DEAR TIRED MAMA: I’m not writing this to shame you, or make you feel guilty about your parenting choices, as if this fact of life makes you a “bad mom.” But I’m a mom of 7 (going on 8) who spends a lot of my life analyzing problems in my own parenting and coming up…
Category: Grow as Mom
3 Firsts From my 7th Birth That I’m Planning to Repeat With My 8th
I’ve had 7 different birth experiences in 7 different places, with 7 different care providers. Yes, you read that right! 5 different hospitals (in VA, TX, Thailand, and Turkey) on 3 continents + 2 home births in different states I’ve never had the same hospital, or the same doctor or midwife, twice. Lord willing, this…
So You Want to Have a Large Family?
So you want to have a large family? Or you’re on the fence and thinking about having more kids? Maybe your husband wants more, and you’re not sure? Or vice-versa? Before we got married, we both wanted a “lot of kids.” But back then we would have said that number was something like 3-5 kids. NOW?…
Q&A: Teens & Rude Tone of Voice?
Q: “My son (13 almost 14) often has a scowl on his face for no reason. I assume he is grump mode. I could be talking, reading scripture, or just driving with him. I ask “What’s wrong?” or say “Why are you having attitude?” Then he lashes out “Uh! MOM!….” I am likely to blame…
When Your Kids Try to Boss You Around
Q: I am amazed by how I am noticing *already* eye rolling, sighing, attitude in general from my 5 and 3 year olds. We have zero tolerance at our house for disrespectful attitudes, and we also require obedience (“you obey Mommy the first time, with no sass.”). I am starting to notice especially with my…
Listen to Decide: Is Perfect Motherhood Your Idol?
Last weekend at our church, we had a ladies’ conference called “Identity in Christ.” In my session, I discussed how the roles of womanhood, and particularly motherhood, can be idolatrous if we let them form the basis for our identity. DON’T MISS THIS! CLICK NOW TO LISTEN — “Identity Idolatry” IDOLATRY SHOWS UP IN OUR DESIRES &…
Baby #8 and Why I Pick My Own Due Date
Exciting news! Baby #8 is on the way. 🙂 (Which you already know if you read last Monday’s post about Doug’s tremors. By the way- he ended up hospitalized and it became obvious it was his narcolepsy medicines causing his tremors. Thankfully, now that he’s off the meds, it’s all but stopped.) We are all…
Q&A: Getting Kids to Stay in Their Beds?
Q: How do you get your kids to stay in their beds? Mine are continuously coming out until 10:00 some (a lot of) nights. So the time between 8:30 (when they go to bed) and 10:00 (when they finally fall asleep) is spent herding them back to bed, getting them drinks, laying down with them, etc….
Q&A: Keeping Children Near Mom?
One mom posed this question after reading my article, A Child Left To Himself. Q: I have two little girls (2.5 and 10 months). I would love to hear how you manage this [keeping kids near you and watching and training them throughout the day] practically and still get things done! When you say they are near are they…
Getting on the Same Parenting Page as Your Husband
Q: How often do you sit with your husband and discuss how you handle disciplining the kids as a team? And what does that look like during the day when he is working and you are home? Are there instances when you bring things up in the evenings for him to work through with your…