Is it normal to have a bad day with your kids? Do traffic lights seem to turn red when you’re in a hurry? Does your baby seem to poop in their diaper two minutes before you need to leave the house or worse, in their potty-training underwear? Does your 5-year-old son say they have to…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AdobeStock_313453215-scaled-e1599169128584.jpeg186450Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-09-03 17:39:112020-11-05 11:52:41Is It Normal To Have A Bad Day With Your Kids?
Walk into a crowded room and ask for a show of hands from anyone who has not felt stressed-out in the past six months. If you find a hand-raiser, pull them aside, and ask their secret. My bet is not one hand will be raised. Truth is, we all experience stress at varying degrees, and…
A few years ago I was walking through the grocery store when I encountered a mom and her toddler who was giving her a run for her money. As we were both walking down the aisle, I could hear her whispering, “You can do it, Susan! Hang in there. Just a few more minutes.” At…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2687-scaled-e1599051388501.jpg219450Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-09-02 08:57:042020-09-02 13:12:407 Tips For Getting Over A Bad Day With Your Kid
B.C. (Before COVID) plenty of us lived life at a frenetic pace and had resigned ourselves that it would always be that way. Fast forward to COVID lockdown and a forced stop. We actually had room to breathe in our lives whether we liked it or not. Being forced to taste the simple life for a…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-thought-catalog-904616-1-scaled.jpg17072560Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-09-01 16:37:452020-09-01 16:37:485 Simple Things You Can Do to Reclaim Margin in Your Life
Does it seem like everyone has something to say about how you’re parenting? Do you question whether or not you’re doing the right thing for your child? Do you want assurance that you’re meeting your child’s needs? Researchers and practitioners have sought for years to find what children need to thrive in a variety of…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-august-de-richelieu-4262414-scaled-e1598965367806.jpg256500Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-09-01 09:01:252020-09-22 16:18:26Seven Things Every Child Needs to Thrive
As you were raising your children you emphasized the importance of treating each other with respect, making wise choices and doing the right thing. So, why do your adult children make poor decisions? Seriously, let’s be honest. As a parent, it’s sometimes hard not to experience anger, perhaps some guilt and even resentment toward your…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/kitera-dent-1xSiUiFQJvk-unsplash-scaled-e1598965473965.jpg192500Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-09-01 08:54:122020-09-22 16:18:497 Ways To Deal With Adult Children Who Make Poor Decisions
There was no one else in my dad’s world compared to his granddaughters. “My little angels” he would call them. Which I thought was great, except he tended to be extremely lenient with them. Like when they wanted ice cream. Which was all the time. Or when they wanted a toy. Nothing was too good…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3768140-scaled-e1598963952536.jpg267400Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-09-01 08:39:342020-09-22 16:12:58What To Do When Grandparents Undermine Your Parenting
When my wife and I thought our daughter was ready to date, our daughter was in panic mode before the first boy came to pick her up. She wasn’t worried about the boy; she was worried about me. Dad, are you going to grill him and ask him a million questions? No Sweetie. I’m just…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/allef-vinicius-LHgztCb-OFs-unsplash-scaled-e1598555157276.jpg191450John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-27 15:06:172020-08-28 15:18:336 Tips for Teaching Your Teen Healthy Dating Habits
Do you feel like you’re at your wit’s end? Are you tired of juggling home, work, and school? Do you look at others and they seem to have it all together while you can’t figure it out? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you’re not alone. You may have finally…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AdobeStock_362053115-scaled-e1598534244282.jpeg218450Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-08-27 09:17:522020-08-27 10:48:41How to Handle Virtual School While Being a Working Parent
FACT #1: There’s nothing like being the dad of a daughter. FACT #2: To a daughter, there’s no one like her dad. I’ll be honest: both times my wife and I were pregnant, I was hoping for a boy. I was an only child, and I had no idea how to navigate the world of…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pexels-ketut-subiyanto-4545151-scaled-e1598533300549.jpg203450Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-08-27 09:02:142020-08-27 09:57:35How To Be The Best Dad For Your Daughter
Managing virtual school in addition to being a working parent feels overwhelming on the best days and insurmountable on the worst days. But what if merging the two can strengthen your family and provide other benefits, too? Many parents find themselves in a position they didn’t actually apply for and never anticipated. Now they are…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pexels-ketut-subiyanto-4474037-1.jpg9001400Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-08-25 16:09:182020-08-25 16:13:35How Managing Virtual School as a Working Parent Can Strengthen Your Family
Four months into our pregnancy, we were eager with anticipation and excitement to find out whether we were having another boy or a little girl. Our son, three at the time, was excited to find out as well. When the doctor showed us the ultrasound of our little girl, we were ecstatic, overjoyed, and couldn’t…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/298063-P7BSAP-602-scaled-e1598384081101.jpg257450Mitchell Quallshttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngMitchell Qualls2020-08-25 15:35:242020-08-26 09:18:14What All Daughters Need to Hear From Their Dad
How do you increase communication in your home and make sure everyone’s connected? When healthy communication is happening in the family, everyone feels connected and part of the same team. All the gears are synched up, your family is firing on all cylinders and is headed in the same direction. There are regular check-ins to…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3564352-scaled-e1598360046523.jpg240450John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-25 08:44:472020-08-25 12:07:01How To Increase Communication In Your Home
I see the mom walking down the street with her 4-year-old daughter paying more attention to her cell phone than her daughter, and I think, “Put your cell phone down and pay attention to your daughter.” I see the mom at the grocery store at 1 AM with her 2-year-old son and I think, “That’s…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pexels-ketut-subiyanto-4545958-scaled-e1598294235740.jpg205450Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-08-24 14:37:232020-08-25 09:52:04Why We Need to Stop Judging Parents for Every Decision They Make (and How to Do It)
You overheard something. You saw something. Maybe you had a gut feeling. So you just came out and asked your teen, “Are you having sex?” You were greeted with a “duh” face and a “yes.” You kept your cool and said, “Can we talk about this? Soon?” Now you are processing a bunch of emotions…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pexels-taryn-elliott-4652246-scaled-e1598014746244.jpg179450John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-21 09:02:312020-08-21 15:38:22What To Do If Your Teen Is Having Sex
Help guide kids through worry and fear with these easy suggestions.
As a parent, it never ceases to amaze me that I feel a piece of the hurt that my child experiences—whether it be a skinned knee, a disappointment, or hurt feelings. I’m sure you feel the same way. And unfortunately, anxiety does not discriminate by age. Helping your 8- to 12-year-old child through anxiety is…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AdobeStock_172075782-scaled-e1598303782620.jpeg205450Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-08-21 08:30:032021-01-07 14:49:47How to Help My Child Handle Anxiety
As parents, the memories linger from the first time you laid eyes on your child or the first time you held your child. Those are memorable moments. As your child continues to grow, there will be additional moments that strengthen your relationship. Strengthening your relationship builds bonds of love, connectedness, and support that last a…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pexels-august-de-richelieu-4260096-1-scaled-e1598012336438.jpg211450Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-08-21 08:17:422020-09-22 16:19:58Five Simple Things You Can Do To Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Child
Should I take a gap year or go off to college during a pandemic? That’s the question for many students during COVID-19. A recent survey found that 16% of high school seniors planned to take a gap year instead of heading off to college or taking classes online this fall. In a pandemic-free world, less…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pexels-liam-anderson-1458318-1.jpg9001400Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-08-18 15:23:232020-08-28 15:15:33Tips for Parents: Navigating a Pandemic Gap Year
When I became a parent, I was not prepared for the “surge” of protectiveness that took over my body. I felt like it was my job to protect my child from all sorts of hurts, disappointments, fears, and sadness. I may have unknowingly included their father and other family members, too. Did they wash their…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/drew-gilliam-YDOEZC3W4ms-unsplash.jpg4251000Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-08-18 14:15:212020-09-22 16:08:57How to Be a Supportive Parent
Guilt. Shame. Shock. Anger. Confusion. What happens now? (I’m talking about how parents often feel after they catch their teen looking at porn.) You know you are going to have to talk to your teen about porn, but you aren’t sure what you will say or how to have this conversation with your teen in…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AdobeStock_272538101-1-scaled-e1598293869368.jpeg245450John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-17 14:32:032020-08-28 15:20:39What to Do When You Catch Your Teen Looking at Porn
Is It Normal To Have A Bad Day With Your Kids?
Is it normal to have a bad day with your kids? Do traffic lights seem to turn red when you’re in a hurry? Does your baby seem to poop in their diaper two minutes before you need to leave the house or worse, in their potty-training underwear? Does your 5-year-old son say they have to…
Is My Stress Level Affecting My Child?
Walk into a crowded room and ask for a show of hands from anyone who has not felt stressed-out in the past six months. If you find a hand-raiser, pull them aside, and ask their secret. My bet is not one hand will be raised. Truth is, we all experience stress at varying degrees, and…
7 Tips For Getting Over A Bad Day With Your Kid
A few years ago I was walking through the grocery store when I encountered a mom and her toddler who was giving her a run for her money. As we were both walking down the aisle, I could hear her whispering, “You can do it, Susan! Hang in there. Just a few more minutes.” At…
5 Simple Things You Can Do to Reclaim Margin in Your Life
B.C. (Before COVID) plenty of us lived life at a frenetic pace and had resigned ourselves that it would always be that way. Fast forward to COVID lockdown and a forced stop. We actually had room to breathe in our lives whether we liked it or not. Being forced to taste the simple life for a…
Seven Things Every Child Needs to Thrive
Does it seem like everyone has something to say about how you’re parenting? Do you question whether or not you’re doing the right thing for your child? Do you want assurance that you’re meeting your child’s needs? Researchers and practitioners have sought for years to find what children need to thrive in a variety of…
7 Ways To Deal With Adult Children Who Make Poor Decisions
As you were raising your children you emphasized the importance of treating each other with respect, making wise choices and doing the right thing. So, why do your adult children make poor decisions? Seriously, let’s be honest. As a parent, it’s sometimes hard not to experience anger, perhaps some guilt and even resentment toward your…
What To Do When Grandparents Undermine Your Parenting
There was no one else in my dad’s world compared to his granddaughters. “My little angels” he would call them. Which I thought was great, except he tended to be extremely lenient with them. Like when they wanted ice cream. Which was all the time. Or when they wanted a toy. Nothing was too good…
6 Tips for Teaching Your Teen Healthy Dating Habits
When my wife and I thought our daughter was ready to date, our daughter was in panic mode before the first boy came to pick her up. She wasn’t worried about the boy; she was worried about me. Dad, are you going to grill him and ask him a million questions? No Sweetie. I’m just…
How to Handle Virtual School While Being a Working Parent
Do you feel like you’re at your wit’s end? Are you tired of juggling home, work, and school? Do you look at others and they seem to have it all together while you can’t figure it out? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you’re not alone. You may have finally…
How To Be The Best Dad For Your Daughter
FACT #1: There’s nothing like being the dad of a daughter. FACT #2: To a daughter, there’s no one like her dad. I’ll be honest: both times my wife and I were pregnant, I was hoping for a boy. I was an only child, and I had no idea how to navigate the world of…
How Managing Virtual School as a Working Parent Can Strengthen Your Family
Managing virtual school in addition to being a working parent feels overwhelming on the best days and insurmountable on the worst days. But what if merging the two can strengthen your family and provide other benefits, too? Many parents find themselves in a position they didn’t actually apply for and never anticipated. Now they are…
What All Daughters Need to Hear From Their Dad
Four months into our pregnancy, we were eager with anticipation and excitement to find out whether we were having another boy or a little girl. Our son, three at the time, was excited to find out as well. When the doctor showed us the ultrasound of our little girl, we were ecstatic, overjoyed, and couldn’t…
How To Increase Communication In Your Home
How do you increase communication in your home and make sure everyone’s connected? When healthy communication is happening in the family, everyone feels connected and part of the same team. All the gears are synched up, your family is firing on all cylinders and is headed in the same direction. There are regular check-ins to…
Why We Need to Stop Judging Parents for Every Decision They Make (and How to Do It)
I see the mom walking down the street with her 4-year-old daughter paying more attention to her cell phone than her daughter, and I think, “Put your cell phone down and pay attention to your daughter.” I see the mom at the grocery store at 1 AM with her 2-year-old son and I think, “That’s…
What To Do If Your Teen Is Having Sex
You overheard something. You saw something. Maybe you had a gut feeling. So you just came out and asked your teen, “Are you having sex?” You were greeted with a “duh” face and a “yes.” You kept your cool and said, “Can we talk about this? Soon?” Now you are processing a bunch of emotions…
How to Help My Child Handle Anxiety
As a parent, it never ceases to amaze me that I feel a piece of the hurt that my child experiences—whether it be a skinned knee, a disappointment, or hurt feelings. I’m sure you feel the same way. And unfortunately, anxiety does not discriminate by age. Helping your 8- to 12-year-old child through anxiety is…
Five Simple Things You Can Do To Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Child
As parents, the memories linger from the first time you laid eyes on your child or the first time you held your child. Those are memorable moments. As your child continues to grow, there will be additional moments that strengthen your relationship. Strengthening your relationship builds bonds of love, connectedness, and support that last a…
Tips for Parents: Navigating a Pandemic Gap Year
Should I take a gap year or go off to college during a pandemic? That’s the question for many students during COVID-19. A recent survey found that 16% of high school seniors planned to take a gap year instead of heading off to college or taking classes online this fall. In a pandemic-free world, less…
How to Be a Supportive Parent
When I became a parent, I was not prepared for the “surge” of protectiveness that took over my body. I felt like it was my job to protect my child from all sorts of hurts, disappointments, fears, and sadness. I may have unknowingly included their father and other family members, too. Did they wash their…
What to Do When You Catch Your Teen Looking at Porn
Guilt. Shame. Shock. Anger. Confusion. What happens now? (I’m talking about how parents often feel after they catch their teen looking at porn.) You know you are going to have to talk to your teen about porn, but you aren’t sure what you will say or how to have this conversation with your teen in…