An Open Letter to the Future Therapist of My Children
Dear therapist who will one day be counseling my children, There are two things I need to say right out of the gate: 1. I tried my best. 2. I hope you have a sound machine. The second point is more of a personal preference rather than a... Read More
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. Read More
Imagine The End | Middle School (6th-8th)
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. Incessantly. In fact, they will plan entire... Read More
Character and Values | Family Life | High School (9th-12th) | Imagine The End
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... Read More
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... Read More
The Necessary White Space
By Sarah Anderson Every night at 6:45, the evening bedtime routine begins. My husband takes two lively and squirmy boys upstairs for a bath that usually ends up as a splashing, wrangling, wrestling match of sorts. Sometimes it results in clean boys, and sometimes just very wet ones.... Read More
Reuse, Recycle and Repeat
Of all the things a child hears a parent say, some phrases get repeated again and again: “Don’t tease your sister.” “That sofa was not designed to be used as a weapon.” “If you pee in the pool, all the water around you will turn blue.” As a... Read More
Fight For The Heart | Imagine The End
Secrets for Dads From a Daughter
I happened to be at the wedding when Reggie, my dad, read this letter to his friend Mark on the day he gave his daughter away in marriage. Even though it was directed primarily to fathers, I couldn’t help but learn a few things myself. I also thought of... Read More
Character and Values | Imagine The End
How to Raise Obedient Kids – For All the Wrong Reasons
Obedience will no longer be something you want from them to make a problem go away, it will be something you want for them to solve a problem themselves. Read More
Imagine The End | Make It Personal
5 Signs You Might be a Boastful Parent
There’s an ongoing debate about the impact of social media on kids. My guess is you’ve got an opinion on it. But instead of dumping on our kids, let’s talk about something we can control a little more directly. How are you interacting with social media as a... Read More