help celebrate Jesus’ birth—the Christmas Eve candlelight service or the children’s Christmas service, for example. Others may…
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). It’s a familiar passage, and it’s also my…
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…
My kids and I have spent almost no time apart since mid-March. With school starting soon, I’m a little nervous about how my youngest, who is six, is going to…
How should families prepare to go back to school? That’s quite a question this year, isn’t it? After all, education is likely to look different depending on what school you…
Each phase of childhood comes with its own unique set of blessings and challenges, doesn’t it? Teenagers get a bad rap, but as my daughter enters high school, I have…
This month’s column might not be what you are expecting. It doesn’t include endorsements for the latest security apps to keep your child safe online or to measure how much…
As the editorial staff developed the May issue of Forward in Christ, the mandatory quarantines had just begun. We had no way of predicting what would be taking place when…
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 us will admit that…
Should I or shouldn’t I? It’s a question I ask myself each Lenten season. Should I give something up? I know I don’t need to, but would it help me…
Let’s be honest. Worshiping with children does not always feel . . . worshipful. I believe that most parents desperately want to engage their children in worship—but we just don’t…
How do we help our kids develop a God-pleasing view of “stuff”? How can we help them learn to manage the financial resources that God gives them? Linda Buxa shares…
From day-to-day stressors like homework and whom to sit next to at lunch to larger stressors like changing schools or facing a family medical issue, our children are not immune…
I dread my daughter’s homework more than she does. From the time she was little, it’s always been a struggle. She seems to sail through school with a great attitude, but…
How should we handle it when people undermine our parenting decisions? I think that parenting is often like an ice cream sundae bar. No two people make exactly the same…
The idea of our children dating can be . . . unsettling. Pastor Donn Dobberstein, father of four children ages 15-22, shares his strategies for how to navigate this season…
Mom's sick. Now what? Hear from Kerry Ognenoff on what her family faced during her recent illness.
How do we prepare our children to handle dangerous situations without scaring them? Sarah Reik and Dan Nommensen offer practical tips to help.
Are you interested in having family devotions this Advent but unsure where to start? Pastors Eric Roecker and Donn Dobberstein offer a great resource that makes it easy to customize…
Wondering how to help your son grow into a godly man? Have you considered a Man-up Challenge? Rob Guenther and his son, Josiah, share the details of their Man-Up Challenge…
Need help transitioning to the new school year? Tune in for Sarah Reik’s kid-tested tips.
God blesses our children with different talents and abilities. How can we support our children as they struggle in the areas where they aren’t as naturally gifted? Ann Jahns shares…
Is bedtime full of stress for your family? Hear from Anna Geiger, mom of six, on the bedtime routine that helps their family end most nights peacefully.
Join Jim Aderman as he reflects back on the advice he would have given himself when he was a young father—words of wisdom that are relevant for parents of any…
Instilling strength and gentleness in our children requires a careful balancing act. Dan Nommensen shares his tips to help parents along the way.
Interested in helping your family set goals for the coming year? Heart to heart author Kerry Ognenoff shares how her family makes and tracks their goals each year.
Instilling a mission heart in our children is a God-pleasing goal for Christian parents. How do we go about it, though? Amanda Rose expands on her article and gives parents…
Wondering how to explain the Reformation to your children? “God’s Plan for Luther and Me” is a short film designed with children in mind. Hear one parent’s thoughts about the…
How can we ease our children into the new school year and help them have a successful year? Cindi Holman, veteran educator and mom, shares her tips.
Do you have trouble letting go of your parenting mistakes? Dan Nommensen shares his perspective on how you can move past your guilt and find the joy in parenting.
Two steps to a simple summer? Yes, please! Becky Schermerhorn gives us her tips.
What emerging technologies should parents be aware of? Martin Spriggs, WELS chief technology officer, offers his insights.
Looking for tips on how to shape responsible behavior in your children? Sarah Reik offers her insights as a mom of four and a licensed professional counselor.
Are you concerned about who your child is choosing as a role model? Dan Nommensen shares his insights as a Christian counselor and father.
Looking for some new strategies to engage your children in worship services? Consider whether one of Lisa Uttech’s ideas may work for your family.
Have you considered volunteering as a family but hesitated to start? Linda Buxa shares her family’s philosophy on volunteering and the blessings she’s seen from their experiences.
Are you struggling with what to tell your children about this election? Ann Jahns, a Heart to heart contributor, shares her thoughts on how we can encourage our children to…
How can we help our children build their self-worth on Christ’s love? Sarah Reik, a licensed professional counselor from WLCFS–Christian Family Solutions, shares her insights on this important topic.
How do you decide which extracurricular activities your child should join? What’s a parent’s role on the sidelines? Whitney Donovan, a licensed professional counselor at WLCFS-Christian Family Solutions, offers some…
When a disaster strikes, what do you tell your children? In this episode of Heart to heart: Parent conversations, Sheryl Cowling, a licensed clinical social worker, gives parents insights into…
Sarah Reik shares her view on “The three ‘mosts’ of motherhood” in this special Mother’s Day episode of Heart to heart: Parent conversations.
Heart to heart author Kerry Ognenoff discusses her family’s approach to training children how to handle money in a God-pleasing way.
In this episode of Forward in Christ’s Heart to heart: Parent conversations, hear one mother talk about raising her son with special needs.
In this episode of Forward in Christ’s Heart to heart: Parent conversations, hear about four important aspects of teaching respect to your children.
This parent conversation focuses on the little white lies that children–and their parents–often tell. Heart to heart author Jim Aderman shares insights into how these lies can be harmful for…
Heart to heart author Ann Jahns shares her insights into how we can nurture contentment in our children–and ourselves.
Parent conversations highlights a resource for helping your family become overwhelmingly thankful for its blessings. Heart to heart author Dan Nommensen shares his family’s experience with the devotional journal 364 Days of Thanksgiving.