Sooner or later, there comes a time when your kids don’t need you quite as much as they once did. They have their own things to do and places to go that don’t require your constant presence, and you suddenly find yourself with time again to put more effort into your career, time to plan […]

Family, Fun

August 31, 2017

The In-Between Years

Navigating the In-Between Years

I am now entering Day Four of a family vacation to Chattanooga and Gatlinburg and I am learning by this experience that nothing will try your patience like your own children. I mean, we’re having a blast– swimming in hotel pools, eating lots of ice cream, giggling our way through mirror mazes, shopping for souvenirs, […]

Live

October 18, 2011

Patience: Every Parent Needs It

I wrote this post back in March, while I was attending Beth Moore’s Living Beyond Yourself Bible Study at my church. A change in my work schedule kept me from completing that study– and so I decided a few weeks ago to do it again, this time online with those of you who wanted to […]

Live

September 27, 2011

Searching for My Crown

We are now smack dab in the middle of my favorite time of year. FALL. After a long, hot summer, my family comes alive in the fall, along with the rest of our city. Tennessee is especially beautiful right now as the leaves change, and we fill our weekends trying to cram in as many […]

Play

September 25, 2011

The Golden Season

If you have more than one child, then you are probably familiar with the hair-ripping, clothes-tearing, all-out frustration that occurs when your kids won’t stop fighting. When my four and seven-year-olds play nicely, the angels sing and all is well with the world. But when they argue, I find myself fantasizing about booking a one-way […]

Live

September 16, 2011

Bonded

Your child will lose a total of 20 baby teeth before his or her 32 adult teeth grow in. This is an important number to remember, because it means that you will be responsible for locating a tiny tooth under your child’s pillow while he or she sleeps and replacing it with money up to […]

Live

September 7, 2011

Enough is Enough

“Mommy, I have great news!” seven-year-old Punky bubbled as she got in the car yesterday after school. “What is it?” I said, smiling at her in the rearview mirror. “Well, I’ve found something new to do at school!” Punky said importantly. “It means I’ll be doing less work… but don’t worry, because I’ll be talking […]

Live

September 2, 2011

You Think You’ve Got Problems?

When I was a kid, going to the supermarket with my mom was something I tried my best to avoid. Now, though, the game has changed. Driven by competitive fever to corner the mom market, our local Kroger has made itself into a veritable carnival of pleasures for the under ten set. Samples of store-baked […]

Live

March 2, 2011

Death by Balloon