by Kimberly | Dec 5, 2016 | Books, parenting
One thing that I think every parent longs for is a how-to manual. Well, maybe that, sleep, silence, and some time alone, and more money, but I digress.
How-to manuals do not exist. They don’t. I think it is mainly because every child is different so I don’t know how anyone would write one anyway.
I’ve only been parenting for over 4 years now – two boys are different then I thought they would be, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing – just different. So, where do I turn for parenting advice?
Actually, my number one piece of advice on how to find parenting advice: seek out parents whose parenting style (and kids) you actually like/respect. Find a couple who has parented well (and of course, every parent makes mistakes) and ask them to hang out with you (and your kids) and give you pointers. In our parenting careers, there are a few parenting pairs who are further along in the parenting journey than we are – that we respect them, their walk with God, and how their kids have turned out – and we ask them questions. When I’m facing a decision or a discipline issue, I want tangible advice, so I text a friend or send an email to a few moms. They are a wealth of information.
Here’s what you need to do though. If you ask a few people, and they may each give you different advice – you still have to work it out in your own home. I take in all the advice, run it by my husband, talk to him about it, get on the same page, try it out, and maybe still regroup if that doesn’t work. Everyone will give you advice on how to raise your kids – but you can’t possibly take all the advice you receive. God has given you a teammate (hopefully) in your spouse, and he’s given you the Holy Spirit. Wisdom and partnership, prayer and community.
Another helpful tool in the parenting game is books. I’m an avid reader and honestly had read most of the philosophical parenting Christian books before I even had kids. I worked in ministry with parents and went to seminary in the Christian education department. But, man, it is different applying all of those when you have kids. One book I recently have read is Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became Parents by Gary Chapman (of the Five Love Languages fame). Through general topics, real-life experience, humor, and practical steps, talking points, and hope – he helps parents navigate through some big obstacles in parenting. I wasn’t surprised by any of his topics, and most of his advice was a refresher course, but so helpful to hear tips from someone who has been there and done that. One of the aspects of the book I like the most is the talking points at the end of each chapter. Parenting is tough. When you are talking about it with your spouse, or if you are a solo parent, with others – you are already anchored with questions to ask, or discussion questions to help point you in the right direction.
If you would like to win a copy of this book, then just leave me a comment with the best piece of parenting advice you’ve ever received. That’s it. Thanks to Sidedoor Communications and Northfield Publishing for the chance to read this book, give a copy away, and all opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Oct 6, 2016 | Books, parenting
As my kids get older, I think I start to notice all of my expectations of parenting get washed away. When I was growing up, we lived in a neighborhood with mostly family, went to a small church where we really only interacted with 1-2 families, and I went to a Christian school and really don’t remember doing things as families with anyone. Of course we had friends, but it wasn’t essential in our upbringing to surround ourselves with community and family.
When I get to college that all changed for me. I surrounded myself with families and loved them and learned so much, but it wasn’t until 20 years later that I had a family of my own.
I now want to do a couple of things in family/parenting life:
- Make sure my mister and I are always on the same page especially in our calendar and parenting. This is so crucial to success.
- Surround ourselves with those who are ahead of us, but also with us in our stage of parenting – and who share similar grace and parenting styles. Community is so important.
- Pour grace into my husband and my children. I think the main way I do this right now is through asking forgiveness each time I do something wrong (which is often).
In Total Family Makeover, Melissa Spoelstra, tackles some important topics on how you can work toward a more discipleship centered home – because isn’t this our most important task as parents – to raise those who will Lord-willing seek after God because of HIs grace?
If you normally don’t read book introductions, read this one. She hit the nail on the head. Sundays are usually the day I feel the worst as a parent. My kids disobey walking into church, or don’t obey me in childcare, or always need discipline. While seemingly most around me have perfect children and I feel are always looking at my with disdain or disapproval. I know this isn’t the case, but I always feel like a failure. She tackles this and is so encouraging.
The areas of discipleship she highlights in this practical book: praying together, Bible time, mentoring, church community, serving, rest, giving, and evangelism. All of these are personally important, and definitely are important for your family.
My one suggestion = read this book. Maybe read it with your husband, or just give him your takeaways. Pray together and see which area you can tackle first. Its like if your house is a mess and you try to clean the whole things at once, you’ll get discouraged. I would start with one thing and then go on to the next. You’ll see God reward your obedience in these areas with success and grace. He wants our families to be more Christ-like! He is for you in this endeavor!
This post is sponsored by Litfuse who gave me the book. All opinions are my own. And you can win a great prize pack for a fun family night (think free pizza and books and games!) Enter here
by Kimberly | Oct 4, 2016 | Books, Kids r Readers 2, parenting
In the back of our car there is a kite. My mister has had the kite since he went to the OBX in Carolina. I wonder if he bought that kite thinking he might one day have boys that love to spend time with their daddy and fly kites together.
Chris Tomlin, worship songwriter and dad, has writtten a great book for littles that starts out with a kite. But, more importantly this story is about many of the ways (God is inexhaustible) that God loves us. It is beautifully illustrated. It is so true
One of the best things about my husband is that he is a good Father. We had such a short courtship before we got married that I rarely got to see him around children. I knew from his character that he’d be a great Father. And, now I witness it. My men love to fly a kite during the week at a local park, always scouting out the new parks to hopefully catch the wind. He is more patient with those boys than I will ever be – which they desperately need. He is loving and plays with them on the floor or with toys. He is so caring toward them. They resemble him. He teaches them the truth about Jesus.
These are all good ways in which hopefully the boys will see God the Father in my husband, their earthly dad, so that one day they might come to know God.
This book by Tomlin is available to you. Tommy Nelson is giving one away to a reader! Get excited because this will make a great addition to your at-home library, wonderfully teaching your children about God.
One question: what is one activity your children love doing with their dad?
by Kimberly | Oct 4, 2016 | Books, parenting
Those who know me know I love snail mail. I think I always have, pen pals when I was younger, getting mail from my Mom when I was in college, and now writing letters and surprising people with a note or letter or fun little gift. It just makes my day to give!
I want to instill gratitude and snail mail love in my boys. What better way to do that? Here are some tips:
- Find cute stationery themed for boys or girls. Blogging for Books sponsored this post by sending me Wee Alphas – a book of cute and original animal post cards. I love them. They not only help my boys learn the alphabet, but it will be fun to use to write postcards to people as well. But, for us, it is going to be room decoration in the next house we live in come January. (Another good thing about Wee Alphas is that all the postcards are attached in an accordion book and you can rip each out as you go – so you don’t lose them.)
- Help them know what to write. Whether your children know how to write or not, you may need to help them know what to write. When writing thank you notes, or even letters (especially to grandparents), you may have to coach them. This is also a great way to teach them gratitude.
- Make it a habit. Maybe write one letter a week, especially older children, write letters to older men or women in your church, have them ask questions that will help them seek after God. Older men and women in the faith will be a great encouragement to you and your children. (I digress). Seriously though, making letter writing a habit might instill this in them when they get older. And, you can have fun field trips to the post office to meet the postmaster, talk about where mail goes, and look at the cool mail trucks (my younger loves them).
How do you encourage your children to write letters and/or reach out to others who are older than them?
All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Aug 12, 2016 | Books, mothering, parenting
Motherhood is such a journey – and a different journey for everyone.
Writing about the ups and downs of motherhood is quite difficult too.
I got married late and therefore had kids late (mid-to-late 30s). I didn’t have many people in my life who truly told me how hard raising kids was going to be. Even if I hung out with families, I only saw glimpses (and most of the kids knew to obey in front of guests).
So, I had different expectations for parenting. And Hettie Brittz writes about parenting, motherhood, and all that goes with it in her new book (un)Natural Mom. She tells about real life, and all the what ifs and all the doubts that we are mothers face. I like that she is real. I like that she tells it like it is and points us to SCripture (and not the world’s ideals). I don’t like some of the daily specific things she talks about – because everyone is so different and may not find herself in the same story.
I do think that every woman (because she is a woman) is life-giving. That may not mean being a natural mom, or even an adoptive mom – that may mean discipling others or bringing life to an art area that sparks her interest. Affirming and maturing and building life is something we do because God created us as women.
Let us hold firm to what the Word says about women – not what the world says we have to be in order to be a good mom.
Thanks to Litfuse for this book. All opinions are my own.
by Kimberly | Jun 10, 2016 | Books, parenting
Praying is something that is vital to the Christian life. And what better thing to teach our children but to pray to a God who made them and desires them to talk to Him.
The fact that we can talk to the very God who created us is an exciting thing. He hears us! He desires our words. He hears our cries when no one else does.
At meals, especially when Daddy is home, our little prayers are short, but super sweet to watch. Our younger who is almost 3, clasps his hands real tight and squeezes his eyes shut super tight. Both of our boys say Amen in such a way that you totally know they are from the South.
Tommy Nelson gave me I Can Learn to Pray for me to read with our boys and share with you. Continue reading to learn how to win a copy of your own for your family devotion times.
This book is designed for young school age kids. There are 52 devotions, so you can use one a week and really concentrate on repetition so each of your children get it. These devotions are great jumping off point for your family devotions, discussions, and any activities you might want to include.
If you do want to win this from Tommy Nelson, just leave a comment here or on a social media post The book will be coming from social media, but I (kcreatives) want to include a moleskin prayer journal so you can keep track of prayer requests for your family. So, what your comment needs to have is a verse that you would like written on the front of the moleskin.
Thanks for loving your kids well for the sake of the Gospel and teaching them how to pray!
