Risk Takers and Adventure Seekers
As our summer has gone on and my kids have conquered the high dive, the water slide, first sleepovers, and attempts at water skiing, I have been reflecting on what it is that helps them to embrace adventure and overcome fear.
Fireworks and Spontaneous Family Reunions
As light shoots into the sky, we huddle up. Ooooohhh. Ahhhhhh. Wow. An aerial art show stills the crowd on New Year’s Eve or Independence day—or every day if you live in the Magic Kingdom. Lakeside, oceanside, cityside. In amusement parks, under a bridge, surrounded...
Middle School Cabbie
It takes a special set of skills to parent a middle schooler—especially two of them. Caterer. Counselor. Sports manager. Bank. But there’s nothing bigger than this one—driver. The role frequently doesn’t involve planning the event. They like to do that themselves....
Tribes, Fun to Talk About, Hard to Actually Do
I like to think I am a brave parent, right up until the moment I actually have to be brave. I talk a good game, know most of the buzz words and occasionally act like I have a few things figured out. All of this works pretty well right up until the moment I actually...
Why Your Kids Need Someone Else to Talk To
I remember the day I turned thirteen. I was thinking of my red three speed bike with the banana seat, sissy bar and raised handlebars. I loved it, but I knew it was a kids' bike and soon I'd have to ride a ten speed like every other teenager. I wish I could say I was...
A-List Prayers
A couple of months ago, I attended a beautiful ceremony to celebrate a friend who decided to commit her future to missions. At a certain point in the celebration, my friend’s mom made her way over to where I was sitting. We small-talked for a bit, and then I asked her...
Parenting Isn’t For Wimps
We’ve heard people say “parenting isn’t for wimps”. So, if you happen to be a parent, it’d make sense to believe that you are anything but wimpy. Right? Then why do we feel like wimps occasionally? As a parent of two little girls, I question the validity of this...
Why Family Vacations Need to be a Non-Negotiable
It's funny what your kids remember. I was doing some reminiscing with my 18 and 22 year old sons recently. We were talking about the good times we had when they were younger. I was remembering the. . . dinner conversations parties house full of friends water fights...
6 Ways to Take Charge of Your Bad Day
I had a bad day recently. Chances are you have too. Mine blindsided me, and it threw me off so much I got almost nothing accomplished that I wanted to accomplish. I don’t like days like that. (Does anybody?) But they’re inevitable in life....and in parenting. One of...
Stretching Faith
Death of a Car It was late Sunday evening in June. Driving down the highway, my husband started slowing down. “Why are you stopping?” I’m clearly annoyed. It’s late and I’m ready to crash. In less than twelve hours I embark on a week long summer camp with a gaggle of...
Welcome to the Cave
My wife is incredibly social. She can talk to anyone, and anyone talks to her. She’s one of those people whom random strangers seek out to divulge all kinds of information. She can ride in an elevator with someone and know more about their lives than a close friend...
Snowmageddon
By Julie Tiemann Snowmageddon. Snowpocalypse. Whatever you call it, Atlanta was crippled by it a few days ago. There’s a lot of debate on how two inches could take down a bustling city in a few short minutes, but beautiful stories are emerging too. Stories of heroism,...