Shannon

The Truth About Consequences

Should consequences be in the Christian parent’s tool box? Absolutely! Consequences can serve as powerful teaching moments for children; however, too often parents twist them into thinly veiled punishments, ultimately diminishing the valuable lesson that could be learned. Let’s find out how to effectively use consequences and why it might be best kept at theContinue reading “The Truth About Consequences”

To Raise Generous Children, Say No to Forced Sharing!

What to do instead? Teach them how to take turns. There is nothing inherently wrong with sharing, but the concept is vague and abstract. We need to resist the urge to “fix” the problem and instead resolve to teach our children how to be responsible for solving their own problems, A far more impactful “houseContinue reading “To Raise Generous Children, Say No to Forced Sharing!”

Flourishing Homes and Families Q&A

Discover the 5 burning questions I asked the authors of my new favorite parenting book: The Flourishing Family! Q: Amanda and David, can you tell me a little bit about your backgrounds and what you hope the book will achieve? A: Examining Christian parenting through the lens of sound theology is really important to us.Continue reading “Flourishing Homes and Families Q&A”

I Hate “Gentle” Parenting.

Oh, not the practice. Just the word gentle. Not sure who needs to hear this, but successfully navigating the complex parent-child relationship doesn’t happen by simply watching a few viral parenting clips on social media. Sadly, that seems to be the preferred process for many, especially the critics. A Christian thought leader might read aContinue reading “I Hate “Gentle” Parenting.”

No Perfect Parents by Dave & Ann Wilson, Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel, & Peacemaking for Families by Ken Sande

Pass ❌ ❌ ❌ Another stack of Christian parenting books that do not fully advocate for treating children with dignity and respect. I struggle writing reviews for books like these because inside of each of them you can find valuable wisdom, practical tips, and useful biblical guidance. However, with so little time for young familiesContinue reading “No Perfect Parents by Dave & Ann Wilson, Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel, & Peacemaking for Families by Ken Sande”

Stop Telling Children What Not to Do.

Giving directions in the negative form (what not to do) can even be confusing for adults, not to mention a small child with limited cognitive abilities. Instead, say what you want to see. To encourage our young children to cooperate (or “listen”), our words must clearly communicate exactly what it is we want from them.Continue reading “Stop Telling Children What Not to Do.”

Forced Obedience in Childhood Leads to Obedience to Christ: Bad Theology.

The divine command for children to obey their parents does not grant parents a free pass to enforce obedience through whatever means necessary. Ephesians 6:1: “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.” Who is Paul addressing in this passage? Children. Paul gave no instructionsContinue reading “Forced Obedience in Childhood Leads to Obedience to Christ: Bad Theology.”

Does Obeying the Literal Words of a Verse Make One’s Behavior “More Biblical”?

Or, is behavior “more Biblical” when the cross-culture principle is applied? Before I give you my answer to that doozy of a question, I want us to look at two different verses from the Book of Proverbs. The first verse I want to examine is not high on anyone’s list of “Verses to Memorize,” butContinue reading “Does Obeying the Literal Words of a Verse Make One’s Behavior “More Biblical”?”

Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina

Borrow 👍 A great journey through the scientific discoveries on brain development and the essential elements parents should keep in mind during the first 5 years of their child’s life- not just the diaper days. This book would have earned my highest honor of “Buy” had it not endorsed swift punishments and consequences- surprisingly, TheContinue reading “Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina”

The Easiest Parenting Tool You’re Not Using

This easy switch lands itself in my Top 3 Tools Every Parent Needs list. Check it out: “I know you want to keep playing, and it’s time for bed.” Did you catch that? The and instead of but? This simple change is not some magic parenting hack to get your children to listen to you—notContinue reading “The Easiest Parenting Tool You’re Not Using”

“Mom, Do I Have to go to Church!?”

“For it is throughist regular church attendance that ye shall be saved.” Oh shoot- that’s not in Bible? How about, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so noneContinue reading ““Mom, Do I Have to go to Church!?””

Parenting – Getting It Right by Andy & Sandra Stanley

Pass ❌ Except for a handful of gems here and there, this book mainly consists of anecdotes from Andy and Sandra’s childhoods and their experiences as parents. I’ll spare you story-time with the Stanleys and share with you some key takeaways from the book. A couple issues I had with the book: One issue wasContinue reading “Parenting – Getting It Right by Andy & Sandra Stanley”