parenting Archives - Page 4 of 5

I Want to Live in a World Where I Can Filter Content in Movies

October 5, 2016 by Susan 8 Comments

Gah! I am sold out on this service we’ve discovered!! We just had a friend tell us about it last week and we’ve already used it twice.

I can’t count how many movies we’ve skipped over the years because of a just a scene or two with sexual content or pervasive language. Or movies that we watched years ago that we’d love to show our boys…except for that one part. You know what I’m talking about, right? If only we could filter content in movies…

Some years ago, there was a service that allowed people to rent movies and filter content as they chose. It was shut down pretty quickly, if I remember correctly, by Hollywood big-wigs crying, “Censorship!”

Enter VidAngel.

Kids Farm Party

September 28, 2016 by Susan Leave a Comment

I told you a few weeks ago I’d be sharing some of the themed kids parties we did for our boys over the years. We started with a Pirate themed party and next I’d like to give you some ideas if you’re planning a Farm Party.

Let me remind you, and ask for your grace, regarding the quality of the pictures. My kids are in 10th and 12th grades right now. These pictures were taken many years ago, and scanned from scrapbooks. Funny thing…when I look at my teenagers today, I still see the little boys in these pictures. (Pause for sentimental mom moment)

Kids Pirate Party

September 12, 2016 by Susan Leave a Comment

I have learned about myself that I need a creative outlet in my life. When I was teaching 2nd grade, I had lots of opportunities to be creative, now one thing I do is host regular, themed, girls movie nights. In between those times, a large part of my creative outlet was my kids’ birthday parties.

I’d like to share a few of them with you, in no particular order, starting with a Pirate Themed Party we had for my eldest when he turned 6. (Six! Excuse me while I have a short mom reflection…my little pirate is now 17.)

Because the party was so long ago, the pictures weren’t digital, so there wasn’t a lot of touching up I could do. And, did I mention that another creative outlet I had was scrapbooking? These pics were glued in scrapbooks, so you’ll notice my attempt at clever editing, I’m sure. Regardless, I hope you get some ideas for your next Pirate Soiree.

From Toddlers to Teens: Raising Kids Who Pray

August 29, 2016 by Susan 7 Comments

Teaching kids to pray doesn’t have to be formal instruction. Tangible ways to integrate prayer into our lives and raise kids who pray.

When I was in college, I was part of a youth ministry team. We taught classes, led activities, and were tasked with mentoring the young people in our community. Part of the training we received in mentoring encouraged us to spend time with the teens outside of class. Real discipling happens in the day to day. The “Hey, I’m going to the mall, would you like to join me?” and, “Let’s cook dinner together” moments.

That’s when real parenting happens too, you know.

After all, parenting is–at its heart– discipleship. God tells us what parenting our kids should look like in Deuteronomy 6 when He says,

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
-Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Family meetings, lectures, classes, going to church… all of those are good and beneficial things. But that’s not where our kids learn how to really follow God’s commandments…how to serve… how to pray.

Online Protection for Your Family: Keep Porn Out of Your Home

August 1, 2016 by Susan 15 Comments

We protect our family in every other way. Why do we forget this? We’re sharing real ways to protect your children and family from pornography online.

I don’t know a single mother that would let her child play near a street without supervising him. We make sure that our whole family is buckled in before we leave the driveway. I could make a list of 100 things we all do to protect our families every day.

Why in the world do we let our computers, cell phones and other devices go un-monitored?

You want to know why I think? I think that we want to believe that our husband, our children…that we are not susceptible to the myriad of temptation that awaits in cyberspace.

If you think that, I’ll start out nice. I’ll give you that one. Maybe your family is not ever tempted to do wrong online. Ever. But guess what? The bad stuff is so pervasive and sneaky that it shows up even when you’re not looking for it.

Laundry Lessons

June 8, 2016 by Susan 2 Comments

Isn’t it wonderful to have women in our life who go before us and leave a trail? I feel like it’s what Paul was talking about when he wrote his instructions in Titus 2 for the older women. We need that sometimes, don’t we?

I have always looked to those who were just ahead of me, with kids a bit older, for parenting help. Don’t we all?

Ideas. Strategies. Possibilities.

A lot of times it had to do with expectations for my children. I would hear a friend talking about what chores her child was doing, and would think, “hmmmm, I wonder if my boys could be doing that?”

I had a “hmmmmm” moment when my sister told me that she had her kids doing their own laundry in elementary school.

I don’t hate doing laundry. However, I started thinking about my sister’s system when the sock situation began.