Entries Tagged as 'family'

Deeper conversation starters

September 28th, 2010 / No Comments

Rather than just talking about school, or about shopping, or about college applications, how can we as parents connect better with our children with deeper conversation? Here are some complete-the-sentence conversation starters. Parents have to answer too. Use these when you take a walk together, or on an hour drive to grandma’s house, or over […]

The importance of being there when your babies are little

March 1st, 2010 / 1 Comment

Some thoughts came to me today as I am getting sentimental about my children growing up and out. I look back to the time when they were babies, and wish I held them just a little more, complained a little less about waking up at night, and took more time to relax and enjoy them […]

Keeping laughter in the home

January 20th, 2010 / 2 Comments

One of the impressions I want to leave with my children is that the home is a place of fun and laughter. I want them know that family life is enjoyable, not just tolerable. There is enough bad news in the world that we don’t need our home to also be full of solemnness. Isn’t […]

Building a warm and loving home

January 19th, 2010 / 1 Comment

What do you remember about your parent’s home when you were growing up? Was it a warm and loving place to come home to? Was there laughter? Did you enjoy being with your family? Do you remember kind and loving words said to you by your parents? Or was there negativity and criticism, shouting and […]

Why we don’t spend more time with our children

October 22nd, 2009 / 4 Comments

I am a substitute teacher, and I think teachers have the hardest job in the world! To be surrounded by 20-30 little kids all day and trying to keep them on task is stressful to say the least. I substitute occasionally, and that’s about all I can handle! And when it comes to being a […]

Time together is not a waste of time

October 21st, 2009 / 3 Comments

Are you like me who just doesn’t seem to have enough time for everything? With the busy, busy, busy  lifestyle of most families today, are you feeling pressured to be productive? I always feel that I should be getting things done, check an item off the list. But do you consider spending time playing with […]

Don’t miss out on spending time with your kids

October 20th, 2009 / 1 Comment

I had lunch with my 85-year-old dad today. It’s a treat for him to get the $5 Subway deal because he would not normally go there by himself. We split a chicken breast footlong on honey oat whole wheat. It came out to $4.99 with the “young man’s discount”, as the cashier phrased it. Growing […]

Good parents start with a good marriage

July 20th, 2009 / 9 Comments

(Disclaimer for this post: This is addressed to married couples, not for single parents. If you are a single parent, I want you to know this is not meant to make you feel guilty. It’s written to encourage couples to build a good marriage.) I admit, I am a better mom than I am a […]

Father’s Day

June 16th, 2009 / 1 Comment

The flowers shops are packed on Mother’s Day; the phone lines are overloaded on Mother’s Day. Father’s Day? It doesn’t set any records. Dads are usually not the sentimental type, they are not the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. But of course, they would love some attention too, on Father’s Day. Here are a […]

Readers’ ideas for fun and exercise for the family

April 23rd, 2009 / 2 Comments

Are you surviving TV Turn-Off Week so far? Whether or not you are committing to having no TV this week, having plenty of family time is what I would like to encourage. Fun family time is one of the primary ways to convey your values to your children, affirm your love for each other, and […]