As our four children are getting older, with one in the teen years, and another following close behind, I've thought about how I can be the best mom for them. I've prayed that I can teach them what they need to learn before they are Read More
Spoiled Child – How to unspoil a child (starting today)
Do you feel like you are noticing the characteristics of a spoiled child? Do you feel like your sweet child turned into an ungrateful child? Have you ever wondered how to unspoil a child... or how to unspoil your child? I know that this can be Read More
The perfect age for a phone is…
Today, as a partner with the Forward Influence Network and Android, I am going to share a topic that has been on my mind, since I hear it so often: What age should I get my child a phone? I wanted to answer a question that I get a lot Read More
Siblings “Non-Gift” Christmas Gift
Christmas has always been our favorite time of the year. We love to find special traditions, drive around and look at lights, stay up later than usual to watch Christmas movies, hang candy canes on the tree (and then take them right back off to Read More
It was worth it…
It just snuck up on me. I was sitting on his bed, talking to him about the night that he was born, how the doctors tried to stop him from coming so early and how his daddy was in the shower when I yelled for him to hurry up. He heard about how I Read More
Children who don’t have a regular bedtime behave worse & develop slower
I just watched an episode on the TODAY show that proved what I already knew: Irregular Bedtimes for children (and adults) leads to worse behavior, slower development, and health issues. Consistent routines & regular bedtimes for kids and Read More
Age Appropriate Chores for Young Children through Teenagers
Age-appropriate chores for young children (and older children) are so important - with or without a chore chart! They help raise children that work hard and are not spoiled. As Lythcott-Haims said: "By making them do chores -- taking out the Read More
No Screen-time Until Free Printable Sheet
This No-Screentime Until Printable Sheet has been wonderful for our family. When we first started limiting electronics for our kids, we created this free no-screentime sheet. Within a few months, I also added these Swap Chores for Screentime Read More
“Mommy will you lay with me?” … when your child wants you to lie down in their bed at night
I have a new favorite phrase from our kids: "Mommy, will you lay with me?" Why is this my favorite? Let me tell you. Do you hear this every night, as I do? Our children want me to lie down with them every night. This question is always on their Read More
CONSEQUENCES FOR KIDS THAT WORK!
Coming up with consequences for kids that work is not always easy, especially when you're in the heat of the moment and you just need your kids to do what you ask! You need to find something that works and stick to it... if you want a behavior to Read More
How to teach our daughters to be ladies
Last week I shared some practical tips to teach our sons to be gentlemen, but today we are going to focus on our daughter and teaching our daughters to be ladies. I wonder, every day, who our children will become. Will they be adults that help Read More
Why having more kids is less stressful!
This post was originally written in 2014, but I wanted to bring it back around today & add some new details because I think that it still holds true. Why are moms of more kids often less stressed? I think we've figured it out. It boils down Read More
Stressed parent to relaxed parent (yes, really!)
If you ever feel stressed out, as a parent, as a mother, you are not alone. Families are always so busy and, as mothers, have so much on our plates constantly. Planning (& making 3 meals) plus snacks a day, doing laundry, helping Read More
Things no one tells you about parenting a teenage boy
THINGS NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT PARENTING A TEENAGE BOY Raising our four children, including raising a teenage son, is the joy of my life. We have three boys and one little girl. Our daughter is young and we have not reached the Read More
The shocking truth that your tweens & teens aren’t telling you
There is a shocking truth that your tweens & teens aren't telling you. Today, my brother is here to tell the story. My brother, Doctor Timothy Hoffman, is the principal of a wonderful high-school in our area. His wife, Jill, is also a Read More
10 life lessons I want our children to learn
Every day, we get the opportunity to shape our kids, to literally change their lives. Everything that we say to them sticks with them, our words become their inner voices, our expectations become their goals. If I had to pick just 10 life lessons Read More
When the kids are older, I’ll be able to…
It's funny. We think about all of the things that we will do when our children are born. Rock them, hold them, sing to them, enjoy every minute of them. Not much time passes before we begin looking to the future when we start thinking "When the Read More
5 practical ways to teach your sons to be gentlemen when they grow up
On a daily basis, I think about what kind of people our children will be when they are grown. Will they be responsible? Will they be kind? Will they be helpful? Today I am sharing 5 practical ways to teach boys to be men. When our son was Read More
The one word you should try to avoid when you discipline your kids
My brother and I often have chats about parenting our kids and teaching our students (I am a teacher/therapist and he is a principal). We both agree that there is one word you should try to avoid using when your discipline your kids... I heard it Read More
Mom, look at my eyes
Our 6 year old old brought in a new "invention" that he had made out of a box, with his big brother. They do this on an almost-daily basis and I love to see what they come up with (and they love to show me). When he walked into the kitchen, where I Read More
