Parenting Archives - Page 3 of 7

The Tradition of a Family Game for Christmas

December 11, 2017 by Susan 2 Comments

Family games for Christmas are a great idea! Links to lots of games your older kids and teens will love. Start a new tradition this Christmas!

Do you have a family gift tradition? Some families open new pajamas on Christmas eve. Some give a family movie or have a tradition of hot chocolate in new mugs.

We are a game playing family, and so we like to wrap up a new family game to open on Christmas. It started when the boys were quite young. Hungry Hungry Hippos was the first game made a family gift. Over the years our games have grown up with the boys.

If you’re looking for some unique ideas for a game for your family, I’ve compiled a round up here to give you some ideas. While many of these would be great for upper elementary aged kids and older, we got them because they’re games that both teens and adults enjoy playing.

How do you repay someone who saved your child’s life?

December 4, 2017 by Susan 19 Comments

Allie is a former neighbor and my boys’ favorite babysitter. She is the kind of young lady who would, every once in awhile, refuse payment, saying, “I just want to bless you.” Her ‘magic’ tricks kept the boys completely mesmerized. (I’m pretty sure this involved her hiding things behind her back and pulling them out with flourish, but what do I know?) My boys are teenagers now, older than Allie was when she babysat them.

And we owe her a debt of gratitude we can never repay. You see, my youngest son is here because of Allie.

Food for Thought #30

November 9, 2017 by Susan 2 Comments

I went to a blogging conference a few weeks ago. I LOVE conferences. Workshops. Key note speakers. Break-out sessions. {Swoon} And the thing about conferences is that it’s almost never totally new information that you’re getting. It’s the reminders that I love. Renewing convictions and re-lighting fires.

And that’s kind of how these articles are. Probably nothing you’ve never heard. But enjoy the reminders.

Maybe it would be cool if we watched movies without 58 ‘F’ Words

November 2, 2017 by Susan Leave a Comment

When your kids get to be teenagers, it gets easier and harder to do things you both enjoy.

Easier, because they’re older and can do more. And harder, because they are now their own person with interests that may not match up with yours.

Watching movies is something that most families can do together…if you can agree on a film.

My youngest casts a wide net when it comes to movies he enjoys. He’s definitely into the superhero flicks, but also enjoys stories with a slightly less predictable plot, a little out of the mainstream.

Unfortunately, many of these films are full of sex and language that we’re not comfortable with.

Do you bake with your kids?

October 30, 2017 by Susan 4 Comments

Baking with kids isn't just fun, it brings lots of benefits.

Do you worry that you’re not doing everything you should in the parenting arena? If not, my first question is…are you lying?

After all, we all have our own variety of parenting fears.

But one question I think all parents ask themselves is, “Am I doing enough?” And the answer to all of our worries is: No, we probably should be doing more.

Right? But that doesn’t mean that we’re not doing enough.

And some of the simplest ways we can improve our parenting may look overly simple. Things like: baking with your kids.

Hugh Hefner, Dennis Prager, and the Destructive Nature of Pornography

October 2, 2017 by Susan 8 Comments

I was so disappointed to hear Dennis Prager’s views on pornography recently, and equally pleased to see other men speaking truth on this important issue.

Hugh Hefner died last week. While I don’t revel in his death, the phrase ‘good riddance’ did cross my mind. Hefner contributed heavily to bringing pornography to the mainstream, making it more easily accessible and normalized. Grieving his death never entered my mind.

What did make me sad was hearing Dennis Prager speak about his father subscribing to Playboy. He said that he felt no shame over it. After all, his dad had been faithful to his mother for seventy-some years.