How many times a day do you and I say, “I love my people, but they are driving me crazy”? Like a million. Here’s the deal: I would take a bullet for our girls yet I want to scream when I see their out-of-control rooms. I mean, how hard is it to not throw your […]
Motherhood
When an amazing quiet time ends in getting mad at your kids
You’ve done it. Lord knows I’ve done it. We have a quiet time filled with thoughtful reflection, insight, and hymns that cause our hands to reach heavenward, and then… … we walk back into our regularly-scheduled life and the wheels fall off the bus. The kids make us mad. We can’t believe coffee takes so […]
When back-to-school means back-to-stress
Back-to-school meant back-to-stress for me. In elementary school, I stressed about what teacher I’d get. In junior high, I worried about whether I’d have friends in my classes, who I’d eat lunch with, and how my Aqua-Netted hair could possibly stay in place despite the Houston humidity… and gravity itself. In high school, I stressed […]
The real reason I yell at my kids in the summer
When the girls were toddlers, the last day of school made me cry. It wasn’t leaving incredible teachers and new friendships that did it. Nope. I cried because I’d be at home for three months with two toddlers, and I wasn’t sure what to do with them. My response to feeling out of control, out […]
Why summer makes moms feel guilty and how to fix it
I’m always optimistic at the start of summer—it’s a vast sea of possibilities. Picnics, extra screen time, and relaxed evening routines all sound lovely after nine months of structure. But there’s a darker side of summer…and I’m not talking about the tans. Summer has an uncanny ability to make us feel mom-guilt. Here’s how mom-guilt […]
How moms can master the choice between being present and being responsible
The other morning, our non-hugger of a daughter wanted to snuggle and tell me all about the dream she’d had. I loved every minute until I realized carpool was coming. Later that evening, our non-reader daughter wanted to read to me. I loved her turning page after page until I realized that it was after […]
An end-of-the-school-year pep talk for moms who feel a bit crazy-town
At the end of the school year, I feel a little bit crazy town, like all the tiredness and frustration and routine have compounded until they explode in May. I start doing crazy things like playing games with time, negotiating as if I’m at a peace summit, and bargaining and bribing people just so we […]
How your personality impacts your parenting
Parenting is completely out of my comfort zone, and maybe it feels overwhelming to you too. I love efficiency, strategy, metrics, annual reviews, and sleep. You know, all the things that parenting doesn’t offer. When I first became a parent, I felt like The Worst Mom ever: Why couldn’t I be more nurturing? Why did […]
God’s words for the mom who is ill, on bed rest, or not “measuring up”
This letter is for any mama who’s been on bed rest or has a medical diagnosis that keeps her from doing what she thinks she should be doing. However, it’s also for any mom who struggles with finding her identity in what she does for her children. If you’re struggling as a mama, I’ve created […]
A try-hard girl gives common-sense grace: Melanie Shankle
Here’s a try-hard girl sharing common-sense grace, and who’ll make you laugh out loud! I love Melanie Shankle’s ability to point us to Christ as we laugh at life as we find it. She’s the New York Times bestselling author of three books. Melanie speaks at events nationwide and writes on her blog, Big Mama. […]