While playing in the yard with my kids a few days ago, I spotted a carpenter bee buzzing on the ground. Unable to fly, the little thing wasn’t long for this world. I promptly forgot him. Carpenter bees aren’t known for their endearing qualities, so it wasn’t as though he would be missed among the … More Little Bee Girl: Loving the One Nobody Wants
There have been a few photos going viral of parents standing calmly by with a serene looks on their faces as a child thrashes on the floor in the throes of a tantrum. Commenters celebrate what a great gift they are giving their child by supporting the child’s emotional expression. I’m not here to judge. … More Why you won’t see me standing calmly while my child cries on the grocery store floor…..
When you were four years old, playing on the beach, you ran to me. “Mommy! I found some shells!” I hurried over and looked, expecting to see a few common cockle shells in your hand. I couldn’t believe it. In the flat of your palm was a sand dollar. A tiny thing no bigger than … More Dear Daughter, I’m Sorry for the Broken Pieces
I’ve been discussing the difficulty of change lately. Challenges, barriers, complexities. Today, I want to take a moment and remind us all of the simple elements of change, the power of consistency, and how small things become big things. So the question is, can a cup of coffee change your life? Some of you know … More How A Cup of Coffee Changed My Marriage
The Christmas season is drawing near. Here is the story of an ADHD child’s struggle to make Santa’s good list. I hope it challenges us all on how we think about the Christmas season. I was driving the kids home from their gymnastics class one early October day. It had been a rough day. … More A Christmas Question from an ADHD Child: Have I Been Good Enough?
I don’t love being vulnerable with complete strangers. Honestly I limped through writing this, but I know I’m not the only one out there who deals with such struggles. So here we go.
“Are you ready to get out of the bathtub?”
I’ve become a parent in the age of pitchfork parenting. Every accident and mishap is someone’s “fault.” People join the hunt, pitchforks in hand, to expose parental insufficiency, and tout how “I would never.” In a time of reflection I stumbled on a key reason this cultural phenomenon occurs.
I want to start by saying it’s NEVER my intention to stir pots or poke wounds, but I also recognize the inevitability of unintentionally offending someone because I walk in a land full of hurting people who’ve been through horrible experiences. I fear you can’t hear my tone, my compassion, or my aching heart through … More Serpent-Doves Among Wolves
I might be able to fool myself into believing that I’ve got my life together. I might even be able to fool you. But I can never fool my children. Not even for a second. They are little emissaries of the Holy Spirit, tapping me on my shoulder whenever I let things get out of … More Mary or Martha?
It’s Mother’s Day weekend. It’s a weekend celebrated with Facebook posts, sticky hugs and kisses, and cute handprint cards. There will be recognition at churches across the country on the virtues of motherhood, honoring a tribe of women who make the world go round. Smiles and sunshine abound, but you look from the outside in … More To the Women With Aching Arms on Mother’s Day
Jesus, lover of my soul, let my faith be like that of a three-year-old. … More The Faith of A Child
God’s grace is sufficient for melted crayons. … More Crayons in the Dryer
My Chronicle of Grocery Shopping with Kids… It never fails. I go cruising in the grocery store, wearing the baby in the carrier, one child in the seat, one child walking. My hair is neat. I’ve shed my lounge clothes for an actual outfit. I might even be wearing make-up. My grocery list is at … More How I spent $5 and Got 2 Hours of my Life Back
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