My friend Amy Scott Robinson is one of the deepest, most poetic Christian storytellers and writers that I know. She's the author of the marvellous Gladstone Tales, the first of which I reviewed right here. And guess what? She and I have both released Advent books this year! … [Read more...] about A FAMILY ADVENT: TWO CHRISTIAN WRITERS SHARE THEIR FAMILY ADVENT TRADITIONS
Discipleship for parents
As parents, we can end up investing so much time in our children that we neglect our own spiritual journey. Here are some great resources and ideas to support mums and dads as we seek to draw closer to Jesus together.
CHRISTIANS AND HALLOWEEN: HOW CAN FAMILIES APPROACH HALLOWEEN WITH INTEGRITY?
Around this time of year, I start to get fidgety. Just as I'm starting to think about Christmas, Halloween goes and plonks itself right in the middle of autumn - something I'd rather ignore, but know that I can't. My kids start getting excited, then realise I'm not, then start to ask difficult … [Read more...] about CHRISTIANS AND HALLOWEEN: HOW CAN FAMILIES APPROACH HALLOWEEN WITH INTEGRITY?
CONNECTING WITH GOD THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF PARENTHOOD
Exactly ten years ago, I became a parent. In real life, our celebrations this week will be focused on Mister, involving Laserquest and chocolate cake. But on the blog, I've been reflecting on how my life changed in Autumn 2009 through this mini-series ‘Plus Baby Makes Three’, offering some … [Read more...] about CONNECTING WITH GOD THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF PARENTHOOD
IS CHURCH JUST ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR FAMILY’S EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?
Weekends are full. Especially with a family. From the word 'go' on Saturday morning, us parents can find ourselves hurriedly pushing kids out of the house to get to morning band practice, swimming lessons or sports matches. Afternoons bring parties - trying to remember which of the 39 Reception … [Read more...] about IS CHURCH JUST ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR FAMILY’S EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?
TALKING TO KIDS WITH WORDS OF GRACE
As my kids were going off to bed recently, I found myself speaking plainly to them: "I'm sorry for being grumpy today. I was really grumpy. But you were also really annoying." Find me a parent whose own kids don't irritate the hell out of them on a fairly regular basis, and I'll give them … [Read more...] about TALKING TO KIDS WITH WORDS OF GRACE
MOTHERS’ DAY AND BABY LOSS
Approximately 1 in 8 pregnancies end in miscarriage. It's a startlingly high figure, and I count myself as guiltily fortunate to be excluded from it. But so many of my friends have experienced miscarriage in a variety of ways, at a variety of stages, that despite being daily driven up the wall by … [Read more...] about MOTHERS’ DAY AND BABY LOSS
HOW CAN I PARENT MY CHILDREN FOR FAITH? (A REVIEW OF THE PARENTING FOR FAITH COURSE)
In the never-ending pile of laundry, discarded vegetables and emotional melodrama that is Parenting, the idea of how we parent our kids on their faith journey can often get overlooked. Occasionally, I stick my head out of that pile and remember that our greatest ambition for our children is for … [Read more...] about HOW CAN I PARENT MY CHILDREN FOR FAITH? (A REVIEW OF THE PARENTING FOR FAITH COURSE)
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THERAPEUTIC PARENTING?
Our adopted boys have been with us over three years, yet I'd never properly come across the idea of 'therapeutic parenting' until two years in. As we've become more familiar with this approach, we've started to ask what does the Bible say about therapeutic parenting? Adoption training tends to … [Read more...] about WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THERAPEUTIC PARENTING?
EYE CAN WRITE – REVIEW
You know my absolute favourite type of books? Those which are short and pack a punch. Short because...well, clearly, this exhausted mama doesn't have a lot of time to read, and who wants to be slogging on with the same book for months and months? War and Peace ain't gonna get finished in the next … [Read more...] about EYE CAN WRITE – REVIEW