Parent conversations: Can parents be friends with their children?
I’ve found there is a bittersweetness to watching my children get older. Although it’s painful to know that I’ll never rock them to sleep again or hear a cute, little…
Parent conversations: Answering a teen’s hard questions
Pastor Michael Ewart shares a template for discussing serious topics with our teens. QUESTION: Our family feels divided over the deportation debate. My teenage son (influenced by public school and…
Parent conversations: What promises of God calm your heart when parenting feels overwhelming?
Parenting often feels overwhelming. Parenting without God’s promises? That I can’t even comprehend! What a blessing to have these promises to cling to when everything else in life feels so…
Parent conversations: What’s your parenting catchphrase?
I have some homework for you this month. Ask your kids what your go-to parenting phrase is. Then stop and reflect. If your children are too young or can’t think…
Parent conversations: Ideas to foster a family-friendly church
We tell parents that they are supposed to bring their children to church, but how do we support and encourage them in that endeavor? Here are some family-friendly ideas. They…
Parent conversations: A children’s Christmas service to remember
I’ve sat through roughly one hundred children’s Christmas services so far in my life. Each one has been special—honestly. The familiar parts are like an old friend—comforting and steadfast—while the…
Parent conversations: What is the role of a Christian parent?
In our fast-paced world, it’s pretty easy to get distracted. Our time with our children can become a blur of after-school activities, rushed meals, and hectic bedtimes. That’s why stopping…
Parent conversations: How should families with young children approach going to church?
The words of Proverbs 22:6, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it,” and Matthew 18:5, “Whoever…
Parent conversations: What is bullying? How can parents help children who are struggling with relationships with their peers?
My mom radar goes up quickly when my kids talk about interpersonal problems with their classmates. As I talk through situations with them, I always struggle because I know that…