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.jpg13652048Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-09-02 08:57:042022-04-22 12:34:097 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.jpg13662048Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-09-01 16:37:452021-05-28 10:50:045 Simple Things You Can Do to Reclaim Margin in Your Life
You can help them understand they matter, belong and have significance.
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.jpg20481367Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-09-01 09:01:252022-04-14 10:35:15Seven Things Every Child Needs to Thrive
These tips may help you all feel like you're on the same team.
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 for his…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3768140.jpg13652048Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-09-01 08:39:342022-04-06 11:47:30What To Do When Grandparents Undermine Your Parenting
You can use these talking points as a cheat sheet.
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.jpg13652048John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-27 15:06:172022-04-28 09:38:276 Tips for Teaching Your Teen Healthy Dating Habits
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.jpg13632048Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-08-27 09:02:142022-04-28 09:43:15How To Be The Best Dad For Your Daughter
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.jpg13672048Mitchell 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 synced up, your family is firing on all cylinders and is heading in the same direction. There are regular check-ins to…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/3564352.jpg13652048John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-25 08:44:472022-06-10 12:03:34How 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.jpg13632048Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-08-24 14:37:232022-04-04 10:46:15Why 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.jpg20481365John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-21 09:02:312022-06-24 12:05:37What 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.jpeg12952048Chris 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.jpg9612048Gena 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
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 14:15:212022-03-15 16:42:58How to Be a Supportive Parent
Thinking about these things can help with the conversation.
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.jpeg20222048John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-17 14:32:032022-01-07 12:14:50What to Do When You Catch Your Teen Looking at Porn
People have sometimes said to me, “Chris, you have two daughters. Aren’t you scared to death of when they start dating?“ I like to reply with an answer that really throws them for a spin: “Actually, I can’t WAIT for when my child dates!” (I usually either get a look like I have three heads…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pexels-elly-fairytale-3893732.jpg13652048Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-08-17 14:05:042020-09-22 16:20:08When Should I Let My Child Date
Lean into this hard, but incredibly important topic.
This is the actual conversation I had with my teen. All through middle school, we had talked about sex, his phone, and pornography, but it was more about warning him and encouraging him to make good choices. I realized that at his age now, he had undoubtedly seen porn. (The average age of first exposure…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/zan-X_JsI_9Hl7o-unsplash.jpg13652048First Things Firsthttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-08-14 15:51:132021-11-22 11:14:43How To Talk To Your Teen About Pornography
How you parent your child matters more than what others may think about how you parent your child.
Has your toddler ever had a meltdown or temper tantrum? Does your child cry uncontrollably to get something they want? Have you ever wished the floor would open up in the store and swallow you because of how your child was behaving? If any of these things have happened to you, then you probably are…
Let’s be honest. We probably already do fight in front of the kids. Whatever you want to call them—“polite” disagreements, heated arguments, emotional debates, full-on shouting matches—we have them. We don’t necessarily plan to; they can just happen. A calm, respectful conversation can escalate quickly to savage verbal bloodsport. And guess who is taking it…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AdobeStock_114014226.jpeg9062048John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-08-06 09:31:152022-07-21 14:30:44Should We Fight In Front Of The Kids?
“Why are you fighting?” That’s the question one little girl posed to her parents at the dinner table as they were in the midst of a heated discussion about what needed to happen after dinner. How do you talk with your children about why parents fight? It’s pretty much a given that parents will get…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WhyParentsFight-xavier-mouton-photographie-MRWHSKimBJk-unsplash-1.jpg9001400Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-08-05 16:30:022020-08-05 16:32:20How to Talk with Your Child about Why Parents Fight
Don't let the summer months pass without having some fun together!
Strengthen your bond with your sweet family by doing some or all of these 7 free things together before summer ends! No need to let these summer vacation days slip by without squeezing in some free fun for the family! 1. Be Explorers For The Day! Soak in some sunshine and quality time with your…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/nathan-dumlao-4_mJ1TbMK8A-unsplash-1.jpg20481314First Things Firsthttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngFirst Things First2020-08-05 15:11:392022-05-10 09:06:117 FREE Things Every Family Should Do Before Summer Ends
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…
What To Do When Grandparents Undermine Your Parenting
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 for his…
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 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…
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 synced up, your family is firing on all cylinders and is heading 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…
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…
When Should I Let My Child Date
People have sometimes said to me, “Chris, you have two daughters. Aren’t you scared to death of when they start dating?“ I like to reply with an answer that really throws them for a spin: “Actually, I can’t WAIT for when my child dates!” (I usually either get a look like I have three heads…
How To Talk To Your Teen About Pornography
This is the actual conversation I had with my teen. All through middle school, we had talked about sex, his phone, and pornography, but it was more about warning him and encouraging him to make good choices. I realized that at his age now, he had undoubtedly seen porn. (The average age of first exposure…
How To Handle Public Toddler Temper Tantrums
Has your toddler ever had a meltdown or temper tantrum? Does your child cry uncontrollably to get something they want? Have you ever wished the floor would open up in the store and swallow you because of how your child was behaving? If any of these things have happened to you, then you probably are…
Should We Fight In Front Of The Kids?
Let’s be honest. We probably already do fight in front of the kids. Whatever you want to call them—“polite” disagreements, heated arguments, emotional debates, full-on shouting matches—we have them. We don’t necessarily plan to; they can just happen. A calm, respectful conversation can escalate quickly to savage verbal bloodsport. And guess who is taking it…
How to Talk with Your Child about Why Parents Fight
“Why are you fighting?” That’s the question one little girl posed to her parents at the dinner table as they were in the midst of a heated discussion about what needed to happen after dinner. How do you talk with your children about why parents fight? It’s pretty much a given that parents will get…
7 FREE Things Every Family Should Do Before Summer Ends
Strengthen your bond with your sweet family by doing some or all of these 7 free things together before summer ends! No need to let these summer vacation days slip by without squeezing in some free fun for the family! 1. Be Explorers For The Day! Soak in some sunshine and quality time with your…
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