The message you want to send can be lost in the volume.
“QUIT HITTING YOUR BROTHER!!!” “DIDN’T I TELL YOU TO PICK UP YOUR TOYS???” “I’M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN. YOU CAN’T HAVE ANY MORE COOKIES!!!” “STOP WHINING!!!” “FOR THE 1,000TH TIME, NO, YOU CAN’T ___________(fill in the blank).” And then they ask for the 1,001st time and you totally lose it. I’ve lost it.…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/19082.jpg13652048Reggie Madisonhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngReggie Madison2020-09-15 15:27:402021-04-13 08:59:405 Ways To Stop Yelling At Your Kid
You can encourage their development in lasting ways.
The crack of the bat. The cheers. The applause. My son just hit the ball over the head of the second baseman to collect his first hit of the game. This isn’t the proudest moment of the game for me, though. My proudest moment came an inning earlier when he struck out for the second…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/guillaume-de-germain-hcELcyJ2RNQ-unsplash.jpg13652048Mitchell Quallshttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngMitchell Qualls2020-09-15 14:25:192022-05-10 10:29:44How To Identify Your Child’s Strengths
You can connect and grow closer as you cheer them on.
She’s never going to want to run ever again. I told myself this watching my then-10-year-old daughter run in her first elementary school track meet, lagging behind the faster runners, red-faced, and breathing heavily. She wasn’t last, but she certainly wasn’t first. My heart sank for her. As she (finally) crossed the finish line and…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-ketut-subiyanto-4544596.jpg20481363Chris Ownbyhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngChris Ownby2020-09-14 15:24:162022-04-14 09:28:04How To Encourage Your Child’s Strengths
I woke up late because I forgot to set my alarm, so I hurried to the shower and got dressed. Then I rushed to my son’s room to get him up and ready for the day. On my way to the room, I’m greeted by a BIG smile and my son saying, “MOMMY, look! I…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-viajero-4447139.jpg20481365Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-09-14 15:16:432021-03-16 11:29:41How a Parent’s Emotions Can Affect Their Child
Stop beating yourself up, and use these tips to be all there!
Does it feel like you’re at war with the clock? Like you don’t have enough time to do all the things on your to-do list? Struggle with finding time for yourself? Feel disconnected from your kids? If you answer any of these questions with a “yes,” welcome to parenthood! Being a parent is one of…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/20999.jpg13652048Gena Ellishttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngGena Ellis2020-09-10 16:11:222022-04-04 10:40:254 Ways To Be A More Present Parent
When it comes to family, every member of your tribe brings something unique to the team. Teaching them early and often how important it is to build teamwork will not only benefit your family; it’ll teach your child the value of working with others to accomplish a goal. Talk with any human resource officer and…
https://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pexels-august-de-richelieu-4259140-1-e1599658470726.jpg7101400Julie Baumgardnerhttps://firstthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ftf-logo-300x186.pngJulie Baumgardner2020-09-09 09:30:412022-04-14 10:40:395 Ways to Build Teamwork in Your Family
What you do with your stress can make all the difference.
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.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 16:37:452024-11-20 14:40:465 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
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
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
5 Ways To Stop Yelling At Your Kid
“QUIT HITTING YOUR BROTHER!!!” “DIDN’T I TELL YOU TO PICK UP YOUR TOYS???” “I’M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN. YOU CAN’T HAVE ANY MORE COOKIES!!!” “STOP WHINING!!!” “FOR THE 1,000TH TIME, NO, YOU CAN’T ___________(fill in the blank).” And then they ask for the 1,001st time and you totally lose it. I’ve lost it.…
How To Identify Your Child’s Strengths
The crack of the bat. The cheers. The applause. My son just hit the ball over the head of the second baseman to collect his first hit of the game. This isn’t the proudest moment of the game for me, though. My proudest moment came an inning earlier when he struck out for the second…
How To Encourage Your Child’s Strengths
She’s never going to want to run ever again. I told myself this watching my then-10-year-old daughter run in her first elementary school track meet, lagging behind the faster runners, red-faced, and breathing heavily. She wasn’t last, but she certainly wasn’t first. My heart sank for her. As she (finally) crossed the finish line and…
How a Parent’s Emotions Can Affect Their Child
I woke up late because I forgot to set my alarm, so I hurried to the shower and got dressed. Then I rushed to my son’s room to get him up and ready for the day. On my way to the room, I’m greeted by a BIG smile and my son saying, “MOMMY, look! I…
4 Ways To Be A More Present Parent
Does it feel like you’re at war with the clock? Like you don’t have enough time to do all the things on your to-do list? Struggle with finding time for yourself? Feel disconnected from your kids? If you answer any of these questions with a “yes,” welcome to parenthood! Being a parent is one of…
5 Ways to Build Teamwork in Your Family
When it comes to family, every member of your tribe brings something unique to the team. Teaching them early and often how important it is to build teamwork will not only benefit your family; it’ll teach your child the value of working with others to accomplish a goal. Talk with any human resource officer and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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