How can you make visitation count? Many divorced parents face the reality of divided time with their children. Arrangements vary from weekend visitation to splitting time with each parent right down the middle. This often creates problems between the two homes: sometimes one parent is strict and the other is lenient, one parent may try…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/caroline-hernandez-TMpQ5R9mbOc-unsplash-1.jpg8531280Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-04-23 00:00:002020-11-06 11:36:02How You Can Make Visitation Count
“Raising kids through the adolescent years is like guiding your family in a raft through whitewater rapids,” says Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Running the Rapids: Guiding Teenagers through the Turbulent Waters of Adolescence. Like going down the river trying to navigate rapids, rocks and other hidden dangers, there is definite risk in experiencing the adolescent…
My son started high school this year and it made me reflect on his life and my own. Sometimes I find it hard to imagine not having my son with me 24/7. The truth is, we parent our teens to leave the nest from our home to another one – their own. It’s hard for…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cole-hutson-73051-unsplash-scaled.jpg13662048First Things Firsthttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2018-04-17 13:47:562020-11-06 13:54:49Preparing a Teen to Leave the Nest
Parents, teachers, coaches, gather round. If you have a teenager in your life, listen up. I may have stumbled onto some insight into the secret digital lives of teenagers. I have some reliable info about their phones and the things they experience on social media. If you have witnessed a teen with a phone grafted…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/priscilla-du-preez-216790-unsplash-scaled.jpg13662048John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2018-04-17 13:37:172020-11-06 11:51:57The Digital Lives of American Teenagers
Parenting a teenager is a tough job. Since my teenage son has not been packing his lunches for school, he is beginning to understand what responsibility looks like as he experiences hunger during lunch. Should I feel guilty about not taking time off work to take him a lunch while also spending extra money on…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/elijah-henderson-48573-unsplash-scaled.jpg13662048First Things Firsthttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2018-03-29 14:22:342020-11-06 12:42:22Parenting a Teenager
I just experienced one of the most important days in the life of my youngest son. It was his football team’s Super Bowl game. This year marked their 3rd trip in a row and this season has been one of their best. They went undefeated in the regular season and claimed victory to one playoff…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ben-hershey-579712-unsplash.jpg17002559Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2018-03-29 13:49:532020-11-06 13:00:33You Win Some, You Lose Some
Planning how you'll spend your time can make the breaks more fun.
Thanks to online shopping, my purchases were virtually complete. I asked my family what they wanted, and then I bought a few perfect presents (within my budget, of course). But after the shopping was complete, I needed to plan how we’d spend Christmas break together. For. Two. Whole. Weeks. I didn’t want to waste precious…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/michael-nunes-527010-unsplash.jpg13652048Kris Nashhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngKris Nash2018-03-29 13:38:012021-12-21 10:29:59How To Make The Most of Breaks From School
Thanksgiving a month early?? But why??? Well. My oldest son is now a college freshman… and the cost of travel (as well as his school schedule) made it impossible for us to celebrate Thanksgiving on the traditional 4th Thursday of November—so we did it early. I’ve taught families through our parenting classes at First Things…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/hannah-busing-592814-unsplash-scaled.jpg13662048Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2018-03-29 13:30:182020-11-12 13:02:17We Celebrated Thanksgiving A Month Early
These tips can help you talk to your teen about sexting.
Dr. Sheri Madigan and her research team wanted to know the prevalence of sexting behavior (sharing of sexually explicit images and videos through technological means) among youth. Between 2006 and 2016, they conducted a meta-analysis, looking at 39 different studies about sexting that included 110,380 young people from all over the world, including the United States.Studies indicate that sexting has been on the rise among teens while teen sex has declined.
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/darya-ogurtsova-tngVRPFJS7E-unsplash-scaled.jpg13662048Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-03-26 00:00:002022-02-23 11:54:06Sexting And Your Teen
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ryan-tauss-jVwb9LjxJ08-unsplash.jpg8531280Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-03-19 00:00:002022-07-29 15:22:25The Reason Why Boys Are Struggling
Some couples marry and have lots of time to nurture their relationship before children come along. Other couples marry and bring children into the marriage relationship immediately. Either way, when children enter the picture, the marriage relationship often resembles two ships passing in the night.There is no question that parenting focuses a lot of energy and love toward the children.
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/anna-pritchard-Krw4JKbqr8g-unsplash-1.jpg8331250Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-03-19 00:00:002022-09-30 11:03:48How to Balance Marriage and Children
Date night may need some serious resuscitation. Redbook magazine found that 45 percent of couples rarely have date nights, while only 18 percent said they go out once a month.This is sad news, since marriage experts say you can keep your marriage strong, healthy and adventuresome by spending regular time together doing something you both enjoy. Couples who intentionally spend time together often marvel at the positive impact it has on their marriage and family.An astonishing 80 percent of marria…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/tim-foster-hRZ5s-IPCWE-unsplash.jpg14332150Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-03-13 00:00:002020-11-12 15:01:07Is Date Night Dead?
An alert American Airlines ticket agent has been hailed a hero after preventing two teen girls from becoming part of a human trafficking scam. The girls showed up with one-way first-class tickets to New York City from California. They had no identification on them and the agent discovered the tickets were purchased with a fraudulent credit card.
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/nicholas-gercken-LWPAWvTy1NU-unsplash.jpg9381250Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-03-12 06:30:002020-11-12 15:25:36What You Can Do to End Human Trafficking
Almost everyone looks forward to spring break! For those who have a trip planned, the impatience and excitement are probably palpable. But, if you're not going out of town, you might be anxious about the idea of planning fun activities for your “staycation.”In this day and age, frugal, fun and free entertainment for your children for an entire week is not always easy to find.
In a matter of days there has been a mass shooting at a Florida school, a drive-by shooting at a local eatery and bar, and a tragic accident resulting in a young mother’s death.Some say these events make them want to go somewhere and hide. Unfortunately, running away from it all is not an option for most people, but you can take steps to help keep your family members safe.We have all been taught to “stop, drop and roll” in the event of a fire, and for years we have taught children about stranger…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/haydn-golden-92MO4LHBOgk-unsplash-e1584144848223.jpg15451280Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-02-26 06:30:002020-11-12 14:36:13Tips for Creating a Family Safety Plan
Did you know that nearly half of girls ages 3 to 6 worry about being fat, and about one-third would change a physical attribute, such as their weight or hair color? That’s what Stacey Tantleff-Dunn found when she conducted a study at the University of Central Florida. Girls and boys of all ages are bombarded with messages of how they should look and dress and what defines beauty. Based on these definitions, they begin a lifelong quest to be beautiful – often doing unhealthy things tha…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/BodyImageAndYourKids-alisa-anton-370864.jpg9001400Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-02-12 06:30:002020-12-04 13:40:34Body Image and Your Kids
Carol Dweck is a pioneering researcher in the field of motivation. In her book, “Mindset,” she addresses why people succeed or don’t, and how to foster success through the power of yet.She tells the story of a Chicago school where students had to pass a series of courses in order to graduate. If they did not successfully pass the courses they were given the grade of “not yet.” Dweck thought that was brilliant. “If you get a failing grade, you feel like a failure,” she says, “But…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/jonathan-borba-pfJnQLKfdtw-unsplash-e1584145766983.jpg14291250Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-01-22 00:00:002022-06-02 11:37:37How to Encourage a Growth Mindset in Kids
There are plenty of parents doing the happy dance as they whisk their children back to school after the holidays. Moms or dads whose children stay with them all the time may be wringing their hands at this point though, trying to creatively keep their kids occupied and not begging to play games on electronic devices. Depending on the age of your children, inside activities may be the order of the day when it’s cold outside. To help you stay sane and create some really fun memories, here are…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/emily-webster-slHj-A9HQp0-unsplash-e1584145913639.jpg6091250Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2018-01-15 06:30:002020-11-12 15:57:37Keeping Your Sanity with the Kids When It’s Cold Outside
Jeff* celebrated his first Father’s Day when his daughter was 9-months-old, and he is thankful for that day with her. Jeff is a single father who shares custody of his daughter with his ex.“Our relationship ended shortly before our child was born,” says Jeff. “Things were crazy.
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/morgan-david-de-lossy-FEX0KgEik4o-unsplash.jpg12801280Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2017-11-28 00:00:002020-11-16 08:57:44Being an Involved Single Father
How You Can Make Visitation Count
How can you make visitation count? Many divorced parents face the reality of divided time with their children. Arrangements vary from weekend visitation to splitting time with each parent right down the middle. This often creates problems between the two homes: sometimes one parent is strict and the other is lenient, one parent may try…
Parenting Teens
“Raising kids through the adolescent years is like guiding your family in a raft through whitewater rapids,” says Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Running the Rapids: Guiding Teenagers through the Turbulent Waters of Adolescence. Like going down the river trying to navigate rapids, rocks and other hidden dangers, there is definite risk in experiencing the adolescent…
Preparing a Teen to Leave the Nest
My son started high school this year and it made me reflect on his life and my own. Sometimes I find it hard to imagine not having my son with me 24/7. The truth is, we parent our teens to leave the nest from our home to another one – their own. It’s hard for…
The Digital Lives of American Teenagers
Parents, teachers, coaches, gather round. If you have a teenager in your life, listen up. I may have stumbled onto some insight into the secret digital lives of teenagers. I have some reliable info about their phones and the things they experience on social media. If you have witnessed a teen with a phone grafted…
Parenting a Teenager
Parenting a teenager is a tough job. Since my teenage son has not been packing his lunches for school, he is beginning to understand what responsibility looks like as he experiences hunger during lunch. Should I feel guilty about not taking time off work to take him a lunch while also spending extra money on…
You Win Some, You Lose Some
I just experienced one of the most important days in the life of my youngest son. It was his football team’s Super Bowl game. This year marked their 3rd trip in a row and this season has been one of their best. They went undefeated in the regular season and claimed victory to one playoff…
How To Make The Most of Breaks From School
Thanks to online shopping, my purchases were virtually complete. I asked my family what they wanted, and then I bought a few perfect presents (within my budget, of course). But after the shopping was complete, I needed to plan how we’d spend Christmas break together. For. Two. Whole. Weeks. I didn’t want to waste precious…
We Celebrated Thanksgiving A Month Early
Thanksgiving a month early?? But why??? Well. My oldest son is now a college freshman… and the cost of travel (as well as his school schedule) made it impossible for us to celebrate Thanksgiving on the traditional 4th Thursday of November—so we did it early. I’ve taught families through our parenting classes at First Things…
Sexting And Your Teen
Dr. Sheri Madigan and her research team wanted to know the prevalence of sexting behavior (sharing of sexually explicit images and videos through technological means) among youth. Between 2006 and 2016, they conducted a meta-analysis, looking at 39 different studies about sexting that included 110,380 young people from all over the world, including the United States.Studies indicate that sexting has been on the rise among teens while teen sex has declined.
The Reason Why Boys Are Struggling
How to Balance Marriage and Children
Some couples marry and have lots of time to nurture their relationship before children come along. Other couples marry and bring children into the marriage relationship immediately. Either way, when children enter the picture, the marriage relationship often resembles two ships passing in the night.There is no question that parenting focuses a lot of energy and love toward the children.
Is Date Night Dead?
Date night may need some serious resuscitation. Redbook magazine found that 45 percent of couples rarely have date nights, while only 18 percent said they go out once a month.This is sad news, since marriage experts say you can keep your marriage strong, healthy and adventuresome by spending regular time together doing something you both enjoy. Couples who intentionally spend time together often marvel at the positive impact it has on their marriage and family.An astonishing 80 percent of marria…
What You Can Do to End Human Trafficking
An alert American Airlines ticket agent has been hailed a hero after preventing two teen girls from becoming part of a human trafficking scam. The girls showed up with one-way first-class tickets to New York City from California. They had no identification on them and the agent discovered the tickets were purchased with a fraudulent credit card.
Spring Break Staycation
Almost everyone looks forward to spring break! For those who have a trip planned, the impatience and excitement are probably palpable. But, if you're not going out of town, you might be anxious about the idea of planning fun activities for your “staycation.”In this day and age, frugal, fun and free entertainment for your children for an entire week is not always easy to find.
Tips for Creating a Family Safety Plan
In a matter of days there has been a mass shooting at a Florida school, a drive-by shooting at a local eatery and bar, and a tragic accident resulting in a young mother’s death.Some say these events make them want to go somewhere and hide. Unfortunately, running away from it all is not an option for most people, but you can take steps to help keep your family members safe.We have all been taught to “stop, drop and roll” in the event of a fire, and for years we have taught children about stranger…
Body Image and Your Kids
Did you know that nearly half of girls ages 3 to 6 worry about being fat, and about one-third would change a physical attribute, such as their weight or hair color? That’s what Stacey Tantleff-Dunn found when she conducted a study at the University of Central Florida. Girls and boys of all ages are bombarded with messages of how they should look and dress and what defines beauty. Based on these definitions, they begin a lifelong quest to be beautiful – often doing unhealthy things tha…
How to Encourage a Growth Mindset in Kids
Carol Dweck is a pioneering researcher in the field of motivation. In her book, “Mindset,” she addresses why people succeed or don’t, and how to foster success through the power of yet.She tells the story of a Chicago school where students had to pass a series of courses in order to graduate. If they did not successfully pass the courses they were given the grade of “not yet.” Dweck thought that was brilliant. “If you get a failing grade, you feel like a failure,” she says, “But…
Keeping Your Sanity with the Kids When It’s Cold Outside
There are plenty of parents doing the happy dance as they whisk their children back to school after the holidays. Moms or dads whose children stay with them all the time may be wringing their hands at this point though, trying to creatively keep their kids occupied and not begging to play games on electronic devices. Depending on the age of your children, inside activities may be the order of the day when it’s cold outside. To help you stay sane and create some really fun memories, here are…
Being an Involved Single Father
Jeff* celebrated his first Father’s Day when his daughter was 9-months-old, and he is thankful for that day with her. Jeff is a single father who shares custody of his daughter with his ex.“Our relationship ended shortly before our child was born,” says Jeff. “Things were crazy.
Co-Parenting: Smoother Transitions