Connecting
Correction without connection produces conflict. Discover the most powerful parenting tool for establishing long-term positive influence. Connecting.
All Connecting Articles
How to Help a Child Who is a Perfectionist: For the Worried Mom
Tidy rooms, good grades, and worried mamas. It seems like an odd trio, but for many moms, learning how to help a child who is a perfectionist is a real concern. A slew of misconceptions about perfectionism and a world exploding with love of mediocracy has resulted in a grey area a mile wide between...
Authoritarian vs Authoritative Parenting: How to Avoid the Dangers of Mistaking the Two
As she focused her eyes on the road ahead, she made careful note of the lines on either side of her. A quick glance at her legs reminder her of their strength. Another quick glance at me confirms her confidence. Boundaries + ability + confidence. She slowly let go of the handlebars, raised her hands...
11 Biblical Parenting Principles: Empower Yourself to Raise Godly Kids in a Broken World
Search the world, and it will leave you empty. Search the word, and you’ll find a cup that overflows. The biblical parenting principles tucked away in the Bible are a treasure begging to be hunted. Biblical Parenting Principles for Behavior Training This biblical parenting principle is the driving force behind everything I do at Faithful...
Why Moms Yell and Stay Trapped in a Hamster Wheel of Guilt
Though her tone dripped with accusation, I sensed a compliment buried somewhere in her question. I knew she wanted to talk about why moms yell, but those conversations can go sideways real quick. I took a deep breath, whispered a prayer, and stepped lightly through the exchange. “You probably don’t ever yell, do you?” How...
The Truth About Parenting Teen Boys
“You can still tell me things. Like, I still listen to everything you say. Just because I’m not little anymore doesn’t mean you can’t teach me stuff.” The truth about parenting teen boys is… I’ve enjoyed a front-row seat at the display of God’s handiwork watching my son grow. The days have raced by, and...
Draw Your Children Closer to Jesus with a Christ-Centered Easter
With trust in his eyes, a sparkle in his smile, and his chubby fingers wrapped around my own, my little guy gazed up at me. The innocence in his face made it clear, all those years ago, that what that wide-eyed, sweet, curious child believed about Jesus began with me. I could teach him to...
5 Proven Ways to Reduce Family Stress This Fall
It’s no secret that this year has been stressful. As you muddle your way through all the responsibilities that keep you busy, it’s essential to dedicate some time and effort to equip yourself and your family with tools to reduce family stress and cope with life’s pressures. Life isn’t always easy – which is why...
The Best Scriptures on Parenting to Guide Your Family’s Pursuit of God
The word of God is an armory of spiritual ammunition. Jeremiah 1:12 says, “… I am watching and I will certainly carry out my plans.” Scriptures on parenting provide Christian parents with the Truth, skills, knowledge, and promises they need to raise children who are a light to a fallen world and will someday be...
Exploring Parenting Goals and How to Make Them Benefit Your Child
Parenting goals are as varied as the sky is blue. Some parents measure their parenting goals by the way their children behave while others set goals that solely reflect their own behavior. Truth is, both approaches are an acceptable and justifiable way to measure success as a parent. Investigating these parenting goal metrics, chatting about...
The Best Christian Parenting Books: A Top 20 List for Biblically-Minded Mom
There is certainly no shortage of parenting books available. The vast expanse of the internet makes it a bit overwhelming to ensure you are purchasing the best Christian parenting books! It seems everyone has written a book these days, so how do you sort through the ones that will actually help you raise your children...
How to Have a Family Bible Study That Draws the Kids Closer to God
Beginning a family bible study is one of the best and simplest ways you can grow your children’s faith and biblical knowledge. With all the fantastic bible resources available these, diving into the living word of God with a family bible study has never been easier. When your children see you in the word, experience...
How Parents Can Influence Their Children to Positively Guide and Direct Them
Most moms have figured out a thing or two about life by the time they have a baby. Still, children rush headlong into childhood eager to test out the world around them, often learning painful lessons the hard way. Leaving us all wondering how parents can influence their children in a lasting way for the...
Mom and Boys: How to Nurture a Special and Delicate Bond!
A mama and her boy have a delicate and unique relationship dynamic. Some of the most powerful ups and downs of life are shared between a mom and boys. Being a boy mom comes with a pretty significant burden. Moms can help shape and mold their boys into men in a distinct way that no...
Family Game Night with Toddlers: Practical Guidance for Including Your Little One in the Fun
Family nights are a positive way to connect as a family and build bonds that tether children to their parents. Hosting a family game night with toddlers takes a bit of forethought and a lot of flexibility. What I’d love to highlight today, is that you can still host a fun and exciting family game...
Intentional Parenting With Purpose and Mindfulness
An intention is something you mean to do. With regard to intentional parenting, this definition alone is sort of muddy and convoluted. I could call myself an intentional parent and have great intentions that I rarely or never put into action. When it comes to intentional parenting in a way that makes a powerful and...
Creating a Perfect Family Meeting Agenda: How to Make it Work and Keep it Simple
Family meetings are an important part of life in our home. It took some time, but over the years, we’ve created the perfect family meeting agenda for ourselves. Since each family is different, I’m going to share the process of creating a family meeting agenda that’s perfect for your family, so you can spend more...
How to Reduce Sibling Conflict: Is it Rivalry or Is it Something Much Simpler?
So often parents jump to assume our children have a sibling rivalry the minute we hear them begin to quarrel. That’s not typically the case! I want to chat about sibling conflict, what sibling rivalry really is, and, most importantly, how to significantly reduce and diffuse sibling conflict. What is Sibling Rivalry? By the very definition, a...
15 Powerful Ways to Connect with Your Child Everyday
Making a meaningful connection with your child is one of the most impactful steps you can take toward purposeful and powerful parenting. Thankfully, connecting with kids though not always easy, is simple. A healthy parent-child relationship is full of joy, communication, and closeness. My goal for this article is to provide you with 15 of...
Best Board Games for Toddlers to Promote Brain Development
**Please check all age requirements for each game before allowing your child to play. The best board games for toddlers listed. Some Games do have small pieces that could cause choking. Toddlers are a never-ending sprout of development. Their brains are growing, taking shape, and making them into who they’ll become with every second of...
24 Best Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Kids
Before having children, Valentine’s Day was about treats, surprises, maybe a bit of romance, and held a sense of anticipation. Nowadays, Valentine’s Days provides a fantastic opportunity for you to connect with and nurture the little hearts entrusted to you! The best ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids are by doing things together...
Top 5 Best Organic Baby Formulas to Help Your Make an Informed Decision
After exclusively breastfeeding three children, I was heartbroken when my body suddenly stop working and “dried-up” when my fourth child was 9-months-old! I knew finding the very best organic baby formula was a must! I spent hours researching and narrowed my selection down to a few. Choosing a baby formula is a daunting task. With...
Good Parenting Skills: A Surprising Source of Exceptional Parenting Tenacity
Sometimes the very best advice comes from the most unlikely of places. It’ll rush over you like a warm breeze you weren’t expecting on a chili day, leaving you grateful and recharged! This happened to me recently while listening to a podcast that had nothing to do with parenting, yet offered crazy-powerful wisdom on the...
Are the Benefits of Sleep Training Worth It?
Before I discovered the benefits of sleep training, I was mad, sad, and tired. Mad at myself for not being able to get my baby to sleep. Sad, because I wanted to be the world’s greatest mom, and tired of feeling like a failure because my baby wasn’t sleeping. Once you lay your baby down...
Discover the Three Main Child Temperament Types: Better Parenting Through Understanding
As my children have grown, it’s been so fun to watch each of them adapt, customize, and personalize their lives. As I observe their plain-to-see individuality, I witness the real-life application of some of the most insightful parenting research on child temperament types that I’ve ever read. This research is from a highly acclaimed parenting...
Preparing for the Teenage Years So Your Child Can Thrive
Is it difficult for you to picture your child as a teenager? Although the teenage years may seem far off, time goes by fast. Preparing for the teenage years in advance can spare both your child and yourself from a great deal of the typical heartache families experience during their children’s teenage years! I’ve spent...
How to Know When to Stop Swaddling Baby
Learning to swaddle your baby was a right of passage. One of those oh-so-important new mom skills that you mastered like a baby swaddling ninja. You’re pretty darn proud of your baby swaddling expertise, and you should be! However, these days, keeping your baby securely wrapped up is more like trying to hog-tie a calf...
How to Use Words of Encouragement for Kids to Strengthen Your Parenting!
Intentionally thought out words of encouragement for kids will strengthen your parenting efforts, build lasting bonds with your children, and bolster family unity! I want to talk to you about this today, because often times the fear of over-praising with empty words, choosing the wrong trait to compliment, or just plain ole’ doing it the...
Understanding and Conquering The Witching Hour for Baby!
Looking back, I’m amazed that it wasn’t until well into the life of my second child before I heard about the horrors of the witching hour baby! During my first pregnancy, I was surround by moms. I worked in an office with round-about 25 women (give or take) and served with a small army of...
Conversation Games for Kids to Get Your Kids Talking!
Using conversation games to get your kids talking to you opens up the lines of communication and provides valuable insight into your child’s heart.
5 Ways for Moms to Relax Over Christmas
In order to relax over Christmas, let’s talk about 5 important areas of home life to keep a close eye on. Despite our lack of over-the-top cute Thanksgiving decor, and my inability to remember to post what I’m thankful for EVERY SINGLE DAY in November, and even all the crafts that don’t get done… We...
50 Great Ideas for What to Buy a 3-Year-Old Boy for Christmas
Let’s talk about what to buy a 3-year-old boy for Christmas, so you’re sure to get plenty of happy squeals from your favorite little fella! He talks about everything he loves, all the time! However, buying the perfect gift for a 3-year-old boy who has everything and trying to surprise him at the same time...
Your Ultimate Guide to Purging Toys Before Christmas with Parenting Purpose
The purging toys before Christmas holiday tradition has been alive and operating in our family to downsize and declutter toys for over a decade. However, today we’re not going to talk just about getting rid of toys to make room for more. No, no… we are going to chat about how to use this time...
15 Fall Activities for the Family Who Doesn’t Celebrate Halloween.
Today we’re going to chat about fall activities for the family who doesn’t celebrate Halloween. By taking away the expectations and pomp that accompany that one day, a whole world of fall wonder opens up! For all the years we’ve spent fall without Halloween, our family has made some amazing memories. I want to share...
How To Be a Fun Mom The Super-Simple Way
It’s easy to get hung up on overcomplicating how to be a fun mom. Crafts aren’t your thing. Your body can’t handle jumping on a trampoline. Getting lost in a game of imagination doesn’t come easy. What’s left? How can you find ways to be a fun mom when it doesn’t come easy and you’re...
Learning Resources For Teaching Preschool At Home – Curriculum and Activities 2-5
As fall approaches, kids all over the place are gearing up to head back to school. They’ve got a new backpack and a bouquet of sharpened pencils. I, myself choose to educate my kiddos at home. Having done so from the beginning of time (ok, maybe it only feels that way) I have a few...
10 Outdoor Summer Activities for Toddlers To Promote Fun and Learning
It’s as easy to fall into the trap of hibernating in the cool air conditioning, during the summer months, as it is to hide from the cold in the winter. So while the sun is shining and the summer is here, let’s get outside with our little ones. These 10 outdoor summer activities for toddlers...
3-Year-Old Emotional Outbursts: How Best to Help Your Child and Restore Peace
Recently, my youngest son has been a little extra emotional. I caught myself looking at him the other day, thinking, “what in the world is up with you lately?” Then I remembered…. Oh Ya! He’s 3! Correctly dealing with 3-year-old emotional outbursts can mean all the difference between correcting bad behavior or perpetuating it. While...
Introducing Your Child To God Using Apologetics For Kids
You know your name the same way you know the grass is green. The same way you know that a rainbow is pretty and that slugs are slimy. You know these things to be true because they have always been true. Since the very beginning, you’ve been taught those things as truth. Introducing your child...
How To Build A Strong Family Unit – 6 Ways To Strengthen Family Bonds
Accomplishing a strong family doesn’t happen by accident. How your family looks 10, 15, and 20 years down the road is the result of the work you’re putting in right now. You’re doing such a great job with your child. I want you to know how to build a strong family unit because all your...
Lonely And Depressed Stay At Home Mom With No Friends
Lonely and depressed stay at home mom with no friends… I see you. I feel your pain through the space between us. That pain spans the distance and connects us in a twisted and lonely way. You cry as you scrub the toilet, and for others it sneaks up when changing the sheets. You have...
Using Baby’s First Year Of Development To Raise A Good Baby
There’s so much to consider during your baby’s first year of development. Baby essentials, like feeding and sleeping, are the big ones. However, there’s also baby clothing, babywearing, baby bathing, colic, reflux, eczema… am I forgetting anything? Ya, honestly… there’s a whole lot more! But, when it comes to how to raise a good baby,...
What’s The Difference Between Having A Vision For Your Family Or A Mission Statement?
We set out to write a family mission statement many years ago, shortly after my oldest child was born. And here I sit today, without a family mission statement on my wall! And you know what? I don’t care. All the time I didn’t spend toiling over the perfect words to post on my wall...
Feeling Guilty About Having A Second Baby? What You’re Forgetting.
I remember literally balling my eyes out. Laying on my side, in my bed, curled around a body pillow, weeping. The kind of cry that makes it hard to breathe, swells your eyes nearly shut, puffs your face, and crushes your heart under the weight of your burden! I was weeks away from having my...
Top 10 Parenting One-Liners For Correcting A Child’s Bad Behavior.
You know when you hear another mom say some great parenting one-liner to her child, and you think to yourself, “Woah! That is really good! I’ll be using that!” A good parenting one-liner for correcting a child’s bad behavior, can fix a bad attitude, refocus perspective, stop whining, or any number of other child training...
The Single Most Important Thing Every New Mom Needs To Know.
Your baby is precious. Seriously – amazing. Soft and flawless and perfect in every way. I know you are overwhelmed with emotion each and every time you look at that sweet face. There’s something you don’t understand just yet though, and I beg you to listen to me before it’s too late. I want to...
Is My Baby Colicky Or Just High Maintenance?
Are you sure your baby has colic? I ask because, if not, you could be doing a bunch of things to figure out how to get rid of colic, when there is something else wrong entirely, that you are missing. First, figure out how to tell if your baby has colic, then consider what to...
Surviving The First 4 Months of Motherhood in 3 Simple Steps.
After all the anticipation and months of waiting while you grew your perfect little baby, your precious one is finally here. And oh my goodness… what a beautiful baby! Surviving the first 4 months of motherhood with your joy and some sanity intact is essential! You want to enjoy these first precious moments. They’ll be...
What To Do When You Are Feeling Like A Terrible Mother
I know you want to hide. You feel awful about what happened… believe me, I get it! Here’s the thing though… while you’re in here hiding, feeling like a terrible mother, your child is out there, feeling like a terrible kid. She’s thinking, “I hate making mommy mad! I just wish she’d give me a...
