My friend Cyndi shared this quote from Louie Giglio on Facebook. Every day we hold on to something with a clenched fist is a day we miss the possibility of God putting something amazing in our hands. When you let go, you don't lose out. I've tried to control everything from my marriage, my children, to each speck of dirt in my home. Desperate to ...
Parenting
Help! My Child is Gifted
Periodically on the ABCJLM Facebook Group, a mom will comment that her child is gifted. Her 18-month-old knows his ABC's. Another will share that her 3-year-old is reading or her son is advanced and needs a harder curriculum or he will get bored. It is very exciting to be raising a child who excels in a specific area. Friends are ...
We Need Answers
Five years ago we were in the middle of a valley. Bubs (8) was failing the 2nd Grade, Little Man (4) was in a defiant rut, and ABCJLM was demanding focused attention. I felt alone, exhausted, and helpless. See if you can relate to this post I shared in 2013. I just finished writing a long note to Bubs' speech therapist. We are between a ...
Praying Scriptures When Your Children Have Tests
Tests are an understood part of our children's lives. Whether it is a spelling test in the 1st Grade, the ACT/SAT in high school, or the GRE to get into graduate school, our children are frequently taking exams to test their understanding and knowledge. Because of the very nature of the event, tests create varying levels of anxiety in our ...
Is Keeping Your Children Busy the Answer?
A few weeks ago I asked the following question as a poll on Facebook. True or False: It is best to keep toddlers and preschoolers busy so they stay out of trouble. While it wasn't my ambition to create a tricky question, it was my hope that the question would cause each reader to stop and think. And, I hope that it will start a constructive ...
When Your Child’s Behavior is an Embarrassment
I just received a call from my child's school. It was not a he's-doing-such-a-great-job call, but instead a he-made-a-very-poor-choice phone call. Everything inside of me wants to listen to the lies of the enemy. - You are a horrible mom. - You don't pay enough attention to him. - And you speak at conferences on the topic of parenting? - ...
When Your Children Don’t Match Your Parenting Dreams
For several months in my life, I had a severe "pity party." I was angry toward God because He refused to match my self-prophesied life plans. Ridiculous. I know... But in talking to other parents I find that I am not alone in my bitterness struggle. Parenting is not what we expect. The days are long. The work is brutal. Of course, there are ...
Encouraging Your Child
If you watch the ABCJLM YouTube Channel, you know that I believe children need firm boundaries draped in love. But in having children with disabilities, I have learned that sometimes discipline is not the answer. Let me explain with a blog post that I wrote six years ago... Bubs struggles with new things. New foods, different places, and ...
What Makes a Good Consequence?
On Wednesdays, our newspaper prints a column by Dr. John Rosemond. While I don't agree with all of his parenting advice (especially when dealing with children who have disabilities), our overall parenting philosophies are very similar. High expectations for all children. Boundaries that prove the test of time. Unconditional love that has no ...
Have a Strong-Willed Child?
I am hearing a lot of frustration on the ABCJLM Facebook Group about having a strong-willed child. Can I just encourage you for a moment? While there are varying degrees, raising a strong-willed child means that your child is developing...growing...maturing. Showing their desire is part of the process of learning independence and checking to ...