Hi Friends! I'm just barely back from nearly five weeks in California. It was such a fantastic trip, with some great surf, (Luke had some great heats, and took 2nd place in the National Air competition! :)) and a thousand more memories made. While I unpack suitcases and hug my boys a repeatedly
parenting
Birth Order: What Middle Children Need Most from Their Parents
I seem to have a pretty good sample for a study on birth order... Josiah, 15 (below, left), Jonah (on the right, below,) 13, and Luke (center, below) almost 11. Levi, who arrived six and half years later, throws me for a bit of a loop. I always say he must fall somewhere between a first
Five Ways to Avoid Mother’s Day Disappointment
5 Tips for avoiding Mother's Day Disappointment Aloha Friends! So...I was not planning to publish this post again this year. Since I wrote it a couple of years ago, and shared it again last year, I thought I'd take a year off. :) But the Today Show Site just published it on their
What a Mom Needs Most from Her Family: 25 Things
I recently came across this post from 3 (short) years ago, and with Mother's Day right around the corner, I couldn't help but think HOW MUCH we moms could use this right now. I mean, really. Because if there is one thing I've learned in my nearly 19 years of being a mom it is this: PLAN AHEAD.
Giving Your Kids the Tough Love they Need, and Getting the Respect you Deserve (A video)
This morning, as all of my guys were headed out the door to surf, I had a brief interaction with one of my boys in which I raised my voice justenough to make a point, and...well, got a little bossy. They were in a rush, so the two of us didn't exactly work through things or even have the chance to
How Fifteen Minutes could Save your Relationship with Your Teen
15 minutes that just might save your relationship with your teenager Today I am sharing one more favorite post from the archives...If you missed this one, I hope it inspires you to parent with thoughtfulness this week. If you've read it before, then perhaps it's a healthy
When you can’t take ANY MORE…{try this}
A favorite post from my archives...a game changing mindset shift. Hope you enjoy-- This whole thing began a few months before our trip, but while we were away, expanding became my recurring theme. I've talked about it just enough that now all of the boys talk about it too. Or maybe they
What A Middle School Boy Needs Most from His Parents.
Hey Friends! I am sharing a reader (and author, I might add ;)) favorite post from the archives today. I'm guessing many of you have read this at some point, but I know there are things in here we could use reminders of often. Also: After receiving a number of emails and messages from
