The best advice is always in the comment section. It’s an adage that’s proven right over and over. Doesn’t even matter what kind of publication. So, I’m reading an article online by a national beacon of journalism about the things teens need most from their parents. Couldn’t wait to get to the comment section! Having…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/AdobeStock_274973022-1.jpeg13672048John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-12-08 09:22:052022-06-24 12:51:135 Things All Teens Need From Their Parents (From Parents Of Teenagers)
Here we are at Christmas, supposedly “the most wonderful time of the year.” Children are wide-eyed in anticipation. They’re excitedly telling their parents what they want Santa to bring them. On the other hand, parents may be reeling from stress with too many unanswered questions. Let’s don’t even talk about finances. Or the pressure to…
A while back, 23-year-old Alonzo Johnson made the news for helping an elderly gentleman down an escalator. When asked about what happened, he said his mother raised him to be nice and kind. “It’s really the way I was brought up and raised,” he said. Johnson went on to say that all the attention was…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/pexels-cottonbro-3662845-1.jpg9001400Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-12-02 14:36:462021-03-30 08:48:01How to Raise a Generous Child
The goal of parenting is to raise competent and self-reliant adults. You may be shocked because parents often think about raising “their” children. In reality, you’re raising someone’s future spouse, someone’s prospective employee, and someone’s future parent. For your future adult to be successful, things like communication, conflict management, and interpersonal skills are necessary. Additionally,…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pexels-cottonbro-3662800.jpg20481365Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-11-16 11:09:402022-01-07 10:16:035 Ways To Help Your Child Be More Confident
“NO!” Do you remember how you felt the first time your child dead-eyed defied you? As a parent of very strong-willed sons, I remember the first time my oldest said, “NO!” when I asked him to pick up his toys in the living room. I was so taken aback I said to myself, “I must…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/omar-lopez-zsXDWzlqpKU-unsplash.jpg13432048Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-10-28 08:22:272021-03-16 12:53:49I Feel Like I’m In A Constant Power Struggle With My Child!
Think about these things for your adult child's visit home.
Do you remember your first trip home from college? My mother picked me up from the airport and immediately took me to my favorite hometown restaurant. When we got home, we sat in the kitchen and talked for hours about my time away at school. She was curious and asked about the new things I…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AdobeStock_202356724.jpeg13652048Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-10-27 09:02:172022-05-10 11:49:08How to Deal With Your College Student Coming Home for an Extended Break
“Honey, the test was positive.” When you find out you’re about to be a dad, the lack of experience can strike fear into even the most confident man. There are a few things I’ve learned after playing a part in bringing seven kids into this world that would’ve been helpful to know on the front…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/oscar-lennin-salazar-m-1xuy92N718o-unsplash-scaled.jpg20563088Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-10-20 09:11:422022-03-04 12:50:035 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Became A Dad
You'll learn a lot in the coming weeks and months!
So you’re a new dad. Congrats!! This is an exciting time. Did you get your how-to manual full of explanations and instructions? You didn’t? Hmmm, wonder what happened there? Oh wait, that doesn’t exist. If only kids came with instruction manuals. (Even if they did, would you even read it? I probably wouldn’t. Maybe that’s…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/devon-divine-nMv8DMdM4Z8-unsplash.jpg20481367Mitchell Quallshttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngMitchell Qualls2020-10-20 09:07:482022-09-21 11:19:47Tips For A First-Time Dad
Here's one key to guiding your teen through romance.
I was sitting at my middle school son’s football game. Some parents around me were discussing who was dating who in the school. I kept quiet during the conversation, but was anxiously waiting for them to mention my son. They did. I was astonished and a little embarrassed because I was totally unaware my son…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pexels-pixabay-248021.jpg13662048Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-10-20 09:01:182021-03-30 08:57:22How Do I Talk to My Teen About Their Romantic Relationships?
Just wait until they turn 13, they said. Yeah, they’re cute now, but the day is coming, they said. Then my daughter turned 13. And I admit, the days are a lot more unpredictable when you have a middle school daughter. I never know whether I’ll be driving Jekyll or Hyde home from school on…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AdobeStock_280730049.jpeg13652048Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-10-12 15:28:112022-05-10 09:21:26Dad, Here Are 5 Things Your Middle School Daughter Needs from You
It’s election season. Unless you live under a rock, you already know that because it’s pretty much impossible to escape the endless ads everywhere you look reminding us who to vote for. Now imagine election season through the eyes of a child. They’re taking in the information they hear at home, possibly at their grandparents’…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Guide-Child-through-Election-Season.AdobeStock_355772129-1.jpg9001400Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-10-12 15:26:232021-01-07 14:59:45How to Guide My Child Through Election Season
Create an environment that decreases moments of unhappiness with these five tips.
Your child is giving you that look. The one that makes you feel like you should’ve done better even when you did the best you could. You know they’re unhappy and you feel like you’ve tried everything to cheer them up and nothing’s working. As a parent, we’ve all been there, and the truth is,…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/MyChildIsUnhappy.jpg379800Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-10-07 13:44:002022-01-21 10:29:34My Child Is Unhappy. What Am I Doing Wrong?
These things can help when life seems to be out of control.
Nothing seems normal these days. Many people say, “I just keep pinching myself thinking I’ll wake up and this nightmare will be over.” Sometimes life can take a real toll on everyone – both physically and mentally. As you continue to navigate through these times, there are ways you can be intentional about protecting your…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pexels-elly-fairytale-4008800-3-1-e1602084544645.jpg7381400Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-10-07 11:25:462022-07-25 14:02:07How to Protect Your Family’s Mental Health
When you found out you were expecting your second baby, you probably began to fantasize about your children getting along. You may have even imagined them playing with each other, being best friends, and loving one another as only siblings can. However, it’s not unusual for your toddler and their new baby brother or sister…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/HowToHelpMyToddlerAdjusttoaNewBaby.jpg325800Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-10-06 07:32:392020-11-03 11:32:28How to Help My Toddler Adjust to a New Baby
You want to have good relationships. You want a healthy marriage AND you want to be a great parent, a wonderful friend, fiancé, or co-worker. But relationships are sometimes complex. They aren’t always easy. Issues arise. And if you’re like me, you could just use some help sometimes. The internet gives us ENDLESS information on…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/HowtoFindGoodRelationshipAdvice.jpg454800Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-10-05 21:46:132021-04-01 17:22:46How to Find Good Relationship Advice
Knowing and understanding certain things about your teen can help you make a plan.
(Part 2) – Check out Part 1, How to Talk to Your Teen About Sexting In part one, we talked about giving your child a smartphone and what they need to know about sexting to protect themselves. Now, regardless of how you found out, you know your teenage son or daughter is sexting. Step #1,…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/WhatToDoWhenYourTeenIsSexting.jpg394800John Daumhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJohn Daum2020-10-05 21:28:172022-07-25 14:04:51What to Do if Your Teen is Sexting
You are special and exactly who your family needs.
My sons and I were in a large department store together. The boys were 9, 4, and 1 at the time. While we were in the car, I restated the “how to act in public” rules: Don’t look at anything, ask for anything, or touch anything! I get them into the store. The little one…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/jonathan-borba-VCjhp_UHk2w-unsplash-scaled.jpg31522101Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-09-24 19:56:082022-05-10 14:07:19Mom, Here are 5 Ways to Process Being Called a “Superhero” When You Don’t Feel Like One
Help them see you as a loving, trusted, and dependable parent.
That little ball of energy you call your toddler is so cute when they’re little. The mess on their face after eating spaghetti is adorable. The way they want to cuddle with you right after you’ve disciplined them just melts your heart. During these early years, you can lay a firm foundation for having a…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/peter-idowu-fp5PFvPnTQg-unsplash.jpg13652048Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-09-24 17:18:582021-03-16 11:33:236 Fun Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship with Your Toddler
I was walking in the grocery store the other day and I ran into a friend from high school. We started talking and she asked me about my cousin who went to school with us. Our mutual friend asked how she is doing. I was actually caught off guard because, in reality, I didn’t know…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/raj-rana-WENBRUAh7W8-unsplash.jpg20481365Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-09-16 09:08:512020-09-16 11:25:567 Ways To Stay Connected With Long-Distance Family
Nothing like the hint of fall in the air to lift your spirits. I mean what could be better for your soul than sipping a pumpkin spice latte in front of a fire pit on a crisp evening? What? You don’t like pumpkin spice anything? No problem. There are plenty of other activities you can…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/krzysztof-kowalik-Cc1RmGnf20E-unsplash.jpg15362048Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-09-16 09:03:392020-09-16 11:10:0625 Fall Activities For The Whole Family To Enjoy
5 Things All Teens Need From Their Parents (From Parents Of Teenagers)
The best advice is always in the comment section. It’s an adage that’s proven right over and over. Doesn’t even matter what kind of publication. So, I’m reading an article online by a national beacon of journalism about the things teens need most from their parents. Couldn’t wait to get to the comment section! Having…
What Your Child Really Wants for Christmas
Here we are at Christmas, supposedly “the most wonderful time of the year.” Children are wide-eyed in anticipation. They’re excitedly telling their parents what they want Santa to bring them. On the other hand, parents may be reeling from stress with too many unanswered questions. Let’s don’t even talk about finances. Or the pressure to…
How to Raise a Generous Child
A while back, 23-year-old Alonzo Johnson made the news for helping an elderly gentleman down an escalator. When asked about what happened, he said his mother raised him to be nice and kind. “It’s really the way I was brought up and raised,” he said. Johnson went on to say that all the attention was…
5 Ways To Help Your Child Be More Confident
The goal of parenting is to raise competent and self-reliant adults. You may be shocked because parents often think about raising “their” children. In reality, you’re raising someone’s future spouse, someone’s prospective employee, and someone’s future parent. For your future adult to be successful, things like communication, conflict management, and interpersonal skills are necessary. Additionally,…
I Feel Like I’m In A Constant Power Struggle With My Child!
“NO!” Do you remember how you felt the first time your child dead-eyed defied you? As a parent of very strong-willed sons, I remember the first time my oldest said, “NO!” when I asked him to pick up his toys in the living room. I was so taken aback I said to myself, “I must…
How to Deal With Your College Student Coming Home for an Extended Break
Do you remember your first trip home from college? My mother picked me up from the airport and immediately took me to my favorite hometown restaurant. When we got home, we sat in the kitchen and talked for hours about my time away at school. She was curious and asked about the new things I…
5 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Became A Dad
“Honey, the test was positive.” When you find out you’re about to be a dad, the lack of experience can strike fear into even the most confident man. There are a few things I’ve learned after playing a part in bringing seven kids into this world that would’ve been helpful to know on the front…
Tips For A First-Time Dad
So you’re a new dad. Congrats!! This is an exciting time. Did you get your how-to manual full of explanations and instructions? You didn’t? Hmmm, wonder what happened there? Oh wait, that doesn’t exist. If only kids came with instruction manuals. (Even if they did, would you even read it? I probably wouldn’t. Maybe that’s…
How Do I Talk to My Teen About Their Romantic Relationships?
I was sitting at my middle school son’s football game. Some parents around me were discussing who was dating who in the school. I kept quiet during the conversation, but was anxiously waiting for them to mention my son. They did. I was astonished and a little embarrassed because I was totally unaware my son…
Dad, Here Are 5 Things Your Middle School Daughter Needs from You
Just wait until they turn 13, they said. Yeah, they’re cute now, but the day is coming, they said. Then my daughter turned 13. And I admit, the days are a lot more unpredictable when you have a middle school daughter. I never know whether I’ll be driving Jekyll or Hyde home from school on…
How to Guide My Child Through Election Season
It’s election season. Unless you live under a rock, you already know that because it’s pretty much impossible to escape the endless ads everywhere you look reminding us who to vote for. Now imagine election season through the eyes of a child. They’re taking in the information they hear at home, possibly at their grandparents’…
My Child Is Unhappy. What Am I Doing Wrong?
Your child is giving you that look. The one that makes you feel like you should’ve done better even when you did the best you could. You know they’re unhappy and you feel like you’ve tried everything to cheer them up and nothing’s working. As a parent, we’ve all been there, and the truth is,…
How to Protect Your Family’s Mental Health
Nothing seems normal these days. Many people say, “I just keep pinching myself thinking I’ll wake up and this nightmare will be over.” Sometimes life can take a real toll on everyone – both physically and mentally. As you continue to navigate through these times, there are ways you can be intentional about protecting your…
How to Help My Toddler Adjust to a New Baby
When you found out you were expecting your second baby, you probably began to fantasize about your children getting along. You may have even imagined them playing with each other, being best friends, and loving one another as only siblings can. However, it’s not unusual for your toddler and their new baby brother or sister…
How to Find Good Relationship Advice
You want to have good relationships. You want a healthy marriage AND you want to be a great parent, a wonderful friend, fiancé, or co-worker. But relationships are sometimes complex. They aren’t always easy. Issues arise. And if you’re like me, you could just use some help sometimes. The internet gives us ENDLESS information on…
What to Do if Your Teen is Sexting
(Part 2) – Check out Part 1, How to Talk to Your Teen About Sexting In part one, we talked about giving your child a smartphone and what they need to know about sexting to protect themselves. Now, regardless of how you found out, you know your teenage son or daughter is sexting. Step #1,…
Mom, Here are 5 Ways to Process Being Called a “Superhero” When You Don’t Feel Like One
My sons and I were in a large department store together. The boys were 9, 4, and 1 at the time. While we were in the car, I restated the “how to act in public” rules: Don’t look at anything, ask for anything, or touch anything! I get them into the store. The little one…
6 Fun Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship with Your Toddler
That little ball of energy you call your toddler is so cute when they’re little. The mess on their face after eating spaghetti is adorable. The way they want to cuddle with you right after you’ve disciplined them just melts your heart. During these early years, you can lay a firm foundation for having a…
7 Ways To Stay Connected With Long-Distance Family
I was walking in the grocery store the other day and I ran into a friend from high school. We started talking and she asked me about my cousin who went to school with us. Our mutual friend asked how she is doing. I was actually caught off guard because, in reality, I didn’t know…
25 Fall Activities For The Whole Family To Enjoy
Nothing like the hint of fall in the air to lift your spirits. I mean what could be better for your soul than sipping a pumpkin spice latte in front of a fire pit on a crisp evening? What? You don’t like pumpkin spice anything? No problem. There are plenty of other activities you can…
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