On Monday I'll be sending my 5 children, who span in age from 5 to 18 years old, to 3 different schools -- elementary, middle, and high Continue Reading
Random Reasons Why I Love Parenting Teenagers
As a parent of little ones, we often hear things like, "Just you wait until they are teenagers!" It's true the teen years are not always easy, but Continue Reading
The Wrong Kid: How to Let Go of Unnecessary Guilt
My son Paul learned how to ride his bike last week. This is seriously cool stuff for any 10 year old boy. This hits the Amazing Meter when Continue Reading
The 3 Critical Traits You Need to Teach Anyone Anything
I am a student of life. I love to learn and am not afraid of not knowing. It's scary at times, but I overcome fear by reminding myself I can learn Continue Reading
Doors are a Privilege at Our House
Bedroom doors are a privilege for kids at our house. If a teenager takes technology into his or her room outside of our family technology covenant Continue Reading
Before We Go Further — Shattering the Perfect Family Myth
Before we go further together, you as readers and I as writer, I need to make an important clarification. Rewind to 10 years ago, when our family Continue Reading
Zack is Sick Today: How to Live with Fear
Fear. There are people who seek out fear. People who jump out of airplanes. People who free climb on and swing off of mountains. No one chooses to Continue Reading
Never Say This to Someone Who is Hurting…(But Say This Instead).
This morning Mike and I corralled our son (kind of gently sat on) in order to remove a splinter from his finger. Extracting a teeny brown sliver of Continue Reading
This Morning Was Ugly — Parenting Children with Emotional Issues
This Morning Was Ugly. The last few hours of my life were ugly. At one point I was on my knees in the family room crying. I could hear one of my Continue Reading
An Adoption Conversation
Paul and I were looking through photographs on the computer and came upon pictures of Zack as a baby. Zack joined our family as our foster son when he Continue Reading
A Courageous Boy Needs a Brave Mom
Our family is hiking at the Black Canyon today. It's mid-afternoon and the sun is hot. We have stopped for a rest break. Our youngest son Zack is Continue Reading
How Do YOU Handle the Detours of Life?
A Countdown about the Last Day of our Camping Vacation One broken down van. Two hours waiting for the tow truck. Four beds at the Alpine Continue Reading
