There are two radio shows that air during my afternoon 20 minute mom-taxi trip to town. On each station, at 5 to-the-hour, the news is reported. For five minutes the hapless reporter force feeds horrific headlines, updates on things you wish you’d never heard, and the incessant bickering of the entire world. Some days, I just can’t ingest any more of it. And while that might make me an emotional wimp, I know I’m not the only one who sometimes feels like we’re drowning in bad … [Read more...]
To Obey is Better than Sacrifice: A Modern Day Parable from My House
About a week ago, I was super nerved-up over a multitude of tasks that are taking me a painfully long time to complete. To add insult to injury, the boys were arguing vehemently over totally inconsequential stuff. Like the exact shape of Kevin Durant’s logo. The precise lyric of a Tim Hawkins parody. Who’s fishing lure got dropped in the lake. They went round and round, name-calling, bet-making, and demanding I settle meaningless disputes. (Not only do I not care about Kevin … [Read more...]
A Mother’s Heavy Burden of Being a Good Example
Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, The lamb was sure to go. In nursery rhymes, pithy sayings, Sunday school lessons, books, blogs, social research and Scripture we learn that for better or for worse, our children will do what we do. Our little lambs arrive in our arms pre-programmed to learn by imitation. When we teach them to speak, clap, or play peek-a-boo, we use their most natural and effective mechanism for learning. When we … [Read more...]
The Fervent Prayer of a Ragged Woman
Wake. Feed. Dress. Transport. Bathe. Times five kiddos. I was a childcare machine, and I do mean machine. I was a cold, unfeeling, maternal robot programmed for quick response. Our home had become an institutional parenting operation with gaping holes where loving discipline and nurture should have been. While everyone was being fed and clothed, the lack of individual attention was showing up in constant behavioral “episodes.” I had been begging God for months to either change my … [Read more...]
In the Dark
Recently I watched a moving Under Armor commercial featuring the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps. I might have even cried a tear (one that I could not even manufacture when my youngest went to kindergarten.) Can you imagine your own commercial? I tried: Do you need help agonizing over small decisions? With decades of experience, Shauna will systematically help you formulate such a long list of pros and cons that you will forget what you were trying to … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 6
- Next Page »