Dare You to Think Different as you Parent Your Teens

This week I dared to be different.   You see, I spoke at an all women’s christian leadership retreat and wore hot pink nails.  Now I know that some of you are saying, “So what?  I do that all the time.”  Others are saying, “You are kidding, right?” But let me explain further. I tend to […]

What Can I do When Dad is Out-of-Control?

It has been amazing to me the number of women who have shared stories of out-of-control behavior from their spouses.  Their teen does something to upset dad and the war is on. It makes me sad. And I’m betting that if you are in that situation in your home, then your feelings are even more […]

What’s Your Parenting Perspective?

In the midst of a pandemic I see fear almost everywhere I turn.  From the grocery store isles with people backing away so others don’t get too close, to the salons with plastic shower curtains creating the great divide, the need for hope is apparent.  This post isn’t about whether we should be firm in […]

Is Your Home Filled With Laughter?

When our kids are little it is easy to laugh at the cute things they say and do.  Even during those early years of school we watch with excitement as they encounter new experiences and are filled with wonder.  And then as our kids become tweens and teens the climate in most homes changes.  Instead […]

50 Things I Learned From Raising a Challenging Child

A Tribute to Our Daughter August 8, 1988-May 30, 2017

Emerging into the world our daughter arrived six minutes after I had waddled through the emergency entrance at the hospital doors.  Our family joke was that she was the creator of drama and the day of her birth was the beginning.  She had orderlies, nurses, and doctors frantically hustling for her grand entrance while my husband, Dave, was […]

When Your Kids Are Angry at You

And When You Mess Up As a Parent

It didn’t take long for me to realize that my kid was still angry at me.  Sitting at the breakfast table there was no small-talk to be had.  Focused on the food in front of her, I sensed the “I’m not going to acknowledge you” communication. It had all started innocently, but had become a […]