There were four little boys gathered together and the larger boy, stepped out from the pack and growled, quite loudly, “Get away, we don’t want to play with you!” I…
Tweens & Teens
Who’s Keeping Score?
Have you ever been through one of those seasons in life when you just can’t seem to get your head above water? Just being called “mom” likely puts you in…
Before You Sign Up For A New Activity, Ask This Question
My inbox is constantly bombarded with invitations from my kids’ school. Do my children want to join swimming, tennis, robotics, karate, soccer, chess, basketball, or baseball? Some activities are free,…
A Resolution To Stop Cussing
Have you noticed the words teenagers use on Facebook? They know we’re watching. What do you think they’re saying when we aren’t? Perhaps most upsetting to me is how normalized profanity…
How to Prevent Chores Gone Crazy
If you sing these words to the Jason Mraz song “I’m Yours,” you will see a glimpse into the Hawkins home — well, actually more like a glimpse into my husband’s…
When a Mother’s Love Is Not Enough: 11 Things We Can Do to Help Our Children Through Trials
As I made my way up and down the aisles in the grocery story, my thoughts were at home with my child who was hurting. As I passed the candy…
Are Screens Harming Your Child’s Communication Skills?
I remember when my daughter Lucy was two, she would scream “MILK!” from her chair like an irate tyrant. I quickly realized that was not the right way to communicate. …
5 Thoughts That Will Help You Teach Your Daughter About Beauty
Often when I talk with moms who have young daughters, they talk about their desire to teach their precious little girls the true meaning of beauty. They want them to…
What Are Selfies Doing To Our Kids?
When I was growing up, the camera of choice was the Polaroid. I took pictures of my gray and white cat Pokie. I took pictures of my friends, shaking the…
5 Ways to Protect Children from Pornography
A few weeks ago, a colleague in the Christian publishing and speaking world suddenly needed an audience with me and my team … and fast. You see, over the weekend…