Marriage & Family: Parenting: Family Dynamics
Help and encouragement for raising the next generation of Christ-followers.
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Raising Your Children's Children
Sarah* works in middle management with a national company. Charlie took early retirement to stay at home when it became apparent that they'd have to raise their daughter Abby's child, because Abby and her husband refuse to take responsibility for their own lives, much less that of their child.
Sarah and Charlie face an increasingly common circumstance. Four and a half million caregivers are raising ...
Related Topics: Advocate, Grandchildren, Grandparents
Thriving In a Stepfamily
"Being a stepmom is much more difficult than I imagined," Nancy, a stepmom of four years shared with me. "Since my husband and I are excited about our marriage, we assumed the kids would be happy too. But they're really struggling and I'm not sure what to do."
As a stepmom of more than 24 years I understand her concerns. A few months into my second marriage I was discouraged by the complexities associated ...
Related Topics: parenting, Relationships, Difficult, Respect, Stepfamily, stepparenting
Landing the Helicopter
Remember the end of My Big Fat Greek Wedding? You see the happy young couple emerging from their new home (purchased for them as a wedding gift by her doting dad). They set off down the street, waving at their next-door neighbor, out mowing his lawn. Her dad waves back.
It's easy to laugh at this stereotype of ethnic families–large, loving, and meddlesome. On the other hand, the contemporary model–newlywed ...
Discipline Dilemmas
Marvin's Side:
She's a Pushover
My parents were strict; they expected my brothers and me to behave. So when we had our two boys, that's what I wanted from them. If I came down hard, it was because I wanted them to know what was expected of them. I wanted them to learn to respect us. When I asked something of them, I wanted them to do it without grumbling or talking back.
Cynthia felt I needed to praise ...
'A Conspicuous Family'
The Marcelo Family
Phil Age: 35
Magazine designer
Karen Age: 43
Medical executive
Nathan Age: 3
Maggie Age: 16 months
Married: 6 years
Hometown: Geneva, IL
CPT: Your family represents a lot of different races.
Phil: We do! I'm Filipino, Karen is Danish, Nathan is Danish-Filipino, and Maggie is African American. At Christmas our tree holds decorations from both Denmark and the Philippines, and we're ...
The Naked Truth
The other day my three-year-old, Charli, loaded her crayons and coloring books into her pink Hello Kitty backpack. I asked, "Honey, what are you doing?"
"I'm playing school, Mom," she responded, sitting down to work at her own special pint-sized desk.
Demonstrating my uncanny grasp of the obvious, I continued, "But, honey, you're naked."
"Uh, huh."
...
"It's okay; my friends are naked too. It's Naked ...
'Have I Ever Told You About...?'
My adventure into personal storytelling began with a question from my eldest son: "Mom, did you ever do anything wrong when you were a kid?" It had been a rough morning when eight-year-old Joshua popped that question. Though simple, it caught me off guard.
"Of course," I stammered. "Haven't you heard the stories?"
Joshua looked at me with surprise and shook his head.
I dove into my memory bank, picked ...
Potty Break
I turn 40 this year, and I'm just waiting for my husband to ask me what I want for my birthday. I've got my answer all prepared. It's probably not what he expects, though. In the years before kids, he'd have gotten off easy with jewelry or clothes, dinner out, and a gift certificate to a day spa.
But after ten years and four kids, my idea of the perfect birthday gift has evolved. What I really want ...
Related Topics: Humor, Peace and Quiet, Privacy, Relaxation, Solitude
Whose Child Is That?
Where are my keys?" my teenaged son yelled as he stormed through the house. "They've got to be somewhere!" As he flung newspapers across the living room, he fumed with increasing drama: "They don't just walk away! Has anybody seen my keys?!"
Of course, I tried to help: "I'm sure they're somewhere. Just calm down. Throwing a fit isn't going to make them show up any faster." But inwardly, I cringed ...
The Joys of Boys
The Vander Ark Family
Brent Vander Ark Age:33
Occupation: Business Executive
Betty Vander Ark Age: 32
Occupation: Full-time Mom
Married: 10 years
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
CPT: You have four sons. What are their names and ages?
Brent: William is eight, Jackson is six, Owen is two, and James is five months old.
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