Category Archives: parenting

The Amateur Theologian: Identity – Who Am I?

Here’s my latest “fun” revelation: I judge myself and others by the media’s values. Therefore, people are either good or bad, all suffering should end in “happily ever after,” and I let it define success, family, ethics, and physical beauty. … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, Body Image, Child-rearing, Diversity, Eternal Life, Expectations, Faith, healthy living, Identity, Identity in Christ, Idolatry, Letting Go, Looks, parenting, parenting goals, Resurrection of the dead, Weight | Leave a comment

Dear Me: Hold on to the Snuggle Days

Dear Me: For the past ten or so years I (older, wiser you) have longed to have some magic experience where I go back in time to when the children were small and get to mother them for just one … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, Child-rearing, Dear Me, family, Kids, Letting Go, Love, Mommy Grief, parenting, parenting goals, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Laughing At Spilled Milk: The Hobbit House

  Last month I released two of my boys into an experience every entitled middle class college kid should have to go through: living off campus. When I took my first child to college – and left him there – … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, Appreciation, Child-rearing, College, Expectations, family, food, humor, Husbands, Kids, kids and school, Laughing At Spilled Milk, Letting Go, Mommy Grief, parenting, Self Control | Leave a comment

The Sikh Memorial: What I’ll Never Forget

Last month I had the honor of speaking at a candlelight memorial service for the local Sikh community who were grieving the heartbreaking murders of their brethren in Wisconsin. I was not as put together and prepared as I like … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, America, Diversity, Faith, family, food, Friendship, goals, God's provision, Kids, Love, parenting, Sikh Memorial for Wisconsin Temple, Sikh temple shooting, Wisdom, World Cultures | Leave a comment

Laughing At Spilled Milk: The Ring of Fire

Jenny Girl began dating a very nice boy a few months back.  Not long after he asked her to “be his,” she warned him about The Ring of Fire.  Her brothers had been drooling to do it ever since the … Continue reading

Posted in Child-rearing, family, humor, Kids, Laughing At Spilled Milk, Letting Go, parenting, parenting goals | Leave a comment

Laughing At Spilled Milk: Welcome to “Coddling Your Kids Cooking!”

Recently I decided the offspring should learn to cook, mostly because the two middle guys will have a house next year at college, so need to learn to make more than cereal and Easy Mac. The fact that I’m wiped … Continue reading

Posted in Child-rearing, Cooking, food, goals, humor, Kids, parenting, parenting goals | Leave a comment

Hope for the Marthaholic – A Story of Recovery

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night anxiously working…for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127:2 Ten years ago I was a raging Marthaholic. My day was scheduled from … Continue reading

Posted in Expectations, family, home making, Housekeeping, Kids, Laughing At Spilled Milk, Letting Go, parenting, planning, Self Control, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Laughing At Spilled Milk: The Truth About Marthaholics

  “Take my yolk upon you and let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.” Matthew 11:29   “Jesus loves me.  This I know, for my completed to-do … Continue reading

Posted in Expectations, family, goals, home making, Housekeeping, Laundry, Letting Go, parenting, Self Control, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Dear Me, about Protecting Your Kids…

“(Love) always protects.” – 1 Corinthians 13:7 Dear Me, Remember when you held our oldest for the first time. He was so beautiful, flawless, innocent.  There was not a single physical or emotional scar on him and your strongest desire … Continue reading

Posted in Anger, Child-rearing, Dear Me, Expectations, family, goals, Kids, kids and school, Letting Go, Mommy Grief, parenting, parenting goals, Self Control, temper, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Dear Me: About Kids and Faith

“And that ends round 2 between Jesus of Nazareth and Voldemort of Great Britain!” – Johnathan Durbin Dear Me, OK, let’s take a break from 1Corinthians to talk about the expectations you have about your kids’ faith in the Jesus … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, Child-rearing, Christmas, Dear Me, Expectations, family, Holidays, humor, Kids, Letting Go, parenting, parenting goals, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Dear Me: About Envy

“Envy comes from people’s ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts.” Jean Vanier “(Love) does not envy.” 1Corinthians 13:4 Dear Me: About Parental Envy, It’s so easy when you are holding your beautiful newborn in your arms … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, Child-rearing, Dear Me, family, Husbands, Kids, Letting Go, Love, parenting, parenting goals | 4 Comments

Laughing At Spilled Milk: Franken-oven

This past July my most prized culinary possession – the convection oven – was killed by lightening.  Seriously, lightening hit our house and fried our range. It is a miracle that this was all that perished. Now, I would love to … Continue reading

Posted in family, food, Holidays, Housekeeping, Laughing At Spilled Milk, Love, Mommy Grief, parenting | Leave a comment

Dear Me, About Kindness…

“He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.” – Saint Basil “Love is Kind.” 1Corinthians 13:4 Dear Me, About Kindness… We parents don’t talk a lot about kindness because it’s sort of an understood. However, … Continue reading

Posted in Anger, Child-rearing, Dear Me, family, goals, Husbands, Kids, Love, parenting, parenting goals, Self Control, temper, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Dear Me, About Mom Anger

“Love is not easily angered; does not fly off the handle” – 1 Corinthians 13:5 “Anger is a short madness.” – Horace Dear Me, Mom anger is an uncomfortable but important topic for us to discuss. Statistically, it holds more potential … Continue reading

Posted in Anger, Blog, Child-rearing, Cleaning, Clutter, Dear Me, Expectations, family, Housekeeping, Kids, Love, parenting, parenting goals, Self Control, temper, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Dear Me, About Patience Part Two

“Love is Patient.” 1Corinthians 13:4 “There are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: impatience and laziness.” – Franz Kafka Dear Me, So, its 4pm Christmas Eve 1996 and the entire extended family will be descending upon your home … Continue reading

Posted in Blog, Child Discipline, Child-rearing, Dear Me, Expectations, family, humor, Kids, Laughing At Spilled Milk, Love, parenting, parenting goals, Self Control, temper, Wisdom | Leave a comment