Search Results for: blog children turning parents against each other

Who is Jane Goodall

Every Sunday in church, the children get a handout that makes them think about how to become better, more caring people. Today’s handout listed four individuals that parents were to tell their children about. There was the Dalai Lama, Caesar Chavez, Rosa Parks, and Jane Goodall. We talked about all four, but as I was explaining who each was, I wondered how many adults know who Jane Goodall is. Goodall has spent the last 45 years of her life working with chimpanzees and it all started with a gift from her father. When Goodall was young, her father gave her … Continue reading →

5 Topics to Discuss before Marriage

How many couples do you know take the time to discuss money, children and other important issues before they get married? Maybe you jumped right into marriage without seriously considering some of these life-impacting issues. If you or someone you know is considering tying the knot, here are five topics that you should discuss before walking down the aisle. It could save a lot of conflict in the future. The first is children. Do you both want children? Nothing is more devastating than a couple getting married and one expecting to have children but the other one dead set against … Continue reading →

When Children Test Your Marriage

Throughout all the years of my marriage, arguing about the raising of our children has never been an issue. We have always been in agreement. We have the same values and standards. I consider this to be a good thing, since the raising of the children is one of the more common areas that couples argue about. However…well, things have slightly changed now that they are teenagers. Suddenly it’s not so easy. Raising teenagers is like walking a very fine line. Sometimes you really don’t know how to balance the scales. Some things you say yes to, other things you … Continue reading →

When Your Marriage Faces Parenting Challenges

It’s been an interesting week in our home. There are points in time that everything is going along fairly smoothly. There may be a bump or two in the road, but nothing major. Then suddenly you have a week where all three of your preteen and teen children decide to test the waters or stretch your patience or whatever it may be. Suddenly your marriage finds itself being tested as well. Navigating through the relationship of a husband and wife is challenging enough without throwing into the mix some children. Now you have additional relationships to work through. Then there … Continue reading →

Marital Bliss Doesn’t Make a Marriage Work

Marital bliss…it is a common feeling experienced by newlyweds and one that seems to deteriorate with time. We tend to view this as a bad thing but I would like to challenge that. Marital bliss is romantic and all but there comes a point in your marriage when you have to learn how to live. The reality of life is that not everyday will be magical. There are bills to be paid, long days to get through, children to raise, pressures to deal with and the list goes on. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy marriage while dealing with all … Continue reading →

Coaching Each Other in Parenting

When my children were younger, my husband did a great job spending time with them and enjoying them. One thing I have noticed over the years is that as our children have gotten older, it has become more difficult for him in knowing how to interact. Now I don’t say this to put him down. From what I have heard, it’s a common problem for many fathers. When the kids are younger, it’s nothing to get on the floor and roughhouse. It’s even okay to sit down with your daughter and play tea party. But then along come the years … Continue reading →

Children Turning Parents against Each Other

Children have a funny way of turning parents against each other. It often starts when they are young. They will ask mommy something and if she says no, then they may go to daddy and ask him. If he says yes, then mommy ends up mad and he ends up feeling defensive. Or the same can happen with the roles switched. In a marriage you have to guard against many things. The ability for children to turn spouses against each other is just one of them. It can become even trickier as they get older. Suddenly you are dealing with … Continue reading →

Are You a Tiger Mom?

  Are you a tiger mom? In case you haven’t heard, a controversial book from 2011 still has parents stirring. The author is Amy Chua and she has written a parenting book called “Tiger Mother.” In a nutshell she proclaims Chinese parents to do a better job than the rest of us. Why? They are much stricter and stringent. Her children have turned out well and she believes it is the result of her teaching and training. Honestly, my idea of strict is taking away the television for the rest of the day but her ideas are clearly different. To … Continue reading →

Baby Blog Month in Review: August 2008

Isn’t it crazy the way babies grow so quickly? It seems that you just get used to one stage and boom they are already into another. Tonight, were busy getting the household all set for my eldest child’s first day of second grade. My two younger ones are excited and want to start school, too. It will be a busy month. Don’t worry about the missing last week of blogs. I’ve gotten quite a few questions about where I have been. The Baby Blog tends to go on hiatus the last week of the month. That may change in the … Continue reading →

New Exercise Program for Kids

My daughter was a chunk of a baby. (See for yourself.) But she has since shed her baby fat and grown into a perfectly sized preschooler, who can outrun all the girls and all but one boy on her soccer team. When I watch her sprint after the ball I often reminisce about her former Michelin Man legs. Man, was she chubby (though, very healthy, according to her doctor). I’m not afraid to speak about my child’s hefty beginnings, but perhaps I should since these days the tide seems to be turning against baby fat. In a recent article published … Continue reading →