When it comes to celebrating motherhood, perfection is not the standard.
Parenting is difficult. Being a mother is especially difficult. Mothers often take or are given the responsibility for the success and/or failure of their children. So, mothers may feel disingenuous being celebrated. Mother’s Day, in particular, brings along its own set of expectations for moms. For some moms, Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/front-view-mother-playing-home-with-her-daughter-scaled-e1619790757676.jpg414900Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2021-04-30 09:53:172021-05-11 10:24:17Mom, Here Are 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Celebrated
Adults in the child's life are essential to help them grieve in a healthy way.
Death is often a difficult topic to discuss. It’s even more challenging to consider how you can help a child through the death of a parent. No matter what age, the death of a parent shifts your foundation. Therefore, it’s even more critical to find ways to support and help a child grieving the death…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jordan-whitt-KQCXf_zvdaU-unsplash-1-scaled-e1619560857668.jpg495899Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2021-04-27 18:01:102021-05-11 10:49:376 Things You Can Do to Help a Child Who Is Grieving the Death of a Parent
There are many common challenges and misunderstandings.
“In the English language there are orphans and widows, but there is no word for the parents who lose a child.” ~ Jodi Picoult Children bury their parents up on a hill. It’s the sad, natural cycle of life. But parents bury their kids deep in their hearts for the rest of their lives. Then,…
When each of my sons was born, I was ecstatic to add another person to our family. I thought about things we would do together, like buying matching outfits and taking family photos or trips together. I clearly remember one trip in particular. The boys were 11, 6, and 3. As we were driving to…
You can help them express themselves in healthy ways.
Eight years ago, my wife and I embarked on a journey. A journey with no map, no guidebook, and filled with mystery and surprise. A journey of blazing our own trails. You may know this journey… it’s called parenting. Now, here we are with two curious, fun-loving adventurers, one 8 and one 5. Both of…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/pexels-ketut-subiyanto-4546116-scaled-e1618930313120.jpg387900Mitchell Quallshttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngMitchell Qualls2021-04-20 10:52:082021-04-28 10:17:504 Ways to Help Your Child Deal With Anger
There’s nothing easy about seeing your child experience grief. It’s hard enough for adults to process losing someone we love. So we often wonder how their little minds are handling something so hard to understand. How can you help our child out? First, you need to know a few things about grief and children. Grief…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ksenia-makagonova-9y6oH2qHai0-unsplash-scaled-e1617812473794.jpg20481365Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2021-04-07 12:21:332021-04-13 12:07:26How to Help Your Child Deal With Grief
How they spend their time in front of a screen matters.
You’re a good parent. You wouldn’t call yourself one. You’re truly humbled by how much you don’t know about parenting. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed. Often, it’s like you’re flying by the seat of your pants. But you care. You’re trying hard at this parenting thing. So, you invest time in reading about health, nutrition, and…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pexels-ola-dapo-3521937-scaled-e1617219512640.jpg321900John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2021-03-31 15:38:422021-04-13 11:45:303 Reasons To Let Your Child Have More Screen Time
Developing a framework can allow your family to prioritize what you value.
Every time I stand in line at the grocery store, I look at the magazines near the register. I often pick up one that has a headline about being organized on its cover. As someone who is not naturally organized, I’ve worked hard to understand the importance of being organized and having routines or schedules.…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cute-family-playing-summer-field-scaled-e1617045231528.jpg351900Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2021-03-29 15:14:052021-04-08 09:56:434 Ways Having a Routine Contributes to a Happy, Healthy Family
I was 5 and mad at my mom. I forget why. But I do remember I was packing my bags and hitting the road. In a rockstar parenting move, my unshakable mother began packing sandwiches for me to take on my run-away trip. “Whhattt?” you may scream. “How could she?? That’s so… mean… insensitive… emotionally…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tim-mossholder-FIdkkBWmF7Y-unsplash-e1617038296336.jpg428900Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2021-03-29 13:18:282021-03-30 09:45:05How to Be an Emotionally Safe Parent
These tips can help you navigate this trying time.
Every parent wants to see their children grow to live happy and successful lives. This is why it can be difficult to watch from the sidelines as their marriage is falling apart. Many parents have stayed up at night trying to think of how they can best help their adult children, or even if they…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/kelly-sikkema-DzgRvB-4Lrk-unsplash-scaled-e1615986227556.jpg244600Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2021-03-17 09:03:572021-03-22 23:11:09What to Do When Your Child’s Marriage is Falling Apart
From the moment you announce your pregnancy, it seems like everyone offers you parenting advice. You’re inundated with opinions about everything from sleeping and the right kinds of diapers to preparing you for the terrible twos. (By the way, that actually lasts from 18 months until about 3. You’re welcome.) Actually, I believe there’s no…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pexels-william-fortunato-6392803-scaled-e1615985855992.jpg235600Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2021-03-17 08:58:342021-03-22 22:41:04How to Deal with the Terrible Twos
You can help them navigate the world of online relationships.
Take a deep breath. You may have just realized that your child might be a cyberbully. Ugh. And now you’ve got to a) Find out if it’s true, and b) If it is, try to address it so that it stops. Whether you read a social media post, heard from another parent or teacher, or…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/daria-nepriakhina-_XR5rkprHQU-unsplash-scaled-e1615477364330.jpg288900Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2021-03-11 10:42:552021-03-11 12:29:00I Think My Child Is Cyberbullying… What Do I Do?
Cyberbullying has been on the rise for a while, but it has escalated during the pandemic. And it’s no wonder, due to virtual school, increased technology, and the flexibility parents have been giving to digital boundaries. Our kids are highly active online. They’re digital natives. This is the world they are growing up in. Safety…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pexels-rodnae-productions-6936070-e1614858302454.jpg344900Mitchell Quallshttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngMitchell Qualls2021-03-04 06:45:132021-03-09 08:58:00What to Do if Your Child is Being Cyberbullied
Before you had children, you may have seen the TV show, Kids Say the Darndest Things. If so, you might have thought your child would NEVER say anything like that. Then it happened. Perhaps you were horrified as you watched your sweet baby snatch a toy from a friend and scream, “MINE!” Or while pushing…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/pexels-anete-lusina-5240500-scaled-e1614347987459.jpg398900Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2021-02-26 09:00:032021-03-09 08:42:47How to Teach Your Child to Be Empathetic
Equip your child to handle their feelings with these tips.
I was a depressed child. It’s sort of a long story. But that part of my life prompted me to better understand mental health and how to prevent issues with depression, especially when it came to my own kids. Because let’s face it—when our children hurt, we hurt. And there’s a certain balance we have…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/chinh-le-duc-TV1QYUtTxJ8-unsplash-scaled-e1613488588858.jpg425900Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2021-02-16 10:17:102021-03-01 14:02:31How to Prevent Depression from Affecting Your Child
Get ready to learn from and interact with people of many different cultures.
February 28th will come and go. Another Black History month completed. Your kids did a neat Black History project at school. You learned about Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, slavery, and Frederick Douglass. Now it’s back to normal. But you don’t want it to be. You want Black History month to positively impact how…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/pexels-emma-bauso-2833393-scaled-e1613485408894.jpg13672048Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2021-02-16 09:23:392021-02-18 12:11:24How Your Family Can Celebrate Black History Month All Year Round
As a parent, you’re constantly looking for things that can harm your child. Remember the “baby-proofing” you did? If you’re anything like me, you actually got on the floor to scope out things that could potentially harm your little one. Well, as they grow, so does your intuition. Maybe you’ve got a “gut feeling” that…
Use this day to connect and make memories with your daughter.
Okay, just between us dads, let’s be real. For some of you, Valentine’s Day is, well, kind of enjoyable. That’s alright—no judgment here! But many guys see V-Day as a high-pressure hassle. Do I have to actually read the entire V-Day card before I buy it? Can I get away with carnations (the cheaper option)…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AdobeStock_268604160-copy-e1613065838128.png7622048Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2021-02-08 13:26:002021-02-11 12:50:595 Ways Dads and Daughters Can Celebrate Valentine’s Day
Deepen your parent-child relationship as you learn together!
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we are better together. 2020 exposed the continuing racial divisions we have in our country. But we can move forward and come together to learn about each other’s history and experiences. As parents, we’re in the best position to help our kids learn values, understand experiences, and…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AdobeStock_267930036-scaled-e1612800097272.jpeg13652048Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2021-02-08 11:01:492021-02-09 11:50:17How to Talk to Your Child About Black History Month
You and your daughter used to be “besties.” She was your princess; you were her knight in shining armor. Y’all were like peas and carrots, PB and jelly, Gronk and Brady… Then KABLAM! She turned into a teenager. Which resulted in radio silence… Been there, currently doing that, wearing the proverbial t-shirt at this very…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AdobeStock_52390757-scaled-e1611611627126.jpeg13652048Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2021-01-25 16:54:012021-01-25 17:24:26Five Reasons Teen Girls Stop Talking to Their Dads
Mom, Here Are 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Celebrated
Parenting is difficult. Being a mother is especially difficult. Mothers often take or are given the responsibility for the success and/or failure of their children. So, mothers may feel disingenuous being celebrated. Mother’s Day, in particular, brings along its own set of expectations for moms. For some moms, Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate…
6 Things You Can Do to Help a Child Who Is Grieving the Death of a Parent
Death is often a difficult topic to discuss. It’s even more challenging to consider how you can help a child through the death of a parent. No matter what age, the death of a parent shifts your foundation. Therefore, it’s even more critical to find ways to support and help a child grieving the death…
Grieving Infertility and Miscarriages
“In the English language there are orphans and widows, but there is no word for the parents who lose a child.” ~ Jodi Picoult Children bury their parents up on a hill. It’s the sad, natural cycle of life. But parents bury their kids deep in their hearts for the rest of their lives. Then,…
How to Stop Sibling Arguments
When each of my sons was born, I was ecstatic to add another person to our family. I thought about things we would do together, like buying matching outfits and taking family photos or trips together. I clearly remember one trip in particular. The boys were 11, 6, and 3. As we were driving to…
4 Ways to Help Your Child Deal With Anger
Eight years ago, my wife and I embarked on a journey. A journey with no map, no guidebook, and filled with mystery and surprise. A journey of blazing our own trails. You may know this journey… it’s called parenting. Now, here we are with two curious, fun-loving adventurers, one 8 and one 5. Both of…
How to Help Your Child Deal With Grief
There’s nothing easy about seeing your child experience grief. It’s hard enough for adults to process losing someone we love. So we often wonder how their little minds are handling something so hard to understand. How can you help our child out? First, you need to know a few things about grief and children. Grief…
3 Reasons To Let Your Child Have More Screen Time
You’re a good parent. You wouldn’t call yourself one. You’re truly humbled by how much you don’t know about parenting. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed. Often, it’s like you’re flying by the seat of your pants. But you care. You’re trying hard at this parenting thing. So, you invest time in reading about health, nutrition, and…
4 Ways Having a Routine Contributes to a Happy, Healthy Family
Every time I stand in line at the grocery store, I look at the magazines near the register. I often pick up one that has a headline about being organized on its cover. As someone who is not naturally organized, I’ve worked hard to understand the importance of being organized and having routines or schedules.…
How to Be an Emotionally Safe Parent
I was 5 and mad at my mom. I forget why. But I do remember I was packing my bags and hitting the road. In a rockstar parenting move, my unshakable mother began packing sandwiches for me to take on my run-away trip. “Whhattt?” you may scream. “How could she?? That’s so… mean… insensitive… emotionally…
What to Do When Your Child’s Marriage is Falling Apart
Every parent wants to see their children grow to live happy and successful lives. This is why it can be difficult to watch from the sidelines as their marriage is falling apart. Many parents have stayed up at night trying to think of how they can best help their adult children, or even if they…
How to Deal with the Terrible Twos
From the moment you announce your pregnancy, it seems like everyone offers you parenting advice. You’re inundated with opinions about everything from sleeping and the right kinds of diapers to preparing you for the terrible twos. (By the way, that actually lasts from 18 months until about 3. You’re welcome.) Actually, I believe there’s no…
I Think My Child Is Cyberbullying… What Do I Do?
Take a deep breath. You may have just realized that your child might be a cyberbully. Ugh. And now you’ve got to a) Find out if it’s true, and b) If it is, try to address it so that it stops. Whether you read a social media post, heard from another parent or teacher, or…
What to Do if Your Child is Being Cyberbullied
Cyberbullying has been on the rise for a while, but it has escalated during the pandemic. And it’s no wonder, due to virtual school, increased technology, and the flexibility parents have been giving to digital boundaries. Our kids are highly active online. They’re digital natives. This is the world they are growing up in. Safety…
How to Teach Your Child to Be Empathetic
Before you had children, you may have seen the TV show, Kids Say the Darndest Things. If so, you might have thought your child would NEVER say anything like that. Then it happened. Perhaps you were horrified as you watched your sweet baby snatch a toy from a friend and scream, “MINE!” Or while pushing…
How to Prevent Depression from Affecting Your Child
I was a depressed child. It’s sort of a long story. But that part of my life prompted me to better understand mental health and how to prevent issues with depression, especially when it came to my own kids. Because let’s face it—when our children hurt, we hurt. And there’s a certain balance we have…
How Your Family Can Celebrate Black History Month All Year Round
February 28th will come and go. Another Black History month completed. Your kids did a neat Black History project at school. You learned about Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, slavery, and Frederick Douglass. Now it’s back to normal. But you don’t want it to be. You want Black History month to positively impact how…
Is Your Child Depressed?
As a parent, you’re constantly looking for things that can harm your child. Remember the “baby-proofing” you did? If you’re anything like me, you actually got on the floor to scope out things that could potentially harm your little one. Well, as they grow, so does your intuition. Maybe you’ve got a “gut feeling” that…
5 Ways Dads and Daughters Can Celebrate Valentine’s Day
Okay, just between us dads, let’s be real. For some of you, Valentine’s Day is, well, kind of enjoyable. That’s alright—no judgment here! But many guys see V-Day as a high-pressure hassle. Do I have to actually read the entire V-Day card before I buy it? Can I get away with carnations (the cheaper option)…
How to Talk to Your Child About Black History Month
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we are better together. 2020 exposed the continuing racial divisions we have in our country. But we can move forward and come together to learn about each other’s history and experiences. As parents, we’re in the best position to help our kids learn values, understand experiences, and…
Five Reasons Teen Girls Stop Talking to Their Dads
You and your daughter used to be “besties.” She was your princess; you were her knight in shining armor. Y’all were like peas and carrots, PB and jelly, Gronk and Brady… Then KABLAM! She turned into a teenager. Which resulted in radio silence… Been there, currently doing that, wearing the proverbial t-shirt at this very…
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