I know that these are uncertain and rather scary times. For many, your world has been turned upside down, and we all face days filled with question marks. I want to take a few minutes to encourage you. First of all, please know that this will end. Only God knows the timing, but it will…
Talking to Yourself: Parents, These are the Conversations You Should be Having
Talking to yourself isn’t just normal, it’s good for your mental health — if you have the right conversations. Talking to yourself doesn’t necessarily mean you are losing it. Having conversations with yourself can help you clarify your thoughts, pinpoint what’s important, and make decisions. As a parent, you know that kids will most likely drive you…
What Every Parent Needs to Know About Teen Suicide
Teen suicide was not something I thought I’d ever have to worry about. My kids grew into well-adjusted, happy teens and although it started to get close to home when there were two suicides in my kids’ high school, I didn’t think my kids would ever contemplate it. I was wrong. When my daughter was…
Handling Tough Conversations With Your Child
Tough conversations are in the parenting job description. Your teen gets caught cheating. You and your spouse are separating and it’s time to tell the kids. Your child gets in trouble for bullying. You learn that your middle schooler is investigating porn sites. What makes tough conversations tough? They are hard because you either feel…
How to Fight Worry and Anxiety as a Sports Parent
Parental worry and anxiety are normal however, being a sports parent can increase those feelings The worry list for sports parents is long: playing time, bullying, conflicts with coaches or teammates, game-time performance, and injuries. It’s a parental instinct to want to protect our children. One way we make ourselves feel better is to think about…
How to Win at Homework Battles
Parents and children often have homework battles, but believe it or not, homework can actually be a time of connection, not conflict. The problem with homework is that it’s simply not fun and it can be yet another thing that you have to stay on top of your kids to do. As if chores and…
What to do When the Youth Sports Refs Tick You Off
Youth sports refs really haven’t changed much in the 25 years since I watched my oldest daughter’s first game. Over the years, I’ve seen refs who called way too much or way too little and many many many “bad” calls. When my kids were playing youth sports, I often found myself yelling at the officials…
The Parenting Mindset That Will Set You Free
Are you aware that your parenting mindset could be holding you hostage? Parents are under a lot of pressure. We want to raise kids who do good in school, who either graduate from college or at least get a good job out of high school. We want our children to grow up to be good…
Who is Running the Show in Your Home?
Are your kids running the show in your home? This is a question I asked myself frequently as my children were growing up. Even now that they are grown, I have to ask every now and then if I am still doing too much for them. If you are doing too much for your kids,…
3 Secrets to Communicating with Teens
Communicating with teenagers can be a huge challenge. Conversations often get tense and emotionally out of control. I talk a lot about good communication on Raising Champion Families, but along with the important habits of listening well, asking good questions, not judging, and not jumping to conclusions, there are some other very key ingredients to…