I never knew so much ‘tude could exist in one little body. My four-year-old sat perched on the edge of his bed: arms crossed, eyes narrowed, and sweet lips pressed into a firm line of defiance. His chest heaved from the Oscar-worthy performance he’d just displayed as he protested the great injustice of having to…
The Most Dangerous Place: Creating a Culture of Life for Our Children
This article originally appeared at gsocarecenter.org. We walked with the crowd of people toward an old, dilapidated building. Angry weeds forced their way through every visible crack and crevice. The building rested at the end of a long driveway, and volunteers in brightly colored vests lined either side. We walked in silence as an overwhelming…
You’re Still Happy with Me, Right?
I exited the room, arms full of folded towels. The goal was to put them in the linen closet and come back for the rest of the clothes. I couldn’t have been gone more than ten seconds. Sometimes ten seconds is all it takes. When I entered the living room, every piece of freshly folded…
What Do Scary Things Do?
“I’m afraid of spiders.”
My almost four-year-old eyed me and then quickly redirected his gaze to his toys. His tone was apologetic.
Throw Off Laziness
“NO, I will NEVER do what you want me to do. Never. NEVEEEEEERRR!!!” His footsteps pounded down the hall, followed by the sharp slam of his bedroom door. Ah, you’re probably thinking, the teenage years. Those are tough. Nope. He’s three. THREE. I stared down the hall after my Drama King. Wow. So many little…
When My Children Shake Me
“Are you sorry for snapping at me?” I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. Shame washed over me as I replayed the outburst in my head. How was it possible that one three-year-old could make my blood boil so easily? I looked at my son, staring at me with his impossibly blue…
3 Weeks of God-Focused Fall Activities for Young Children
If you’re like me, you might get a little overwhelmed with the 3,643 events that happen in the fall. It kind of seems like there’s a tad bit of pressure to do ALL the things. After all, if you don’t enjoy a pumpkin-spiced-something while wearing cute wedge boots and carving a pumpkin…did fall even happen? I’m…
Every Heart Wants the Story
He had to use both arms and tilt his body sideways to support its weight, but you could spot the puffed out chest and unfettered pride from a mile away. A certain three-year-old had a brand new Bible. “This is God’s true Word, Ryleigh,” he told his baby sister. “Be gentle with it.” Ryleigh stuffed…
3 Surefire Ways to Suck the Fun from Time with Your Kids
I’ve only been a mom for 3.5 years now. Not long enough for me to master much of anything, but plenty long enough for me to learn that I’m capable of sucking the fun out of everything. Seriously. Everything. Being Type A and all, I tend to approach life with an I-will-conquer-you-and-be-productive-or-die-trying kind of attitude….
Made in His Image
I tilted the bag upside down and watched as the potting soil tumbled into the large plastic container. As the mound of dirt grew higher, my children’s eyes grew wider. My 14-month-old gasped in delight and my three-year-old began a dance not unlike the I’ve-really-gotta-go dance. Back and forth, left foot, right foot. The kind…
