The school day tends to bring a rhythm to a family’s life, a pattern to follow, a routine to stick to. This routine may have its own challenges, to be sure, but when a school break comes, many parents find themselves counting down the days for the kids to return to that routine! How do … Continue reading Parenting over a school break
Family life can be joyful, fun, and meaningful – and it can also be hard. Sometimes our family members frustrate us like no one else could. Every relationship has its ups and downs! But what can you do when your family is struggling with a long season of “down” and needs support? One helpful option … Continue reading The power of family counseling
Our imaginations paint summertime as a period of rest… sunshine, sweet tea, and sleeping in. But when was the last time you really felt that relaxed? Even our children now tend to fill the summer with camps, activities, and day trips. Our "vacations" quickly get filled with budgets, competing desires, tight schedules, cramped cars, and … Continue reading Can you relax on vacation?
Sibling rivalry has occurred since the first generations. Abel and Cain. Jacob and Esau. It is difficult to live in very close proximity to other people, and for young children it is natural to struggle on the path to learning life skills such as sharing, empathy, conflict resolution, and problem solving. Conflict between siblings is … Continue reading Managing sibling rivalry
God is our holy and perfect Father, and He gives us earthly fathers to protect, care for, and raise children. Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day. Will you join us in prayer for our fathers today? O God, you are our good Father. We praise you that we can trust you in absolutely everything. We thank … Continue reading A prayer for fathers
One of God’s earliest directives in the Bible is for Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply” – or we might say, “have kids, lots of kids, and be good moms and dads.” Today is Mother’s Day. Will you join us in prayer for our mothers today? Holy Father, you create us to live … Continue reading A prayer for mothers
One of the hardest things to do as a parent is to enforce discipline with your kids. It feels mean, and no parent enjoys their child crying or yelling. But discipline is required for them to learn boundaries, appropriate behavior, and helpful life skills. Select rules that make sense for your family Your family rules … Continue reading Developing the “Family Rules”
Clearly, God has created us to be in families. We see this in the first chapters of Genesis, as God tells his people to “be fruitful and multiply” (1:28), declares that “it is not good for man to be alone” (2:18) and proclaims that children will then leave their father and mother and unite to … Continue reading A prayer for our families
Today, Florence schools are celebrating "Read Across America" day to promote literacy in children. What a great goal! Reading is a great pastime with numerous benefits. It's free, it's entertaining, and it is a critical skill for school and work success. Do you read to your children? No matter how young or old your child is, … Continue reading Reading to your kids
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. These first two verses from Psalm 1 give us great insight into how to surround … Continue reading Surround yourself well